Michael Palin recently completed a 19-day journey across the Philippines, capturing a diverse and often challenging portrait of the archipelago’s culture, geography, and history. The trip, documented with a camera crew, allowed Palin to explore the complexity of the nation’s roughly 7,641 islands, each with its own distinct character and challenges.

During his travels, Palin visited a number of locations that showcased the contrasting religious and political landscape of the country. The predominantly Roman Catholic northern islands stand in contrast to the more Muslim southern regions, notably including Marawi City. Marawi remains partially in ruins following a violent siege by Islamic extremists in 2017. Palin met a former jihadist who emphasized ongoing efforts to rebuild the city and rebrand it with the slogan “From Terrorism to Tourism,” a phrase that Palin suggested may be somewhat optimistic given the current state of recovery.

Palin also visited Pag-asa Island, a minute landmass of just one-tenth of a square mile, notable for its airport runway stretching beyond both ends of the island. The waters surrounding Pag-asa are subject to territorial disputes with China, whose fishing vessels and naval ships have reportedly clashed with Philippine boats, underscoring the geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea.

In the capital, Manila, Palin made a stop at “Smokey Mountain,” a large landfill so expansive that impoverished communities have established homes on the waste. It was here that he encountered “pagpag,” a local food prepared from scraps salvaged from leftover fried chicken, cleaned and refried before being sold. Palin described the dish as among the most unpalatable foods he has encountered in his extensive travels.

The journey included a notable meeting with Philippine President Bongbong Marcos, son of the former president Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos. Despite initial protocol limiting Palin to three pre-prepared questions, the encounter took an unexpected turn when Marcos, an Oxford PPE graduate and self-described lifelong Monty Python fan, enthusiastically engaged Palin in conversation. Marcos expressed particular interest in the origins of the Monty Python fish-slapping dance, extending the meeting beyond the original terms. Palin noted this as a moment of British cultural influence operating on the international stage.

Throughout the trip, Palin’s observations illuminated the Philippines’ contrasts—from natural beauty and traditional culture to the legacies of conflict and poverty—all while highlighting ongoing social and political complexities shaping the country’s future.