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The Philippines represents the epitome of hospitality and adventure.
The country is known to have beautiful beaches and an ocean filled with marine life. It also comprises at least 7500 islands and 5000 more that are unidentified. When you visit the Philippines, you’ll find 175 different languages.
And there are many more fun facts about the Philippines!
So, what else makes the Philippines unique? What is its history? This article tells you 20 facts about the Philippines you probably don’t know.
20 cool facts about the Philippines
1. It hosts the largest underground river in the world
One of the most interesting facts about the Philippines is that it’s home to the largest underground river in the world. It flows beneath St. Paul Mountain, formed millions of years ago and many tourists flock here to fish and explore.
The mountain consists of caverns that are 24 km within the range, making it one of the world’s most remarkable cave systems.
2. It’s home to several volcanic mountains
Since the Philippines is located near the Ring of Fire, it has 300 volcanoes. Out of this number, around 22 of them are known to erupt actively and are located on Luzon Island. Some active volcanoes include Taal, Mayon Hibok Hibok and Pinatubo.
Together, these active volcanoes have erupted at least 30 times, causing numerous deaths. The country inhibits tourist activities from occurring frequently in these mountains.
3. Filipinos mainly use jeepneys as a form of public transit
Filipinos and other residents employ jeepneys as their standard mode of transportation. These vehicles are characterised by their whimsical and bright appearance. And it’s impossible to ignore them.
Jeepneys have a rich history in the US since they were traditionally used as military vehicles in the state. Typically, Americans utilised these vehicles during WW2. After the war finished, Filipinos renovated the vehicles to create an excellent form of public transportation in the Philippines.
4. The famous Tuk-Tuks
As well as jeepneys, there are tuk-tuks. You can find these triangular-shaped vehicles moving through small towns and rural areas.
Even though they’re convenient for moving in narrow places, they’re slower than other modes of transport. Typically, the tricycle has an engine capacity that ranges from 50 to 125cc. Therefore, these vehicles find it challenging to move in hilly areas and can only carry a few loads and passengers. The likely source of the tricycle in the Philippines is the introduction of the Rikuo 97 tricycle.
5. Karaoke is very popular
One of the cool facts about the Philippines is that when the locals leave work, many enjoy going to karaoke in the evening.
Most bars and restaurants are busy after work with karaoke sessions. The majority have a microphone and a karaoke machine that converts TVs into a karaoke machine. Pretty cool, huh?
6. Bangka are the famous boats
You’ll encounter many boats commonly known as Bangka in the Philippines. These boats provide income to many residents since tourists and residents pay for the transportation. Tourists prefer using these boats to explore since they’re also affordable.
The Bangka resembles a canoe, consisting of bamboo outriggers to help with stability. They’re more stable compared to the standard canoe. Typically, you can use paddles to create motion in the smaller Bangka, while the larger ones require more power through engines. Most locals use the vessel for island exploration for cargo, tourist transportation and fishing.
7. It’s the only Christian nation in Asia
The Philippines is the only Christian country in Asia. Approximately, 85% of people in the country practice Catholicism.
Meanwhile, around 8% of Filipinos in the Philippines are in various Christian churches as well. This kind of devotion means that many tourists come to the Philippines to explore the multiple statues found in the churches.
8. People enjoy duck embryos as a snack
Yes, you read correctly. This popular snack comprises an embryo of an 18-day-old fertilised duck. The embryo is placed in a dish. After that, it’s well cooked and consumed using its shell. Kids love it too and excitedly order balut from food vendors. However, tourists aren’t as keen.
To consume as Filipinos do, you must create a hole within the embryo’s eggshell and then put a pinch of salt inside. After that, shake the embryo gently to ensure the salt is evenly distributed. Then, remove the shell so that you can suck the embryo quickly. Remember: everything within the egg is edible, including the embryo and yolk!
9. It’s one of the world’s megadiverse nations
The Philippines is a megadiverse due to its immense biodiversity. It’s one of the 17 well-known nations in the world that are megadiverse. Typically, the country consists of at least 5000 plant species and borders marine environments.
As for the number of indigenous plant species, the Philippines ranks fifth in the world. Of these indigenous plants, 700 are threatened plant species that require protection from extinction.
10. It’s the largest global provider of nurses
The Philippines is known to have a lot of individuals in the nursing profession.
Nurses have been migrating from their country for decades to search for better pastures in the US. This migration has led these nurses to be influenced by the American education system and culture in general.
Since there’s high competition for nursing in the US, some nurses opt to go to other nations like the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Ireland. Many of these individuals have returned home as certified nurses and established their own training institutions in the Philippines.
11. The Philippines has the second largest group of islands in the world
As for islands, the Philippines ranks second in the world and is popularly referred to as an archipelago.
The country is home to at least 7500 islands covering a total landmass of three hundred thousand square kilometres. Luzon Island is the largest in the Philippines, while Mindanao is the second largest.
12. There’s a national eagle in the country
The Philippines is home to an eagle that’s referred to as the ‘monkey-eating eagle’ and is regarded as their national bird thanks to their large size and wide wings. These eagles are also the most formidable birds in the world. They love to prey on monkeys, as their names imply, and other creatures too.
A bushy crest and a white and brown plumage characterise the bird. Unfortunately, they’re almost extinct so seeing one is very rare. The Filipinos take great caution when it comes to the bird’s safety. If one were to harm this bird and get caught, they risk getting a heavy fine or 10-12 years of imprisonment.
13. The yo-yo was popularised in the Philippines
Even though there were certain yo-yo variations in China and Greece, the original version was founded in the Philippines. Pedro Flores was found by a group of visitors playing with his yo-yo. This encouraged the visitors to produce yo-yos and sell them.
The current yo-yos are different from the ones produced in the past. Unlike older versions, the current ones consist of a single continuous string twisted around the object to make a loop. In the end, Pedro Flores was among the inventors who made yo-yo more refined and durable. His creativity ensured that kids and others enjoyed the yo-yo due to its smooth motion.
14. There’s a banana flavored ketchup in the Philippines
Everyone knows ketchup. But are you familiar with banana-flavored ketchup?
This ketchup is a unique specialty in the Philippines that’s also well-liked. Typically, it consists of readily available ingredients like spices, bananas, sugar and vinegar.
During its manufacturing process, the ketchup resembles the classic tomato ketchup that people are familiar with, but the only difference is the colour at the end of the process. Banana ketchup is delicious and comes in omelettes, fries, burgers and hot dogs.
15. People love to text and socialise with their families and friends
Other interesting facts about the Philippines? Well, the Filipinos love spending time with their friends and family. And when they’re not together, they like to text.
In the Philippines, the total number of text messages sent goes up to 400 million every year. Filipinos always like to make sure they’re in touch, even when they’re not physically together.
16. The country is known for its earthquakes
Since the Philippines is located on the Ring of Fire, it experiences extreme weather conditions regularly. Additionally, there are five separate fault lines along the country. This makes it vulnerable to earthquakes.
According to research, more than 20 earthquakes take place in the country every day. Even though the magnitude is less destructive, it can cause a deadly earthquake. One deadly earthquake took place in Moro Gulf. The earthquake had a magnitude of about 7.9, which destroyed some of the islands and claimed the lives of thousands of people.
17. A diver found the largest pearl in the Philippines
Not long ago, a local Filipino diver came to find something that changed his life fifteen years ago: the largest pearl on the earth.
This peacock pearl weighed about 70 pounds and was two feet long. Since he wanted to preserve his lucky charm, he took it home and placed it beneath his bed. Currently, the pearl is worth an incredible $100 million.
18. There are strict wang-wang laws in the airports
At the Philippines airports, you’ll find strict wang wang laws that help to create equality.
The term wang wang is a phrase that originates from the sound made by police cars sirens. In the country, criminals would use phony police sirens on their vehicles to escape traffic. At the airport, the term wang wang is used to campaign against the abuse of power and corruption.
19. The country boasts its version of McDonald’s
The Philippines has a famous fast-food chain restaurant called Jollibee. This chain offers good dishes like the aloha burger with pineapple and bacon.
Joliibee first started as an ice cream shop in 1975. After that, it was remigmagined as a joint serving hot dogs and burgers.
20. The country has an LGBTQ political party
The Philippines established the first LGBTQ party in 2003. This party’s establishment has garnered a lot of attention since the country is known to be a Catholic nation.
Some residents believe that the existence of this party is taboo as it goes against their religious beliefs. Overall, even though the party is still trying to gain traction in politics, its existence has interfered with the Philippines’ religious beliefs and way of living.
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