The ASEAN Guide 2017

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Facts
Philippines is a country made of
more than 7,000 islands. Much of
the country is mountainous and
is home to 20 active volcanoes.
Following the colonisation by the
Spanish during the 16th century
and later by the US in 1898 during
the Spanish-American War, both
Spanish and US influences remain
strong in the country.
As at 2016, estimated population
of Philippines is 102,624,209, with
people of the Catholic faith holding
a whopping 82.9% of the whole
population.
Tagalog is the Filipino’s official
language while other dialects
are also spoken in various parts
of the country like Cebuano and
Kapampangan.
As at 2015, the Gross Domestic
Product of Philippines stood at
USD$292 billion coming from
contributions from the agriculture,
industry and services sectors.
Philippines is blessed with many enchanting islands and beaches. But there are
parts of the country that offer a different view. One such place is Vigan, an entire
colonial district intact from its Spanish period architecture and scenery. This
historic town, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, brings travellers to an
era dating back to the 16th century. Vigan, a capital of the province of Ilocos Sur in
Philippines, has a lot of must-sees and must-do’s for visitors.
Philippines has a unitary state
presidential and democratic
republic where the President of
the Philippines is both the head of
state and the head of government
with the Peso being the currency.
HOW TO GET THERE
By land transportation, it
takes between 8 to 10 hours
to reach Vigan from Manila.
Travellers can choose the
comfortable Metro Manila
aircond buses for this long
journey, although there are
quite a number of other
bus companies offering the
service. Best is to take the
night trip, sleep off during
the long ride and arrive at
the city early the next day.
WHAT TO DO
The main mode of
transportation around the
Vigan City would be either
by karitela - a horse-drawn
carriages or by tricycles.
For travellers who want
to tour Vigan City in a
more complete old-world
experience, there are a
number of city tours via
tricycles or karitela to
choose from. Vigan City is a
place that is rich in history
and travellers can spot a
lot of historical walks and
museums in the area. These
include old colonial churches,
cobblestone streets, restored
ancestral houses, a freeroaming
zoo and pottery
shops to enjoy.
WHERE TO STAY
Choice of accommodations
are ample in Vigan City,
ranging from backpacker
inns, moderately-priced
lodges to luxurious hotels.
Interestingly, there are also
renovated ancestral houses
that are converted as
lodgings. More choice of
lodgings are found near the
Meztizo District where Calle
Crisologo is located, close to
most of the tourist spots and
restaurants.
WHAT TO EAT
Vigan City has lots of
food choices ranging from
authentic Ilocano cuisine,
traditional Filipino meals
and western dishes. Be sure
to check out the musteats
in Vigan that includes
empanada, okoy, longanisa,
bagnet and poqui-poqui.
ABS–CBN Corporation is a
broadcasting multi-media
conglomerate in Philippines while
GMA Network Inc is the country’s
leading free-to-air operator.
Philippines has seven major sports
namely basketball, badminton,
boxing, football, billiards, tennis
and volleyball. Interestingly,
ice-skating is also a popular sport
despite the tropical climate.
The national flower of Philippines
is the Jasminum sambac,
colloquially known as sampaguita.
It symbolizes purity, simplicity and
humility.
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