The Philippines, known as the Pearl of the Orient, is a 7,000-island archipelago located in Southeast Asia. It boasts several land and water wonders as well as shopping destinations. Apart from this, the country also has a rich cultural heritage that is shown in the ways of its people.

The islands of the Philippines are divided into three large groups named Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The archipelagic groups are further sub-divided into regions. The country's capital, Manila, is one of the busiest cities and is the second largest city, next to Quezon City.

Because the Philippines lies near the equator, its climate is described as hot and tropical. It goes through three major season changes ? the summer, rainy and cold seasons. Average yearly temperature is around 26 degrees Celsius.

The highest point of the country is Mount Apo that is located in Mindanao. It reaches a height of 9,690 feet. Other mountains of the country are covered in rainforests and are typically volcanic in origin. Among its active volcanoes are Mt. Mayon, Mt. Pinatubo and Mt. Taal.

The Philippines' population is relatively high and it has been ranked as the 12th most populous country in the world. As of 2005, the population reached more than 86 million. Two-thirds of this population can be found in Luzon. Meanwhile, literacy rate is 95.9 percent, and is one of the highest in Asia.

In terms of its economy, the Philippines is characterized as a developing country. Its businesses are largely agricultural in nature though other forms of services have already been developed. Economic downfall came during the Asian financial crisis in 1998, with the economic growth falling from 5 percent to a staggering 0.6 percent.

Today, major businesses lie in the call center and business process outsourcing industries. These businesses have generated thousands of jobs for the country. The companies that have chosen to invest in the country are mostly members of the Fortune 500 circle.