A nation made up of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is one of the most affordable and friendly destinations in all of Asia. Making the country that much sweeter, almost everyone speaks fluent English here.
With Taiwan to the north and Borneo to the south, the climate is tropical nearly all year-round. Even though it has some well-known neighbors, recent developments--like the Cebu International Convention Center, which hosted a recent ASEAN Summit--are putting the "third-largest English-speaking country" (as Filipinos like to call their nation), firmly on the map.
A former colony of Spain and the U.S., the Philippines is a melting pot of more than 100 ethnic groups united under Roman Catholicism (80 percent of the population) and a democratically elected president.
Getting here from the West Coast of the U.S. takes anywhere from 10 to 12 hours, and Philippines Airlines, the country's national carrier, links the capital city of Manila to 14 cities in eight countries. There are five international airports, but Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila is the largest--more than 30 international airlines fly in and out every day.
Tourism officials here like to say that Manila is the heart and soul of the Philippines, serving as a kind of sampler plate for everything the country has to offer.
For meeting planners, what will seal the deal for Manila is that the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) can accommodate 4,000 delegates in its plenary hall and 5,700 people in its reception hall. The nearby World Trade Center can also hold large exhibitions and events.
Manila has its share of standout properties, and all of them can accommodate smaller meetings on-site: The Nikko, Hotel InterContinental, Shangri-La, and Pan Pacific brands all have a presence in Manila
At the heart of Manila is the walled city of Intramuros--one of the best preserved medieval cities anywhere in the world. The old city is now dotted with cafes and art galleries, but monuments from the past, such as the grand Manila Cathedral, still live to tell the tale of Spain's profound influence on the country.
Just outside of the old city's walls is Club Intramuros Golf Course. A golfer's dream come true, the 18-hole course stays open well into the night for those who prefer cool moonlight to the glare of the sun. The club also has an on-site restaurant, meeting space and banquet facilities.
Nearby is the Ermita district, which along with the Malate district, forms Manila's main tourist area. Ermita is where the serious shoppers should go. Everything from art and antiques to kitsch and curios is on sale here. For those who prefer entertainment of the non-contact variety (though shopping in Manila is probably the least brutal in the world), preferably with beverage in hand, Malate is chock-a-block with cafes, lounges and performing arts.
Cebu, a long narrow island set smack-dab in the middle of the country's chain of islands, is another city of note. Cebu served as the country's first capital, and those who love places where sun meets sea should know that the long, thin island has mile upon mile of pristine coast and is known around the world as one of the scuba diving hot spots of Asia.
The Cebu International Convention Center is the newest addition to the MICE scene in the Philippines. Completed just in the nick of time for last fall's ASEAN Summit, the three-story structure has a total floor area of 30,000 square feet.
Anchored by Cebu City, metro Cebu is a collection of smaller cities that collectively make up the second-largest urban area in the Philippines. In the metro area, hotels, shopping, casinos, and golf courses are plentiful, but it's the deluxe resorts that win the prize here. Plantation Bay and Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort are standouts.
With a hilly, rocky interior, mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing draw eco-travelers from around the world to Cebu. There are a number of nearby uninhabited islands that are prime spots for private luxury camping excursions and day hikes.
History and architecture buffs will love Cebu as well. This is where Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan staked a claim for Spain in 1521. The cross he planted in the ground is still on display, and the old Spanish fort has been preserved and turned into a scenic park.
No matter where you go in the Philippines, you might want to come sooner rather than later. This long-overlooked country is quickly rising in popularity--it's on track to have more than 3.1 million visitor arrivals in 2007. This is a record, and although those numbers are modest compared to other Asian countries, the bottom line for planners and attendees is that the prices, and the people, are still very nice.
