The red cardinal is a notable spiritual messenger. Many believe that a red cardinal sighting is a sign that the Spirit seeks to connect on the Earth plane.
Geography: The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands, totaling about 300,000 sq. km. (117,187 sq. mi.) It borders on the South China Sea to the west, the Philippine Sea to the east, and the Celebes Sea to the south. The country's closest neighbors are the island of Borneo to the southwest, and Taiwan to the north.
The Philippines: a guide to the best islands. Six of the country's 7,000-plus islands were devastated by Typhoon Haiyan; many of the others badly need tourists to return. Local writer Aya Lowe picks the best places to go.