The Philippines is an exotic country once discovered to the world by the Spaniards. With its colonial architecture and Catholic churches, it is so unlike other countries in the Asian region. Its natural resources attract more and more tourists every year. Impenetrable tropical rainforests with lush and vibrant vegetation, majestic volcanoes, magnificent sandy beaches and a diverse underwater world of coral reefs with its amazing inhabitants are available to travelers all year round. The Philippines has long established itself as one of the best diving and beach destinations in the world.
The best time of year to visit the Philippine Islands greatly depends on which islands it is.
1. The eastern regions of the Philippine archipelago (east coast of Luzon, Bohol and Leyte, central and western parts of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago) can be visited throughout the year.
2. To visit the western regions of the country (west of the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Panay, Palawan, Negros), the best time is from November to May, because from April to October there are intense rains caused by strong southwest winds.
3. To visit the northeast of Luzon, Samar Island, the east of the islands of Leyte and Mindanao, the period from February to May is best. During the summer and autumn months, typhoons periodically hit Luzon and the Visayas from the east and northeast. Catastrophic floods are associated with prolonged heavy rains.
4. Areas including the eastern regions of the islands of Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Cebu and the northwest of the island of Mindanao can be visited all year round.
Thus, the best time of the year to visit all the Philippine Islands is from February to May.
The Philippines has over 80 local languages and dialects belonging to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family of languages. Eight of them play the role of the first language for more than 85% of the total population of the country. In the Visayas, Cebuano is widespread, in the central part of the island of Luzon and in Manila – Tagalog (Tagalog), in the north of Luzon – the Ilokan language. Since 1939, official authorities have promoted the introduction of a single state language – Pilipino, based on Tagalog. Pilipino is owned today by more than half of the country’s inhabitants. English remains the main language of communication, administration, education in universities and the media. It, in addition to the native language, is currently spoken by about 50% of the country’s population.
Geography in Philippines
According to top-engineering-schools, the Philippines is located in the Western Pacific Ocean on more than 7,100 islands, the largest of which are Mindanao and Luzon. These two islands occupy 2/3 of the territory. To the south, the Sulu Sea separates the Philippines from Malaysia, and the Sulawesi Sea from Indonesia. From the west, the Philippine Islands are washed by the waters of the South China Sea, and from the east – by the Philippine Sea. To the north, across the Bashi Strait lies Taiwan. Large islands are flat, while small ones are dominated by mountainous terrain. In addition, there are about 20 active volcanoes in this country.
Climate in Philippines
In general, the climate of the Philippines is tropical, monsoonal, but due to the strong dissection of the relief, it is heterogeneous.
The air temperature in the Philippine Islands is stable all year round. The difference between the hottest and coolest months is 4 o C in the north, and even less in the south. The average annual temperature on the plains is about 27 o C. According to the amount and seasonal distribution of precipitation, four areas are distinguished:
the whole year.
2. In the western regions of the country (in the west of the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Panay, Palawan, Negros) there are two seasons: winter-spring dry – 50-200 mm of precipitation (October – April) and summer-autumn wet (from April to October there are heavy rains caused by strong southwesterly winds).
3. In the north-east of Luzon, Samar Island, the east of the islands of Leyte and Mindanao, precipitation falls all year round, but their maximum occurs in November – January. During the summer and autumn months, typhoons periodically hit Luzon and the Visayas from the east and northeast. Catastrophic floods are associated with prolonged heavy rains. The annual rainfall in this area is 2000-4000 mm.
4. The area, which includes the eastern regions of the islands of Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Cebu and the northwest of Minandao, is characterized by an average annual rainfall of 1300-1500 mm and a relatively short dry period.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time of year to visit the Philippine Islands greatly depends on which islands it is.
1. The eastern regions of the Philippine archipelago (east coast of Luzon, Bohol and Leyte, central and western parts of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago) can be visited throughout the year.
2. To visit the western regions of the country (west of the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Panay, Palawan, Negros), the best time is from November to May, because from April to October there are intense rains caused by strong southwest winds.
3. To visit the northeast of Luzon, Samar Island, the east of the islands of Leyte and Mindanao, the period from February to May is best. During the summer and autumn months, typhoons periodically hit Luzon and the Visayas from the east and northeast. Catastrophic floods are associated with prolonged heavy rains.
4. Areas including the eastern regions of the islands of Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Cebu and the northwest of the island of Mindanao can be visited all year round.
Thus, the best time of the year to visit all the Philippine Islands is from February to May.
