Do's and Dont's in the Philippines

[ginapeterb]

What to do and what not to do for the traveller arriving in the Philippines

Ok at the request of another member I think we should have a topic to help other fellow Brits arriving in the Phils....which can be quiete intimidating if you are not used to the Phils or cant understand Tagalog.

I am happy to start it off but expect others to join in.....I can understand basic Tagalog in Conversation but get behind when Tagalog is rattled off too fast for me to compute the translation......and also I prefer Taglish. I will start off with some basic do's and dont's in the next message.

I think a Good place is to start with what to take with you to the Phils and then the arrival at NAIA Airport Manila.

Some of these do's and dont's can be a real help to those travelling out to Phils for first time and they are not meant to appear we are experts. which to be honest we are not....the only experts are the filipinos themselves...as it is their country....although if you travel around the provinces most filipinos never get to see their own country so you may appear to have been to places they never see.

Ok I will start off with some basic tips.

Pete Bennett
ginapeterb@thebennetts.wanadoo.co.uk
ginapeterb is short for Gina and Peter Bennett for those who wonder what my nickname stands for ok.

[ginapeterb]

Preparation for the Philippines


1. Money

Suggest you order Philippine Pesos before you travel you can obtain them from post offices by prior order taking about a week.
Or you can buy them at Heathrow airport terminal 3 if using Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines etc.

But it is advisable to take Pesos with you.....the reason for this is that although it seems wiser to take travellers checks to the Phils.....I found getting rid of them a frustrating experience.

For one thing the Philippine banks are a pain in the backside and the staff who you talk to on the cashier desk are hopeless.....you end up loosing your cool. it is better for you if your currency is in pesos.....take a few US Dollars with you as well. general guidelines if you are going to the Phils.....is you can have a really good time there if you take about £2000.00 if you go for 3 weeks that should easily last you subject to not spending madly on Pasalubong for your new relatives which you seem to inherit on arrival or having anything to do with the local indigenous females.

Holiday duration.

2. Dont go to the Philippines or book a vacation there if you dont have the time........2 weeks is ok......but tends to go quickly.

What you have to understand is that if you are visiting a l ocal indigenous female called a filipina she may not live in Luzon or Metro Manila......if you have to travel out to the provinces you may need 2 days travel time each side of your vacation so it is my advice that you write off 4 days of your vacation for travelling.

3. Pasalubong

Pasalubong is very popular with filipinos and is expected from you if you are visiting.....Pasalubong is basically a gift you take to your loved one and her relatives......be careful though.....families in the Phils are very close and relatives can appear out of nowhere.........some filipinas will make sure you are not expected to take gifts for everyone...they generally understand that you are not made of money and understand that money does not grow on trees.....it would be nice to consider taking Pasalubong for her and perhaps her Mother and Father but there is no need to extend it out any further unless you feel you would like to do so...whatever you do it will be appreciated.

4. Credit Cards and Debit cards


Keep these as a backup....they are widely used in the major cities but out in the provinces cash is widely prefered and especially when in bars..restaraunts etc....but keep your cards safe.....put them in the hotel safe or use the safe in the rooms.


5. Toilets and public facilities.

One thing I would recommend to anyone who travels to the Philippines is to have a little carry bag with you like a holdall that you can sling on your back..... carry things like your camera kit inside it.....maybe your flip flops in case you end up walking through the sea and bottled water..lots of it........I find in the Philippines that it is easy to de-hydrate without noticing it.

If you can when travelling around the provinces wear shorts and trainers with a loose fitting T Shirt.its ok to wear trousers but loose fitting clothing is preferable as you are walking around in 32-34 degree temperatures.

You may laugh at my next tip and the heading of this subject but I recommned that you carry around at least 1 roll of toilet tissue with you in your carry bag......dont assume that there are many public conveniences in the Philippines......there are not......if you need to use a loo you can nip into the shopping malls but you will find that there is no complimentary toilet tissue like in our shopping malls.

For some reason the shopping malls do not put toilet tissue in the Gents toilets and I presume although Im not sure they also dont put it in the Female facilities either.... dont get caught out like me on occasion when I had to get my loved one to rush across to Shoemart and buy me some toilet tissue.

Carry some around with you in flat packs that you can buy in Robinsons supermarket or SM's, you can buy some in the gents but its 4 pesos and its not much you get......so whilst it might seem a funny subject......its a good tip for your travel.


Arrival in the Philippines at NAIA (Ninoy Acquino International Airport) or Philippine Airlines International Terminal.

1. You may note the difference between NAIA and Philippine Airlines International Terminal.

There is a big difference the Phil Airlines terminal is much more modern.....clean and more in line with say Stanstead Airport or Terminal 4 at Heathrow which is primarily used suprise suprise by British Airways.


If you arrive at NAIA you will come of the flight and should have all your paperwork ready.

Make sure you fill in the landing card customs card and SARS Form on the flight...........dont leave it until you arrive in the terminal........you will be hit with the outside temperature like putting your head in an oven you dont need the hassle you have enough to worry about......if you arrive like I did.......you will probably feel nauseous and nervous if you are meeting a local indigenous female for the first time.

2. Meeting a Filipina for first time.


You might laugh at this. but for some of us it can be quite a stressful experience...........if you have been corresponding.texting or e mailing or talking on the phone you may not have seen the lady in question before your arrival........photos and e mail photos are an irrelvance so my advice is dont have high expectations about what is going to happen when you arrive.

Before I met my fiancee Gina in the Phils I couldnt make it out of the airport and me and this other American Guy ended up in the toilets being nauseous.(laugh) dont worry Im serious.

As I said dont expect too much.........2 things will happen........1 you will hit it off immedeatly and end up chatting all the way into town or it will be freindly and cordial.......if it is......give it time for you to get to know each other........but you will be contending with the heat...........even if its raining its still humid at 32 degree, and you will be very tired from 12 to 14 hours of flying.......so dont be suprised if you cannot sleep the 1st night.....and will be up and down like a yoyo. trust me its gets better over next few days.

3. Sex hahahaha yes it had to be mentioned.


Try not to have sex on your mind......although it is always there.......for them as well as you....try to be cordial freindly......nice and respectful........but most of all just be yourself......be polite and be a gentleman.....a filipina is convinced that all Western men are gentleman and expect them to behave as such.

Filipina's are not shy when it comes to sexual matters and know that it is normal to engage in such however it is best to avoid these matters on initial meetings...unless things change and its a comfortable situation for both of you........I cant advise any more than that as every situation will be different according to the relationship that exists.

4. Gloria's Revenge (refering to Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo - President of the Philippines.

Glorias Revenge was coined by me after visiting the Philippines on several occasions to find that the minute you arrive you seem to be attacked by chronic diarrohea. I dont know why this is......but after 1 day you get it......its normal dont worry........if you are having mutiple trips to the WC everyone who arrives seems to get it.....it could be the change in water.the diet...and the heat combined together.......my advice is to follow my tips earlier....carry lots of tissue.........drink lots of bottled water........not the tap water in the rooms.....this is no good and not potable....the reservoirs where this comes from are not safe.

5. Innoculations.

A very good tip I would recommnend to anyone who travels to the Phils and mostly everyone forgets is to try and get a prescription for Paladrine from your Pharmacy... Paludrine should be taken 30 days before arriving in the Phils.....this not so much of a problem in Luzon and Metro provinces but if you are travelling to the other provinces...it gives great protection to you against Mosquito bites.....the Antropheles Mosquito is prevalent in islands resorts such as Boracay.

Although if you ask the barman to put a coil under your chair if you are sitting out in the bar at night.....they often forget and you have been bitten pretty badly before anyone realizes.....at first you dont take too much notice but the next morning you will feel the effects of multiple Mosquito bites......I call the Antropheles Mosquito the Flying Teeth.

Its painful and itches like mad........if you scratch them all day they will turn into big red blotches on your legs and the feeling spoils your vacation.....the after effect is the possibility of Malaria..which once contracted seems to keep recurring.....I have already had the illness in Belize in 1980 so my body has seen it before but if its your first time its not pleasant.

Also you might want to take a serious of innoculations like Dengie Fever..Typhoid.Black Water disease....Yellow fever......dont let the above spoil your holiday but at the same time be prepared........better to have the innoculations and be protected.

6. AIDS and HIV

I have been asked this before by other Brits who are going to the Philippines and its worth mentioning on this forum.

In my own experience and I stress my experience not others....AIDS and HIV are not prevalent in the Philippines and virtually unheard of......this is due to the fact that Filipinas and filipinos alike do not generally subscribe to casual sex......relationships are monagamous but I stress generally.....there is always an expection to any statistic.....but also Filipina's are on the whole not sexually promiscuous... again I stress not generally......dont hold me to this.

You have to use your head on this one......obviously if you intend to have sexual realations it up to you to ake the required protection.I mean honestly you know the drill, just be aware of the risk as in any country you visit.

7. Travel in the Philippines

Travel in the Philippines can be cheap but obtaining tickets can be time consuming......if you want to travel anywhere try and arrange it at least 2 days before....this is not always easy as you might decide you want to visit somehwere at the drop of a hat......try to arrange things in Manila and I find using the followin agency helpfu.

Filipino Travel Centre
Manila
G/F Ramona Apt.Bldg
1555 M.Adriatico street
1000 Ermita, Metro Manila
Tel (02) 528 4505,07,09

Or in Boracay

Inside Tourist Centre Boracay
Tel (036) 288 3704

They are pretty good at arranging things for you like internal flights, supercat tickets etc or package tours.

The famous phrase "You want it when hahahaha " is prevalent in the Phils......get used to it... you can e mail them for information on tours trips before arriving in the Phils at info@filipinotravel.com.ph or they have a website at www.filipinotravel.com.ph although I have not checked this out.

8. Taxis

Taxis you will use quite alot to get around........as its unlikely you will want to use the Jeepney.
I will cover the Jeepney later.

Taxis at the airport are a expensive in relation to the meter taxis......when you come out of the airport you will be deluged by offers to carry your bags......and offer you a taxi........their is a minimum of 500 pesos to anywhere in Manila......try to avoid them and try to avoid jumping in an airport taxi.......if you do use them you will pay for the taxi first and be given a slip of paper to take to the taxi agent....you will then be directed to your taxi this system is ok......but filipinas will try to save you money by bypoassing them and going up to departures and taking a metered taxi which will save you about £3.00 at least........this may not at first seem too much of a hassle to you....but as you start to live in the Phils you will note that its easy to spend money you dont need to.....and remembering that Filipinos generally do not earn very much money so they are used to avoiding the most expensive ways of getting around.

9. Porters at airports sea ports etc

Try to avoid using porters if possible.. a Polite wave off will keep you out of having to keep handing out 50 pesos here and there.....remember it soon adds up......if you can manage your bags dont bother using them jus try to get through them and go to a meter taxi.

10. Mini Bars in Hotel rooms

Dont drink or eat anything from the mini bars in hotel rooms.....if you are staying longer than 2 days or more in one hotel.......I recomend you phone down to reception and ask them to send up the concierge or houskeeping to clear out the fridge.......then run down to 7 eleven or a shop locally and buy your own cokes...snacks and chocolates etc.....its much cheaper and you can stock up the fridge with your own stuff... the prices in the hotels are too expensive and can be the same as you get in UK hotels.

11. The Jeepney

Just a quick note about the Jeepneys they are physchedelic vehicles that are knocked up from U.S. Army or U.S. Air force jeeps left over from the 2nd world war when the U.S. Were in the Philippines.... they are cheap and can cost you as little as 5 pesos for a ride but to be honest unless you are outright struggling for money I wouldnt bother using them........they are like multi vans full of filipinos which is fine but you get sandwiched in and its not always comfortable for us Western guys..............take a taxi its cheap enough and they are generally airconditioned.

Ok thats 11 points to consider come on lets have some more from other people.....but serious help points please not jokes.


Pete

[ginapeterb]

For Travellers who arrive in Phils a good tip is to learn some basic Tagalog or Filiipino as it is now known as most Filipinos are good with English but it helps if you can understand what people are saying.

Obviously the phrase books are good but the best way to learn is from a filipina.

Do make an effort to speak filipino..... especially when jumping out of a taxi a polite Manong Salamat Po ! will get you remembered the next time you jump in that taxi.. using Po at the end of Salamat which is thank you makes the thank you into a respectful term therefore endearing you to the receiver of your thank you.

Referring to your loved one as Palanga goes down well....it means beloved or in short ga !! just learn a few words like Magkano (how much) is helpful......obviously endearing words make fun out of your freindship with a filipina the most obvious being Mganda ka ! meaning you are beautiful or good looking.... you know the drill... its all about window dressing...get on with it and have fun all the best

Pete

[Admin]

Excellent info as usual. Thanks Pete :D

It's also always worth checking with the UK goverment if it's safe to the particular part of the Philippines you are going. they do advise you not to go to Mindanao, and it's out lying islands at the moment.

[ginapeterb]

It has been said that you need to check with the foreign office website occasionally or just before a visit to the Phils just to see where the bombs are falling ! (MY JOKE) recently I found that the NPA (New Peoples Army) an offshoot of the MIF or Moro Islamic front are hanging around some of the internal areas of Western Visayas, paticularly around the island of Negros, they were reported being seen in the rice fields around the small town of Isabela in Negros Occidental, just for any of you guys that go to Negros, just be a little aware, that they are around, their was a fire fight (military term for a gun battle) just outside Isabella, between a AFP company of Light Infantry and the rebels, 2 soldiers were killed in the fight and 10 rebels, if you are tempted to go south from Bacolod City to Kanbankalan, stick to the main road, between the 2 cities, its around 90 km, dont take the road over the mountains through Mabinay, the last thing you want is being stopped at gunpoint and being robbed, or worse kidnapped, probably nothing to worry about, but its worth noting ok