A pleasant day to everyone.

In 2017, Philippines came out as one of the happiest countries in the world according to a
global survey by the US-based firm Gallup International. In fact, it ranked third after Fiji and
Columbia. Moreover, Palawan has named the most beautiful island in the world in 2016. The
entrance to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of
the new 7 wonders of nature. Who would not know our world boxing champion Manny
“Pacman” Pacquiao; international singer Lea Salonga; Miss Universe Gloria Diaz, Margie
Moran, Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray; billiard master Efren “Bata” Reyes; and famous
Filipino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza among several Filipino talents in the world?
Why am I saying all these? May I say, this is my unique way to introduce my country, the
Philippines, because there are a lot of things you should know about our country. There are a lot
of different beautiful places you should travel. There are a lot of customs and traditions you will
be amazed at. There are a lot of arts and literary pieces you might fall in love with. And of
course, there are a lot lessons and experiences you will learn when you get along with us,
Filipinos.
Let’s begin this journey about us Filipinos. We are known to be resilient amidst any
calamities in the country. We can still manage to laugh and be positive despite of negative
experiences. No typhoons or volcanic eruptions that could stop Filipinos to rise and move on.
We just love being who we are. On a lighter side, most of the Filipinos love singing that is why
there are a lot of Filipino singers who are well known not only in Asia but in all parts of the
world. Indeed, Filipinos are very talented not just singing but in all aspects of talents and skills.
Likewise, Filipinos love to share thoughts and stories about their life. They are so enthusiastic
about their Instagram and Facebook that they were ranked as THE highest selfie-takers in the
world by Time Magazine! In this study, Makati City in Manila was crowned the selfie capital of
the world, with 258 selfies taken per 100,000 people. Further down the list is Cebu City ranked
in 9th place followed by Quezon (also in Manila) at #59 and Iloilo City at #72.
When you visit the Philippines, there are a lot of beautiful places you can see. The
Philippines has over 7,000 islands that are waiting to be visited and explored when you plan to
stay here. You can tour with those enchanting islands along with amazing beaches and
waterfalls. Long hailed as one of the best beaches in the entire world, Boracay’s claim to fame is
its 4-kilometer stretch of pure white, powdery sand called White Beach. Cliche as it sounds, but
White Beach is truly postcard-perfect, with tall coconut trees lined up and crystal-clear calm
waters rounding up its unmatched beauty making it a top attraction in Boracay trips. ncluded in
the UNESCO World Heritage Natural Monuments list, the Chocolate Hills of Bohol are a
geomorphic wonder and truly a sight to behold. It is one of the best places in the Philippines to
offer a unique landscape, with its 1,268 cone-shaped hills that turn chocolatey brown during the
dry season, hence its name. The gateway to Philippine’s Last Frontier, Palawan, is its capital
Puerto Princesa. It is here that you can find the world’s longest navigable underground river and
a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Puerto Princesa Underground River or the Puerto Princesa
Subterranean River National Park. Paddleboats of the Puerto Princesa underground river tour
cruise through scenic limestone cliffs as it makes its way through the 1.5-kilometer underground
river cave. These are among the several amazing places in the Philippines.
The Filipino people are naturally very creative, and art is an important part of the culture
here in the Philippines. Many people seem to be able to pick up a brush almost at will and create
stunning works of art, while other people are skilled at cooking, woodcarving and other skills
such as weaving. Northern Luzon is full of fascinating tribes such as the Ifugao people who built
the amazing rice terraces around Banaue around 3,000 years ago. One of the best ways to
discover the full range of artistic expression in the Philippines is during a festival, when people
gather to share their skills and create colorful costumes as well as floats, special dishes and a
whole host of other items.
Literature has also played an important role in our country especially during the Spanish
colonization. The books of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, have opened the minds of many Filipinos and made its way to freedom from the
oppression of the Spaniards. In the past, legends and myths were passed down by word of mouth,
and it wasn’t until the 17th century that these stories started to be written down. In addition,
theatre has also been part of the culture of the Philippines, and the oldest of the traditional plays
tend to show the life of Jesus Christ known as cenaculo, which is really popular, while the moro-
moro plays are comical in nature and present the feuds between the Christian and the Muslim
people in the Philippines. Adapted from Spanish origins, the zarzuela plays are also popular and
are a type of operetta.
What is it about the Philippines that makes it different from the rest of the world? Well,
for one thing, it is all about their culture. The Philippine culture is a mixture of traditional
Filipino and Spanish Catholic traditions, with varied influences from America and other parts of
Asia. Despite all of these influences, the old Asian culture of Filipinos has been retained and are
clearly seen in their way of life, beliefs and customs. Wherever you go, Filipino culture is very
evident and has largely been appreciated and even applauded in many parts of the world.

The Filipinos are family oriented and often religious with an appreciation for art, fashion,
music and food. Christianity is the religion of about 80% of the Philippine population (mostly
Catholics) while Islam is the religion of 11%, and other religions and beliefs comprise the 9% of
the rest of the population. In food, The Philippines is known as Asia’s melting pot because of the
uniqueness and variety of their food. Filipinos can’t go a day without including rice in their
meals. In the Philippines, it is family first. So whether you are part of the immediate family or
you belong to the third or fourth generation, you are treated as a family member. Sometimes,
even the closest of friends are considered family, too. Filipinos are really known to be hospitable
and very accommodating. Moreover, Filipinos help one another without expecting anything in
return so that undertaking their tasks and responsibilities become much easier. This is called
bayanihan and it is also sometimes called “community spirit.”
One of the most unique ways of Filipino celebrations is Christmas season. Even as early
as August, you can hear Christmas songs and jingles being played at home, in the malls or in the
restaurants in the Philippines. The mood becomes festive, with many people shopping and in
good spirits. Christmas celebrations last until around the first or second week of January.
Oh what a beautiful place to live in! There’s nothing more you could ask for when you
stay in the Philippines and meet Filipinos. These are exactly the reasons why foreigners really
love our country. It’s about knowing the happiest people on earth, exploring beautiful sceneries
in nature and discovering history among places, learning a variety of arts and literatures,
deepening our perspectives to rich cultures and traditions, more interestingly, loving Philippines
in general. With all these, I am proud to be a Filipino. You must be proud too. And every
Filipino must be proud to have lived in the most beautiful place on earth, the Philippines.
Therefore, It is a challenge to everyone to preserve its own culture and tradition for the next
generation. I am encouraging the youth to take the lead because at the end of the day, it will
remind us the question “If not us, who will? If not now, when?”
This is Trijan Euwele M. Castro, a Filipino youth and a culture protector. Again, good
day and God bless us all.