 General
Information
ENTRY FORMALITIES
A valid passport is required of all visitors. Check with the Philippine
Embassy or Consulate for Visa requirements. As a rule, visitors
may stay without a visa up to 21 days, provided they possess an
onward or return journey ticket.
HEALTH
Yellow fever vaccination is required upon arrival of visitors
coming from infected areas, except children under one year of age
who are, however, subject to isolation when necessary.
CUSTOMS
Tourists may import the following items free of duty:
Tobacco. 400 cigarettes or two tins of smoking tobacco. Alcoholic
Beverages. Two (2) regular-size bottles not exceeding one liter
each. A reasonable amount of perfume, for personal use. A reasonable
amount of personal effects necessary and appropriate for their personal
use, comfort and convenience. It is strictly forbidden to bring
in dynamite, gun powder, ammunition, firearms, weapons of war and
narcotics in any form.
CURRENCY
Philippine Peso (Piso) made up one hundred centavos (sentimos).
Coins in 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and one, two and five pesos
(P). Paper denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 pesos.
As a general rule, money changers and banks offer a better exchange
rate for foreign currency than hotels. Always demand an exchange
receipt, to enable you to reconvert your unspent local currency,
upon departure.
CLIMATE
Two distinct seasons: Dry summer months from November to May,
and rainy months from June to October. Coolest months from November
to February (average temperature 26 C). and warmest April and May
(average temperature 30 C). Wear light clothing, with some warmer
clothes for visits to cooler mountain regions. When formal attire
is required, a coat and tie will do, or better still, the Filipino
"Barong Tagalog"a light material shirt worn untucked, over dark
pants.
BUSINESS HOURS
Private companies from 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN and 1:00 PM to 5:00
PM. Monday to Friday and 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN on Saturdays. Government
offices same hours, except Saturdays. Banks from 9:00 AM to 3:00
PM without lunch break Monday to Friday. Commercial establishments
from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday to Sunday.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
220V, 60 cycles. Major hotels in Manila and Cebu, however, also
have 110V. Electric sockets are for flat prongs.
LANGUAGE
110 dialects are spoken in the various regions and islands. However,
most Filipinos speak the national language, Pilipino, and a majority
speak English, which is the basic language for business, government,
schools and everyday communications. Spanish is still spoken by
a few, among the affluent in particular.
TRANSPORTATION
In urban center by taxi, bus, light railway system, and jeepneys.
By jeepney and tricycle in rural areas.
TIPPING
The standard tip is ten (10%) percent of the total amount of the
bill. Hotels and restaurants, however, automatically add this amount
as service charge, plus any applicable tax. Additional tip is optional.
Five to ten pesos per bag for hotel porters/bellboys is expected,
depending on the amount of your luggage. Taxi drivers are usually
tipped depending on the figure in the taxi meter.
SHOPPING
The country abounds with shops. The best buys are its varied handicrafts,
like embroidered dresses for ladies and shirts for men; intricate
cloth weaves of minority tribes; grass (banig) mats in rich woven
colors; abaca baskets and other household items.
In central and southern Philippines, the gleaming brassware, wood-carvings,
and coffee tables made entirely of corals and inlays of semiprecious
stones; elegant decor made of polished coconut shells; vases made
of bamboo are among the unique items. Most shops will pack and ship
purchases anywhere in the world.
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