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"

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.

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.

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