History of Cebu
Originally, Cebu was called Sugbo. Cebuanos lived in stilt houses made of bamboo, wood and nipa. Men were extensively tattooed and women were lavishly ornamented with gold jewelries, silks and lip color.
Prior to Spanish colonization, the city was the center of trade in the south, where Chinese ships arrived with silks and porcelains which they exchanged for honey, gold, wood and spices from Mollucas. Unreasonable trade restrictions of the colonizing Spanish caused the rapid decline of Cebu as a trading port. However, in 19th century, restrictions were lifted and brought back the commercial life of the city.
The Spanish troops headed by Ferdinand Magellan arrived Cebu in 1521 with a friendly reception from the island villagers. He made friends with Rajah Humabon and converted most of the locals to Christians including the leader’s family. But when Magellan reached the narrow strait to Mactan Island, the reception was not similar. He encountered a negative response and had a hard time entering the area. Lapu Lapu, the chief, resisted his entry and fought against the Spanish troops leaving Magellan lifeless on the ground. Cebu’s invasion was delayed until Legazpi and Fray Andres de Urdaneta arrived in 1566.
The historic Fort San Pedro has served many purposes to the Cebuanos. It was constructed in 1565 upon the arrival of Legazpi on the ship San Pedro but remained unfinished until 1738. Originally intended to protect the island from Muslim raiders, the port also served as the barracks and defense post of the US army during the American occupation; a prison camp during the 3 year Japanese invasion; the city zoo; and now a small park. For many centuries, renovations have removed the waterfront lying few blocks from the Fort.
Manila - A History
The City of Manila occupies a unique position in Philippine political geography, for it is both a chartered city, and also it fulfills the functions of a province for the four cities and thirteen municipalities composing its metropolitan area. But then, Manila has always been an exceptional case, defying just about every political formula devised to govern other towns, cities and provinces. It has required special laws and governmental systems to rule it, practically from the beginning of the Spanish rule of the Philippines in the 16th Century up to the present.Manila City proper is bounded on the north by Navotas and Caloocan City, on the northeast by Quezon City and San Juan del Monte, on the southeast by Mandaluyong and Makati, and on the south by Pasay City. It faces beautiful Manila Bay to the west.
A relatively new development is the incorporation of all the cities and municipalities comprising the Manila metropolitan area into one unit--a "mega-city"--called "Metro Manila." It is governed as one unit by a governor, who coordinates its functions and services through the various city and municipal officials, very much like a provincial governor rules many towns. And yet, the component cities, provinces and municipalities retain their previous jurisdictions. Metro Manila is comprised of the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan City and Pasay City, and the municipalities of Navotas, Malabon, Valenzuela (in Bulacan province), Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan del Monte, Makati, Pateros, Taguig (Tagig), Paranaque, Las Pinas and Muntinglupa.
Manila derived its name from two Tagalog words; "may," meaning "there is," and "nilad," the name of a shrub that originally grew abundantly along the shores of the Pasig River and Manila Bay. Long before the Spanish conquest, Manila was settled by Mohammedans, who carried on a thriving trade with Chinese and other Southeast Asian merchants. "Maynilad" was the principal bay settlement of these Tagalogs south of the Pasig River, although it was probably less important commercially than Tondo, the town on the north bank.
Manila was first visited by Spaniards in 1570. Governor-General Legazpi, searching for a suitable place to establish his capital after being compelled to move from Cebu to Panay by Portugese pirates, and hearing of the existence of a prosperous Mohammedan community in Luzon, sent an expedition under Martin de Goiti to discover its location and potentials. De Goiti anchored at Cavite, and tried to establish his authority peaceably by sending a message of friendship to Maynilad. Rajah Soliman, then its ruler, was willing to befriend the Spaniards, but would not submit to Spanish sovereignity peaceably.
Naturally, this was unsatisfactory to the Spanish commander, so after he secured equipment and reinforcements, he attacked Maynilad in June of 1570. He captured it after a stout fight, and having formally taken possession of the city in the name of the King of Spain, he returned to Panay.
The next year, in 1571, the Spaniards returned, this time led by Governor-General Legazpi himself. Seeing them approach, the natives set fire to the town, levelling it to the ground, while the people fled to Tondo and neighboring towns.
After occupying the remains of Maynilad on June 19, 1591, and commencing the construction of a fort there, Legazpi made overtures of friendship to Rajah Lakandula of Tondo, which this time were prudently accepted. Soliman, however, refused to submit to the Spaniards, despite the wise counsel of Lakandula, whose aid Soliman solicited in an effort to expel the invaders. Failing to get Lakandula's support, as well as that of the Pampangans and Pangasinans, Soliman gathered together a considerable force of Tagalog warriors, and attacked the Spaniards in a decisive battle at the town of Bangcusay. There the Filipinos were defeated, and Soliman himself was killed.
With the destruction of Soliman's army, and the friendly interventions of Rajah Lakandula, the Spaniards were enabled to establish their authority throughout the city and its adjacent settlemnts, and soon several Christian missions were established.
Eventually, Roman Catholic missions, parishes and schools were established by nearly every religious order to come to the Philippines. The first priests were Augustinians and secular priests, followed by Franciscans, Jesuits, Dominicans and Augustinian Recollects, with many other orders following in later centuries.
The rule of the Spanish conquerers of the "City of Soliman" was full of dangers, since the people were opposed to foreign sovereignty. Consequently, the city was frequently the scene of serious disturbances. The Chinese, angered by the loss of free trade, the commercial restrictions placed by the untrusting Spanish upon them, and the laws forcing them to pay tribute to Spain, made several efforts to destroy the Spaniards.
The first of these Chinese revolts occurred in 1574, when a force of some 3,000 men and 62 Chinese warships under the command of Limahong attacked the city. This attenpt proved fruitless, the Chinese being defeated with heavy losses. As a safeguard against similar uprisings later, the Chinese residents and merchants of Manila were confined to a separate district, called "Parian de Alcaceria."
However, this precaution was not totally effective, for at various times in the following century, the Chinese rose in revolt. In 1602, they set fire to Quiapo and Tondo, and for a time threatened to capture Intramuros. In 1662, they again revolted, while in 1686, a conspiracy led by Tingco plotted to kill all the Spaniards. It is no surprise, then, to learn that at various times during the Spanish era, the Chinese were expelled (or decrees were made to that effect) from Manila and from the entire country. Later reconciliations nearly always permitted the continuation of the Chinese community in the city, however.
In 1595, Manila was decreed to be the capital of the Archipelago, although it had already in fact served that function practically from its founding in 1571. Besides being Spain's pre-eminent city in the Philippines, and dominant over other provincial capitals, it was itself a provincial capital over a province whose territory at one time covered nearly all of Luzon, and included the modern territorial subdivisions of Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Mindoro, Masbate and Marinduque. Later, these subdivisions were themselves made provinces, leaving Manila province with a territory roughly equal to the present City of Manila proper (except Intramuras, the capital site), and the northwestern two-thirds of Rizal province. The boundary of Manila province went from northeast to southwest, including Antipolo, Cainta, Taytay and Taguig, and all of the towns north and west of them, in Manila province; and Angono, Teresa, Morong, and the towns south and east of them, in Laguna province. Early in the province's history, the provincial name was changed fran Manila to "Tondo" province, by which it was known for most of the Spanish era.
In 1762, during the "Seven Years' War," the British occupied Manila, remaining in the city until 1764. The fleeing Spaniards destroyed many of the records, and in the sack of the town by the British, many historical documents of great value were destroyed or stolen from the archives.
In about 1853, four pueblos or towns of Tondo province were joined with the northeastern towns of Laguna province to form the politico-military "Distrito de los Montes de San Mateo," or District of the San Mateo Mountains. Tondo province annexed to this new district the towns of Cainta, Taytay, Antipolo and Boso-boso, while Laguna contributed the towns of Angono, Binangonan, Cardona, Morong, Baras, Tanay, Pililla and Jalajala. But the name of the new district proved unwieldy, too long, and misled many into thinking the town of San Mateo (in Tondo province) was the capital of the San Mateo Mountain District, when in reality the district capital was in Morong. So, in about 1859, following common practice of the day, the district was renamed after its capital; namely, Morong District. At about the same time, Tondo Province was renamed Manila Province.
Being the traditional seat of education and liberal thinking in the Philippines, Manila was a rich field for anti-Spanish propaganda. But outwardly it remained quiet until July 7, 1892, when the secret revolutionary organization devoted to the overthrow of Spanish rule of the country, called the Katipunan, was organized in Manila's suburb, Tondo. Although initial skirmishes between the Filipinos and Spanish were brief and nearly always lost by the Filipinos, the movement grew until open rebellion broke out in 1896, with the Spaniards losing the Philippines to the combined Filipino-American forces in 1898. But Spain ceded the country only to the Americans, who exerted their control militarily, defeating the Filipinos in the "Mock Battle" of Manila on August 13, 1898. Thereafter, the Americans pursued the retreating Filipino forces province by province, until General Emilio Aguinaldo (then president of the Republic) surrendered in Palanan, Isabela, on March 23, 1901. Manila continued under an American military government until civil government was established for the city on July 31, 1901.
Along with the establishment of the civil government, the Philippine Commission dissolved the former province of Manila, and merged its pueblos with those of the District of Morong, forming the new province of Rizal. Afew weeks later, the Philippine Commission provided for a new charter for the city of Manila, defining its boundaries, and thus annexing some of Rizal Province's towns to the city as districts. These boundaries were slightly revised and redefined on January 29, 1902, when the suburb of Gagalangin was annexed to the city district of Tondo, and the former pueblo of Santa Ana was annexed as a district to Manila City. On July 30 of that year, the city board officially divided the city into 13 political subdivisions named districts, and the boundaries of each were defined. On August 15 of the same year, Pandacan pueblo was annexed as a city district. The boundaries and city districts of Manila City proper have remained essentially unchanged ever since.
With the outbreak of World War II, Manila entered a five-year period of sorrow and destruction. Hoping to minimize the loss of life and property, government officials declared Manila an open city on December 26, 1941. The following New Years' Day, 1942, President Quezon decreed the merger of the towns of Quezon City, Caloocan, San Juan del Monte, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay and Paranaque with Manila City to form the town he called "Greater Manila," to sinplify the administration of the metropolitan area during the war. Being practically destroyed in the process, the city was liberated from Japanese control in March of 1945 by the joint Filipino-American forces. Soon thereafter, "Greater Manila" was dissolved, and its towns returned to their pre-war status.
In 1948, Quezon City was declared the national capital of the new Republic of the Philippines, thus robbing Manila City of an honor it had held since 1595. But on May 29, 1976, President Ferdinand Marcos' Decree No 940 returned the national capital to Manila, declaring that "the area prescribed as Metro Manila by P. D. 824" was to be the seat of the national government.
Not even a hundredth part of Manila's rich and lengthy history can be written here. Therefore, the reader is referred to other works for more details.(See the Valuable Printed Sources, and the Selected Bibliography of Chapter 10.)
Dialects
It is probable that nearly every dialect spoken in the Philippines is
spoken in Manila, for this cosmopolitan city receives its population
from the entire country. Many foreign languages are also spoken, mainly by
foreign nationals engaged in the diplomatic corps or business enterprises.
But Tagalog is the predominant dialect, spoken by 76.4% of Manila's
population, followed by Iloco (4.9%), Samar-Leyte (3.3%), Pampango
(3.0%), Bicol (2.8%), Chinese (2.6%), Cebuano (1.9%), Hiligaynon (1.9%),
Pangasinan (1.7%), and the remaining 1.5% speak any of the other dialects
used in the country. Pilipino can be spoken by 98.0% of the population,
English by 66.1%, and Spanish by 8.4%.
Religions
Roman Catholics predominate, comprising 93.5%, followed by Iglesia ni
Cristo (1.9%), Protestants (1.8%), Buddhists (1.1%), Moslems and others
comprising the remaining 1.4% of Manila's population.
Philippines History
The earliest inhabitants of the Philippines were the Negritos. Other tribes later arrived from Malaysia and Indonesia. In 1521, the Portuguese navigator, Ferdinand Magellan, financed by the King of Spain, landed on the islands and named them after Philip II of Spain. Friars converted the inhabitants to Christianity and today the Philippines is the only predominantly Christian country in South-East Asia. Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legaspi established the first Spanish settlement in Cebu in 1565; he moved north and defeated the Muslim Rajah Sulayman and established a Spanish base in ManilaThe islands were occupied by the Japanese between 1942 and 1945, during World War II, only achieving independence in 1946. During the next two decades, there was a succession of presidents who maintained strong links with the United States. In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos of the Nacionalista party won the presidential elections and began a program of rapid economic development. Before his maximum of two terms in office were over, in 1972, Marcos instituted martial law and suppressed all political opposition. He also set about large-scale looting of the country’s exchequer to fill his and his family’s own foreign bank accounts. Opposition to Marcos evolved in two distinct forms: the ‘constitutional’ opposition, organized around dissenting senators such as Benigno Aquino; and the Communist Party, which, linking with various tribal groups, launched an armed insurgency based in the southern islands, particularly Mindanao.
By the mid-1980s, the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party, was able to sustain a major insurrection right across the country in both rural and urban areas. The turning point for the regime came after the assassination of Benigno Aquino upon his return from exile in 1983. Public opinion rallied behind his widow, Corazon Aquino in a massive campaign of demonstrations and non-violent protest, popularly dubbed ‘People Power’. Then, US President Ronald Reagan withdrew his backing from Marcos. The Filipino military, Marcos’ last bastion of support, followed suit and Marcos left for Hawaiian exile in February 1986. He died there in September 1989.
Lacking any political experience, Corazon Aquino took a while to settle into the presidency. She was constantly threatened by the rump of Marcos supporters in the military who launched repeated but unsuccessful coup attempts, but earned the backing of most of the senior command by maintaining a hard line in the campaign against the NPA.
Military issues also dominated the Philippines’ key foreign relations with the USA. The Americans had maintained two large bases on Luzon Island at Subic Bay (navy) and Clark Air Base. By the end of 1994, both had been vacated: Clark Air Base was badly damaged by the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991; Subic Bay was vacated by mutual agreement. By this time, the presidency had passed to Fidel Ramos, Aquino’s erstwhile Defence Minister. His term lasted until May 1998 when the Asian financial crisis, which hit the Philippines particularly hard, offered an opportunity to new political parties. Joseph Ejercito Estrada, leading the newly-formed Laban ng Masang Pilipino (Struggle of the Filipino Masses, LMP), won the poll by a comfortable margin.
In January 2001 he was formally thrown out of office by the Supreme Court and replaced by his deputy, Gloria Arroyo – daughter of Diosdado Macapagal, the president during the early 1960s.
Arroyo has presided over a steady economic performance. She has also opened negotiations with the two main insurgencies: the NPA, while much diminished from its zenith, remains a potent force in some parts of the archipelago; while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has grown to become the most potent of a handful of Islamic guerrilla groups. (Since the 11 September 2001 attacks in the USA, much attention has also been focused on the Abu Sayyaf group, which is believed to be affiliated with the al-Qaeda terrorist network.). Arroyo was re-elected in May 2004.
Government
The constitution adopted in 1987 provides for a dual-chamber congress comprising a 24-member Senate and a House of Representatives with a maximum 250 members, of whom 200 are directly elected. The president, who holds executive power, is elected for a six year term.
Economy
The agricultural sector produces rice, corn, coconuts, copra, sugar cane and bananas as the main crops. Production of timber, formerly a major export earner, is suspended due to deforestation. There is a modest mining industry and offshore oil. Most recent economic development has been industrial.
Financial incentives to attract foreign capital and the creation of export processing zones prompted strong growth during the early and mid 1990s. However, it also produced a skewed economy in which the Manila area hosts 15% of the population and accounts for one-third of GDP.
Following a substantial slump in 1997, the economy has since recovered. In 2006, growth was 5.4% and inflation slipped to 6.2%. Unemployment was at 7.9%. Industrial production has picked up and substantial foreign aid has helped the country’s finances. As such, the peso was East Asia’s best performing currency in 2005-06.
The Philippines belong to the Association of South-East Asian Nations and the Asian Development Bank.
Tropical climate tempered by constant sea breezes. There are three distinct seasons: the rainy season (June to September), cool and dry (October to February), and hot and mainly dry (March to May). Evenings are cooler. Typhoons occasionally occur from June to September.
Required Clothing
Lightweight cottons and linens are worn throughout most of the year,with warmer clothes useful on cooler evenings. Rainwear or umbrellasare advisable for the rainy season.
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Social Conventions
Government officials are addressed by their titles such as senator, congressman or director. Otherwise, usual modes of address and levels of politeness are expected. Casual dress is acceptable in most places, but in Muslim areas the visitor should cover up. Filipino men may wear an embroidered long-sleeved shirt or a plain white barong tagalog with black trousers for formal occasions, women wear cocktail dresses or long gowns. The Philippines are, in many respects, more westernised than any other Asian country, but there is a rich underlay of Malay culture.
International Travel:
Getting There by
The national airline is Philippine Airlines (PR) (website: www.philippineairlines.com).
Note: The period over Easter, from Good Friday to the following Bank holiday (and sometimes beyond), is a major holiday in the Philippines, as are Christmas and New Year. There may be some difficulty booking a flight during these periods.
Departure Tax
PHP750 for international departures. Children under two years of age and transit passengers are exempt.
Main Airports
Ninoy Aquino (MNL) is 12km (7 miles) south of Manila. To/from the airport: Bus and taxi services are available to the city (journey time – up to 1 hour 30 minutes by public bus, or 25 minutes by taxi). Facilities: Banks, post office, medical clinic, baggage deposit area, duty-free shops and car hire.
Mactan International Airport (CEB) (Cebu Island) (website: www.mactan-cebuairport.com.ph) is 45km (28 miles) from the city center. To/from the airport: Hotels and tour operators provide their own coaches; taxis can be hired.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Manila. The port is a crossroads of trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
Shipping lines which call at Manila include Evergreen Lines (website: www.evergreen-shipping.us), Far Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO) (website: www.fesco.ru/en) and Italia Marittima (website: www.italiamarittima.it). Schedules and rates are listed in the shipping pages of daily newspapers. For more information, contact the Philippines Ports Authority (website: www.ppa.com.ph).
Overview
The following items may be imported into the Philippines without incurring customs duty:
• 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• 2l of alcoholic beverage of not more than 1l each.
Note: (a) Visitors carrying more than US$3,000 are to declare this at the Central Bank of the Philippines counter at customs. (b) Departing passengers cannot take out more than PHP1,000 out of the country.
Prohibited Imports
Firearms, explosives, pornographic material, seditious or subversive material, narcotics and other internationally prohibited drugs (unless accompanied by a medical prescription), gambling articles and machines and misbranded and adulterated foodstuffs.
Internal Travel:
Getting Around By Air
In addition to Philippine Airlines (PR) (website: www.philippineairlines.com), there are several other charter airlines, including Air Philippines (website: www.airphils.com), Asian Spirit (website: www.asianspirit.com), Cebu Pacific Air (website: www.cebupacificair.com) and Laoag International Airlines.
Getting Around by Water
Inter-island ships with first-class accommodation connect the major island ports. Local shipping lines include SuperFerry (tel: (2) 528 7979 or 7171 or 7000; website: www.superferry.com.ph).
Getting Around by Rail
The Metrotren is recommended for long journeys. The railway is on Luzon Island and stretches as far south as Carmona and Cavite to Meycauayan in the north.
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Roads spread among the islands, with highways on the Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon island groups. Further roads are currently being constructed. Driving off the main highway at night is dangerous and should be avoided.
Bus: There are bus services between towns and also widely available jeepneys. These are shared taxis using jeep-derived vehicles equipped to carry up to 14 passengers on bench seats. Fares are similar to buses.
Taxi: Taxis are available in cities and in many towns. Make sure meters are used, as some taxi drivers will set an exorbitant and arbitrary rate.
Car hire: Available in Manila and in major cities.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18. Seat belts are compulsory.
Emergency breakdown service: Automobile Association Philippines (tel: (02) 723 0808).
Documentation: International Driving Permit required, together with a national driving license.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
A number of bus routes are operated by Metro Manila Transport using conventional vehicles, including double-deckers. Most journeys, however, are made by jeepneys, of which there are an estimated 30,000 in Manila alone. The Metro Railway Transit (MTR) connects North Avenue in Quezon to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, traveling the length of Epifanio delos Santo Avenue (EDSA). The Light Railway Transit (LRT), a light rail transit link, runs from Baclaran terminal in the south to Caloocan terminal in the north. Tricycles (motorbikes with sidecars) and pedicabs (bicycles with a sidecars) are a cheaper alternative for shorter distances around towns. Calseas (horse-drawn carriages) are popular with tourists and are a common sight in downtown Manila.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Manila to other major cities/towns in the Philippines.
Air | Road | Sea | |
Batangas | - | 2.00 | - |
Cagayan de Oro | 1.25 | - | 48.00 |
Laoag | 1.25 | 7.00 | - |
Palawan | 1.10 | - | 24.00 |
Unlike a lot of Asian cooking, Filipino cuisine is distinguished by its moderate use of spices. American, Chinese, Japanese, Malay and Spanish influences have all left their mark in a subtle blending of cultures and flavors. All the regional dishes are available in Manila’s excellent restaurants, which, like the restaurants of all the main towns, offer a varied cuisine. For the less adventurous, there are also European-style restaurants and American fast food. Restaurants are generally informal, with table service. Rice is a staple of Filipino cuisine. Fruit is plentiful with mangoes, papayas,
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Things to know: Waiter service is common in bars and there are no strict regulations regarding the sale of alcohol.
National specialties:
• Lechon (roasted whole pig) is prepared for fiestas and family celebrations.
• Kare-kare (an oxtail stew in peanut sauce served with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste).
• Sinigang (meat or fish in a pleasantly sour broth).
• Adobo (braised pork and chicken in a tangy soy sauce with vinegar and garlic).
• Seafoods such as bangus (the bony but prized milkfish), crabs, lobsters, prawns, oysters, tuna, freshwater fish and the sweet maliputo, found in deep-water lakes. It is freshly harvested and often simply grilled, boiled, fried or steamed and served with kalamansi (the local lemon), bagoong (a fish paste) or vinegar with labuyo (the fiery native pepper).
National drinks:
• Locally brewed beer, such as San Miguel.
• Philippine rum.
Tipping: Usually 10% of the bill, unless service charge is included.
Nightlife
The choice of entertainment in Manila displays the Filipino’s affinity for music. Top hotels offer everything from high-tech discos to lavish cultural songs and dances, as well as superb pop singers and performers, trios, show bands and classical string ensembles. On most evenings there are cultural performances by local artists or foreign groups at the many other venues for the performing arts. Free concerts are offered by several parks every week, and occasionally by banks and other corporations. The Philippines also have some unusual musical groups like the Pangkat Kawayan bamboo orchestra, which uses bamboo musical instruments, and the Rondalla group, which uses tiny guitars like the ukelele. Casinos are located in Cebu, Davao, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Manila, Pampanga and Zamboanga.
The Philippines is a haven for shoppers. Countless bargain opportunities for the handicrafts of the different regions are found in the numerous shopping complexes, which range from sleek air-conditioned department stores and malls to open-air bazaars. Duty Free Philippines near NAIA is the largest in the country. The chain stores offer everything from the famous barong tagalog (hand-embroidered dress shirts for men in delicate jusi material) to Tiffany lamps made with capiz shells.
For local color, there is nothing like the flea markets where visitors
Shopping hours
Mon-Sat 1000-2000, but these can vary. Most department stores and supermarkets are open Sunday and there are some 24-hour convenience stores.
Currency Information:
Currency
Philippine Peso (PHP; symbol Php) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of Php1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Php10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 centavos.
Currency Exchange
Cash in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars can be exchanged in banks, hotels and some retail outlets. Always use authorized money-changers or banks in Manila. Outside the capital there is a shortage of facilities for changing foreign currency and rates may get progressively worse as you travel further away from the city. It is advisable to carry a sufficient amount of Philippine pesos when traveling to other provinces.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in major establishments throughout the big cities of the Philippines. ATMs are available.
Traveller's Cheques
Traveller's cheques and major foreign currency may be cashed at most commercial banks and Central Bank dealers. They are also accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. To avoid difficulties, travelers are advised to carry their receipt of purchase with them. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.
Currency Restrictions
Restrictions apply.
Banking Hours
Mon-Fri 0900-1500.
Exchange Rate Indicators
Date | Jan 09 |
£1.00= | Php69.27 |
$1.00= | Php46.46 |
€1.00= | Php63.26 |
Passport/Visa
Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | |
British | Yes | No/1 | Yes |
Australian | Yes | No/1 | Yes |
Canadian | Yes | No/1 | Yes |
USA | Yes | No/1 | Yes |
Other EU | Yes | 1/2 | Yes |
Passports
Passports valid
Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above providing they are:
(a) 1. bona fide foreign tourists (including business travelers) for stays of less than 21 days and holding passports valid for a minimum of six months beyond period of stay, and return or onward tickets (except nationals of 2. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia who do require a visa even if staying less than seven days);
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country within 72 hours provided holding onward or return documentation (some nationals are required to leave by the same or first connecting aircraft; enquire at embassy for details).
Visa Note
(a) All tourists wishing to stay longer than 21 days need a visa. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see General Info).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist and Business: £22 (single-entry, three months); £43 (multiple-entry, six months); £63 (multiple-entry, one year).
Validity
For nationals of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia, maximum stay of 30 days.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see General Info.
Working Days Required
Two to three working days.
Warning
On 29 November 2007, a group of rebel soldiers entered the Peninsula Hotel in Makati, Metro Manila, which was then surrounded by Philippine armed forces. Gunshots were fired. Travelers are advised to avoid the area surrounding the Peninsula Hotel and exercise caution, taking sensible precautions for personal safety. Travelers should avoid any large crowds, political gatherings and demonstrations. They should keep informed of developments and follow the advice of local authorities.
There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the Philippines. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out these attacks at any time and anywhere in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets in public places including those frequented by foreigners. On 13 November 2007, a bomb exploded at Congress in Quezon City, Metro Manila, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries.
Travelers are advised against all travel to Mindanao because of ongoing terrorist activity. There are frequent terrorist attacks against civilian targets throughout Mindanao. On 5 October 2007, two bombs exploded in Kidapawan City reportedly killing two and injuring 30 others.
Travelers are also advised against all travel to the Sulu archipelago including Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo, where there are ongoing military and police operations against insurgent groups.
There is a threat of kidnapping throughout the Philippines. It is believed that terrorists and criminal elements plan to kidnap foreign tourists from islands and coastal areas in the southern Philippines - ie Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago. Kidnappings from other parts of the Philippines cannot be discounted. Boats traveling to and from offshore islands and dive sites are possible targets.
Penalties for illegal drug importation and use are severe.
Visitors are required to show some identity if requested by police; photocopies of the relevant pages of passports are allowed.
The typhoon season in the Philippines normally runs from July to November. This is also the rainy season and flooding and landslides may occur. Tropical Storm Mitag hit northern Luzon on 25 November 2007. There were reports that at least six people were killed. Tropical Storm Peipah hit Luzon on 5 November 2007. There were reports that at least 5 people were killed.
There are periodic outbreaks of Dengue Fever (including in Manila), for which there is no vaccination or immunization. Since the beginning of 2007, reports have indicated a significant increase in the number of Dengue Fever cases.
This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk
US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel
Health
Special Precautions | Certificate Required? | |
Diphtheria | Yes | |
Hepatitis A | Yes | |
Malaria | Sometimes | |
Rabies | Sometimes | |
Tetanus | Yes | |
Typhoid | Yes | |
Yellow Fever | No* |
Health Care
Health insurance is essential. Approximately three-quarters of the hospitals are private.
Note
* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age arriving from an infected area.
Philippines Overview
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