Philippine Portal is a non-sectarian, non-political online community service dedicated to provide information to both foreigners and locals alike.

Philippine Portal aims to enhance the awareness in Philippine history, culture, tradition and heritage; to contribute to the promotion and protection of the pristine, serene eco-tourism in the Philippines in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT); to provide up-to-date information on the immigration and visa policies in the Philippines and abroad in collaboration with the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Foreign Affairs; and, to provide latest international and local news in partnership with ABS-CBN, one of the major news providers in the country. Philippine Portal also disseminates news, information and reports on issues concerning the Philippines, Filipinos and foreigners who are living, studying, working, retiring or traveling in the country.

Philippine Portal as an interactive community service provides weblogs, forum, and chatroom for writing and reading enthusiasts. It aims to establish safe and friendly space for both readers and writers in different age levels and to bring people in different walks of life together.

About the Philippines

The Philippines consists of 7,107 islands with Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao as the three main, large islands. It is considered the second largest archipelago in the world.

The Philippines is regarded for having the third longest coastline in the world which is almost as twice as that of the USA. The coastline length of 36, 289 km includes powder-like white sand and coarse grey to black granite sand stretches. The islands and the islets offer various water sports and recreation activities including diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, water-skiing, fishing and even diving with the blue whale in Donsol, Sorsogon. The complexly diverse marine life and numerous coral gardens throughout the islands including the Tubbataha and Apo reefs make the Philippines one of the world’s best diving destinations.

The Philippines' geographical location makes it prone to earthquakes and typhoons. There are about 20 typhoons that pass the country every year which devastatingly destroys the highly agricultural areas of the country. Aside from typhoons, earthquakes especially seismic tremors are also experienced in the country. The Philippines has 37 volcanoes, of which 18 are active; the rest are dormant or inactive. However, it is through these natural calamities where Philippines long-stretched white sand beach, thick rainforest, limestone karst mountain and significant habitat for bio-diversity organism which has some of the most important forests in Asia, are created.

The Philippine history has no significant record stating the origins of Filipinos prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. Theories evolved from the artifacts and fossilized remnants excavated by archeologists and early scholars that the early inhabitants traded with Chinese, Arabians, Indians and neighbouring Asian countries. These settlers were from three different origins: the Negritoes, the Indonesians and the Malays. At present, Filipinos are the product of Eastern and Western blend with 93% English literacy, the highest in Asia.

The astounding, fascinating yet intricate culture, history and people of the Philippines are as diverse as its splendid natural resources waiting to be discovered by the adventurous and young at heart.