The Philippines certainly packs a punch when it comes to natural wonders: spectacular beaches, beautiful mountains, awesome volcanos, stunning lakes, superb diving and colourful aquatic life - d'you see that whale shark to your right?? - so we didn't need much arm-twisting to persuade us to linger for over five weeks (our longest stay in any country so far) and sample the local delights.... The Philippines is a vast archipelago (7,107 islands) probably most famous (to us) for it's girlie bars, political corruption and Filipino nurses who prop up the NHS. Over 90% of the population are Christian (82% Roman Catholic) and the majority of people speak English. A former Spanish colony (since 1565), the USA bought the islands from the Spanish (after defeating them in war) for $20 million, then granted independence in 1935.
... read more