History of the Philippines in dates. Philippines: history, population, government and political system

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Prehistoric period

Beginning in the 5th century, a civilization based on mixing different cultures and nationalities. Indigenous people The islanders—racially Negritos, belonging to a number of peoples, most notably the Aeta—traversed prehistoric lands and continental glaciers and eventually settled in the lush forests of the islands. Later, settlers from Southern China who spoke Austronesian languages came to the islands through Taiwan. Chinese merchants arrived in the 8th century.

Early history

Belonging to the Indo-Malayan maritime kingdoms in the 7th-15th centuries, the Philippines were opened to Europeans by Ferdinand Magellan (who died there after intervening in an internecine struggle) in 1521.

Spanish period (-)

American period (1898-1946)

Independent Philippines

Independence from the United States was granted to the Philippines in July. The first president of the Third Republic, the Independent Republic of the Philippines, was Manuel Roxas. However, the Philippines continued to be heavily dependent economically and politically on the United States. The United States received a 99-year lease of the territory for its military bases. In 1967, the lease term was reduced to 25 years. The Roxas administration granted amnesty to all who collaborated with the Japanese during the occupation, with the exception of those who had committed violent crimes.

After Roxas' death in 1948, Elpidio Quirino became president. He managed to reduce the national debt by increasing taxes, and successfully dealt with the uprisings of the communist Hukbalahap units.

In 1953, Ramon Magsaysay was elected president. He was very popular among ordinary people thanks to economic and land reforms. Magsaysay died in a plane crash in 1957.

In 1998, Joseph Estrada was elected president. He was very popular among the poor. In 2000 Estrada declared “total war” against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and government forces managed to inflict serious damage on the separatists.

However, in October 2000, Estrada was accused of accepting bribes from an illegal gambling business and mass street protests began demanding his impeachment. As a result, on January 20, 2001, Estrada resigned.

Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became president. During his first term, Arroyo had to contend with Estrada's supporters, who twice staged large protests in Manila, forcing Arroyo to declare a state of emergency. Arroyo herself, as well as her husband, were later accused of corruption. All this led to a sharp decline in Arroyo's popularity. However, in 2004 she was re-elected for a new term. In September 2005, an attempt by a group of senators to impeach Arroyo failed.

The first inhabitants of the Philippines appeared 300,000 years ago, possibly moving from the mainland along the narrow isthmus that connected the Philippines to the mainland. Negroids or Aeta appeared in the Philippines 25,000 years ago. But they were driven back by several waves of settlers from Indonesia, followed by Malaysian settlers. In 1380, the Arab governor Makdum appeared on the Sulu archipelago, who began to create what would later be called the Islamic sphere of influence for many centuries.

Ferdinand Magellan appeared on the islands in 1521 and declared the archipelago the property of Spain. Magellan was received in peace by one of the leaders on the island. Cebu, however, having taken his side in the internecine feud, was mortally wounded. Rai Lopez de Villalobos followed in 1543 and named the territory the Philippines in honor of Philip II of Spain. The Spanish occupation began in 1565 with the arrival of an expedition led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, and by 1571 the entire country, with the exception of the Muslim Sulu archipelago, was under Spanish rule.

The liberation movement in the Philippines began in the 19th century, and the Philippines also sided with the Americans during the Spanish-American War in 1898. When the Spanish were defeated, General Aguinaldo declared the Philippines an independent country. The USA, however, had completely different plans, and quickly bought the islands from the Spaniards for 20 million. But in the end, the United States was forced to recognize the Philippines' desire for independence as fair, and in 1935, Manuel Quezon was proclaimed President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, as part of the program for the transition to full independence. In 1942, Japan invaded the Philippines in a brutal manner and ruled the country until the United States re-invaded the Philippines two years later. The Philippines gained full independence in 1946.

Ferdinand Marcos was elected president in 1965, he declared a military dictatorship in 1972, and ruled the country as a dictator until 1986. His regime was attacked by both communists and Muslim guerrillas, and he was accused of election rigging and fraud. The assassination of prominent opposition figure Benigno Aquino in 1983 sparked widespread anti-government protests. In the 1986 elections, opposition forces coalesced around Aquino's widow, Corazon (Cory). Both parties were declared winners in the elections, but everyone was confident that Aquino had the majority of the votes. She began an act of civil disobedience that resulted in Marcos's flight from the country.

Aquino restored the country's democratic institutions but failed to address economic problems and a powerful military elite. US military influence over the country was weakened after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo destroyed US Clark Air Force Base and after the Philippine Senate refused to ratify the lease of the Subic Bay naval station. Aquino withstood seven coups in six years and gave up her position as Defense Secretary of her cabinet to Fidel Ramos in 1992. Ramos tried to revive the economy, attract foreign investment, eliminate corruption and raise the level of provision of public services to the population.

The Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) signed a peace agreement in September 1996, ending, at least formally, the island's 24-year struggle for autonomy. Mindanao. The peace agreement assumed significant independence in many of the island's provinces. Peace in the region remains elusive given the rise of factions that are dividing the movement, such as the military Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which opposes the agreement. The government continues to undertake military operations in MILF-held areas, particularly Basilan and Sulu.

In 1998, Ramos was replaced by Joseph Estrada, the Filipino version of Bruce Willis. Estrada won the majority of votes due to the enormous popularity of his screen characters more than due to any political experiment; he promised economic reforms, and carried them out, not for the benefit of the people, but to enrich his own pocket. He was impeached and put on trial in late 2000 on charges of accepting bribes from criminal gambling syndicates and using them to enrich himself and to build luxury mansions for his mistresses. When Estrada and his political supporters tried to obstruct the trial and block investigators from accessing financial accounts, the people decided enough was enough and staged mass demonstrations on the streets of Manila. Estrada was finally forced to surrender on January 19, 2001, and the next day Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was declared the new President of the Philippines. In a speech after the inauguration that had something familiar to Filipinos, Macapagal-Arroyo promised to end poverty and corruption, she refused to grant Estrada amnesty, and announced that only the court would decide his fate.

“The Philippines lived for 300 years in a monastery and 50 years in Hollywood...”

400 thousand years BC e.

On Philippines proto-humans live - Homo erectus (lat. Homo erectus)

40 thousand years BC e.

Estimated time of appearance of the first modern people(lat. Homo sapiens) on Philippines. Probably the first inhabitants Philippines were Australoids (Negritos). The descendants of the first settlers became the current dark-skinned mountain tribes (Aeta, etc.).

3rd millennium BC e.

Material evidence of people's presence on Philippine Islands- petroglyphs of Angono.

2nd millennium BC e.

Check-in Philippines Austronesian-speaking tribes who came by sea from the coast China- the ancestors of today's Filipinos.

1st millennium BC e. - 1571

On Luzon there is a so-called Kingdom of Luzon with its capital in Tondo.

Around the 1st century. BC e.

Ancient authors describe the legendary golden island Chris (Chrysa or Chris). For some authors, location Chryses called Philippine archipelago. Perhaps at this time Greek merchants reached Philippines.

Around 900

The first known written document in the Philippine language was created - the so-called. "copper tablet from Laguna" containing Sanskrit, Old Javanese and Old Tagalog words.

1205 - 1800

On Mindanao there is an Islamic state - the Sultanate of Maguindanao

Diplomatic relations Kingdom of Luzon with the Chinese Ming Dynasty.

IN Holo the oldest mosque in the area was built Philippines- Sheikh Karim Makhdum Mosque.

Around 1500

Attack on Luzon sultanate Brunei

Discovery by Western sailors Philippines. Ferdinand Magellan's expedition lands on the island Homonkhon

Ferdinand Magellan is killed by the Mactanese leader Lapu-Lapu

Miguel Legazpi's expedition to Philippines

1565 - 1821

Philippines are part of the viceroyalty New Spain

Conclusion of the blood pact (Sandugo) between Miguel Legazpi and Datu Skatuna

The city was founded by Miguel Legazpi Cebu

Andres Urdaneta completed the return journey from Manila to Acapulco through northern latitudes, and opened the “Urdaneta Way”

Anti-Spanish revolt in Cebu

Manila awarded city status

Anti-Spanish revolt in Manila

IN Manila Catholic bishop settles

Anti-Spanish uprising Luzon

1587 - 1588

Anti-Spanish conspiracy in Manila and some other cities

Partially successful advocacy for reforming the tax system Philippines

The Jesuits founded a school in Manila, which later became the University of St. Ignacio, the first not only in Philippines, but also in Asia

The beginning of book printing Philippines

IN Manila Catholic Archbishop established

Uprising in the province Cagayan

Anti-Catholic protests in the north Luzon

University of St. Thomas opened

1621 - 1622

Presidents of the Philippines

May 24, 1899 – April 1, 1901 Emilio Aguinaldo
October 14, 1943 - August 17, 1945 Jose Laurel (Jose P. Laurel) - President of the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. Arrested for collaboration with the Japanese and high treason, pardoned under an amnesty. Sometimes not mentioned in the list of Philippine Presidents.
August 1, 1944 - May 28, 1946 Sergio Osmeña (Sergio Osmeña) - Vice President under Manuel Quezon. Gained power after Quezon's death.
May 28, 1946 – April 15, 1948 Manuel Rojas (Manuel Acuña Roxas) - won the elections against the previous president Osmeña.
April 17, 1948 - December 30, 1953 Elpidio Quirino (Elpidio Rivera Quirino) - Vice President of the Philippines. Took the presidency after the death of Manuel Roxas
December 30, 1953 – March 17, 1957 Ramon Magsaysay (Ramon Magsaysay) - won the elections from the nationalist party. He pursued a pro-American policy. Under him, the Philippines became one of the founders of the SEATO bloc. Died in a plane crash.
February 25, 1986 - June 30, 1992 Corazon(Corey) Aquino (Maria Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino) - the first female president in Asia. The widow of Marcos opposition senator Benigno Aquino, who was killed in 1983 while trying to return to the country. She took part in the presidential elections, but according to official data, she lost to Marcos. Her supporters did not recognize the results, Marcos was overthrown. Adopted a new constitution. She achieved the withdrawal of American military bases. She refused to stand as a candidate in the 1992 elections.
June 30, 1992 - June 30, 1998 Fidel Ramos (Fidel Valdez Ramos) - general, won the elections with the support of the previous president Corazon Aquino.
June 30, 1998 - January 20, 2001 Joseph Estrada (Joseph Estrada, Jose Marcelo Ejercito) - film actor, won the 1998 presidential election. Involved in corruption scandals, overthrown as a result of a peaceful revolution.

However, more expeditions followed from the 1530s. Members of the López de Villalobos expedition in 1543 named the archipelago Felipinas in honor of the Spanish prince and later King Philip II.
1565- Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi continued the colonization of the Philippines.
At the beginning of 1565, the Spaniards ravaged Mariana Islands, sailed past the islands of Barbudas and Ladrones and sighted the Philippines on February 13. We safely landed on the island of Cebu and came into contact with its inhabitants.
Unlike Magellan, who was attacked and killed by the natives, On March 16, 1565, Lopez de Legazpi managed to conclude a ritual agreement - sandugo - with the local leader Sikanuta, the leader of the Philippine island of Bohol.
Sandugo is a ritual blood pact. Participants in the ritual drank wine to which the blood of the treaty-makers Legazpi and Sikatuna was added. Sandugo is seen as the conclusion of the blood brotherhood between the Spaniards and the Filipinos.
Legazpi founded the first Spanish settlement on Cebu It is believed that the city was founded in 1565 on the very spot where Magellan landed 44 years earlier. Remarkably, Legazpi discovered on the island an icon of the Holy Child Jesus, left by Magellan, which was revered by local residents. Later this icon was kept as a valuable relic in the Cebu monastery
For six years preceding the founding of Manila, Cebu remained the main European settlement in the Philippines. Built in 1567, the Fortress of St. Peter (Fort San Pedro) remained a bastion of Spanish rule in the southern Philippines until the end of the 19th century. Also, it is from the island of Cebu that the history of Christianity in the Philippines begins. Magellan erected a wooden cross in Cebu. The remains of the original cross are embedded in another, black cross made of Tindalo wood. The cross is now kept in the Basilica of Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) In 1595, the University of San Carlos was founded.
Using this bridgehead, Lopez de Legazpi sent ships to explore the northern part of the Philippines.
Despite clashes with Chinese pirates, he began to baptize the natives in northern Luzon and founded a new capital there on June 24, 1571. Manila, as a metropolis for the colony. A city on the island of Luzon is named after Lopez de Legazpi.
Administratively, the Philippines was declared part of spanish colony New Spain and were governed by a governor subordinate to the Mexican viceroy. The population was rapidly converting to the Catholic faith and by the 1620s most of it was Christianized. Vast territories and parishes came under the control of religious orders (Augustinians, Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits). In 1578 a Catholic bishop was established in Manila, and in 1595 an archbishop. The establishment of Christianity marked the beginning of the creation of an education system in a European style. Since 1593, books (mainly with religious content) began to be printed in the Philippines. Already in the first years of colonial rule, new educational institutions were organized, and in 1611 the first University of St. Thomas was opened, but Filipinos were not allowed there until the end of the century. However, the country's culture has undergone significant Spanishization. The Spanish language and Catholicism became widespread, with the exception of the southern rebellious islands inhabited by Muslims. Sea communication between Acapulco and Manila has been established.
The Spaniards introduced in the Philippines the system of “encomiendas” that existed in their American colonies - estates transferred to individuals, orders or directly to the crown. The encomendero collected a household tax (tributo) from the population for his benefit. The land tenure system finally took shape in the first half of the 17th century. The main type of landownership became the hacienda, and the main form of labor exploitation was sharecropping. Economically, the Philippines was a loss-making colony and received substantial subsidies from Mexico.
By the end of the 16th century. Manila has become a leading shopping center East Asia, on trade with China, India and the East Indies. Between the Philippines and the islands New Spain Galleons with cargo from the Philippines, including gold, constantly cruised. They were often attacked by English pirates. Between 1600 and 1663 there were constant skirmishes with the Dutch and Moreau pirates.
The arbitrariness and violence of the colorists caused powerful but unsuccessful uprisings (in 1574 and 1587–1588 near Manila, in 1622 on the islands of Bohol and Leyte, in 1639 in the Cagayan Valley, in 1649–1650 on the islands of Leyte and Mindanao, in 1660 –1661 in Central Luzon).
Spain had to wage a stubborn struggle with other states to maintain its dominance over the Philippines. At the end of the 16th century. Japanese ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi laid claim to the islands, and the Spaniards were forced to pay him tribute. In 1600–1601, 1609–1611, 1616–1617, 1644–1645, Dutch warships blockaded the shores of the archipelago, but were never able to capture it. There were constant skirmishes with the Moro pirates.
The Moros themselves associate their origins with the legendary Sayyid Muhammad Kabungsawan of Hadhramaut, who arrived in the Philippines from Johor. It is obvious that the Moro peoples were formed on the basis local population with the participation of immigrants from Malaysia. Some moved from the island of Kalimantan. In the 15th century, Malay merchants introduced Islam to the Sulu Islands. At first it was adopted by the feudal elite, then it spread among the common population. In the 15th century, early sultanates. The first sultanate was Jolo, with Jolo as its capital. These were warlike peoples. The Samal people, for example, produced many pirates. The Muslim sultanates in the southern part of the archipelago constantly attacked Spanish forces and garrisons (“Moro wars”) and only in the 18th century. a balance of power has been established in this area
From the beginning of the 17th century. Residents were forced to perform labor service (polo) and forcibly deliver goods to the authorities. Famine, which affected entire villages and provinces, and the cruelty of labor led to an increase in mortality. During 1621–1655, the population of the colony decreased from 611 thousand to 505 thousand people. The decrease in the number of workers was one of the reasons for the abolition of the labor system in the 1660s. By the end of the 17th century. the encomienda system was replaced by the collection of a poll tax for the benefit of the crown.
Military threats contributed to increased centralization of government and contributed to the finalization of the administrative structure of the Philippines. The functions and power of the Governor General expanded. The country was divided into provinces led by alcaldes - military captains. The provinces were divided into districts, and those into rural townships (barangays). The administration of districts and barangays was entrusted to the Filipinos.
1762- British occupation. The British East India Company, sending 13 ships and 6,830 soldiers, took possession of Manila, breaking the resistance of a small Spanish garrison of 600 people. The company entered into an agreement with the Sultan of Sulu. However, the British failed to extend their power even into Luzon. After the end of the war, they left Manila in 1764, and in 1765 completed the evacuation from the Philippine Islands. The islands were returned to Spain. British occupation gave impetus to new anti-Spanish uprisings
Muslims and the local Chinese diaspora were opposed to the Spaniards. The enemies of Spain intensified the national liberation movement.
Uprisings began: in Central Luzon (led by H. Palaris) and in northwestern Luzon (led by D. Silang). It was difficult to suppress them. On the island of Bohol, from 1744, an uprising continued under the leadership of F. Dagohoy, which the Spaniards could not cope with for 85 years. One of the forms of protest was the emergence of numerous sectarian movements of the messianic type.
1778–1787- Governor General José Basco y Vargas has begun to implement important reforms. The first steps were taken to develop production export crops– sugar cane, indigo, spices, cotton, cocoa, coffee, for the creation of textile and tobacco industries, for the development of mineral resources.
1781- The Philippines were set aside as a separate colony. The following year, authorities introduced a government monopoly on the tobacco trade.
1785- the Royal Philippine Company was established, which was allowed direct trade between the islands and the metropolis. In 1789, the port of Manila was opened to free trade and, although this decision was reversed in 1792, the Spanish authorities were no longer able to stop trade expansion European countries and the USA to the Philippines.
During the years of the Spanish Revolution (1808–1814), liberal-minded officials appeared in the Philippines, and a certain softening of the governance regime took place. The idea of equal rights between Filipinos and Spaniards began to spread among the educated classes. In 1810 The islands were represented in the Spanish Cortes by two Spanish officials and a Creole merchant.
In 1834–1837 a representative of the indigenous Filipino population (lawyer H.F. Lecaros) sat in the Spanish Parliament. But already the constitution of 1837 declared the Philippines a crown colony, and their representation in the Cortes was abolished. From the 1850s, the Spaniards began to conquer the Muslim South: by the 1870s they managed to conquer Sula; the capture of Mindanao was never completed until the end of Spanish rule.
In the 19th century The Philippine economy has undergone important developments.
1815 - galleon flights ceased. In 1830 - the monopoly of the Royal Company was abolished, and in 1882 the tobacco monopoly was abolished.
Private Spanish traders were allowed onto the islands, and more and more merchants from Great Britain, France and the United States appeared, who soon ousted Spanish competitors and achieved the actual and then official opening of Manila (1834) and other ports (1855–1860) to foreign trade. This stimulated the production of export crops, the production of handicrafts (fabrics and embroidery) for export, and the development of urban manufactories (cigar manufacturing, etc.). Chinese and Philippine entrepreneurship began to grow
In the 19th century a Filipino intelligentsia emerged. Its development was also given impetus by the education reform of 1863, which expanded access to educational institutions for the indigenous population. In 1869, the Reform Junta was formed in Manila.
Gained great popularity. movement for equal rights for Filipino and Spanish priests, led by priests Jose Maria Burgos, Jacinto Zamora and Mariano Gomez. The priest Apolinario de la Cruz, after the order he created was banned, led a powerful peasant uprising in 1842–1843. The uprising of arsenal workers in Cavite in Central Luzon, supported by soldiers and surrounding peasants, caused a great response. Participants in the movement not only protested against the extension of the arsenal of the poll tax to workers, but also opposed Spanish rule. The movement was suppressed. The authorities executed not only the participants, but also the priests of Burgos, Zamora and Gomez, who turned into national heroes.
Supporters of reforms (equal rights with the mother country, the introduction of democratic freedoms, etc.) created their own societies in Spain (Spanish-Filipino Circle 1882–1883) and in the Philippines itself (Junta of Propagandists, 1888). The first nationalist organizations arose in the form of Masonic lodges (Solidarity in Spain from 1889, Nilad and other lodges in the Philippines after 1891).
Organizations whose goal was to liberate the Philippines from Spain. In 1892

Ethnically, the Filipinos, who occupy only 2,000 islands out of the entire archipelago, are very heterogeneous. The largest ethnic group, the Tagalogs, make up a third of the 100 million population. Their language formed the basis of Filipino, the state language, which is used for interethnic communication between representatives of other peoples of the country. Communication is also facilitated by the fact that in all local languages almost half of the words are borrowed from Spanish. Many islanders speak English, the second official language.

The majority of the population professes Catholicism. Muslims, who are small in percentage terms, are concentrated in the south of the country; in Mindanao they even have their own autonomous region. Tourism is not developed here, the islanders live poorly, engage in agriculture, fishing, and pearl diving. The local flavor continues in the rest of the country, but at the same time, Filipinos have been Europeanized due to the long influence of the Spaniards. This duality is observed in many ways: modern hospitals are opening, but traditional medicine is also popular, democratic values are taking root, but the Asian clan system in politics remains.

History of the country

The uniqueness of the Philippines stems from its eventful history. Filipinos regularly fell under outside influence and bravely resisted it, resulting in an eclectic but very attractive amalgam of national identity and borrowings from a wide variety of cultures.

Another 2 thousand years BC. e. The ancestors of modern Tagalogs and their relatives came from the Chinese coast, displacing the dark-skinned tribes that had lived here since ancient times. In the 1st millennium BC. A kingdom appeared on Luzon that lasted until the 16th century. and actively interacted with China. In 1521, the first Europeans sailed to Cebu, led by Magellan, who soon died in a battle with the islanders. The victory did not help the natives: the Spaniards claimed their rights to these territories, calling them the Philippines in honor of the then reigning King Philip II. Since 1565, the Philippines became part of New Spain, uniting the kingdom's colonies in both hemispheres.

The next three centuries were spent in periodic attempts by the Filipinos to rebel against the authority of the king and the church. In fairness, it should be noted that Catholicism also played a positive role: priests organized education in schools, published books, and provided medical assistance to the islanders. Together with the Spaniards, the locals waged a military campaign against the Dutch in the 17th century and lost to the British in the 18th century, although a peace treaty soon returned the colonies to Spain.

All these vicissitudes did not affect Mindanao, where from the 13th to the 19th centuries. An independent Muslim state flourished. These territories were annexed to the main territory of the Philippines only in late XIX century. In 1898, the united state declared independence, but already in 1902 it came under US rule, which, however, was not very burdensome. The Philippines became autonomous in 1916 and its first president was elected in 1935. During World War II, the state fought with Japan, with the help of the American military it was liberated from the invaders, while Manila was practically wiped off the face of the Earth.

In the second half of the 20th century, the country never saw peace: Muslims began to fight for secession, and dictator Marquez came to power for many years, overthrown only in 1986. He was replaced by the widow of the deceased oppositionist Niño Aquino, after whom the largest airport countries, Corazon Aquino. The current President of the Philippines is their son Benigno Aquino. It was from the late 80s that Filipinos began to study English everywhere, which became the state language, abandoned Spanish and began to develop tourism.

Natural and man-made attractions of the country

A significant part of the coast, both external and internal, consists of natural beaches - nature itself suggests the location of the resorts. The Philippine islands differ in cost of living, availability of diving spots and architectural attractions, and transport accessibility.

Luzon Island

Covered with low mountains interspersed with fertile plains, Luzon is the largest island in the archipelago. Here is Manila, the capital of the state, and located 7 minutes drive from it international airport named Niño Aquino. Formally, Manila is the second largest city in the country, significantly inferior to the 2.7 million city of Quezson City, but in practice these million people and Caloocan merge into Capital Region, equal in population to Moscow.

The most popular historical landmark in the country is located in Manila. These are Intramuros, Spanish fortress walls of the 16th-18th centuries, almost completely destroyed during the bombing of World War II, but restored. Now tourists eagerly visit restaurants and galleries in the city wall, the neo-Gothic Manila Cathedral of the 16th century. The country's main museums are also concentrated in Manila: among the most interesting are Bahay Tsinoi, dedicated to Chinese culture, and the Metropolitan Museum with a collection of decorative and applied arts of the Philippines.

After seeing the sights, travelers try to leave the agglomeration, which suffers from poor ecology and is simply littered. Locals They prefer to relax not on the coast, but in the “summer” capital of the country, in the mountain resort of Baguio. Luzon has several active and extinct volcanoes, one of which formed big lake Taal, suitable for fishing. Tourists climb the Pinatubo volcano, inspect active volcano Mayon and Pangsan Khan Falls.

The port of Davao, with a population of about 1.7 million, is located in Mindanao, the second largest island in the archipelago. attracts tourists National Park Apo with endemic representatives of flora and fauna and the volcano of the same name - the most high mountain country, reaching a height of almost 3 km. Married couples who want to relax in peace should not come here: the political situation on the island is turbulent, and there is a constant terrorist threat.

Cebu Island

The city of the same name, the center of the province, became the country's first urban fortification. Fort San Pedro, a 16th-century Spanish fortress, has survived to this day. He later passed the baton to Manila. Off the northern part of Cebu is the islet of Bantayan, famous inexpensive prices and excellent beaches in the Santa Fe area, accessible by ferry from Hagnay, Cebu. True, there are no places for diving here and divers go to the Malapasca island for a thrill. Here extreme sports enthusiasts watch the movements of schools of sharks. The memorial on the island of Mactan is of historical value: the monument on Magellan’s grave is adjacent to the monument in honor of his killer, the leader of Lapu-Lapu, who fought against foreigners.

Largest islands The Philippines is well equipped for recreation, but aesthetes prefer Boracay, which is only 7 km in length. Giant White Beach Publicly accessible, there are many nightlife venues and souvenir shops nearby. The island is famous for its caves, colonies of rare blue corals grow off the coast, and there are several diving centers. Balabog Beach is ideal for surfing in November-December. A plane from Manila takes tourists to Panay Island, from there it takes half an hour by boat to Boracay.

Bohol Island

In the reserve on the island of Bohol, tourists find themselves in the habitat of tarsier lemurs, where they are even allowed to pet these charming, bug-eyed animals. Another natural attraction of Bohol is the Chocolate Hills. Against the backdrop of the evergreen summer, their grass, which fades towards the end of the season, looks very exotic. Bohol is known for its beaches and excellent service. The nearest islet of Cabilao is considered one of best diving centers countries.

Mindoro Island

Located near Luzon, the island will appeal to lovers have a relaxing holiday. For entertainment, diving is recommended only for experienced athletes due to strong currents. hiking to the mountains and waterfalls of Tamarao. If you get really bored, you can attend a cockfight.

Negros Island

Negros Island with geothermal stations and active volcano Kanlaon attracts those who prefer to relax away from the noise of civilization. In Dumaguete, where the flight flies from Manila, divers gather. There are three dozen dive sites of varying degrees of difficulty, especially for athletes near Apo Island, whose coastal waters are saturated with marine life. Visibility in clear water reaches 40 m, the current is average, sometimes strong.

Palawan Island

This region is famous archaeological finds and natural attractions. 8 km underground river Puerto Princesa object World Heritage UNESCO is one of the 7 wonders of nature. The river is named after the nearest city, located 80 km away. Only 1.5 km of the stream is open to tourists; to visit it, you need to obtain permission from the office near the Palawan airport and travel from the town of Sabang. At the height of the season, due to restrictions on the number of tourists per day, this is problematic, so the permit, that is, permission, is booked in advance, 2-3 weeks in advance for 350 pesos. A two-day excursion from Puerto Princesa with guaranteed access to the river costs about 2,000 pesos.

The small islands surrounding Palawan form the El Nido Nature Reserve, entry to which costs 200 pesos. This place is considered the most beautiful in the Philippines. You can get here by plane from Manila, by bus from Puerto Princesa or by boat from Coron Airport, which is quite dangerous. Civilization has hardly penetrated here, and this is the beauty of this protected area.

Holidays in the Philippines

Like other countries in the region, the Philippines celebrates many local and national religious and political holidays. Among the understandable foreign tourists- Catholic Christmas, New Year, Good Friday, All Saints' Day, May 1st. The end of the Muslim month of Ramadan is a day off for the entire country.

Of the celebrations unusual for Europeans, the magnificent Manila procession on the Day of the Black Nazarene on January 9, when a statue of Christ made of ebony is carried through the streets, deserves attention. In Baguio, February is all about flowers. On May 15, Quezon City celebrates the Pahiyas festival, when houses are decorated with vegetables and fruits in honor of Saint Isidore. Philippine Independence Day coincides with Russia's and is celebrated on June 12.

Philippine cuisine

Central and Latin America, Western Europe, North Africa and, of course, Southeast Asia- these are the sources of diversity in Philippine cuisine. They put a lot of spices in their dishes, but still more moderately than their closest neighbors - this is due to the influence of Spain. You don’t have to wait long for what you order in restaurants—the food is heat-treated literally in front of visitors and served on the table. The order of appearance of dishes is the same as in Europe. In restaurants, people often eat with their hands, but people with European appearance are served with familiar cutlery. When choosing dishes, special attention should be paid to seafood and freshly squeezed juices from exotic fruits. The only disappointment that awaits tourists is the Philippine desserts: rice or noodles of varying degrees of boiling, doused with sugar syrup. As for drinks, in addition to the usual tea, coffee and juices, guests will be offered local beer and ginger tea, or salabat. For strong alcoholic drinks, you can try Philippine rum for educational purposes.

Shopping in the Philippines

In shopping centers in Manila and others major cities products from all world brands are presented at Western prices, but here you can also look for their licensed Asian copies of good quality, costing several times less. Small shops sell handicraft goods adapted to European tastes and high-quality clothing made from locally produced natural fabrics. You just need to remember that Filipinos are not distinguished by their powerful physiques, so only slender tourists will be able to pick up things for themselves in such shops.

Inexpensive but impressive souvenirs - jewelry made from coral, natural pearls, silver mined in Philippine mines, coconut and wooden dishes. A more expensive pleasure is wicker rattan furniture. Connoisseurs of natural cosmetics purchase coconut oil in the Philippines. The guitar factory in Cebu produces authentic Spanish flamenco instruments. Shopping centers Usually they work until 20 o'clock; in shops, according to Spanish custom, they often observe a siesta and do not work during hot hours.

Prices in the Philippines

The price level in the Philippines is very low even at the current dollar exchange rate. If you cook it yourself, fruits are the cheapest - their cost is 2-3 times lower than in Russia. Our usual vegetables are expensive, meat is comparable to Russian meat, as are alcoholic drinks. Local rum is obscenely cheap. Lunch at a restaurant will cost about 300 pesos; a quick snack on the street can cost 50-100 pesos.

When planning your travel expenses, you should calculate your budget based on 1000 pesos per day per person. This will include food, accommodation, transportation costs, and entertainment. Tourists can afford services for the amount of 2000 pesos high class, spa treatments, taxi rides, daily restaurant meals in comfortable hotels and shopping.

Customs regulations

You can export up to 200 cigarettes and 0.95 liters of alcohol from the country; if you exceed this amount, you will have to pay a duty. It is prohibited to export gold products, except for your own, specified in the declaration, products made of ivory and valuable wood species, wild plants and animals. Antiques require a special permit. A tourist can bring any quantity bank cards, checks and cash in foreign currency, preferably in dollars, however, if there are more than 10,000 of the latter, they will need to be declared. Local money is imported and exported in an amount of no more than 10,000 pesos.

Money

The national currency of the Philippines is the peso. 1 peso is equal to 100 centavos. Banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 pesos and coins in denominations of 1,5,10,25,50 centavos and 1, 2, 5 or 10 pesos are in circulation.

It is better to exchange dollars for Philippine pesos in major cities– the exchange rate is better there, in the provinces exchange offices it is more difficult to find and the course will be less attractive. City shops and most hotels accept Visa and Master Card. Banks are open until 15:00 only on weekdays, ATMs are open 24 hours a day. The service fee, that is, the official tip, is included in the bill, the service staff gives the visitor change, and some of the coins can be given voluntarily. Porters at airports are free of charge: they work for tips. Be sure to carry change with you to pay for transport and bills of 5, 10, 20 pesos.

In the Philippines, it is necessary to have change (1.5 or 10 pesos coins) and small bills (10 or 20 pesos), since “little things” such as water, ice cream, jeepney fare can cost only a few coins, and the seller often There will be no change for 50 or 100 pesos bills.

Tourist Information

In the outer resorts of the Philippines it rains from June to October; in the inner resorts the precipitation is more evenly distributed. At this time, not all roads can be driven; if there is a threat of a tropical typhoon, there is a chance of being stuck at the airport for a couple of days, so it is recommended to plan your trip for the period from November to May. You need to take an umbrella and warm clothes with you for excursions to the mountains.

The visa-free regime for Russians is valid for 21 days. If the guest liked the country so much that he wants to stay, he just needs to contact the Immigration Bureau in Manila to extend his visa to 59 days. This organization has 44 branches throughout the country. Only vacationers can enter freely; for other purposes, you need to obtain a visa at the embassy in Moscow or at the consulates in St. Petersburg and Vladivostok.