Gabriel Kean Tan Ebeo

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Southeast Asia has long been a mythical destination for many travelers around the world.
With strong cultural influences and intriguing local customs, this side of the continent is no
stranger to tourists eager to explore and discover. Three countries that get compared a lot are
Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. Thailand has always been a crowd favorite, especially
for backpackers. Kind of like Bali is always on everyone's agenda. Philippines, is rapidly gaining
popularity thanks to its renewed focus on tourism. Lastly, Singapore is very well known for its
advanced technology and facilities, this is why Southeast Asia is undoubtedly an interesting
destination, but it's going to be a tough choice if you're only planning to land in one country.
Despite their allure, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines are very different.

Thailand is a country has been hitting must-visit lists for a long time, and you could
spend weeks traveling in Thailand. It's an almost landlocked country bordering Burma, Laos,
Cambodia, and a part of Malaysia. The southern peninsular region is famous for beaches and
neighboring islands that are teeming with social life and natural wonders. The landscape of
Thailand is diverse. Up north are thick teak forests and vast mountain ranges cut by steep river
valleys. The central plain is the most densely populated and the center of agriculture. Along the
eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand are fisheries and aquaculture that contribute to economic
progress in the area. The southern part of the country is covered by humid tropical forests as the
source of rubber plantations and coconut cultivation. Thailand enjoys both tropical and sub-
tropical climate, depending on the shifting of the monsoon winds. There are three distinct
seasons: the hot season from March to mid-May, the rainy monsoon season from mid-May to
October, and the dry and cool season from November to February. Because of the varying
topography, the cool season is mostly experienced in the mountain and inland areas. The
southern peninsular region where most of the beaches are found experience a slightly different
pattern. It's hot all year round but rainy season occurs at different times of the year. Travelers
make their way to Thailand for exceptional local cuisine that take influences from neighboring
countries. It's also popular for bargain shopping and a lively nightlife. As a Buddhist country, the
country is also known for gorgeous temples and many peaceful destinations perfect for
introspection and meditation. Local culture and customs are also very colorful and vibrant. Add
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to all that low costs on transportation, accommodation, and activities, it's no wonder Thailand
has been regarded as one of the best destinations in Asia.

The Philippines on the other hand is a late bloomer in the destination game, but it's
coming in strong. As a country made up of over 7,000 islands, it's become a prime destination
for exotic beaches and laid back island life. The country is also home to 9,600 square miles of
reef systems, making up nearly 9 percent of the world's total reef area. SCUBA divers have
discovered this gem of a country long ago, and now the rest of the world is following suit. The
Philippines is made of three main island regions. Luzon is the topmost part of the country, made
up of mostly landlocked provinces and home to the country's capital, Manila. Visayas is the
central region made of several groups of islands, making it a hotspot for beachgoers and divers.
The southern part of the Philippines is Mindanao, another chunk of provinces with a scattering of
provincial islands. The country is predominantly Catholic and religion plays a very big role in
the way people live. Mindanao, on the other hand, is a Muslim region with a few Catholic
communities. It has become infamous for religious and political clashes, unfortunately throwing
the rest of the country in a negative light. Truth is, these clashes are over sensationalized in
media and does not affect much of the beauty and adventure to be had in the country. As a
tropical country, there are only two season in the Philippines - wet and dry. These seasons have
shifted in recent years and sometimes have become unpredictable. In general, however, rainy
season peaks around June to August. Regardless of the rain and monsoon, it pretty much feels
like summer all year round. With sunny weather any time of the year, exotic locations to
discover, and the trademark Filipino hospitality, it's easy to see how travelers have come to fall
in love with this country.

Singapore is one of the world’s most prosperous nations. Despite an active parliamentary
opposition, it has been ruled by one party, the People’s Action Party. Singapore is a small,
heavily urbanized, island city-state in Southeast Asia, located at the end of the Malayan
Peninsula between Malaysia and Indonesia. It has a total land area of 719.9 square kilometers.
Singapore’s climate is classified as tropical rainforest climate, with no true distinct seasons. Its
climate is characterized by uniform temperature and pressure, high humidity and abundant
rainfall. Therefore, it is almost always warm and wet.
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Singapore is a major manufacturer of electronics and chemicals and operates one of the world’s
largest ports. Principal exports include integrated circuits, refined petroleum, and computers.
Singapore places great emphasis on high-end manufacturing including semi-conductors and
consumer electronic, as well as machinery, transport equipment, and ships. The government is
also trying to foster future growth sectors such as, aerospace, precision engineering, and the life
sciences including bio technology, medical equipment, and pharmaceutics. Moreover, water is
scarce in Singapore therefore water is defined as a precious resource in Singapore along with the
scarcity of land to be treated with land fill of Pulau Semakau. Singapore’s highly developed free-
market economy owes its success in large measure to its remarkably open and corruption-free
business environment, prudent monetary and fiscal policies, and a transparent legal framework.
Singapore’s business-friendly environment has not only encouraged investment in
manufacturing; the service sector drives the economy. It provides jobs to 80% of workers, and
creates over 75% of the gross domestic product. Trade is extremely important to Singapore’s
economy; the combined value of exports and imports equals 318 percent of GDP. In general, the
Singaporean government favors globalization and free trade. Import tariffs are low to non-
existent, and the tiny state is an active member of NATO, ASEAN, and other multinational trade
organizations. Banking, finance, and insurance also make up a large part of the economy in
Singapore. The government has steadily been opening the domestic market to foreign banks, and
more than 95 percent of banks operating in Singapore are now foreign owned. The government
has also invested in education for decades. Human capital and a skilled workforce contribute to
the prosperous economy in Singapore.

While the three countries belong to the Southeast Asian region, the political and
economic state are very different. Thailand is a relative prosperous nation. It displays typical
indicators of a successful democracy such as strong banks, modern factories, strong tourism and
a growing middle class. It has experienced a lot of coups in its recent history wherein some
scholars even dubbed the last eight decades as "coup season". It was once a constitutional
monarchy where a prime minister is the head of government while the monarch is head of state.
However, the coup in 2014 revoked the constitution and placed the country under the military
rule of the National Council for Peace and Order. After the death of the world's longest-reigning
monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in 2016, the reigning junta has consistently pushed back
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the timetable for new elections now said to be in November 2018. The elections are hoped to
bridge the nation's decade-long political divide and return stability to the government. Despite
political turmoil and a long history of corruption, Thailand's economy is growing rapidly.  A
growing middle class means growth in spending power. Thailand's economy is benefiting from
its strong export industry, but political uncertainty poses a big risk. Tourism also boosts the
country's economy. As travel has become more accessible, there has been a bigger influx of
tourists and of higher demographic levels who can spend more money and time in the country.
This has led to developments in infrastructure and job creation. The Philippines is not much
different. The country was one of the top three growth performers in Southeast Asia and is
predicted to exhibit stronger growth in the coming months. The Philippines also benefits from
strong exports. Despite all this, the Philippines is still a developing country with a poverty rate of
around 22%. While this rate is going down, it's still an indication of the quality of life of many in
the population. This also means very cheap commodities, which are favorable to foreign tourists
and nationals. Nevertheless, the country's growth outlook remains positive and is currently
growing at its potential. The biggest risks to this growth are domestic and political factors. The
country's president, Rodrigo Duterte, has become a controversial and infamous political leader
throughout the world. He has delivered inappropriate statements towards other heads of state, is
seen to be an impulsive man, and has implemented several laws that many question as immoral.
The most notorious action he has been known for is the extra-judicial killings of known drug
pushers and users. Many from the local and international community have voiced their opinions
regarding human rights. Locally, however, the view on Duterte's administration is very much
split in the middle. While the elitist and the leftist part of the population denounce the
administration, many from the marginalized and poor masses praise Duterte for cleaning up
many problems that have been plaguing the nation for years such as corruption and addiction.
Politics is definitely a sensitive issue for both nations, but it's good to be more informed about
the situation. While there are several issues circulating within both governments, this has not
changed the fact that Thailand and Philippines are prime destinations for travel.

Despite political turmoil and religious clashes, the streets of Thailand and Philippines are
as safe as any other street in the world can be. There have been bombings in the recent past,
especially during the anniversary of the Thai junta that took over the government, but none of
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these have been dubbed as a terrorist attack. There are many other places around the world with
this kind of threat, but this is not something to worry about in either Thailand or the Philippines.
Most tourist destinations are generally safe, but be aware of areas that are unsafe even for locals.
Vigilance is key for any traveler, and this is needed in Southeast Asia just as much as anywhere
else in the world.

In Thailand, 95% of the population are Theraveda Buddhist. The belief systems of the
Buddhist teaching reflects very much on their day-to-day lives. Respect, self-control and non-
confrontation are the most important values. Hinduism has also played a big role in forming the
Thai culture, and you'll see these influences in their art, literature, and several customs. Strong
displays of emotion are seen in a negative light, which means Thais are not very expressive.
Nevertheless, their deeply-rooted values mean Thais are very helpful, if not shy, towards
travelers. The culture is generally male-dominated, but women are always regarded with respect.
They also value the concept of "sanuk", which is a concept that embodies playfulness and sense
of humor. They enjoy spontaneous moments and having fun, which is why many travelers end
up making a lot of friends after a trip to Thailand.

On the other hand, Filipinos are highly emotional and expressive. While Catholicism
rules over their religious beliefs, their history of paganism, colonialism and active trade have
created an interesting mix in terms of attitude and way of life across the nation. Filipinos are
known to be very warm and hospitable and will welcome any stranger with open arms. Family is
also very central to their culture, which translates to being very generous with food, home and
time. This also extends to travelers wherein it's simply not in a Filipino's nature to say "no".
Filipinos are also said to be a very resilient nation. Despite the many catastrophes that have
wreaked havoc on the country, the people simply get back on their feet and rebuild with
whatever they can. The "Filipino smile" is very iconic and will be sure to greet you wherever you
are in the country. The language barrier in Thailand makes travel a little bit difficult. Siamese
Thai, specifically, is the lone and official language of the country. It's spoken in all parts of the
country and the lone language used on official documents as well as government and mainstream
media. There are three other regional dialects including Southern Thai, Yuan, and Northeastern
Thai. There are also minority languages and indigenous languages spoken in smaller
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communities around the country. English is not a very widespread language even in the big
cities, but you will run into someone who knows the language every now and then. This becomes
a huge challenge as well when looking for a place as the Thai alphabet is written in characters
that are nowhere near the English alphabet. In the Philippines, English is very widely spoken.
The country's official language is called Filipino, but is only mainly spoken in Manila and
provinces in Luzon. Given the island geography of the country, different provinces have
developed their own dialects, mostly based on the dialect Bisaya. Bisaya is most commonly
spoken in the Visayas region, but even there, they have different versions. The unifying language
for the country is English, which is also the main mode of education for private institutions.
While their grasp of the English language is not always perfect, anyone will have a level of
understanding of the language no matter where you are in the country.