Philippines, Archipelagic state in Southeast Asia.
The Philippines is an island nation in Southeast Asia spreading across more than 7600 islands between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, with Manila as its capital. The terrain includes tropical rainforests, coral reefs, active volcanoes and terraced rice fields distributed across different climate zones.
Spanish colonizers arrived on the islands in 1565 under Miguel López de Legazpi and remained until the revolution of 1896. Following the Spanish-American War, the United States administered the territory until independence was granted in 1946 after Japanese occupation during World War II.
Visitors notice jeepneys decorated with chrome ornaments and religious figures navigating streets alongside tricycles carrying passengers through narrow alleys. Sari-sari stores sit at street corners selling small portions of goods in plastic sachets while neighbors gather on porches for afternoon conversation.
The country divides into three main geographic areas: Luzon in the north, Visayas in the center, and Mindanao in the south, each containing several administrative regions. International airports operate in Manila, Cebu and Davao with connections to regional hubs on smaller islands.
Taal Volcano sits on an island within a lake that formed on a larger island, creating an unusual geological layering. Fishing boats cross the lake bringing visitors to the inner volcanic island where steam rises visibly from the crater.
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