Manila is the capital of the Philippines, located next to an ideal natural harbor, which made it a strategic center for the Spanish Conquistadors. Far from the days of a slow paced colonial life surrounding Fort Santiago, today Manila is one of the most chaotic cities on earth. Consistently ranked as the city with the worst airport in the world, massive traffic issues, pervasive urban poverty, and street crime make Manila less than alluring to the amateur traveler.

However, students should know that the city is changing, and with the economic boom that has come from overseas Filipino workers and the rise of outsourcing has resulted in a growing upper and middle class. Amenities are also on the rise, with comfortable flats in many neighborhoods, like Makati, close to high quality and affordable dining, convenient grocery stores, and entertainment, from concerts to movie theaters. Students who study abroad in Manila typically live at or near their university, the biggest of which is UP-Diliman, located in the Manila suburbs.

Cebu is the second largest city of the Philippines, located south of Manila on the island of Cebu. Though Cebu is large and still has many similar urban ills present in Manila, the pace of life is slightly slower in Cebu and there are beaches close by that attract travelers from around the world, as well as the notable Visayans culture. Cebu is where Magellan held the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines and where he met Lapu Lapu, a local who wasn’t celebrating the arrival of the Spanish or their Masses. Cebu is also home to a major Film School and much of the Tagalog film industry, but students who study abroad in Cebu will have a range of courses to choose from.

Davao is a city in Mindanao, which is the autonomous island at the southernmost end of the Philippines. While Davao is the fourth largest city in the country, the surrounding large island is populated with small fishing villages and inland rice farming hamlets. The Philippines is often the focus of travel warnings, most of which surround rebellious activities in Mindanao. This autonomous island is a hotbed for Islamic extremist and anti-government groups, including Abu Sayef, and unfortunately kidnapping for ransom has a historical legacy on this island. Nevertheless, despite the civil issues, Davao is still an affordable and generally safe place to study abroad in the Philippines.

Los Baños is a smaller city of 100,000 about 60 kilometers from Manila. The city is located at the steppe of the dormant volcano Mount Makiling. The local University of the Philippines - Los Baños campus is focused primarily on agriculture and is home to the International Rice Research Institute.

Baguio is a beautiful, smaller city in the mountains of central Luzon. The Philippines has two types of weather: hot and very hot. Baguio, on the other hand, is quite mild given its altitude and location. This small refuge from the tropics is dotted with pine trees, artist galleries, and cool local restaurants. It is also home to a University of the Philippines campus, which is focused primarily on agriculture and sciences but is also home to many faculty-led programs from the U.S.