The Republic of the Philippines is an archipelagic nation of some 7,000 islands in Southeast Asia.   The Philippines is the only predominantly Christian (Roman Catholic) country in Asia, becoming a colony of Spain in 1521 with Magellan’s world-circling voyage.  As a result of nearly 50 years as a colony of the United States from 1898-1946, Filipinos pride themselves as being the third-largest English-speaking country in the world.  Most of their 85 million people are able to communicate in English, despite 70 different languages being spoken throughout the archipelago.   The Philippines is noted for its excellent beaches, hospitality and tasty food.

Philippine Aquaculture 
As a country with long maritime traditions and much of the population relying on seafood as a major source of protein, sea farming or aquaculture is an industry of major importance in the country in terms of not only volume of seafood products produced, but range of species being cultured.   The aim of this program is to familiarize students with the depth and breadth of aquaculture practices in the country, with visits to freshwater fish farms in mountainous & lowland areas, shellfish and seaweed farms in coastal waters, pen culture operations for marine finfish, and visits to Philippine government aquaculture research facilities and Philippine universities with aquaculture research programs at several locations throughout the archipelago from Baguio City on the northern island of Luzon to Cebu City and Dumaguete City in the region of the Central Visayas.

• Tuition
• Room
• Meals
• Airfare to and from Philippines
• Travel expenses within Philippines (airfare, bus and jitney services)

• No previous Tagalog or any other Philippine language study required
• Earn 6 credits toward your URI degree
• Detailed trip report required prior to award of final grade
• Graduation Party and Diploma of participation 

• Housing will vary depending on location in the Philippines, but will include hotels, dormitories, and guest houses.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided
• TV, VCR, and DVD available at many overnight stops.
• Internet available at internet cafes, universities, and government labs

• Benguet State University Upland Aquaculture Center, La Trinidad.
• DMMMSU College of Fisheries, Santo Tomas, La Union
• National Freshwater Aquaculture Lab, CLSU, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
• Bureau of Fisheries Mariculture Lab, Dagupan City, Pangasinan
• Oyster and milkfish farms, Dagupan City, Pangasinan
• Bureau of Fisheries Aquaculture Lab, Lucap, Alaminos, Pangasinan
• Univ. of the Philippines Marine Lab, Bolinao, Pangasinan
• Giant clam farming at Siliman University, Dumaguete City
• University of San Carlos Marine Lab, Mactan Island, Cebu
• Seaweed farms at Talibon, Bohol
• SE Asian Fisheries Development Center, Tigbauan, Iloilo
• University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo
• SE Asian Fisheries Development Center Freshwater Aquaculture Station at Binangonan, Rizal
• Mussel Farms at Cavite City

• Visits to museums and historic sites
• Movie nights
• Interaction with local people
• Conference and seminars
• Beach Trips