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Fun Facts About The Philippines That Might Surprise You

The Philippines is one of the most popular Southeast Asian nations for those looking for a unique holiday experience and if you are planning to spend some time in this amazing country, here are a few fun facts about the Philippines that might surprise you.

Balut is the national street food – Balut is partially developed duck eggs, which isn’t so appealing for a westerner. The eggs are incubated for 2-3 weeks, then steamed and consumed. Most foreigners can’t get past the thought of eating a semi-developed embryo but the locals will tell you it’s a delicious snack that is full of protein. For the best accommodation, book in at https://www.admiralhotelmanila.com/, a luxury boutique hotel with affordable rates.
The flag of the Philippines – Much like any other country, the Philippines has its own national flag, yet it differs from all others in one respect; when the country is at war, the flag is flown upside down.
There are more than 150 languages spoken in the Philippines – Linguists estimate there are a minimum of 120 active languages spoken in the Philippines, with possibly as many as 187. Although Tagalog is the national language, almost all Filipinos speak English, so you won’t have to worry about communication.
The longest underground river in the world – One more claim to fame for the Philippines is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, which runs for an incredible 24km. You can book a tour of this amazing natural feature; make sure you take your camera for some spectacular shots.
Jeepneys are the nation form of transport in the Philippines – The jeepney is a remnant of the US military, when they left the Philippines, they left many trucks and the ingenious locals turned them into transport buses by installing a couple of benches on the back. These trucks are a real work of art, with lights and bright colours and you can’t visit Manila and not ride in a Jeepney.
Philippines was the first Southeast Asian nation to gain independence – After WWII, the Philippines was the first Southeast Asian country to gain independence. The US government had something to do with this, as they had a good relationship with the Philippines government and it is believed that this was part of an agreement. Click here for tips on sustainable travel to reduce your carbon footprint.
Philippines is the top supplier of nurses – It might surprise you to learn that more than 11 million Filipinos work abroad and at least 25% are nurses that work around the world. You could probably walk into any hospital in the world and there will be at least a few Filipino nurses on the books.
Philippines is the number one exporter of coconut products – With more than 7,000 islands, it is no surprise that the Philippines exports more coconut products than any other nation in the world.