The Philippines is an archipelago.
Homonhon . Montoconan , an islet just off the northwest corner of Homonhon , is also part of the approximately 7,500 islands comprising the Philippine Archipelago . Luzon . Located in the northern region of the archipelago , it is the economic and political center of the nation , being home to the country 's capital city , Manila , as well as Quezon City , the country 's most populous city . Manila ( [ məˈnɪlə ] Maynilà , [ majˈnilaʔ ] or [ majniˈla ] ) , officially the City of Manila ( Lungsod ng Maynilà [ luŋˈsod nɐŋ majˈnilaʔ ] Ciudad de Manila [ sjuˈðað ðe maˈnila ] ) , is the capital of the Philippines and the second largest city by population after Quezon City . Philippines . It consists of about 7,641 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south : Luzon , Visayas , and Mindanao . The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Homonhon , Eastern Samar in 1521 marked the beginning of Hispanic colonization .