The Philippines is an island nation in South East Asia. It lies in the Pacific Ocean, near the equator, and is made up of around 7641 islands. The Philippines are a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means it has many active volcanoes. It is also prone to earthquakes and typhoons.
At the same time, these islands are blessed with abundant natural resources. There are beautiful beaches and coastal areas, as well as towering mountains and lush valleys.
The Philippines has a rich and varied wildlife, and the highest rate of discovery of new animal species. Sixteen new species of mammals have been discovered just in the last 10 years.
Interestingly, there are between 120 and 175 individual languages spoken in the Philippines, 171 of which are living, while the other four no longer have any known speakers.