We have been booking flights to the Philippines at World Pinoy Flights for some years and, frankly speaking? The majority of travellers do not know what they are getting into. That is the best way to put it. The fun facts about the Philippines that we share with travellers always get the same reaction: ‘Wait, seriously?’ Yeah, seriously. From the thousands of Philippine islands to the unique Philippine currency, this country’s full of surprises that go way beyond the beaches everyone talks about.
Be it in terms of planning your holidays in the Philippines or simply in terms of inquisitiveness into this archipelago, these facts are what reveal why the Philippines is not like any other place. The Philippine people have stories to tell, and some of these we learned from travellers who came back amazed. Others we have figured out by ourselves since we have sent thousands of people there. In any case, you are soon to discover why the Philippines is so honestly one of the most interesting nations in Asia.
Uncover Fun Facts About the Philippines
Geography and Nature Facts
1. Over 7,600 Islands (and they’re still counting) – The Philippines islands total more than you can visit in a lifetime. Literally. Of these, only some 2,000 are occupied, and perhaps 5,000 even named. The rest? Just sitting there. When our travellers ask us at World Pinoy Flights what island to go to, we say, Choose one of 1 to 7,641. These fun facts about the Philippines always blow people’s minds because nobody realises the scale.
2. The Philippine Peso Has Some Colourful History – The Philippines’ currency (the peso) used to be tied to the US dollar at 2:1 until 1946. It is currently floating at 55-58 pesos per dollar. Bills have heroes of the country and historical events. Anything amusing – the coins of the old Spanish kingdom are technically money, though you will find scarce people to take them. When our World Pinoy Flights clients inquire about money, we inform them in the following way: ATMs all over, credit cards in cities, but cash in small towns.
3. The World’s 5 Longest Underground Cave Systems – Palawan has many underwater river systems on its own. Puerto Princesa Underground River is a UNESCO site, yet other sights are equally amazing. The majority of the tourists are not even aware of their existence.
4. Even More Coastline Than the United States – That is what you read. The coastline of the Philippines is approximately 36,289 kilometres. More than all of the US mainland. It makes sense, considering that it has 7,600+ islands, yet it is rather wild.
5. The Smallest Primate on the Planet – Tarsiers are a species of small primates with enormous eyes which inhabit Bohol. They are as large as your fist. Too frail as well – pressure can kill them as well, so responsible tour operators take care of the way in which tourists interact with them.
6. Chocolate Hills That Do Not Taste Like Chocolate – Bohol has these strange cone-like hills, rendering their colour brown in times of the dry season, hence the name. No one is completely certain of how they came about. Theories go as far as limestone weathering, giant tears of ancient folklore. The fun facts about the Philippines that involve unexplained geological formations are our favourites.
Culture and Language
7. More than 180 Spoken Languages – Not dialects. Actual distinct languages. The most common language is Tagalog, but in other parts of the world, it is totally other languages. The fact that the only common language between the Filipino people in various islands is sometimes English makes it interesting to make a reservation for a Philippines holiday. Learn about languages at Ethnologue Philippines.
8. Text Capital of the World – Filipinos make more text messages than any other nation. Like, by a huge margin. People are always getting their phones. Information is affordable, Wi-Fi is ubiquitous, and individuals are obsessed with connectivity.
9. Karaoke is National – There is karaoke in every restaurant, bar and street corner. Filipinos love singing. They’re good at it too. World Pinoy Flights is a company that cautions its clients: you shall sing. Multiple times. Just embrace it.
10. The Christmas Season Begins in September – September arrives, and bang, Christmas decorations all over. The Christmas celebration in the Philippines is the longest in the world, about four months. It is in September that malls begin playing Mariah Carey. It is dramatic but truthfully quite fantastic. Learn more in our Christmas in the Philippines guide.
11. Filipino Time is Real – Events Scheduled at 2 PM? People show up at 3 or 4. It’s culturally accepted. Excluding flights – they come out right on time, fortunately, in our case, in World Pinoy Flights. But everything else? Build in buffer time.
Food and Eating Habits
12. Balut – Fertilised duck egg, complete or partially developed embryo inside. Mysteriously awful to hear, to taste fascinating. Our proud travellers of the World Pinoy Flights who taste it are divided in half, whether it is good or not. These fun facts about the Philippines related to food always generate the strongest reactions.
13. Jollibee vs McDonald’s (Jollibee Wins) -Jollibee. This Filipino fast-food restaurant with a disturbing bee mascot. It is a bigger brand in the Philippines than McDonald’s. The spaghetti they serve is sweet, and fried chicken is served with burgers and the Filipinos are obsessed with it. Once, to know more about the culture.
14. Four Meals a Day, Minimum – Breakfast, midday snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and possibly, late-night snack. Filipinos eat constantly. Food portions are huge. No one doubts that they are ordering everything with rice. Weight gain is surely one of the things your Philippines holidays will entail.
15. Banana Ketchup is Everywhere – The ketchup which is available is ordinary but banana ketchup is in control. It is red (food colouring) yet it is banana-based. Has a sweeter taste compared to tomato ketchup. Produced in WWII when tomatoes were in short supply. Now it’s just normal.
Special Lifestyle and Customs
16. Jeepneys – These are Art on wheels. They are colourful buses made of the old US military jeeps and they serve as the primary mode of transportation. Each of them is decorated in different ways, chrome horses, religious icons, pop culture allusions, whatever. They are packed, sweaty and they are necessary to know the Filipino culture.
17. Pointing With Lips – Filipinos point using their lips. Need directions? Watch the mouth movements. It is subtle and once you start paying attention, you realise that it is everywhere. These little fun facts about the Philippines about body language help tourists understand daily interactions better.
18. Malls are Second Homes- Filipinos spend days in malls. It does not mean that they have to go shopping, just hanging around. Their malls have theme parks, ice-skating rinks, and churches. SM Mall of Asia is larger than other towns. Free, that is, air conditioning.
19. Balikbayan Boxes are No Joke – Filipino expatriates send huge packages of goods back to the Philippines. This is what we witness regularly at World Pinoy Flights: people who are carrying along with them extra luggage which is full of presents. Family obligation runs deep.
20. Hospitality is Almost Aggressive – The Philippine people will feed you whether you’re hungry or not. Visit someone’s home? They’re cooking. Refuse food? They’re offended. Say you’re full? Here’s more food. It is made out of pure good nature and is set to consume a great deal. This warmth is one of those fun facts about the Philippines that turns into real experiences – our travellers always mention Filipino hospitality first when they get back.
Random But True Facts
21. Invented the Yo-Yo (maybe) – There has been controversy, though, with some stating that the yo-yo was invented in the Philippines as a hunting tool. Modern yo-yo? Certainly popularised during the 1920s by a Filipino known as Pedro Flores. These random fun facts about the Philippines make great conversation starters.
22. San Fernando, Pampanga – It is the maker of the largest Christmas Lantern in the world. There are thousands of lights in some of them, which are 20+ feet in diameter. In December, there is the giant lantern festival, which is crazy. Definitely worth timing your Philippines holidays to catch it. Learn more at the San Fernando City official tourism page.
Why These Facts Matter
Look, anyone can list off fun facts about the Philippines. However, this is what we have found out at the World Pinoy Flights over time, having sent people there over the years- in that these things actually alter the way you see the country. Knowing that the Filipinos have four meals a day is why there is food being offered. The awareness of the Filipino time also allows you not to lose your head when things go wrong. Understanding the language diversity will make you realise that it is so amazing to the fact that the majority of Filipinos are using English.
It is not all beaches and island hopping in the Philippines. This is a complicated, multifaceted nation with intriguing peculiarities, which makes it not like any other country in Southeast Asia. The Spanish colonialism, intertwined with the American influences, intertwined with the native traditions and the closeness to Asia is what makes this particular blend. The Philippine people themselves reflect this diversity – you’ll find Spanish surnames, American slang, Asian features, and indigenous languages all mixed together in ways that honestly take a while to understand.
Our travellers who read up on these fun facts about the Philippines before their trip consistently have better experiences. They are ready to accept the cultural variations. They know what to expect. They also interact with the local practices as opposed to being lost in them. Makes a huge difference.
Planning Your Trip
We do not simply book flights at World Pinoy Flights. We make individuals realise what they are getting into. Preparation is rewarded in the Philippines. Knowing about the 7,600+ Philippine islands helps you pick which ones to visit. Knowing about the food culture will not leave you shocked when rice appears in everything. Getting familiar with the Philippines’ currency exchange rates helps you budget properly. Recognising that the Christmas season starts in September might influence when you schedule your Philippines holidays.
These fun facts about the Philippines are just scratching the surface. Each area possesses its customs, cuisine, and languages. The various Luzon and the Visayas are different and Mindanao is different. Manila’s life is hardly rural province life. You can spend years exploring and be surprised.
It is what makes it interesting, though. The Philippines cannot be categorised. It is wild and civilised, modern, and traditional; it is Western and Asian at the same time. Dial World Pinoy Flights and we will assist you in determining which segments of this varied country correspond to what you want. You want beaches, culture, food, adventure, or a combination of all that, we will take you there and ensure that you truly know what you are going through.
FAQs: Fun Facts about the Philippines
Are the Philippine people really that friendly?
Honestly yeah. The Philippine people are genuinely warm and welcoming. It is not an artificial tourist-industry cordiality; it is a culture. Filipinos will make conversation with strangers, ask you to their family get-togethers, and assist you when you are lost. The culture of hospitality is one of these reasons and so is the ease of communication caused by the excellent command of the English language. This is always a highlight to our World Pinoy Flights travellers.
Is the English language really spoken in the Philippines?
Yes, even more than most of Asia. English is an official language, which is taught in schools, business language. The Filipinos alternate between English and Tagalog in the middle of a sentence all the time. In large towns and tourist resorts, there is easy communication. The country may be more difficult, yet you will do it. It’s one of those fun facts about the Philippines that makes it super accessible for English-speaking tourists.
What is the strangest food I will come across?
Besides balut? Most likely dinuguan ( pork blood stew ) or sisig ( chopped pig face ). Sounds severe but better than that. Filipino food is relatively available, with lots of grilled meat, rice, and tropical fruit. We advise the travellers of World Pinoy Flights not to miss the weird things, just once, and when you are on the safe side, you can use adobo and pancit.
How many islands in the Philippines should I visit in one trip?
Two to four Philippine islands max for a typical week or two trip. It is time-consuming to travel between the islands – flights, ferries, etc. The majority of the tourists visit Manila and one or two island destinations – possibly Palawan and Boracay, or Cebu and Bohol. Going to everything under the sun would only be a waste of time because you drive around more than you can enjoy. Quality and not quantity when it comes to the 7,600+ options.
Is it safe to travel to the Philippines?
In general, yes. Areas used by tourists are secure. Like in every other nation, pickpocketing occurs in busy areas. Travel advisories are in effect in some areas, mostly in Mindanao. We inform all our clients about the current safety conditions. Use common sense, guard your things, and avoid flashing important items when travelling. Every year, millions of tourists come without any problems.
What time of year is best for visiting?
The dry season, which runs from December to May, offers the greatest weather but is often more costly and congested. The rainy and typhoon seasons, which run from June to November, are less expensive, have fewer visitors, but are characterised by erratic weather. We at World Pinoy Flights recommend visiting from March through early May, as the weather is fantastic and the atmosphere is reminiscent of summer vacation, before the intense heat of the season arrives.
