Negros, Philippines

With a population of over 4.4 million, Negros is no island paradise. The island's sugarcane monoculture has bred deep social tensions, as evidenced by the 1980s "Negros Famine" that sparked a surge in Marxist rebels. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the island only recently reunited into a single administrative region after years of division. Yet Negros remains the Philippines' top producer of sugar and organic agriculture, drawing in investors and university students seeking opportunity. For those willing to navigate the island's complexities, Negros offers a chance to participate in one of the country's economic powerhouses.