A journey beyond the tropical postcard
Michael Palin in the Philippines follows the traveller on a 2,500-mile route across the archipelago. The three-part series pairs celebrated island landscapes with encounters concerning poverty, political memory and environmental pressure. Palin's journey uses travel as a route into the country's contradictions rather than treating scenery as its only subject.
The opening chapter begins in Manila around a protest marking the anniversary of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos's fall from power. Singer and activist Leah Navarro discusses the family's political legacy, while a visit to Tondo brings Palin into contact with people living under severe economic pressure.
Underground rivers, prison routines and environmental questions
On Palawan, Palin explores the Puerto Princesa underground river and visits an area affected by concerns about nickel mining. The route continues to Cebu, including a detention centre known for synchronised dancing. The same episode also examines flood-control corruption and takes Palin into the water among large formations of sardines.
The final leg includes an island subject to British travel restrictions during filming, the Budots dance craze and reflections on resilience. Directed by Neil Ferguson, the series keeps encounters with residents beside its more spectacular locations, allowing the pleasures and tensions of the journey to remain visible together.
