Welcome to Philippines !

Philippines Tourist Information

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The geographical location states its position in the Malay Archipelago in South East Asia. The Republic of Philippines is a truly remarkable country with a culture as rich as its glorious past fraught by many foreign influences like that of the Spanish and the American. Despite of being colonized to foreign powers, the country has remained unchanged; it has not compromised with its authenticity, its decorum, code of conduct and culture and has retained its typical Filipino spirit. Rather what it has done is, it has imbibed the best of both the worlds and have shaped what we know today as the Republic of Philippines.

For those interested in visiting the exotic island destination and enjoying to their fullest, note should be made of the Tourist Information that is available. Your holiday would be without any trouble and a memorable one.

Reviving from the influences of the colonizers, the country has invited and seen growth and development in every phase. Today, it has got its own independent place under the blue skies and has succeeded in gaining the status of an important commercial center as well as a hot tourist destination. Mother Nature has been generous in Philippines case, it has got the best of sandy beaches, an awesome spread of lush green tropical rain forests, islands which are like pearls in the depth of the ocean, an envious collection of corals and flora and fauna, fresh fruits and a good catch from the sea. For the tourists it has more on offer- shopping malls, night life and adventure sports. The country now has become self sufficient and is proud of the excellence achieved in the field of communication, business and medical services.

In the world map therefore Philippines has really carved out a niche for itself. The tourism of the country has seen a boost in recent years and hopes to see a steady growth in the future.

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Philippines Time Zones

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Time Zones are an important feature in every country and vary accordingly with the respective geographical extent in which each country lies. It generally refers to a specific region of the Earth; that has accepted the same standard time known to be the local time. However in deciding the time zones one standard factor is always kept in mind and that is the Greenwich Mean Time. The Greenwich Mean Time or GMT refers to the ‘mean solar time’ at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in England.

Philippine Time Zone or the Philippine Time refers to the term by which Philippine describes or denotes its place among the other time zones in the world. With is geographical location of being situated in the east of the Prime Meridian Philippines falls in the UTC+ 8 time zone. That is, the country has only one time zone, 120 degrees East Meridian Time, which is calculated to be 8 hours advance of the Greenwich Mean Time or GMT.

However the standard time in Philippines is calculated in relation to the current time in Manila. Time differences may vary according to the regions as such it is seen that the time in Davao City is 15 minutes ahead of what is recorded in the capital City of Manila. The Philippine Standard Time defining procedure was instituted according to the law describing the Metric System (Batas Pambansa). It got its approval on 2nd December, 1978 and was put to use in 1st January, 1983.

The Standard Time in Philippines or the time zone in which Philippine falls is recorded and maintained by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

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Philippines Things to Know

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The Archipelagic country of Philippines with its collection of more than 7000 islands comprises of lots of places to explore than you can actually count on your fingers. It’s always helpful to know something about the country you are planning to visit prior o your journey. The ultimate benefit will be yours if you are accustomed to certain norms or things that are followed and practiced by the common people in their daily life. So certain Things to Know before you visit Philippines are:

Country- The Republic of Philippines

Geographical Location- Malay Archipelago, South East Asia

Standard Time- The local time is 8 hours in addition to the Greenwich Mean Time

Common Language- Filipino is the local language; however English is the widely spoken dialect.

Local Currency- Peso, foreign currency can be converted at banks, hotels and other authorized places. However credit cards and traveler’s cheques can also be used.

How to get to Philippines- The country boasts of a number of national and International Airports. However the Ninoy Aquino international Airport and the Mactan International Airport are the prime international Airports. A valid passport and accurate visa details will ensure a problem free entry into the country.

Local Transport- The country maintains a good transport infrastructure. Buses, taxis, Jeepneys, ferries are available in abundance and ensures good service.

What to Wear- The climate is tropical so casual dresses are the general recommendation. However the formal attire consists of dinner jackets for men and gowns or women.

Dining and Drinking- The Philippine Food is famous for its variety and freshness. A large number of restaurants are present which specializes in the local fare as well as international delicacies. The sea food and the fruits are a must try. The water to be used for drinking should be boiled, so is the milk.

Business Hours- Offices both Private and Government are open five days a week, some even working on Saturdays for half the day. The timings generally are from 8 or 9 A.M in the morning till 5 to 6 P.M in the evening. The shopping centers and department stores are open daily. 24 hours open medical stores are also present.

The Banks generally work from Mondays to Fridays, 9:00 A.M to 3:00 A.M generally

Medical Facilities- Philippine boasts of some excellent hospitals and health clinics in the major cities and provinces in the country, nevertheless a prior vaccination against yellow fever, hepatitis B, and typhoid is advisable.

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Philippines Hospitals

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As far as the Hospitals and health care facilities in Philippines are concerned they are well equipped to meet any emergency that may occur. However the quality of service provided varies from place to place and depends greatly on the infrastructure of the hospitals concerned. But to provide round the clock service, Philippines has a number of government as well as private hospitals and clinics. The medical officers or doctors in charge are well experienced and ensure you proper care.

The Embassy also has a ready medical staff and is always beside you to provide you with proper medical assistance.

The capital city of Manila houses two of the best hospitals in Philippines. They are:

Makati Medical Center
Amorsolo Street, Makati city, Manila, Philippines
Contact Number- 011 632 815 9911

St. Luke’s Hospital
E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon city
Contact Number- 011 632 722 6161/ 723- 0301

Some of the other hospitals situated in various cities in Philippines are:

Jose B Lingad Hospital- City of San Fernando, Pampanga
Angeles University Foundation Medical Center- Angeles city
San Juan de Dios Hospital – Pasay City
Ramos General Hospital- Tarlac City
Davao Medical Center- Bajada area, Davao City
Holy Child Hospital-Dumaguete City

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Philippines Holidays

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The country of Philippines is famous for its colorful festivals. The days of festivity are definitely days of joy and the people enjoy complete holiday on those marked days in the calendar. Generally, Philippines enjoy a number of holidays owing to the long list of festivals. However there are some fixed holidays and some holidays which vary with each year.

Public Holidays in Philippines

New Years Day – 1st January

EDSA Revolution Day- 22nd February

Day of Valor- 9th April

Labor Day- 1st May

Independence Day (derived from Spain) - 12th June

National Heroes Day- 31st August

All Saints Day- 1st November

Christmas Day- 25th December

Rizal Day- 30th December

New Year’s Eve- 31st December

Variable Holidays in Philippines

There are three variable holidays in Philippines all in the month of April. They are Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.

Festival Holidays in Philippines

The festival holidays in Philippines vary according to the province and cities in Philippines.

Quiapo Fiesta- 9th January

Constitution day- 3rd week of January

Tondo Fiesta- 3rd Sunday in the month of January

San Roque Parish Fiesta- 27th January

Liberation day of Mandaluyong City- 9th February

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes- 11th February

Fiesta of Santa Marta- the 2nd Sunday in the month of February

Foundation day- 16th February

People Power Anniversary- 22nd to 25th February

Foundation Day- 27th March
Antipolo Pilgrimage- entire month of May

Tourism week- 1st week of May

Carabao Festival- 14th May

Obando Fertility Rites- 17th to 19th May

San Juan Town Fiesta- 24th June

Lechon Parade- 24th June

Bocaue River Festival- 1st Sunday in the month of July

Fluvial Parade- 26th July

National Language week- 1st week in the month of July

Town Fiesta- 16th august

Quezon Day- 19th August

Feast of Saint Raphael- 11th September

La Naval de Manila- 2nd Sunday in the month of October

Feast of Christ he king- 25th October

Music Festival – 6th November

Pasig Fiesta- 8th December

Muntinlupa Day celebrations- 13th to 19th December

Down Masses- 16th to 24th December

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Philippines Health Information

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Health is wealth and traveling becomes a lot easier and convenient if you are in the best of your health. Visiting a beautiful country like Philippines with a bad health can actually restrict you from enjoying the beauty of the city. Also falling ill in he middle of your tour can be trouble some. As such it is better to take precautions from beforehand and this you can do by keeping yourself updated with the Philippines Health information.

Precautions to be taken in Philippines:

Take a Vaccination against yellow fever, small pox or typhus. The certificate for the vaccination taken should be forwarded for proof if you are arriving in Philippines from the infected areas.

Precautions should be taken from getting affected by cholera.

Certain areas of Philippines have high risks of Malaria so necessary precautions are advised. A dose of quinine should be kept handy or the medical officer can be consulted.

Taking proper care about health and hygiene can keep you away from falling ill. While in Philippines you are advised to boil water and milk before consuming. The dairy products are better to be avoided; vegetables as well as fish and meat should be properly cleaned and cooked before consuming. Fresh food items should be opted for as far as possible.

There are a number of diseases common to the localities like Bilharzia, Filariasis, Rabies, Chikungunya fever. So proper vaccinations against all should be taken beforehand. In case of any emergency, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Tourists visiting the country must have a medical insurance or travel insurance to meet any unexpected crisis.

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Philippines Emergency Numbers

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An experienced tourist who has traveled far and wide is aware of the fact that keeping the emergency numbers at hand can save valuable time during any crisis. Nevertheless it is essential for everybody whether a local or a visiting tourist, to keep a note of the emergency numbers for reference.

List of Important Telephone codes in Philippines:

The International Telephone Code for Philippines is + 63.

The different City Area Telephone codes in Philippines are:

Bacolod- + 6334
Cagayan- + 638822
Cebu- + 6332
Davao- + 6382
Manila- + 632

In this advanced Tele communication Age, the mobiles are the most convenient tools of communication. With the cost of mobile phones going down considerably this chic looking mechanism is in everyone’s hands nowadays. Thus asking for help from ay point in the country has become a lot more convenient now.

The various Mobile telephone Codes and operators in Philippines are:

Extelcom- 973
Globe- 917
Islacom- 915
Piltel- 912
PLDT- 90
Smart- 918

Many a time’s the emergency numbers in Philippines vary according to the city or province. They are enlisted below:

Olongapo City

Ambulance- 224-3314
Fire- 160 or 222 3310
Police-166

Subic City
Ambulance- 224-2214
Fire- 160
Police- 166

However the number to be dialed at time of any emergency is 117.

The country of Philippines has always been known for its friendly people and it can be guaranteed that when you would be looking for help in this unknown country a helping hand would definitely be there to give you support.

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Philippines Dos and Dont

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The exotic island country of Philippines ruled by several hands and under the influence of several cultures like Spanish and American has given birth to a culture which is unique in itself. The richness of its cultural heritage is beyond any description. The various groups that have adopted this island nation as their homeland, has further enriched its culture with their share of thoughts, beliefs and code of conduct. Still they have retained their individual identity and for visitors to Philippines abiding by the list of Do’s and Don’t will ensure a good working and friendly relation.

List of Do’s in Philippines ( general)

Greet with a smile or a handshake whenever you meet someone you know on the road. When visiting anyone’s house to attain a social function greet the eldest in the family first and take a small gift as a mark of gratitude.

Leave your shoes outside whenever you enter anyone’s house.

Always ask by which name the person concerned would like to be addressed. Some might want a formal approach while some may be preferred to be called by their double names as having multiple names is common in Philippines.

List of Don’t in Philippines ( general)

Don’t rule out the importance or say anything offensive about anyone’s family. Filipino’s give immense importance to their family values and are extremely sentimental about it. This should also be kept in mind when dealing with your business associates.

Don’t point out your finger while calling out to anyone. It is considered offensive.

List of Do’s and Don’t in Philippines ( Business)
Direct eye contact should be avoided as staring for a long time is a mark of indecency and rudeness.
Do develop personal relation outside the office. Indulge in casual conversations and get to know each other in the personal level as it is an important part of the business culture.
Do dress in perfect formal attire when attending a business meeting. Be confident and respectful towards your seniors.
Do make the business appointments weeks before the actual meeting. Before arrival make it a point to confirm the appointment.
Don’t ask the cause of late arrival on the part of your Filipino business associate. It is a common practice among them but you should always arrive on time. The same should be followed if the meeting finishes late.
Don’t talk in the middle of a conversation or when your colleague is speaking at a meeting.

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Foreign Embassies in Philippines

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Each and every country houses the embassies of other foreign countries. An Embassy is an establishment placed under a group of government officials representing their own country in a foreign land. Their main aim is to look after the security and comfort of the visitor from their country in the foreign land. They work in perfect co ordination with the government of the receiving country or state to ensure perfect adherence to the law of the country by the foreign nationals. Other functions include fostering friendly relations among the respective countries and looking after the scientific, cultural and economic enhancement of both the countries.

A large number of countries have set up their Foreign Embassies in Philippines. This only ensures the popularity of Philippines among other countries. The countries which have their embassies in Philippines are:

Australian Embassy
Level 23 Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1200
Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 2757 8100(phone), + 632 7578 268(fax)

Bangladesh Embassy
Universal-Re Building, 2/F, 106 Paseo de Roxas, Legaspi village, Makati City
Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 817 5001(phone), + 632 816 4941(fax)

Brazilian Embassy
16th Floor, Liberty Center, 104 H.V De la Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227
Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers - + 632 845 3651-53(phone), + 632 845 3676(fax)

Canadian Embassy
Levels 6-8, Tower 2
RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue 1200, PO Box No 2098
Contact Numbers- + 02 857 9000(phone), + 02 843 1082(fax)

China Embassy
4896 Pasay Road, Dasmarinas Village, Makati, Metro Manila
Contact number- + 0063 2844 3148 / 8437715

French Embassy
16th Floor, Pacific Star Building, Makati corner, Gil Puyat Avenue, 1200 Makati City
Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 00 632810 1981/8 (phone), + 00 632 813 1908(fax)

German Embassy
25/F Tower 2 , RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 892 4906(phone), + 632 810 4703(fax)
Indian Embassy
2190 Paraiso Street, Dasmarinas Village, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 8720 101(phone), + 632 8158 151(fax)

Indonesian Embassy
185 Saocedo street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines, PO Box No 1671, MCPO
Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 892 5061/ 68(phone), + 632 892 58 78 818- 44- 41

Japanese Embassy
2627 Roxas Boulevard, 1300 Pasay City Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 551 5710(phone), + 632 551 5785(fax)

Malaysia Embassy
107, Tordesillas street, Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 817 4581 585(phone), + 632 816 3158

Pakistani Embassy
6th Floor Alexander House, 132 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati city, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 817 2772 /6(phone), + 632 840 0229(fax)

Saudi Arabia Embassy
389 Gen. Gil Puyat Ave, PO Box- 2616, Makati 0708, Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 890 9735(phone), + 632 895 3493(fax)

Singapore Embassy
35th Floor, The enterprise center, 6766 Ayala Avenue, Corner, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 7512345(phone), + 632 7512346(fax)

Spanish Embassy
5th floor, A.C.T Tower, 135, Sen Gil J. Puyat Avenue, 1251 Makati Metro Manila
Contact Numbers- + 632 818 5526(phone), + 632 810 2885(fax)

United Arab Emirates Embassy
2nd Floor, Renaissance Building, 215, Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village
Contact Numbers- + 632 817 3906(phone), + 632 818 3577(fax)

British Embassy
Floors15-17, LV Locsin Building, 6752 Ayala Avenue, Corner of Makati Avenue, Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- +632 816 7116(phone), + 632 813 7755(fax)

U. S Embassy
1201 Roxas Road, PO Box No 151, Manila Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 528 300(phone), + 632 522 4361

Vietnam Embassy
670 Pablo Ocampo, (Vito Cruz) Malate, Manila, Philippines
Contact Numbers- + 632 525 2837 or +632 521 6843(phone), + 632 526 0472(fax)

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