Philippines

Located in southeastern Asia, the Philippines are a cluster of over 7,600 tropical islands between the Philippine and South China Seas. The Philippines is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean. The Philippines also sits astride the Pacific typhoon belt and has an average of nine typhoons making landfall on the islands each year—with five of those being destructive. Despite recent economic expansion, rapid population growth and uneven distribution of wealth and resources have posed challenges for most Filipino residents. Inspired by Eastern and Western cultures, the Philippines include calligraphy, wood carving, and weaving among its traditional art forms