About the Philippines

Officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), the Philippines is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia.

It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world.

An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila.

The islands in the Luzon area are mainly Luzon, Masbate, and Mindoro. The Visayan islands are mainly Palawan, Negros Cebu island, Leyte, Samar, and Bohol. The Mindanao islands in the Southern region consist mainly of Mindanao, Basilan, Sulu sea islands, and Jolo.

More info: Wikipedia, TravelPhil