The world we live in has always been filled with beautiful and exciting places. Some of these places have been seen by the public, while others remained hidden to the majority. One of these is the Philippines. The Philippines is known to have beautiful rainforests and rich in natural resources. Located in the Southeastern part of Asia, the Philippines is an archipelago comprised of thousands of islands, with the Pacific Ocean nearby. The country is divided into three major islands, comprising of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with its neighboring countries include Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Micronesia.
Since the country is found below the equator line, the country only experiences two seasons, being the summer and rainy seasons, respectively. The geographical location of the Philippines is considered as the “Ring of Fire”. This was used as an explanation for the numerous active volcanoes found in the Philippines. These include the Taal Volcano, Mount Pinatubo, and the Mayon. Mount Apo, although dormant, was considered as the highest mountain peak in the country. In addition to this, the country also experiences atleast fifteen typhoons each year, for it falls in the typhoon belt.
Regardless of these natural calamities, the people were still able to live normal lives. With a tropical weather, it was never difficult for the country to grow different plants, trees, fruits, and flowers. The way of living of the people was easy, for natural resources were found everywhere. Being surrounded by water makes the people, known as the Filipinos, hunt for food easier. Fishing was considered to be one of their ways of living. The people basically lived a simple, yet flourished life. Although the Filipinos were known to live simple lives, many still tried to conquer the said land.
There were the Spaniards, the Americans, then the Japanese. This was due to the fact that the Philippines was known to contain a lot of riches and natural resources. The natural structures were extraordinary and were considered to be landmarks of such wonderful culture. One of the sites found in the Philippines was the Banaue Rice Terraces. The terraces were known to the Filipinos as the eigth wonder of the world. Due to legend, the indigenous people of the Philippines carved and shaped the terraces, barely using anything except for their hands. With a tropical weather, it was not difficult to maintain the area.
Water is distributed to the terraces using an old irrigation system. Baguio City was also known as one of the most appealing places in the Philippines. The city is known to rest on a mountain. The journey to the city is not as easy as it seems. The roads are very steep, and is curved. Without proper caution, one may be involved in an accident. Regardless of this, the sites the city may show are definitely rewarding. One may be able to see how people were actually able to be up to date with the changing times, while able to experience nature at its best.
Some of the known sites in the city include the Wright Park, Burnham Park, and the Mansion. Palawan was one of the most popular places in the Philippines. It is an island found in the southern part of the country, rich in natural resources. The water that surrounded the said island was clear, and blue. Corals and reefs were visible to its tourists, that also attracted divers, and marine lovers alike. Large landscapes made out of limestone may also be seen, while passing through an underground river. With the invasion of the Spaniards, the Philippines was influenced with Christianity.
Majority of the people were converted to Christianity, and until know, the country is known to be one of the Catholic countries of the world. For this, thousands of churches may be found in the whole country. One of the historic landmarks was the Magellan's Cross in Cebu City. The Cross was built to symbolize the birth of Christianity in the country. Nowadays, it is found outside the Basilica de Sto. Nino, and is a major destination for both locals and tourists alike. Another importan church found in the Philippines is the Manila Cathedral.
From afar, the cathedral may look old and dirty, but from the inside history of the people and the country may be seen. Some of the most important people in society during the olden times were buried in the said cathedral. This was due to the fact that people during the olden times believed that being burried inside the church marks one's standing in society. Moving forward, the Philippines is also up to date with the rampant changes in society and technology. Although buildings and technological advancements have been made, the country still maintains its natural resources.
Projects have been released in the reparing and maintenance of the different sites. Words cannot fully explain the numerous wonders that may be found in the Philippines. Although the country is known to experience difficulties from time to time, these cannot topple the numerous wonderful sites that may be seen in the country. The once in a life time experience of actually witnessing the natural wonders this country has to offer is life changing. Who knows, maybe other people may even be encouraged to try living in this wonderful country.
