Likas-Philippines is a vision of the Philippines and Filipino people -- unique from other Philippines site you will find in the internet. From conception, it was designed to be a collaborative project ("bayanihan" in our native tongue) -- a distillation of the collective perspectives of Filipinos -- about the Philippines and the Filipino people.
This inaugural issue provides a glimpse of dynamic features of Likas-Philippines. More interactive features are planned in the coming months.
The first major project of Likas-Philippines -- the Likas-Pilippines Galleries -- presents a visual tour of the Philippines, and glimpses of the Filipino people in the Philippines and those who now live in other countries of the world. More focused "virtual tour albums" for Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila have been prepared. The Global Pinoys section provides glimpses of the Filipino communities in different countries of the world.
Pasko (Christmas) is not only a celebration of the birth of Christ in the Philippines, the only predominantly Christian country in Asia; it is also the the season when members of the family go home to their roots, the Filipino equivalent of "Thanksgiving" as celebrated in Western countries like the United States. Western children look forward to Halloween, but Pasko (Christmas) is the time when Filipino children get a chance to visit their neighbors, sing their song before they get a treat.
Batanes is the northernmost province of the Philippines separated completely from the main island of Luzon. The remoteness of the islands that comprise Batanes coupled with its unique weather rendered them virtually unspoiled by the onslaught of population growth that afflicted the greater part of the Philippines. Today, Batanes remains a virtual paradise -- as shared by a number of Filipinos who visited.
"Imagine 50,000 people living in houses on stilts on the reef, bridged only by wooden planks and manmade walkways. Imagine an islet less than 1 km square which the predominantly Muslim Samal and Bajao people chose to snub in favor of living on the water that is their life. Imagine a place that is practically the last digit island South of the Philippines and is as close to Sabah Malaysia as the main Bongao island of Tawi-Tawi. This is the glorious place of mystery called Sitangkai." -- Farl
Rice Cycle by Ayeona
Rice is the most important component of every Filipino meal -- breakfast, lunch and supper(dinner) -- as well as the the in-between meals we call simply as "merienda" or snacks, sometimes two or three times each day among very active Filipinos. Rice production is also a way of life. In "Rice Cycle", Ayeona shares a brief glimpse of how rice production is integrated in the day-to-day lives and the culture of her people -- the Igorots of Mountain Province in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).
The collective arts and literature of a nation is the quintessential expressions of the day-to-day lives, hopes, dreams and aspirations of a people -- at any given time. In his work, Victor shares how his immersion and reactions to Catholicism and the church shaped his life and art. Visit Victor Ancheta's page in Likas-Philippines to get a glimpse of some of his representative art works. Included in Victor Ancheta's page are more links for more extensive presentation of his art works.
It begun as a personal project by a Filipina , Virginia, from California. Many of her people are in Calubian, Leyte are poor and understood that education may help get them out of the cycle of poverty. With her own money she collected books to send back home, but she could not afford all the shipping expenses, and asked for help... Please visit Special Project for Calubian, Leyte- need assistance posted by Jill Adams for this evolving story.
In Progress
Global Pinoys : Sampaguita Blooms in Japan
Sampaguita is the national flower of the Philippines. To find in blooming in Japan is symbolic of the efforts of Filipinos who now work or live permanently in Japan to create a Filipino-Japanese community that include what is good and beautiful of the motherland -- Philippines.
The dynamic and interactive version of Likas-Philippines has just been launched. The first project, Likas-Pilippines Galleries, presents a visual tour of the Philippines, and glimpses of the Filipino people in the Philippines and those who now live in other countries of the world. Currently, the "virtual tour albums" for Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila have been prepared. The Global Pinoys section provides a glimpse of the Filipino communities in different countries of the world.
Similar "virtual tour albums" for the different regions, provinces, cities and key destinations in the Philippines will be prepared. Eventually, these "virtual tour albums" will serve as portals that will guide you to more detailed information about the Philippines and the Filipino people. All albums are at initial stages of development. More images and brief descriptions will be included during the coming months.
Likas-Philippines presents an image of the Philippines and Filipino people distilled from the collective perspectives of Filipinos. The images shown and articles included are selected contributions of the membership of the Likas-Pilippines Team and non-member contributors from the Philippines and other countries.
Some sections of the Likas-Pilippines Galleries include images from other countries -- to reflect the reality that many Filipinos now live in other countries. These sections include Recent Additions (the main site where all Filipinos upload photos), Halu-Halo (personal Filipino websites) and especially Global Pinoys (depicting the communities and countries where overseas Filipinos live).
Visit About Us -- The Likas-Philippines Team to learn more about the membership, contributors, donors and sponsors of Likas-Philippines. This section also includes our Goals, Privacy Policies, Disclaimers and Disclosures, Copyright and Submission Policies, as well as Our Terms of Agreement. As a visitor and user of Likas-Philippines you are expected to have read and abide by the aforementioned articles.