PREPARING TO GO TO PHILIPPINES

CAPITAL

Manila

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

Filipino (Tagalog), English

RELIGION

Religion in the Philippines is marked by a majority of people being adherents of the Christian faith. At least 92% of the population is Christian; about 81% belong to the Roman Catholic Church while about 11% belong to Protestant, Orthodox, Restorationist and Independent Catholic denominations, such as Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Iglesia ni Cristo, Seventh-day Adventist Church, United Church of Christ in the Philippines and Evangelicals. Officially, the Philippines is a secular nation, with the Constitution guaranteeing separation of church and state, and requiring the government to respect all religious beliefs equally.

According to national religious surveys, about 5.6% of the population of the Philippines is Muslim, making Islam as the second largest religion in the country. However, a 2012 estimate by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) stated that there were 10.7 million Muslims, or approximately 11 percent of the total population. Most Muslims live in parts of Mindanao, Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelago – an area known as Bangsamoro or the Moro region. Some have migrated into urban and rural areas in different parts of the country.

ELECTRICITY

Electricity in Philippines is 220 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. If you travel to Philippines with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 60 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50-1600 Watts. They are light-weight and support high-wattage electrical appliances like hair dryers and irons. However, they can only be used for short periods of time and are not ideal for digital devices.

Transformers will have a much lower maximum Watt rating, usually 50 or 100. Transformers can often be used continuously and provide better electricity for low wattage appliances like battery chargers, radios, laptop computers, cameras, mp3 players and camcorders. However, they are heavy because they contain large iron rods and lots of copper wire.

Some companies sell combination converters that include both a resistor network and a transformer in the same package. This kind of converter will usually come with a switch that switches between the two modes. If you absolutely need both types of converter, then this is the type to buy.

For the Philippines, there are three associated plug types; A, B and C. Plug type A has two flat parallel pins, plug type B has two flat parallel pins and a grounding pin and type C has two round pins.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Currency information:

The Philippine peso (currency code: PHP) is the official currency of the Philippines. Notes are in denominations of Php1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of Php10, 5, 2 and 1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos.

Credit cards:

MasterCard and Visa (and to a lesser extent American Express and Diners Club) are accepted in major establishments throughout the larger cities of the Philippines. Elsewhere acceptance is less reliable.

Most business establishments in Metro Manila and in other major Philippine cities accept credit cards. Some will display an “Accepts VISA or MasterCard” sign at their entrance. Some may also be “offline” so be sure to ask first if they accept credit, especially before dining. However, note that there are a few establishments that will have a minimum purchase requirement before accepting credit card payments. Others will only honor Philippine-issued credit cards. Smaller establishments and those in rural areas operate on “cash basis only”, which means they only take cash.

ATM:

Foreign ATM cards – (with the logos of visa electron, plus) can be used in Philippines bank ATMs that carry the Visa electron, plus or Bancnet logos. (BDO, BPI, etc)

However, an additional surcharge of 200 pesos is levied per transaction.

You won’t have a problem finding an ATM in major Philippine cities, especially in Metro Manila. Your best bet is to enter any mall and you’ll find at least one ATM there. It is wise to look for available international bank ATMs such as Chinatrust, Citibank, HSBC, Maybank, & Standard Chartered Bank, as they DO NOT charge for withdrawals using a foreign/overseas card (info is inaccurate: as per 2013, at least Citibank and Chinatrust DO charge 200 pesos commission for foreign cards of any other bank). Be aware that when withdrawing from LOCAL / Philippine bank ATMs using a foreign/overseas card, you may be charged an extra fee, over and above your home bank’s fee (ranges from Php150-200 per withdrawal). Some local bank ATMs will also have a withdrawal limit, which ranges from Php4,000 to P20,000 per withdrawal, and may also impose a limit of 2 withdrawals per day.

Some ATMs may run out of money on weekends, paydays (10^th/15^th and 25^th/30^th of the month), just before and during national holidays. There are also long queues on the mentioned days.

A lot of the newer machines will return your card right after you enter your PIN, before your transaction is complete. Keep your card and continue with your withdrawal. Bring cash in the local currency to all remote places. Some rural areas may not even have a bank.

Banking hours:

Monday – Friday, 09:00am – 3:00pm

Currency restriction:

The import and export of local currency is limited to Php10,000; any amount above this must be authorized by the Central Bank of the Philippines. The import and export of foreign currency is limited to the equivalent of US$10,000.

Currency exchange:

Cash in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars can be exchanged in banks, hotels and some retail outlets. Always use authorized money-changers or banks in Manila. Outside the capital, there is a shortage of facilities for changing foreign currency and rates may get progressively worse as you travel further away from the city. It is advisable to carry a sufficient amount of Philippine pesos when travelling to other provinces.

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE

It is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

CLOTHING

The hot, humid conditions throughout Manila make it important for guests to include lightweight, comfortable clothing in their suitcase. Choose breathable fabrics such as linen or cotton, rather than synthetic fibers, for maximum comfort. Although fashion runs the spectrum in Manila, the Philippines tends to be a bit more conservative than North America. Avoid shorts, mini-skirts, mid-riff shirts or tube tops. Pack sundresses, lightweight pants, T-shirts, comfortable blouses, polo shirts and jeans. The majority of attractions in Manila require walking and exploration, so comfortable walking shoes should be included. If traveling during the rainy season, include a pair of waterproof shoes, plenty of comfortable socks and a rain poncho. Traveling along crowded streets with an umbrella may be hazardous.

Sun Protection

The sun in Manila may be strong, especially outside of the rainy season. Prepare for the sun by bringing along the necessary sun gear in your luggage. Pack a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to keep sun off your face. Look for hats that fold up easily to take up less room in the suitcase. Pack plenty of sunscreen with broad spectrum protection to protect from both UVA and UVB rays. Due to the Transportation Security Administration’s rules on liquids aboard planes, anyone packing more than 3.4 oz. of sunscreen will be required to check their bags.

Weather & Climate:

The climate is generally tropical maritime, with a relatively cool season from December to February, when the north-east trade winds prevail, and a hot, humid and rainy season from May to November, when the south-west monsoon prevails. Between March and May, before the arrival of the summer monsoon, the temperature increases and reaches the highest levels of the year, especially in the center-north and in the interior of the larger islands: hence, in general the coolest month (or the least hot) is January, while the warmest is May.

Manila: (approx)

Cebu: (approx)

Food

The cuisine of the Philippines is a mixture of Malay, Indian, Chinese, Arab, Spanish, Japanese, American, and in some cases, Latin influences. Food in the Philippines is known for being an interesting combination of both sweet and sour flavours. For example, Champorado is a sweet cocoa rice porridge that is paired with tuyo which is a salted, sun-dried fish.

Vinegar is a common ingredient in many dishes around the country, while rice is considered the most important staple of a Filipino diet, with steamed rice accompanying most dishes. Food is rarely wasted and leftover rice is fried with garlic to make sinangag which is served at breakfast with eggs and either cured meat or sausages. Fruits and vegetables are also very common, with bananas, guavas, mangoes, papayas and pineapples as favourite fruits, while green, leafy vegetables like spinach and cabbage as well as eggplant and beans are favourable vegetables. Coconuts are everywhere and are used in desserts, while coconut milk is the base of many sauces and coconut oil is used for frying.

Meat staples include chicken, pork and beef, but being an island nation, seafood is also very important. Favourite fish include: tilapia, catfish, milkfish, mackerel and swordfish, while shrimp, prawns, oysters, mussels and crab are equally popular. When fish is served in the Philippines, it is either salted and pan-fried, or salted and deep-fried and then is served with rice and vegetables.

Popular dishes include:

Adobo: this dish is considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. It consists of pork or chicken (sometimes both) that has been stewed or braised in a sauce of vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns and soy sauce.

Bistek: this is the Filipino version of beef steak and is thinly sliced beef that has been marinated in soy sauce and calamansi. The beef is pan-fried and served with onions.

Kare-kare: oxtail or ox tripe is cooked with vegetables in a peanut-based sauce with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste).

Lechón: this is the centrepiece of many Filipino celebrations and is a whole roasted pig (sometimes suckling pigs or cattle calves are substituted).

Drink

The tropical climate in the Philippines makes chilled drinks a necessity. Stands at the side of the road sell cold fruit drinks and shakes. Popular flavours include melon, mango, papaya, avocado, watermelon and strawberry. Sago’t gulaman is a flavoured ice drink that is made with sago pearls and aga gelatin with banana extract. Fresh buko juice is coconut juice straight from the source. Popular beers include San Miguel and San Miguel Light as well as Red Horse Beer. Tapuy is a traditional Filipino alcoholic drink that is made from fermented glutinous rice. It is a clear wine that contains no preservatives or sugars but still maintains a mild sweetness.

COMMUNICATION & EMAIL

Telephone

National Emergency is 112

National Enquiries is 118

International Enquiries is 171

Pre-paid Calls is 172

The Philippine Emergency Number is 117. You can dial this from a landline or your mobile phone or even send an SMS to it. It connects to a call center to the Police. This service just started around 2007 and is not as advanced as the American 911 system.

SIM Cards

Are very easy to purchase – off the counter – at local convenience stores like 7 Eleven, Ministop, and cell phone kiosks. They are cheap (less than 50 pesos). Most locals have two SIM cards of different companies due to the varying cell phone call and text charges. The commonly used cell phone companies are Globe and Smart. A third company, Sun cellular has good coverage in some areas.

Handsets

Handsets purchased abroad usually work. If staying in the Philippines for more than a week, you may find it worthwhile to purchase a local mobile phone handset too. A local company “M.y Phone” sells durable, dual SIM card, basic models for as low as 800 pesos. This also saves you the trouble for worrying about the safety of your precious i-phone when sitting in a bangka (open outrigger boat) while island hopping! Talking and texting on mobile phones remains a passion here, and you will not at all find it difficult to buy either of the above.

Top ups (called LOAD) are available at every street corner and sari sari shop (convenience store). Loads are available for as low as 10 pesos (and as high as 300 pesos) and validity as less as 1 day (up to 6 months). There are often offers such as “Super Unli” (Unlimited calls and texts to as many people as you wish on the same network) for one day – they are popular with locals. When calling a cellphone number, from within Philippines, you must usually prefix it with “0”

Phone Calls

00 is the International Direct Dial code you use to call overseas from within the Philippines.

63 is the International Country Code for Calling the Philippines.

Calling cards are available that will drastically cut the cost of your international calls. Mobile telephone companies also have special offers. It will always be cheaper to call a cellphone from another cellphone than to use a landline, particular when calling a cellphone on the same network or service provider. Prepaid SIM cards are widely available in all malls and shopping centers. These come preloaded with a set number of minutes, usually with free calls to cellphones on the service provider. There are three mobile phone companies in the Philippines: Smart, Globe and Sun, all with wide coverage and availability of service and products.

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.