Living Asia Channel Website

BASICS

Geographical location
Archipelago in South East Asia surrounded by the South China, Philippine, Sulu and Celebes Seas, and by Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China

Capital
Manila City

Flights
Air Macau; Air Niugini; Air Philippines ; Aircalin/ Air Caledonie International ; Asian Spirit ; Asiana Airlines ; Cathay Pacific ; Cebu Pacific ; China Airlines ; Chona Southern; Continental Airlines; Dragonair/Hong Kong Dragon Airlines; Emirates; Etihad Airways; EVA Air; Garuda Indonesia; Gulf Air; Hawiaan Airlines; Hong Kong Express; Inter Airlines; JALWays; Japan Airlines; Jetstar Asia; KLM; Korean Air; Kuwait Airways; Malaysia Airlines; Northwest Airlines; Philippine Airlines; Qantas; Qatar Airways; Royal Brunei; Saudi Arabia Airlines; Singapore Airlines; South East Asian Airlines; Thai Airways; and Vietnam Airlines.

Visa Matters
Nationals from most countries who are traveling to the Philippines for business and tourism purposes are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding twenty-one (21) days, provided they hold valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or next port of destination and their passports valid for a period of at least six (6) months beyond the contemplated period of stay. However, Immigration Officers at ports of entry may exercise their discretion to admit holders of passports valid for at least sixty (60) days beyond the intended period of stay.

The following are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding fifty-nine (59) days:
Holders of Brazil passports; and
Holders of Israel passports

The following nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay not exceeding seven (7) days.
Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports.
Holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports.
Holders of Portuguese Passports issued in Macao
Holders of Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) passports

Tourist Attractions
Manila
Places to visit here are the Ruins of Intramuros, Ruins of Corregidor, Rizal Park, The Cultural Center of the Philippines, China town, and the urban veneer of Makati and Ortigas.
Cebu
Popular for its beach resorts and exhilarating historicity.
Davao
Known for its elegant orchids, exotic fruits and Muslim heritage.
Baguio
The Summer Capital of the Philippines. Baguio is located along the Cordillera Mountains and is known for its cool climate and strawberries.
Boracay
Beach Capital of the Philippines. It is also dubbed as the “finest beach in the world”.
Palawan
A diver’s paradise, Palawan also offers white sand beaches, is home to exotic animal and plants.
Bohol
Bohol is particularly popular for the Chocolate Hills.
Laoag/Vigan (Ilocos Region)
Time-locked Ilocos is a broad hardy country blessed with impressive wide highways and stretches of narrow cobblestoned roads, antiquated towns dominated by heavily-buttressed grand churches and Antillan ancestral homes.

Popular Accommodations
Manila
The Traders Hotel
The Cherry Blossoms
The Peninsula Manila

Best time to go
The Best time to go to the Philippines is during December till May, but the ideal moth to visit is March.

Currency
Philippine Peso (PHP)

Weather
Tropical
Dry season or North East Monsoon: November to April
Wet season or South West Monsoon: May to October

Transportation
Buses
Trains
Ferry Boats
Jeeps
Tricycles
Pick-ups, Taxis and Minibuses
Airplanes

Languages Spoken
Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Sports/Recreation
Basketball, Boxing, Billiards, Volleyball, Badminton.

Cuisine
Philippine food has been greatly influenced by pre-Hispanic Chinese, Indian and Arab traders - and Spanish and American colonizers - and Japanese conquerors.
Popular dishes include: Lechon, Adobo, Lumpia Shanghai, Pancit Canton, Halo Halo, Kare Kare
Sinigang, Suman, Dinuguan, Balut

Ethnicity
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)

Population
96,061,680 (2008)

Religion
Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Economy
Off shoring, Service Industry, Agriculture
Industrial production: food, beverages, tobacco, rubber products, textiles, clothing and footwear, pharmaceuticals, paints, plywood and veneer, paper and paper products, small appliances, and electronics, cement, glass, industrial chemicals, fertilizers, iron and steel, and refined petroleum products, semiconductors, intermediate goods for incorporation into consumer electronics

Government
Republic

Security
Generally safe except the southern portion, Mindanao, because of terrorism.