The Philippines

Basic Expressions, Typical Food, Tourist Spots, Music and Dances

The Philippines

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian

country in the Western Pacific,
comprising more than 7,000 islands. Its
capital, Manila, is famous for its
waterfront promenade and centuries-
old Chinatown, Binondo. Intramuros, a
walled city in colonial times, is the heart
of Old Manila.
Basic Expressions
How are you? / Hi. / Hello.

- Kumusta? / Kumusta ka? (Informal)

- Kumusta po kayo? (Formal polite)
I'm fine.
- Mabuti.
Good morning! - Magandang umaga!

Good afternoon! - Magandang hapon!

Good evening! - Magandang gabi!

Thank you!
- Salamat (po)!

You're welcome!
- Walang anuman!
My name is ... - Ang pangalan ko ay...

What is your name? Anong pangalan mo? (informal) / Ano po ang

pangalan ninyo? (formal)

I love you. - Mahal Kita. (Mahal ko kayo plural you)

Adobo

A ubiquitous dish in every household in the Philippines,

it's Mexican in origin.

But Filipinos found that cooking meat (often chicken and

pork) in vinegar, salt, garlic, pepper, soy sauce and other
spices was a practical way to preserve it without
refrigeration.

This cooking style can be applied to different meats or

even seafood.
Lechon

The lechon is the most invited party guest in the Philippines.

The entire pig is spit-roasted over coals, with the crisp, golden-brown skin served with
liver sauce, the most coveted part.
In Cebu, the stomach of the pig is stuffed with star anise, pepper, spring onions, laurel
leaves and lemongrass resulting in an extremely tasty lechon, which needs no sauce.

http://generals-lechon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/cropped-gl-hightlight-1-
1.jpg
Sisig

It is made from parts of pigs

head and liver, usually seasoned
with calamansi and chili .
Credit goes to Aling Lucing,
who invented this dish at a
humble stall along the train
railways in Angeles City,
Pampanga.
Crispy Pata

Not for the easily spooked, this

pork knuckle is simmered,
drained and deep fried until
crisp.

The meat is tender and juicy

inside, with a crisp, crackling
exterior.
Served with vinegar, soy sauce
and chili. https://philippinesfoodrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/crispy-pata.jpg
 Chicken Inasal

Yes, it's grilled chicken.

But in Bacolod, this is no ordinary grilled
chicken.
The meat is marinated in lemongrass,
calamansi, salt, pepper and garlic and brushed
with achuete (annatto seeds) oil.
Every part of the chicken is grilled here from
the paa (drumstick), pecho (breast), baticulon
(gizzard), atay (liver), pakpak (wings) and
corazon (heart).
It must be eaten with a generous serving of
garlic rice, with some of the orange oil used
to marinade the chicken poured over the rice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rntqk8KdVr4 https://centralebacolod.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/bacolod-
chicken-inasal-recipe.jpg
Taba ng Talangka

The fat of a small variety of crabs are

pressed and sauteed in garlic.
This cholesterol-laden Filipino food is
often used as a sauce for prawns or
eaten with fried fish and rice.
Some of the best taba ng talangka
comes from the provinces of
Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan.
http://media-cache-
ec0.pinimg.com/736x/68/b3/14/68b314c405fd7109fbcb59e361b1ecb7.jpg
Pancit Palabok

The pancit palabok served on

most birthday parties oozes with
flavors and textures.
The noodle dish is layered with
rice noodles, a rich orange sauce
made from shrimp broth, pork,
hard boiled eggs, shrimps,
chicharon (pork rinds) and
sometimes oysters and squid
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bB2oCWPSLhU/S_daC5wGIAI/AAAAA
AAACn4/F_UsxhjfLBM/s1600/Pancit+Palabok+(39).JPG
Bulalo

Despite the perennial heat,

Filipinos often enjoy sipping
piping hot bulalo soup made with
from freshly slaughtered beef.
The broth is rich with flavors
seeped from the beef after boiling
for hours.
The bones are big, meaning more
bone marrow to enjoy. http://ffemagazine.com/ckfinder/userfiles/images/bulalo-
pinoy-food.jpg
Arroz Caldo

While chicken soup soothes sick

Westerners, Filipinos turn to arroz
caldo, a thick chicken rice porridge.
Cooked with ginger and
sometimes garnished with a hard-
boiled egg, toasted garlic and green
onions, this Filipino food is sold in
street-side stalls.
Candice Lopez-Quimpo
Kare-Kare

This stew of oxtail has the most

delicious sauce made from ground
toasted rice and crushed peanuts.
Banana blossom, eggplants and
string beans add more interesting
textures, making it a complete meal
on its own.
It's eaten with steamed rice and
bagoong (shrimp paste).
https://philippinesfoodrecipes.files.wordpress.com/2014/0
7/kare-kare1.jpg
Sinigang

Sinigang is a stew of fish,

prawns, pork or beef soured
by fruits like tamarind, kamias
or tomatoes.
Often accompanied by
vegetables like kangkong,
string beans and taro, this http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-
stew is eaten with rice. Q5J4umktM2o/T8Nqj2sC3zI/AAAAAAAAAgs/Vc35bEgZn8E/s640
/sinigang-baboy-pork.png
Tapa

Filipinos are huge rice eaters, and

breakfast is no exception.
A tap-si-log consists of thin slices
of dried marinated beef served
with fried egg and garlic rice.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-
vVQIeN_M4Eg/TaHhHfiHGaI/AAAAAAAAOQo/bQiuSLToNjE/s16
00/imgp30851-1024x768.jpg
Fun Fact

#1 No knife,
instead
spoon and
fork are used
Fun Fact

#2 Sweet and sour flavors are the typical profile in

Filipino Cuisine
Fun Fact

#3 Pork dominates the Philippine Cuisine

Fun Fact

#4 From casual restaurants all the way to high-end

restaurants, the mall can be your destination for food
in the Philippines.
Fun Fact

#5 Filipino cuisine would not be complete without

merienda (snacks in between meals)
In the Philippines, there are typically two meriendas. One in the late morning, and the other one
in the afternoon.

A large variety of sweet or savory dishes can be eaten at Merienda. Sweet delicacies might be
pastries, mango pies, sticky rice, rice cake and more. And for the savory options you might have
empanaditas (small savory pastries), noodles, fish balls, and the famous local delicacy balut
(developing duck embryo).
Fun Fact

#6 Food in the Philippines is not very vegetarian

friendly
Fun Fact

#7 Food in the Philippines has been influenced by

multiple cultures
The food has been shaped by Chinese, Malaysian,
Spanish, Indian and Western influences. In
addition, each region and island has adopted their
own unique cooking style.
Tourist Spots
El Nido, Palawan

Named as the most beautiful

island beaches in the world by
Cond Nast Traveller magazine in
2015, El Nido is one of the must-
visit and must-return places in the
Philippines in 2016. When in El
Nido, experience different island
hopping tours to white sand
beaches, enchanting lagoons, and
crystal clear waters, where you can
swim, snorkel, do kayaking, or
just relax and embrace the hidden
beauty of Mother Nature.
Palawan, Philippines
The view at the Bacuit Bay, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Boracay Island, Aklan

Boracay is probably the most

popular beach island in the
Philippines. Its every Filipinos
dream to visit this island located
in the province of Aklan. With its
soft white sand, bright blue
waters, beautiful sunset view, and
unforgettable night life
experiences, Boracay has been
included in the top 20 best islands
in the world by Cond Nast
Traveller magazine.
Boracay Island. Image by Hani Han via ixabay
Batanes Islands, Batanes

Batanes is one of the most

wanted tourist destinations in the
Philippines. A trip to the province
will give you the most unique
sceneries of the country, which
include unspoiled islands that will
satisfy nature lovers, livestock
freely roaming above endless
green hills, massive cliffs
overlooking oceans under the blue
skies, rocky shores and white sand
beaches, and the rich cultural
heritage of the Ivatans.
Batanes Highlands. Photo by Lailani Salaguinto-Jabonete
 Coron, Palawan

Coron is a tropical paradise in the

province of Palawan. The
postcard-perfect scenery of
Kayangan Lake with its towering
limestone cliffs and crystalline
waters is one of the must-visit
places in the Philippines. Visiting
Coron will give you an
opportunity to swim at Kayangan
Lake, dubbed as the cleanest lake
in Asia. Coron is also one of the
most visited destinations for
wreck diving in the country.

Kayangan Lake, Coron, Palawan. Photo by Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ via

Flickr.
Hinatuan Enchanted River, Surigao Del Sur
If Surigao Del Norte is famous
for its legendary Pacific waves in
Siargao, Surigao Del Sur is known
for its Enchanted River in
Hinatuan. The clear bluish waters
of Hinatuans Enchanted River
can go as deep as 80 feet deep. A
popular story among the locals
tells that fairies and mermaids
swim and play in the waters,
protect the river, and maintain its
cleanliness.

The clear, clean and bluish Enchanted River of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur.
Image by 2il org via Flickr.
Mayon Volcano, Albay

Mount Mayon is the most active

volcano in the Philippines. But in
contrast of its threat lies a
perfectly cone shaped volcano
that can surpass the beauty of any
volcano on Earth. The
breathtaking landscape of Mayon
Volcano is already a very popular
landmark of the Philippines, as
you can see it in the Philippine
money and in common postcards
in the country. Mayon is also
named as one of the worlds most
photogenic volcanoes by CNN
Mayon Volcano in the province of Albay. Image by Ronnie Rey Manjares Travel.
via Pixabay
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park,
Palawan Palawan seems to never run dry
of amazing destinations for
tourists. The Puerto Princesa
Subterranean River National Park
also called Puerto Princesa
Underground River is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
and one of the New 7 Wonders
of Nature. The 8.2 km long
Underground River is said to be
the longest navigable
underground river in the world.
The cave system contains
stalactites, stalagmites, small
underground waterfalls, and more
river channels.
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Photo by Carrie Kellenberger via Flickr.
Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao

A national cultural treasure and

considered by Filipinos as the
Eighth Wonder of the World,
the Rice Terraces of Banaue is a
perfect place for sightseeing,
getting closer with nature, getting
to know the tribes of Ifugao, and
even consulting with a Mumbaki
(a traditional Ifugao witch doctor)
to perform spiritual healing
rituals. The Rice Terraces were
built 2,000 years ago by our
ancestors using stone and mud
walls to construct pond fields for
rice cultivation in the mountains
Banaue Rice Terraces. Image by Cabajar via Wikimedia Commons of Ifugao.
 Chocolate Hills, Bohol
One of the most famous
landmarks of the Philippines,
Chocolate Hills are more than a
thousand hills spread over the
municipalities of Carmen,
Sagbayan and Batuan in Bohol.
They are called as such because
their green grasses layers turn
brown during the dry season,
making them look like chocolates.
The province of Bohol is also
known for white sand beaches,
rivers, centuries-old churches, and
the Philippine tarsier.

Banaue Rice Terraces. Image by Cabajar via Wikimedia Commons

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan
Tubbataha Reefs. Photo by q phia via Flickr.
If Mount Apo is for hikers, the
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a
heaven for the scuba divers. This
wonderful underwater world near
the middle of Sulu Sea is one of
the best dive sites on Earth. This
protected sanctuary is home to
pristine coral reefs, manta rays,
sea turtles, clownfish, lionfish,
sharks, and the endangered
hawksbill sea turtles. The Natural
Park which was also declared as a
World Heritage Site by UNESCO
is also a sanctuary for a hundred
bird species.
Vigan, Ilocos Sur

There are many Spanish colonial

period houses and mansions that
are scattered in the Philippines.
But if you like to see an entire
district that is exceptionally intact
from its Spanish period
architecture and scenery, Vigan is
the place to be. The historic town
of Vigan is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Walk along
Crisologo Street to experience an
ambience dating back to the 16th
century.

The Spanish period houses in Calle Crisologo, VIgan, Ilocos Sur. Photo
by Adrian Enriquez via Pixabay..
Music
Music of the Philippines (Filipino: Musika ng
Pilipinas; Spanish: Msica de Filipinas) include
musical performance arts in the Philippines or by
Filipinos composed in various genres and styles.
The compositions are often a mixture of different
Asian, Spanish, Latin American, American,
and indigenous influences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdSpWiUn_J0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olYrH1r2JSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhc6spGddQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ptq48AJHCc
 Dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsYI0Ht0cWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SqZRQWC6AQ
Adobo Fish Tinola
Lechon Arroz Caldo
Adobo Chicken Inasal
Tapa Pancit Palabok
Bulalo Kare-kare
Taba ng Talangka Tinola
Arroz Caldo Sinigang
Kare-Kare Tapa
Kare-kare Fish Tinola
Pancit Palabok Crispy Pata