10 reasons to have more fun in the Philippines

With 7,107 islands and 100 million people, the Philippines is able to welcome the world with open arms and a plethora of wonders. There’s more to the Philippines than white-sand beaches and parties—here are (only!) 10 more reasons to put the archipelago on your bucket list.

1. Happy people. There are few things that can cheer you up better than the company of happy people, and the Philippines is home to some of the world’s most cheery folk. According to a 2012 Gallup survey, Filipinos reported among the highest rates of “positive emotions”, placing us fourth worldwide, while the Eden Strategy Institute ranked the Philippines third in Asia.

Related video: Watch as Funbassadors from different parts of Asia experience Philippines’ fun and festive spirit in the capital’s three party hotspots

2. Food. Anthony Bourdain’s declaration that Cebu lechon was “the best pig ever” only told Filipinos what they already knew. In the meantime, American food critic Andrew Zimmern predicted that Filipino cuisine would be the next big thing in the US, and was echoed shortly after by a number of other celebrity chefs and media outlets.

Filipino chefs are also on the radar everywhere in the world now: see White House chef Cristeta Comerford, Top Chef winner Paul Qui (along with Top Chef finalists Sheldon Simeon and Dale Talde), and hot up-and-comer Tatiana Lehva. That said, the best place to sample the wide variety that makes up Filipino cuisine is still in the Philippines.

3. Year-round underwater wonders. The Philippines is a vastly underrated scuba diving destination, comparable to the best in the world. Not only is it home to Tubbataha Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the country’s waters are also part of the Coral Triangle, the global center of marine biodiversity. Even better, temperatures range between 24 to 29 degrees all year—perfect for scuba explorations, no matter what the season.

Related video: If you don’t dive, you can always explore the other UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the country, like the underground river featured in this Funbassadors episode.

4. Ultra-exclusive island resorts. Amanpulo, located on Pamalican Island, Palawan, has been a perennial favourite in lists of the world’s best (and most exclusive) island resorts, welcoming  royalty, world leaders, and celebrities over the past 20 years. In 2013, Dedon chose Siargao to open a high-design resort paradise, welcoming jetsetters to their “barefoot state of mind.”

Related video: The Funbassadors begin their journey around the Philippines with a first stop in another exclusive resort in Palawan.  

5. Fireflies. Sometimes the simplest pleasures are the best. Most city-dwellers no longer have the pleasure of being able to watch fireflies flicker amidst the grass on dark nights, but they can take organised tours in places like Puerto Princesa (in Palawan), Donsol (Siargao), Ticao (Masbate), and in other provinces where visitors can take a quiet boat ride through the mangroves to watch the enchanting creatures under a starlit sky.

6. Gentle giants of the deep. Whale sharks go back to Philippine waters in droves, and they do so consistently. The phenomenon is still being studied by scientists, but in the meantime, communities in Donsol, Siargao and Oslob, Cebu have organized whale shark interaction tours for tourists, with the help and guidance of conservation groups to ensure the animals’ welfare.

7. Mountain highs. Sure, the archipelago is (rightly) recognised for its beaches, but travellers can also take in some amazing mountain scenery—spanning everything from the quirky Chocolate Hills of Bohol to the breathtaking cliffs of Batanes and the rice terraces of Banaue.

Related video: See those strangely beautiful Chocolate Hills in this episode

8. Shopping like there’s no tomorrow. We sure know our malls. Three of the world’s ten largest malls are in Manila (SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, and SM Mall of Asia). SM City Cebu also holds the #19 spot, while Greenbelt in Makati is at #23.

9. Sweat it out. Tempting to take to a hammock under a coconut tree at the beach and never leave, but then you’d miss out on some pretty unforgettable athletic challenges that the country can throw your way. The Cobra Ironman 70.3 is a yearly event that draws in elite triathletes from all over the world, while events like the Bataan Death March 102km/ 160km ultramarathon and the Cordillera 90km Bike Challenge offer a very different way to see the sights (i.e., through a haze of pain).

Related video: Here’s another way to sweat it out—how about walking on the edge of a building!

10. It’s simply the world’s best. You don’t even have to take our word for it. Over the last three years, Boracay, Coron, and El Nido have appeared consistently on lists of the “best places to travel” (Travel + Leisure, 2014), “holiday destinations to watch” (Condé Nast Traveler, 2013) “world’s most romantic beaches” (“Travel + Leisure, 2013), and “best trips to take” (National Geographic Travel , 2011).