The Philippines is a Tropical Treasure with Many Incredible Secrets
The Philippines is a jewel in southeast Asia, comprising of over 7,000
tropical islands. Only 2,000 of these islands are inhabited and 5,000 are still
unnamed on the global map. Alongside stunning beaches and azure blue waters,
this country has a rich culture to discover. UNESCO world heritage sites, old
colonial architecture, stunning churches and crumbling fortresses await to be
admired.
The Philippines has a lot we already know about. But it also has a lot
to discover that you may not have heard about. Here’s the top 7 impressive
facts about the Philippines.
1. There are
reportedly 175 languages spoken in the Philippines!
4 of them are said to have died out with no living speakers. Official languages
are Filipino and English, with Cebuano and Ilcano also being popular.
2. The
Philippines is one of the fastest growing countries in the world with its
population passing 100 million in 2014. It’s the 12th most populous
country in the world, growing by 2% annually. Manilla is said to have the
highest population density in the world, with a reported 55,446 people per
square mile!
3. Palawan has been named one of the top islands in the world by Conde Nast Traveler, plus many other publications. Puerto Princesa has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to the second longest underground river in the world.
4. 16 new species of mammal have been discovered in the Philippines over the last 10 years. This is a record and puts the Philippines in the top spot for new animal discovery.
5. In 1934, one lucky Filipino diver discovered the largest pearl ever reported. Weighing in at 14 pounds (6.35kg) it was named the ‘’Pearl of Lao Tzu’’ or ‘’Pearl of Allah’’ and has an estimated value of over $40 million!
6. Only a couple of hours from Manila, Mt Pinatubo erupted on June 15th 1991. 20 million tons of Sulphur dioxide and 10 billion metric tons of magma were shot into the air around 25 miles high. The blast was so powerful, a haze of sulfuric acid stayed in the atmosphere around the world for nearly 2 years, making global temperatures drop by 1 degree Fahrenheit.
7. A traditional Filipino male garment is the ‘Barong Tagalog’ or ‘Baro’. It is woven and embroidered using pineapple or banana plant fibres and is worn on formal occasions.
