Our Country

A valid passport is required.

Except for stateless persons and those from countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations, all visitors 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.

Citizens of the Hellenic Republic  and the Republic of Cyprus visiting the Philippines for a period not exceeding 21 days do not need a Philippine visa.

To stay in the Philippines  for 22 to 59 days, they need to secure a Philippine visa from the Philippine Embassy in Athens.  Requirements for the issuance of such a visa are as follows:

• Properly filled-up visa application form (PDF can be downloaded here) .
• One photograph (passport-size,  or 2 inches by 2 inches)
• The applicants passport with validity of not less than six months and a photocopy of the passport’s data page to be submitted.
• Flight round-trip booking
• Visa fee of 30 Euros

There is only one time zone for the entire country, which is 120° East Meridian Time and eight hours in advance of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers coming from infected areas.

Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is 7 kms. from the city center, while the Manila Domestic Airport is one kilometer from the NAIA. The international airports have adequate traveler facilities: duty-free and souvenir shops, tourist information and assistance counters, hotel and travel agency representatives, car rental services, banks and automated teller machines, postal service, national and international direct dial telephone booths, medical clinics, and baggage deposit areas.

The airports are handicapped-friendly. Wheelchairs are available on request from the airline ground staff.

Visitors are advised to fill in the Baggage Declaration Form before disembarking to facilitate Customs examination. The following are allowed duty-free: reasonable quantity of clothes, jewelry, and toiletries; 400 sticks of cigarettes or two tins of tobacco; two bottles of wine or spirits of not more than one liter each. Porterage: Baggage carts are available for free. Porter services are also free. Tipping is traditional.

Visitors are advised to avail of accredited fixed rate or metered taxis at the NAIA’s Arrival Area. At the Manila Domestic Airport, accredited transfer services are available on pre-paid coupon basis. Other airports are served by metered taxis. All airports have counters for hotel transport and car rental service. Airport Fees: P750 for international departure or its US dollar equivalent as of March 10, 2007, $15.50 US dollars; and P200 for local departure (paid in Philippine pesos only). Departing passengers for international destinations are advised to check with airport or tourist information counters (Tel. Nos 524-1703; 832-2964) The departure fees may change without further notice.

American Express

Duty-Free Philippines near the NAIA is the country’s largest duty-free outlet carrying quality imported items and selected Philippine export products.

Filipino is the national language. English is the business language and spoken widely.

Unit of currency: Peso (P) = 100 centavos. Bank notes: P10, P20, P50, P100, P200, P500 and P1,000. Coins: 5c, 10c, 25c, P1, P5, P10.

March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool. Average temperatures: 78°F/25°C to 90°F/32°C; humidity: 77%.

Light, casual clothes are recommended. Warmer garments are needed for mountain regions. When visiting churches and temples, propriety dictates that shorts and scanty clothing be avoided. Formal occasions require dinner jackets and ties (or the Philippine barong tagalog) for men and cocktail dresses or long gowns for women.

Tipping is expected for many services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. Tipping is optional on bills that already include a 10% service charge.

By air, Philippine Airlines (Tel. No. [632] 855-9999) and Cebu Pacific (Tel. No. [632] 702-0888 ) provided daily services to major cities and towns. Asian Spirit (Tel. No. [632] 851-8888), Laoag International Airlines (Tel. No. [632] 551-9729), and Seair (Tel. No. [632] 891-8708) service the missionary routes. There are also scheduled chartered flights to major domestic destinations serviced by smaller commuter planes.

By sea, interisland ships connect Manila to major ports. Ferry services connect the smaller islands.

By land, Philtranco connects Manila to Bicol in Southern Luzon, to Samar and Leyte in the Visayas, and Davao in Mindanao.

Metered and fixed rate taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide.

Jeepneys and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places.

In Metro Manila, the fastest way of commuting is via the railway system:

• LRT-1 (yellow line) connects the northern district of Monumento to the southern district of Baclaran with stations situated at major intersections.
• MRT traverses the length of EDSA and connects North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, passing through the major arteries of Makati’s financial district.
• LRT-2 (purple line) starts at the university belt in Recto, passes through Sta. Mesa, Cubao, Katipunan, and ends in Santolan, Pasig.

In Metro Manila, key cities and towns throughout the country, a wide selection of de luxe, standard, economy, and pension-type accommodations are available. In island destinations, there is a variety of resorts ranging from de luxe to special interest category.

The Department of Tourism has a Homestay Program in several destinations outside Manila. The program offers visitors the comfort of modest homes and an insight into Philippine life. For information, contact the Tourist Information Center at Room 106, Department of Tourism Building, tel. nos. (632) 524-2384 / (632) 524-1703.

Filipino food is an exotic, tasteful blend of Oriental, European, and American culinary influences. There is a wide variety of fresh seafood and delectable fruits. First class restaurants offer gourmet specialties as well as Filipino cuisine.

Metro Manila is the center of entertainment and cultural activities. The premier venue for the performing arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, features world-class performances by local and international guest artists. Museums located in Manila and in some parts of the country offer a glimpse of Philippine history and culture. Art galleries exhibit the works of the country’s leading and promising visual artists.

Manila’s nightlife is one of the most vibrant in Asia, reflecting the Filipino’s love for music. The hubs of nightlife activities are the Remedios Circle in Malate, Ayala Center and The Fort at Bonifacio Global City in Makati, Timog and Tomas Morato Avenues in Quezon City, and Eastwood in Libis, Quezon City. Nightclubs, music lounges, pubs, and sing-along bars feature Filipino bands and singers who are known for their great musical talent. De luxe hotels offer a variety of live musical entertainment. Concerts and stage plays form part of the country’s entertainment scene.

For visitors who want to try their luck at the gaming tables there are casinos in Metro Manila and in the cities of Angeles, Olongapo, Tagaytay, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, and Laoag.

Visitors can choose from an exciting selection of great buys in a country known for export-quality items at reasonable prices: South Sea pearls, handwoven cloths, embroidered fineries, fashionable ready-to-wear and haute couture clothes, terra-cota, porcelain, and home accessories. Artifacts, pineapple fiber shirts, prehistoric jars, native handicrafts, and footwear are interesting items, too. The Philippines also produces fine basketry, furniture, fresh and processed fruits, exquisitely crafted jewelry, and gift items made of wood and stone.

Big malls are located in Manila, Makati and EDSA, while handicraft, antique and curio shops abound at the Ermita District in Manila.

Private and government offices are open either from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Some private companies hold office on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Most shopping malls, department stores, and supermarkets are open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. There are also 24-hour convenience stores and drugstores nationwide.

Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, with automated teller machines (ATM) operating 24 hours.

International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Mastercard, and American Express Card are accepted in major establishments.

WATER

Water in Metro Manila and in key cities and towns is potable and safe for drinking. Bottled water is available in many hotels, restaurants, resorts, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

ELECTRICITY

220 volts, A.C. 60 cyles. Most hotels have 110-volt outlets.

• New Year’s Day, January 1
• Edsa Revolution Day, February 24
• Araw ng Kagitingan, April 9
• Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, moveable
• Labor Day, May 1
• Independence Day, June 12
• National Heroes Day, last Sunday of August
• All Saints’ Day, November 1
• Bonifacio Day, November 30
• Christmas Day, December 25
• Rizal Day

The country has international and national direct dial phone and facsimile services, mobile phone sites, internet and e-mail facilities, and worldwide express delivery service. The postal system is efficient.

Most national dailies are in English. Foreign publications are sold at major hotels, malls, and bookstores in Metro Manila and key cities. There are 7 national television stations which broadcast mainly in Filipino. Cable TV is available in many hotels in Manila and in many parts of the country.

Hospitals in the country are equipped with modern facilities to meet any medical need. In some remote towns and cities, clinics and health centers provide emergency medical attention. Most hotels and resorts provide medical assistance. Hospitals are listed in the “Yellow Pages” of the local telephone directory.

Tour packages, from day trips to five-day programs, are special ways of discovering the Philippines and its wealth of culture. Special interest activities include golfing, game-fishing, diving, white-water rafting and other aquasports, trekking, spelunking, and safari trips.

Information on tour itineraries may be obtained from the Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa), tel. (632) 893-0284, or from the Tourist Information Center located at the ground floor of the DOT Bldg. on T.M. Kalaw Street, Manila, tel. (632) 524-2384/(632)524-1703.