History and Culture

The Philippines is home to an incredible diversity of languages, with more than 170 distinct tongues spoken across its thousands of islands.

A tattooed Bontoc warrior (1903) The Philippines' Rich Tattoo Traditions The Philippines, a country made up of over 7,000 islands, has a long history of tattooing. Filipino tattoos have been more than just body art—they symbolize identity, bravery, and spiritual beliefs. They tell stories of heritage, social status, and personal achievements. Tattooed Warriors of Cebu When Magellan arrived in the Philippines, Pigafetta described the tattooed warriors of Cebu as "painted men"

Bullfighting experienced a brief revival during the Manila International Fair, held at the sunken gardens outside Intramuros.

McKinley Islands? Hold onto your hats, history buffs! In 1901, just months after President William McKinley's assassination, there was a wild proposal on the table: rename the entire Philippine archipelago the "McKinley Islands"! Imagine it: instead of Filipinos, we would be known as McKinley Islanders. Pretty crazy, right? This wasn't just some random idea. The proposal even included changing the names of provinces and islands to honor key figures involved in the U.S. acquis

Excessive printing of Japanese Invasion Money earned it the derogatory nickname "Mickey Mouse Money," as it was seen as worthless.

Jollibee was born in 1975. It would evolve into a culinary icon, capturing the hearts and taste buds of Filipinos worldwide.

The Asilo de San Vicente de Paul stands as a beacon of hope, a sanctuary where vulnerable find solace and education.

Ayta people in the Philippines belong to a group of communities that includes one with the highest level of Denisovan ancestry in the world.

Chavacano's origins trace back to the 16th century when Spanish settlers interacted with the indigenous people of the Philippines.

According to the 2020 census, only about 400,000 Filipinos can speak Spanish well. This is a steep decline from 1998.

The pre-Hispanic Filipinos called the Pintados were the tattooed people of the Central Philippine Islands. They once dominated the region.

Maria Ylagan Orosa (1893-1945) was a pioneer in food technology, nutrition, and preservation.

33 years before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock, the first documented native Filipinos arrived in Morro Bay, California.

In Asia, the Philippines was among the first to have access to modern, free public education. Second only to Japan.

Photo: Pixabay Being fluent in more than one language opens doors to countless opportunities. Many Filipinos already speak English alongside a local language, giving them social and economic advantages. Adding Spanish to that mix can unlock even more possibilities - from cultural enrichment to global connections. Filipinos Have a Head Start in Learning Spanish Filipino languages are filled with Spanish words. Linguists Antonio Quilis and Celia Casado Fresnillio note that abou

It's common for Cubans to have Filipino-sounding names thanks to the Filipinos who decided to settle in Cuba during the Galleon trade.

Filipinos bearing Spanish names are quite common. To Filipinos, this could be nothing special. However, for non-Filipinos, this could spark curiosity and lead to a lengthy conversation. When I was pursuing my graduate studies in Australia, a curious classmate of mine from Colombia once sat beside me and asked how I got my surname. Amused by her curiosity, I was happy to explain about the Philippines and our colonial past. After a lengthy exchange of thoughts, it turns out, we

The Philippines is the only country in the world whose flag is hoisted upside down when the country is at war. It has been said that an easy way to know a country better is by looking at the meaning of its flag. Having said that let's take a look at some of the many influences that were at play in the design process of the Philippine flag. If placed side by side, one would see the similarities between the Philippine, Cuban, and Puerto Rican national flags. This is no coincid

1918 Nurses during the Influenza Pandemic While gunfire and bombs raged in Europe during WW1 - hoards of otherwise healthy young men reported ill in crowded military bases and in the war's front lines. Soon, they reported experiencing the typical symptoms of flu. Their medics soon realized that this is not the typical seasonal flu. Many of these young men will then suffer and die among millions of others as the " Spanish flu " spread exponentially and reach places far flung

The Manila men or Tagalas from the Philippine Islands were among the early Filipino settlers in the United States.