The complex and captivating world of the Philippines is molded from the cultural combinations of the East and West. Seven thousand islands and more than four hundred years of history reads line an exciting storybook of pirates and Spanish conquistadors. Discovered by Magellan in 1521 and named after King Philip of Spain…invaded by the Chinese in 1574…raided by the Dutch…ceded by Spain to the United States in 1898 and an American possession for almost 50 years…captured by the Japanese in 1942…liberated by the United States and finally proclaimed independence on July 4, 1946. This multi-faceted history mingled races in the "Pearl of the Orient Seas," including European, American, Hindu, Arabian, Chinese, Persian, and Polynesian…blending with the original Malay stock.

The Philippines has managed to glean the most interesting cultural traits from her various invaders and colonizers. Music, dance, fashion, painting, sculpture, and architecture show evidence of these. It is generally assumed that dance and music as a medium of artistic expression are the most popular among Filipinos.