What strikes me most about this country is that it is made up of 7000 islands (many of which are virgin) and this certainly makes it a special country and a paradise with many unspoiled places.
A COUNTRY NOT YET INVADED BY MASS TOURISM
Most of the travelers I met along the way describe the Philippines as an uncontaminated place, not changed and subject to mass tourism. This country, although very close to other famous destinations in South East Asia, managed to save itself from the rivers of people who generally flock to South East Asia for a holiday of fewer than two weeks. This is mainly because it is far from the land routes of South East Asia, but also because it is prone to natural disasters (I myself was stuck in the capital because of a typhoon), and because of political instability and rampant corruption.
The idea of going to a place still unrelated to mass tourism, together with the fact that I was “relatively close”, was one of the reasons that led me to head to this immense archipelago of islets, together with curiosity obviously, because without that, it wouldn’t make sense to travel!
The Philippines, the country where you can read the Bible or phrases like “Only God can save you” on the wall or see the face of Jesus Christ once you sit in a tuk-tuk.
The land of colorful Jeepney, colorful means of transport used by the locals, but which every traveler should try to use.
The country of sugar, of fast food, is for me the least Asian country due to the strong influences of the Spanish and American colonization, the former in fact brought Christianity here and built churches everywhere, the latter brought fast food and donuts.
A LOOK AT THE COUNTRY AND ITS BEAUTIES
Manila, the capital is not a great business card for the country, although there are several interesting historical places, here we are confronted with some of the problems facing different developing countries and beyond: poverty, sex tourism, trash, traffic and pollution of the big city. To understand the essence of this country, however, it is enough to leave the city behind. It is here that life, as often happens, takes on slower and simpler rhythms… people still live a simple and rural life, children play in the streets and swim in the rivers, cows and goats roam the road, jungle and beaches are still wild…
Speaking of beaches, without a doubt the Philippines, thanks to its most beautiful and rich seabed in the world, are the place par excellence for diving, and for acquiring various patents; it is here that I too decided to do my first and the only dive, harnessed with 20 kg of material.
With some exceptions, such as the island of Panglao or El Nido in Palawan Island, the Philippines is the ideal place for lovers of the sea and wild nature, it is the perfect destination for those who want to enjoy the quiet and magic of the tropical places.
But it is a mistake to think that the sea is the only attraction of this archipelago of 7000 islands. Some examples? The volcanoes present in different islands, the chocolate hills of Bohol, the Tarsier, one of the smallest primates in the world, the infinite jungles, terraces of Batad and Banaue. It is precisely here that I spent a few days in the middle of nowhere, in the cordillera hosted by extraordinary people with a view of 24 hours on the rice terraces, observing the children who go to school, the people who work hard in the field and plant rice… Yes, because life is hard and can be hard here, people’s life is really connected with Nature which can be generous but also powerful enough to destroy everything…
There are many activities that can be carried out in these islands and moving around is not complicated at all, between one island and another obviously I suggest whenever possible to move by sea with the ferries that connect the various islands, while inside you can move by public transport for those who have a lot of patience and are looking for a unique experience, with the Jeepneys for the shorter sections, and with a motorcycle, a preferred option for many backpackers and travelers. What could be more beautiful than going through a slow landscape of palm trees, jungle and beaches? Or to silently observe the various sunrises and sunsets on the beach? What I will certainly miss the most are the local inhabitants, one of the kindest and most welcoming people so far, always ready to help you, to talk to you, to greet you, or simply to smile at you!