The Global Phoenix - Issue 4 The Global Phoenix - Issue 4 | Page 34

Spotlight on: The Philippines
The Multi-Island Destination
We asked Vedit Kurangil of Santa Fe to answer our 10
questions.
1. Give us an overview of the Philippines as a destination.
The Philippines is an Archipelago composed of 7,641 islands
and is home to one of the internationally voted New7Wonders
of Nature; the Palawan underground river. Of all the islands,
there are three major ones: Luzon Island which holds the
capital Manila, Cebu Island and Mindanao Island.
The country has a lot to offer as an international destination,
from its vast white beaches and diving sites to its modern
shopping centres located throughout busy cities.
Filipinos are characteristically a friendly and outgoing people
and are welcoming to foreigners. Most Filipinos speak English
in addition to the local language, Tagalog and other local
dialects, so communication isn’t usually an issue.
2. Which cities are the main destinations for multinational
investment and corporate relocation?
Luzon Island – The cities of Manila, Baguio, Subic and Clark
Cebu Island – Cebu city
Mindanao Island – The cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro
3. Which sectors are these corporations from?
BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) and Shared Services
Centres from abroad are the country’s biggest economic
contributors and remain in a steady pattern of growth.
The IT industry is big and the retail industry has seen a surge of
international brands coming to the country.
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