After spending nearly a month in Vietnam last year, we are now obsessed with the countries of Southeast Asia.

Three things about the area blew us away and captured our hearts… 1) The people. We’ve never encountered such friendly people, who were just as curious about us as we were about them. 2) The beauty. We’ve never seen such rich shades of green, from rice fields in the lush countrysides to the calming waters in Halong Bay. 3) The Food. We are picky eaters (or rather discerning foodies!), and were concerned about how we would fare eating some of the unique dishes that the area has to offer. OMG! Some of the most delicious food we’ve ever tasted are in this area of the world!

As we are researching new countries to visit, the Philippine Islands have bubbled to the top of our must-travel-to list. Here’s some fun facts we’ve learned about the country, its people and the culture!

1 Copper

Because of the volcanoes, mineral deposits are incredibly abundant. The Philippines are believed to have the largest copper deposit in the world, followed by the second-largest gold deposit.

2 The Philippine Python

Formally known as the Reticulated Python, it is the longest in the world, reaching up to 29 feet. The snake also doubles as the longest reptile. Luckily, as with all pythons, they are non-venomous!

3 Christianity Rules

The Philippines are the only nation in Asia that is over 85% Christian. The majority are Roman Catholic. The second highest religious group is Muslim (5.7%).

4 Extended Christmas

In the Philippines, Christmas begins in September and ends in January, during the ‘Feast of the Three Kings. Food and traditions are very similar to America. The countdown from September to January is known as the “Ber Months” and includes decorations and lots of parties.

5 New Animal Species

The Philippines have had 16 new species discovered in the past decade (300 total), the most discoveries in the world in this timeframe. Some findings include the new sea slugs, sea stars, patelomera, and countless new coral species.

6 Duck Eggs

Balut, also known as a boiled fertilized duck egg, is an interesting dish that is popular in the Philippines. The embryo is typical street food and is considered to be an aphrodisiac. Would you try it???

7 The Largest Pearl

In 1934, a Filipino diver discovered a 14-pound pearl in the Palawan Sea. The pearl is more than 9 inches long and known as the “Pearl of Allah.” It is rumored to be over 600 years old and worth over $40 million.

8 Karaoke Kings

Although a Japanese musician (Daisuke) invented the concept, it was Filipino Roberto del Rosario who patented the Karaoke Sing-A-Long system in 1975.

9 Texting Capital of the World

With a subculture known as ‘Generationtxt,’ the Philippines has reached record levels of communicating via text. They use apps that do not require data or WiFi, which makes it much more affordable. When you mix that with their sense of community, it’s clear how they acquired this new-age moniker.

10 Bangka Boats

A bangka boat is an outrigger, also referred to as banca or paraw. It is a double-outrigger with very narrow main hulls. There are many variations of the boat available and can be utilized in an impressive amount of ways.

11 Two Flags

The Philippines is the only country in the entire world that has two different flags for peace and wartime. When the country is at peace, the red portion will be at the bottom of the flag. The opposite indicates the country is at war.

12 Volcanoes and Earthquakes

There are a total of 37 volcanoes in the Philippines and 22 of them are active. Located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” there are roughly four earthquakes per day.

13 Nurse Supply

25% of the world’s nurses come from the Philippines. There are so many in the United States that they’ve formed a National organization called the ‘Philippine Nurses Association of America.’ The influx of Filipino nurses stems from a migration that occurred at the turn of the 20th century.

14 Chicken Adobo

This is hands down the national dish! A great tasting simple Ilocano cuisine that includes pepper, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and vinegar. You can swap the chicken out for seafood, beef, or pork. It is simply delightful.

15 Tinkling and Sigil

These are two of the Philippines’ traditional folk dances. These dances are unique and are being preserved by the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk-Dance Company. When performing during special occasions, Filipinos dress in national garb.

With a variety of cultures, foods, and ethnicities, the Philippines is a great destination to explore. This just scratches the surface of what this charming South East Asian country has to share.

Ready to visit?