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Philippines
- Travel hints, tips and notes
-
Dress
for the weather – hot, hot, hot! Light clothing is ideal year-round, and
absolutely during the hot and dry months from March to May. Temperatures
average from 78°F/25°C to 90°F/32°C. Mean humidity is at
77%.
-
Never
leave home without your rain gear, umbrella, and heavy clothing during the
rainy months from June to October as well as when setting out to the
mountainous areas.
-
When
shopping in a public market, it is perfectly acceptable to haggle for the
cheapest price. My brief experience leads me to believe that the market
sellers start at 200% of the required price to holidaying westerners.
-
English
is the most widely spoken next to Filipino/Tagalog, the national language.
Learning the basic local phrases is not essential but may come in handy - if
nothing else it is polite (learn some
here). Over 111 local dialects are spoken in the country.
-
Comfortable
yet sturdy footwear are best, as traveling the islands will often involve
some walking.
-
When
headed to the remote areas, come prepared with an insect repellant and even
your own water in handy containers. Always have the island map with you -
including a resort card - written in Tagalog for good measure.
-
Prepare
to hop in a Jeepney, tricycle, or pedicab – exotic modes of land transport
that are the most commonly available for going around. Always bring loose
change when taking public transport. If you have loads of change nearing the
end of your holiday - instead of buying the obligatory chewing gum or extra
drink at the airport - a nice Jeepney ride is a good, constructive way to
lose the last few Pesos.
-
Know
the transport schedules. Some destinations are only being serviced
intermittently, not to mention extreme weather conditions that will affect
these schedules.
-
Casual
clothing is acceptable inside churches and business offices. Dining
establishments and hotels impose no dress code but shorts and slippers are
deemed improper. This I found quite bizarre. Coming from a predominantly
Buddhist country where the feet are deemed dirty and rude to show - yet
everyone wears flip flops or slippers - no problem. In the Philippines -
it's regarded as rude to wear flip flops or slippers in a hotel lobby for
example. Very strange.
-
For
formal occasions, the traditional Barong Tagalog, the Philippine national
costume for men, is just as suitable as the suit-and-tie. A very brightly
coloured shirt by all accounts :-) Nice!
-
When
traveling by car, be mindful of the number coding ordinance for vehicles
that is being implemented strictly in selected cities.
-
Do
not miss visiting during the summer, when there is a concentration of major
festivals, celebrations, and events. I shall certainly be returning every 3
months - wish to join me? - contact me.
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Adapt
to local customs; accept local differences. The Filipinos are divided
culturally into regions a total of 16, at present, each with its own
distinct traits and traditions. I am not saying to go to church daily or say
3 hail Mary's each time you get into a boat or car but just have some
respect.
-
The
Philippine monetary unit, the peso, is generally preferred for financial
transactions. Money-changing shops are available in key cities and towns.
$US can be accepted but things are generally cheaper in the local Peso
currency.
-
Tipping
is expected for many services. The standard amount is 10% of the total bill.
Tipping is optional on bills that include a service charge, which is often
10% as well of the total bill.
-
Be
sure to sample the endless variety of native delicacies and local cuisine,
which differ in every region. The
Philippines
is made up of
7,000 different flavors that you will want to take home with you. Stay for a
year and try them all!
-
For
tourist information and assistance, get in touch with the Department of
Tourism and any of its accredited offices nationwide.
Entry Regulations
Except for stateless persons and those countries with
which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations, all visitors with valid
passports may enter the country without visas and may stay for 21 days provided
they have tickets for onward journey. Holders of
Hong Kong
and
Taiwan
passports must have special permits. Visas and special permits may be obtained
from Philippine embassies and consulates.
Health Regulations
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is
required for travelers coming from infected areas. Children under one year of
age are subject to isolation when necessary.
Drug Abuse
Possession or use of prohibited drugs carries a maximum
penalty of death. I like the notice on the TM card that you receive during your
flight into Manila - "Drug traffickers WILL be killed".
Customs Regulations
To facilitate customs examination, visitors are advised to
fill in the Baggage and Currency Declaration Form before disembarking. Visitors
are allowed to bring in the following articles duty-free: reasonable quantity of
clothes, jewelry and toiletries, 400 sticks of cigarettes or two tins of tobacco
and two bottles of wine or spirits of not more than one liter each.
Currency Regulations
Visitors carrying more than $3,000 are requested to
declare the amount at the Central Bank of the
Philippines
counter situated at the customs area. Foreign currency taken out upon departure
must not exceed the amount brought in. Keep all exchange receipts for record
purposes. Departing passengers may not bring out more than 1,000 Pesos in local
currency.
Airport Fees
Ninoy
Aquino
International
Airport
: P 250 (pesos); Mactan International Airport P 250 (pesos); domestic departure
fee: P 30 (
Manila
); P 7 (
Cebu
). Paid in Philippine pesos only.
Duty-free shopping
Duty-Free shops are located at the departure and transit
areas of NAIA (Manila international airport) and MIA (
Cebu
international airport). There are also Duty-Free outlets at the Manila Hotel,
the
Hotel
Nikko
Manila
Garden
, and the Century Park Sheraton Hotel. The Duty-Free Fiesta Shopping Center near
the NAIA is the country's largets duty-free outlet.
Climate
March to May is hot and dry, with temperatures ranging
from 22-32 degrees Celsius. June to October is rainy. November to February is
cool; temperatures range from 22-28 degrees Celsius. Average humidity year-round
is 77%.
Currency
Unit of currency: Peso(P) = 100 centavos. Bank notes: P5,
P10, P20, P50, P100, P500, P1000. Coins: 1c, 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c, P1, P2, P5.
Business & Banking Hours
Private and government offices are open either from
8 am
to
5 pm
, or from
9 am
to
6 pm
, Mondays to Fridays. Some private companies hold office on Saturday from
10 am
to
12 noon
. Most shopping centers, department stores and supermarkets open from
10 am
to
8 pm
daily. Banks are open from
9 am
to
3 pm
, Mondays to Fridays.
Philippines Diving, Resort and facts -
quick reference links:
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Scuba Diving Sabang:
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The Sabang Inn:
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The Philippines.
Join us on the next Sabang Philippine
Scuba Diving Trip - contact me
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