Philippines

Manila serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Philippines, positioned in South-Eastern Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Quezon City, Davao, Cebu — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Manila's walled colonial district of Intramuros, built by the Spanish in 1571 on the banks of the Pasig River, survived centuries of occupation but was nearly obliterated in World War II's Battle of Manila — its restoration is an ongoing act of archaeological retrieval in a city otherwise defined by unrelenting density.

With a population of approximately 114M, Philippines is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The principal languages spoken are Filipino, English, which reflect the country's cultural heritage and open doors to a wide international community. Internationally, Philippines is reached via the dialling code +63. Filipinos practise bayanihan — a tradition of communal labour, once literally neighbours carrying a house together to a new site — and the spirit persists in disaster responses and overseas worker networks that collectively remit over $30 billion annually back to the archipelago.

Philippines spans 342,353 km², in the South-Eastern Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 13.0°N, 122.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.

The official currency is the Philippine peso (₱), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Philippines's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+08:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Philippines is Adobo. Food culture in Philippines is deeply tied to local identity — shared meals and markets are central to daily life and social gatherings across the country.

Basketball / Boxing holds a special place in the heart of Philippines's national identity. Manny Pacquiao's eight world titles across eight weight divisions made him the only boxer to achieve that distinction, and his bouts against De La Hoya, Hatton and Cotto were national events that emptied Philippine streets as thoroughly as any typhoon curfew.

The highest point in Philippines is Mount Apo, rising to 2,954 metres above sea level. The Philippine Archipelago comprises 7,641 islands stretched across 1,800 kilometres, with the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea — accessible only by liveaboard and only for a few months a year — protecting one of the last near-pristine coral triangle ecosystems on the planet.