Although composed of 7107 islands, with a total coastline longer than that of the USA, most of the population of The Philippines lives on just 11 of them.The earliest inhabitants of the Philippines were the Negritos. Other tribes later arrived from Malaysia and Indonesia. Recently the country is improving rapidly, infrastructure projects involving airports, expressways, inter-island transport and even the currently almost non-existent railway system are part of the 10-point development agenda for the presidency until 2010. Travel and tourism will surely benefit, as airports nationwide are being constructed or renovated to accommodate larger planes and more visitors, attracted by the country's warm tropical waters, coral gardens with beautiful marine life and dramatic drop-offs on the sea bed. Inland, the rich history and culture of the Filipino people, the landscapes and thriving cities will fascinate the visitor. Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is also its heart and soul. It sets the rhythm of life in this archipelago and is a pulsating hub that blends the Oriental with the Occidental, the traditional with the modern, the mundane with extraordinary.