Water

Water supply in Metro Manila and in all the other major cities are considered potable. Bottled purified water, spring water or mineral water is often supplied by hotels and resorts, and sold in all grocery stores.

Telephone and Mobile Phone

Telephone service is modern and you can direct dial anywhere in the world. Public phones are plentiful. Public phones require a minimum of two one-peso coins for a local call.

Bayantel - Bayan Telecommunications, Philippines.
Globe Telecom - One of the leading mobile phone companies in the Philippines.
PLDT - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company.
Smart - One of the leading mobile phone companies in the Philippines and also offers mobile banking.

Some Important Telephone Numbers: (24-Hour Hotline)
Police & Fire: 757 or 116
Emergency No.: 501- 650 or 501- 728
Directory Assistance: 114
National Operator: 109
International Operator: 108
For other emergency numbers, please refer to Directory.

Note: It is advisable to always have the telephone number and the address of your embassy or consulate with you.

Busines Hours

Most businesses are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays and 8:00 AM till noon Saturdays. Banks are open from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. When banking in the Philippines, it is advisable to have your passport with you for identification.

The post offices are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays only. Stamps for postcards are frequently available from the Concierge Desk at most major hotels. The Philippines uses ZIP codes, please include them in addressing local mail.

Note: The Standard lunch hour is noon to 1:00 PM. Most businesses and government offices are closed.

Time Difference

Local time is GMT plus 8 hours.

Business English is the language used. Sexual equality is more widespread in the Philippines than in other Asian countries. Make sure you have business cards.

Anti-Somking Law in Enclosed Places, etc.

MANILA, Philippines -- Section five of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9211) prohibits the carrying of any lighted tobacco product in public vehicles, schools, health centers, elevators, cinemas, malls and in places where fire hazards are present. Smoking is also banned in recreational facilities for minors. Fines imposed on violators of this section range from P500 to P10,000.

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is viewed seriously in the Philippines. It is an offense to manufacture, traffic, import, export, cultivate or possess any form of drugs. Severe penalties apply to drug abusers and traffickers.

Tipping

Tipping P20 to P100 for hotel staff and P20 for doormen is recommended. Tip 10% of the bill when dining. This is optional on bills with 10% service charge. Tips for taxi drivers come from the rounded-up fare.

Transportation

Light Rail Transit (LRT1). The fare from the first five stations (starting from Monumento) is P12. For stations thereafter, the fare is P15 to any station. The same rates apply to the route from Baclaran going Monumento. Runs elevated along Taft and Rizal Avenues from Parañaque in the south to Caloocan in the north. The lead coach is only for women, senior citizens, children and disabled persons.

Metro Rail Transit (MRT/LRT3). Fare is P9.50 from the North Avenue station. For stations thereafter, an additional 50c per station applies. P100 prepaid cards valid up to two months are available. Some areas are elevated, some are underground along EDSA.

Taxis provide comfortable, hassle-free travel at a reasonable cost. They can be flagged down 24 hours a day on most roads, but are best taken at hotels or malls with well-marked taxi-stands. They can ply from Manila to any point in Luzon. Taxis are metered with flag-down rate of P40 and P3.50 for every succeeding 250 meters. Maximum of four passengers.

Jeepneys ply strategic points and major thoroughfares. Fare is P8.00 for the first 4 kms and 50c per succeeding km. Up to 20 passengers per jeepney.

Buses. No-air-conditioned buses cost P9 for the first 4 kms and P1.85 per succeeding km. Air-conditioned buses cost P11 for the first 4 kms and P2.20per succeeding km.

Source: www.tourism.gov.ph

Manila

The City of Manila is the official capital city of the Philippines. It is also the largest city in the country and has a population of around 1.5 million crammed in a land area of 23.95 square miles (38.55 square km), making it the most densely populated city in the world. It is one of the major cities of Southeast Asia.

Visa Requirement

If you are coming from America, Asia or Europe with a valid passport, and either a return ticket or a ticket to another destination outside the Philippines you may enter without a formal visa and stay for 21 days. If you wish to stay longer you must obtain a Visa Extension either before your trip from a Philippine Consulate or Embassy. Or, once here, you may obtain it from the Bureau of Immigration.

Customs

Upon Arriving: Visitors are allowed to bring in duty free personal belongings, two cartons of cigarettes or two tins of pipe tobacco and up to one liter of alcohol. Balikbayans have separate rules and should check with the Embassy or Consulate in their home city.

You may bring in unlimited amount of foreign currency.

Upon Leaving: Any antiques you may have acquired during your stay must be accompanied by a certificate from the National Museum. You may also not take more than PhP5,000.00 (five thousand Philippine pesos) out of the country.

Airport Tax

Passenger Terminal Fee is levied on all passengers embarking for:
1. International travel : PHP 750
2. Domestic travel: PHP 200

Place of payment: Airport of departure.
Exempt:
1. Children under 2 years of age.
2. Transit passengers remaining in the transit area and not leaving the airport.
3. Crew members.

Languages

Two official languages - Filipino and English. Filipino which is based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is also widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education. Eight (8) major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense. Filipino is the native language which is used nationally as the language of communication among ethnic groups. Like any living language, Filipino is in a process of development through loans from Philippine languages and non-native languages for various situations, among speakers of different social backgrounds, and for topics for conversation and scholarly discourse. There are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects.

Currency

The currency in the Philippines is the Peso (PhP) and the Centavo. 100 centavos = P1. Coin denominations are: 1, 5, 10, and 25 centavos, P1, and P5. Bill denominations are : 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 pesos.

Foreign currency may be exchanged at your hotel, and in most of the large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops. Exchanging money anywhere else is illegal and the laws are strictly enforced. Banks are open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm from Monday to Friday.

Most large stores, restaurants , hotels and resorts accept major credit cards including American Express, Visas and MasterCard. Traveller's checks preferably American Express are accepted at hotels and large department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted.

Unit of Measure

The Metric System is used in most trade and legal transactions.

Electricity

220 volts a/c is the common standard. 110 volts a/c is also used, especially in major hotels.

Climate

The first half of the year, from January to May, is the best time to visit the country. November to February is cool, while March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy, with the months between July and September characterized by typhoons. Average temperature is 78 degrees F/25 degrees C; average humidity is 77%. Some parts of the country such as Cebu, are warm and comfortable in all seasons and can be visited throughout the year.

For up-to-date weather information, visit the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Adminstration (PAGASA) website: www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph or call PAGASA 24-hour hotline (632)4338526.

Clothing

People in the Philippines dress for the weather. Casual attire during the day for women are light blouses and shorts. For men collared T- shirts worn over slacks. In the evening skirts are substituted for shorts and the T-shirts are tucked in.

For Men Only: If you expect to have to attend any occasion which would usually require a jacket and a tie, there is a wonderful substitute. You may go to a department store and buy a barong tagalog. It is an embroidered shirt that is considered a formal dress. It will cost more or less PhP1,000.00, but it is worth every centavo.