Philippines

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Eggplant talóng FOOD & DRINK EAT YOUR WORDS
Okra okra
Potatoes patatas
Spinach-like vegetable kangkóng
Sweet potatoes kamote
Tomatoes kamatis
Vegetables gulay

Fruit abokado
saging
Avocado frutas or prutas
Banana suhà
Fruit dayap
Grapefruit calamansi
Lime manggá
Lime (local) dalandán
Mango papaya
Orange (local) pinyá
Papaya/pawpaw sinigwélas
Pineapple kaimitò
Plum (local) pakwán
Star apple
Watermelon bagoong
patís
Spices & Condiments bawang
luya
Fish paste pamintá
Fish sauce asín
Garlic bagoong alamáng
Ginger siling labuyò
Pepper toyò
Salt asukal
Shrimp paste sukà
Small hot chilli
Soy sauce serbesa
Sugar pinakuluáng tubig
Vinegar kokwa
kapé
Drinks malamíg na tubig
(isáng) tsaá
Beer mainit na tubig
Boiled water juice
Cocoa
Coffee
Cold water
(Cup of) Tea
Hot water
Juice

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FOOD & DRINK EAT YOUR WORDS Lemonade limonada
Mineral water míneral water
Orange drink orens juice
Soft drink sopdrink
Water tubig
With/without ice may/waláng yelo
With/without milk may/waláng gatas
With/without sugar may/waláng asukal

Menu Decoder often called the national dish; chicken,
adobo pork or a mixture of both, marinated
in vinegar and garlic and stewed until
adobong pusít tender
arróz caldo squid or cuttlefish cooked adobo-style
Spanish-style thick rice soup with
aso chicken, garlic, ginger and onions
dog; eaten with relish (or just plain) by
balút North Luzon’s hill tribes
boiled duck egg containing a partially
calamares formed embryo
crispy pata crispy fried squid
goto deep-fried pork hock or knuckles
rice porridge made with pork or beef
halo-halo innards
various fruit preserves served in shaved
lechón ice and milk
spit-roast whole pig served with liver
lechón kawali sauce
lomi crispy fried pork
lumpia type of noodle dish
spring rolls filled with meat and/or
mami vegetables
noodle soup; similar to mee in Malaysia
menudo or Indonesia
pork bits sautéed with garlic and onion
pancit bihon and usually garnished with sliced hot
pinakbét dog
pochero thick- or thin-noodle soup
mixed vegetable stew
rellenong bangus hotpot of beef, chicken, pork, Spanish
tapsilog sausage and vegetables, principally
cabbage
tocino fried stuffed milkfish
a modern compound combining three
words: tapa (dried beef), sinangag (garlic
fried rice) and itlog (fried egg); usually
eaten for breakfast
cured pork made with saltpetre

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Environment

The Philippines is in an uphill battle to preserve the epic array of flora The cuddly
and fauna that make it one of the world’s top biodiversity ‘hotspots’. De- looking Palawan
forestation, overfishing and wonton pollution have already decimated bearcat is neither
many of the country’s fragile seascapes and rainforests. The clock is tick-
ing on what little remains. In recent years the country has made some bear nor cat,
progress in the realm of conservation. No-fish zones and marine sanctu- but a species of
aries have been declared. Forests and species have been given protected viverridae related
status. As in many poor countries, however, root problems such as popu-
lation growth, poverty and public indifference to the nation’s myriad en- to the civet.
vironmental challenges offset what progress is made. Check out
Conservation
The message to tourists who want to enjoy the Philippines’ natural International’s
treasures is clear: see them while you still can. biodiversity hot-
spot information
The Land on the Philippines
at www.biodiver
An assemblage of 7107 islands stretching some 1900km from the tip of sityhotspots.org/
Batanes to the Sulu archipelago, the Philippines stubbornly defies geo- xp/Hotspots/
graphic generalisation. The typical island boasts a jungle-clad, moun- philippines.
tainous interior and a sandy coastline flanked by aquamarine waters and The world’s
the requisite coral reef. biggest pearl
was found by a
There are variations, of course; some islands consist of little more than Filipino diver in
a slick of white sand, the snout of a submerged volcano or an impos- the waters off
ing wall of stratified limestone emerging from the depths and shooting Palawan in 1934.
straight up to the heavens. The latter formation is typical of the Philip- It weighed over
pines’ most awe-inspiring natural site, Palawan’s Bacuit Archipelago. 6kg and was
valued at US$42
The Philippines’ many mountains, volcanoes, coral reefs, limestone
caves and even its world-famous beaches owe their existence to the coun- million.
try’s location on the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire. The prettiest volcano is
highly active Mt Mayon, whose perfectly symmetrical cone graces many
a postcard. The tallest mountain is Mindanao’s Mt Apo, one of four peaks
higher than 2900m.

Underground, meanwhile, angry subterranean forces have sculpted
some of Asia’s longest and largest caves, such as Palawan’s Subterannean
River.

Man too has played a part in shaping the country’s geographic beauty,
creating the spectacular rice terraces of North Luzon.

Wildlife

Millennia of geographical isolation from the rest of Southeast Asia has
resulted in the evolution of thousands of species found nowhere else on
earth, leading biologists to dub the archipelago ‘Galapagos times 10’.

The country is home to approximately 13,500 species of plant; only
four countries boast more. Scientists estimate that 30% to 40% of those
species are found only in the Philippines.

The country’s fauna likewise exhibits remarkable endemism; the is-
lands are home to at least 111 mammals that are found nowhere else in

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ENVIRONMENT WILDLIFE USEFUL WEBSITES

The following websites contain information related to the environmental concerns fac-
ing the Philippines. Some are Philippines-specific, others address the problems in a
worldwide context.
» Coral Cay Conservation (www.coralcay.org) Works to protect coral reefs and
other tropical forests.
» Haribon Foundation (www.haribon.org.ph) One of the forerunners of the Philip-
pine environmental movement, it’s mission is to protect the country’s biodiversity.
Active in preserving habitats of endangered species and other areas.
» Negros Forests & Ecological Foundation Inc (www.negrosforests.org) Works to
protect various Philippine habitats, focusing on Negros.
» One Ocean (www.oneocean.org) Works to protect and manage Philippine coastal
areas.
» Protected Areas & Wildlife Bureau (www.pawb.gov.ph) Among other things, this
great site has primers on government programs to protect the tamaraw, cloud rat,
pawikan and the Philippine owl, raptor, cockatoo and crocodile.

A 21ft-long the world – even notorious animal haven Madagascar has fewer endemic
crocodile, one species of mammal. Despite this, the Philippines is not particularly well
of the largest in known for spotting terrestrial wildlife, as its critters tend to be quite
the world, was small and/or elusive.
captured in 2011
near Bunawan, The waters and skies are as diverse as the land. The country’s 500 spe-
cies of coral rank it second in the world in terms of coral diversity. Some
Mindanao. 600 species of bird call the Philippines home. Close to 200 of those are
found only in the Philippines – only much larger Indonesia and Brazil
have more endemic varieties.

Animals

The country’s most iconic mammal is the lovable, palm-sized tarsier, a
primate found mainly on the island of Bohol. You are highly unlikely to
spot these nocturnal creatures in the wild, but can responsibly view them
at the Tarsier Sanctuary (p302). Contrary to popular belief, the tarsier is
not the world’s smallest primate. That distinction belongs to the pygmy
mouse lemur of Madagascar. However, the Philippines can still proudly
lay claim to the world’s smallest hoofed mammal – the rare Philippine
mouse deer of Palawan.

Other endangered terrestrial mammals you might be lucky enough
to spot include the Philippine crocodile in Sierra Madre Natural Park
(p147); indigenous water buffalo, known as the tamaraw, in Mindoro’s
Mt Iglit-Baco National Park (p195); and any of the eight species of fruit
bat (flying fox) that dwell in caves across the country.

Lizard sightings are more common. Geckos are ubiquitous, and there’s
a wide variety of venomous and nonvenomous snakes, including pythons
and sea snakes. More elusive scaled beasts include the rare sailfin dragon
and the flying lizard – discovered by national hero José Rizal while he
was exiled in Dapitan on Mindanao.

Moving to the seas, divers and snorkellers flock to the country to see
whale sharks, thresher sharks and myriad other fish. Less well known
are dugong (known locally as duyong), a type of sea cow once found in
great numbers in Philippine waters but now relatively rare. Two places
where you can spot them if you’re lucky are in Malita, Mindanao, and
in the waters off the north tip of Busuanga Island in northern Palawan.
There are a few places around the country where you might spot whales
if your timing is right. However, you’re more likely to spot dolphins.