|
Services |
|
Airport Pick Up |
Please arrange car pick up to and from airport. |
Airport Tax |
All travellers leaving the country by way of Manila international airport must pay a Peso 550 departure tax. |
Business Hours |
Private and government offices are open either from 8 a.m to 5 p.m or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some private companies are open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Most shopping centers and department stores are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Most banks operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. |
Clothing |
Summer-weight clothing is suitable in Manila. Conducting business calls in short or long-sleeved shirt and tie without a coat is common and acceptable. However, for formal meetings, either a two-piece suit or the native "barong tagalog" (a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt worn without a tie) is the popular attire. Light suits and dresses are appropriate for women. |
Currency |
PHP (Philippino Peso) |
Custom Rules and Regulations |
Tobacco Products: 200 cigarettes (double for residents) or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco. Alcoholic Beverages: 2 bottles of wine and 2 bottles of liquor. |
Entry Requirements |
All visitors to the Philippines must have a valid passport for a period of not less than six months beyond the intended period of stay. Visas are required for all visitors except: 1) transit passengers; 2) foreign tourists and business travelers, provided that their length of stay does not exceed 21 days, passports are valid, and they have return or onward tickets; 3) citizens of Hong Kong, British and Macau are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay of not exceeding seven days. Visitors can get visa extensions by visiting the Bureau of Immigration in downtown Manila, though the process can take up most of a day. Many travel agencies can handle the task for you for a fee of about 500 pesos. |
Health Risks |
Among the most common diseases in the Philippines are dengue hemorrhagic fever, hepatitis and cholera. Wear long sleeves or bring plenty of insect repellant when visiting rural areas. Drink bottled water. |
|
|
Language |
Pilipino is the national language. English is widely spoken and is extensively used in business and government, making the Philippines the third-largest English-speaking country in the world. Chinese and Spanish are other major languages spoken by some groups, aside from about 100 regional dialects. |
Local Climate |
The city is protected from extreme weather conditions by the hills of the Eastern Cordillera to the east and by the mountains of Bataan Peninsula, which lies west of Manila Bay. The tropical climate is characterized by a wet season that lasts from June to November and by a dry season lasting from December to May. High humidity and thunderstorms are common in July, August, and September, when more rain is received than in other months. |
Name of Airport |
Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It is about 9 kilometers from the Makati business district, but the ride can take up to two hours in rush hour traffic or heavy rains. An airport tax of 550 pesos is charged upon departure. For general information call tel: 877-1109; for flight information, tel: 833-8135. |
Phone adaptors |
|
Power adaptors |
|
Tipping |
The standard practice is to add 10% of the total bill in restaurants. However, some establishments already include a 10% service charge, making additional tipping optional. For cabs, it is customary to round off the fare. |
Useful Links |
Philippines - Department of
Tourism - OnLine |
Useful Numbers |
Call
117 for Police assistance |
Voltage |
220V |
Disclaimer
All material included in this Web site is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current developments, nor does it promote physical activity of any kind. The authors are not professionals and should not be interpreted as being such. They are not offering instructions, but are sharing of personal experiences, that should not be construed as advice, instruction, or best practices. This information should in no way be taken as an guarantee of future results. As such, the material contained herein is not offered as official advice on any particular matter. The contributing authors expressly disclaim all liability to any person in respect to actions taken or in respect to the consequences of anything done or omitted, and which may be done wholly or partly in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this Web site. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, a relationship between us and the user or browser. No reader should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any matter contained in this Web site without seeking the appropriate professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue. Nor are we responsible for any third party contents which can be accessed through the website
COPYRIGHT AND REPRODUCTION NOTICE:
Copyright ©2006, WetCatAsia. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than for individual use only and may not be recopied and shared with a third party. The permission to recopy by an individual does not allow for incorporation of material or any part of it in any work or publication, whether in hard copy, electronic, or any other form.