Biyahe
Traveling in the Philippines
ENTRY REGULATIONS
Valid passport. Except for stateless persons and those from countries
with which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations, all visitors
may enter the country without visas and may stay for 21 days provided
they have tickets for onward journey. Holders of Hong Kong and
Taiwan passports must have special permits. Visas and special
permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates. More info.
AIRPORT FACILITIES
The international airports have adequate traveler facilities:
tourist information & assistance counters, hotel & travel
agency representatives, banks & ATMs, postal service, telephone
booths, and medical clinics, among others. Baggage carts and porter
services are available for free.
The airports are handicapped-friendly. Wheelchairs are available on request from the airline ground staff.
AIRPORT FEES
P550 for international departure and P100 for local departure
(paid in Philippine pesos only). Departing passengers for international
destinations are advised to check with airport or tourist information
counters (Tel. Nos. 524-1703; 832-2964) the departure fees which
may change without notice.
CUSTOMS
Visitors are advised to fill in the Baggage Declaration Form before
disembarking to facilitate Customs examination. Visitors carrying
more than US$ 3,000 are to declare the amount at the Central Bank
of the Philippines counter situated at the Customs area. Foreign
currency taken out upon departure must not exceed the amount brought
in. Departing passengers are not allowed to bring out more than
PhP 1,000 in local currency.
Visas
Various rules and regulations have to be observed depending on the intended length of stay in the Philippines.
21 days
A valid passport is required of all travelers. Visas are not required of bona fide tourists for a stay of up to 21 days provided they possess air or ship tickets for their onward or return journey.
The privilege to be admitted to the Philippines without a visa for 21 days does not apply to those who intend to study, work or engage in business activities, to nationals of countries with which the Philippines maintains no diplomatic ties; to stateless persons; and to nationals of countries which do not extend reciprocal privileges to citizens of the Philippines.
Those tourists who have been admitted for 21 days without an entry visa, if leaving The Country within 21 days are exempt from payment of immigration fees. The stamp of admission in their passports is sufficient for departure clearance.
59 days
Visas for 59 days may be obtained from any Philippine embassy or consulate. Visitors who arrive without a visa and wish to stay longer than the authorized initial period of 21 days, may extend their visa to up to 59 days with the Commission on Immigration. The extension is called a visa waiver and costs 300 pesos plus a 10 peso research fee, as well as an annual report fee of 130 pesos if the stay extends from one calendar year to the next.
A 59 day visa obtained abroad is generally valid for six months, meaning one can enter The Country anytime during the six months after the date of issue of the visa, and can stay for 59 days, beginning with the day of entry. The visa can be for single or multiple entry.
In many cases the 59 day visa is without charge when issued abroad. Whether and how much it costs depends on The Country where the embassy is located and on the nationality of the applicant.
59 days to 6 months
Extension of the 59 day visa can be requested. Grants are always for an additional whole number of months. Several fees have to be paid for the extension. These are:
Those who paid for their 59 day stay are exempt.
Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) of 250 pesos; but those who already had an ACR issued in the same year just need a re-issue ACR, which costs only 150 pesos.
Alien Head Tax of 125 pesos; there is an exemption for children under 14 years of age who pay 50 pesos for this exemption
Extension Fee of 100 pesos per month
Legal Research Fees of 10 pesos each on Visa Fee, ACR and Head Tax.
Annual Report Fee of 130 pesos if the extension reaches from one calendar year to the next
If one stays longer than 59 days, a fee of 250 pesos is charged before departure for the Emigration Clearance Certificate. An additional 10 pesos has to be paid for legal research.
Longer than 6 Months
Those who stay longer than 6 months are classified as temporary visitors. Temporary visitors may stay in The Country for business, leisure or for reasons of health. Also classified as temporary visitors are sailors serving on vessels arriving at a port of the Philippines; accredited officials of a foreign government; students over 18 years of age with sufficient means of support who take up higher studies; those with prearranged employment.
Those staying longer than six months have to secure a Certificate of Temporary Visitor which costs 400 pesos. For every month of extension after six months, 100 pesos has to be paid.
Before leaving, payment of 250 pesos for an Emigration Clearance Certificate and 10 pesos research fee also are due. With a stay of over 6 months, one has to go through a lot of formalities before getting this Emigration Clearance Certificate. Five passport photos are required and fingerprints are taken.
Longer than 1 year
Aliens staying longer than one year have to pay Travel Tax when leaving The Country , just like any Philippine citizen who leaves. This tax is 1,620 pesos, and is generally paid together with the airline ticket.
Balikbayans
A Balikbayan (in English: Home-comer) is defined as a Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of The Country for more than a year, a Philippine overseas worker, or a former Philippine citizen naturalized in another country, as well as his immediate family members.
While Philippine citizens are anyway not affected by immigration requirements, those balikbayans who hold other than Philippine passports receive some preferential treatment under immigration laws.
As was reported by the Manila Bulletin January 11, 1990, the then acting Commissioner Andrea Domingo issued new guidelines according to which non-Philippine balikbayans can stay in The Country for one year visa-free.
Immigration/Deportation
The office of the Commission on Immigration is located in Intramuros on Magallanes Drive near the General Post Office. Visa extensions can be made there personally, or they can be commissioned to an experienced travel agency. Southeast Travel at the corner of Del Pilar St and Pedro Gil St is the one travel agency in the tourist belt for years handling the largest number of visa extensions.
Those who want to go through the procedures on their own should be aware that sometimes they will easily spend a whole day on paper work or have to pay the additional official Express Fee of 250 pesos. Official receipts of the extensions have to be kept as they serve as evidence that the extension stamp in the passport is not a fake.
Fake visa extensions used to be made even in the office of the Commission on Immigration. Often tourists got their visa extended with the unofficial help of officials or fixers inside the Immigration building who, to the tourist, seemed just to be friendly officers. These tourists regularly ended up with fake extensions without knowing. After all, they dealt with officers (as it appeared because they were wearing shirts with office seals), and they paid the full amounts, too.
Some people who regularly visited the Philippines during the last few years claim, that the Commission on Immigration regards as suspicious such regular visits. They therefore opted to get new passports issued abroad before re-entering The Country .
Customs
Tourists may bring in free of duty: Personal effects, jewelry for normal use, a small quantity of perfume, 400 cigarettes or 2 tins of pipe tobacco, and two bottles of alcoholic beverage of not more than one liter each.
Permission is required for the import of animals from the Bureau of Animal Industry, 2nd fl, Rita Legarda Bldg, Ramon Magsaysay Blvd, Sta Mesa, Manila.
But not only what can be brought into The Country is regulated. What may be taken out depends also on the law. Actually, the list of items prohibited from export is quite long.
The regulations on the exportation of Philippine currency are somehow curious. There is a limit of 500 pesos. Tourists shouldn’t get angry if customs examiners tell them to spend additional amounts before passing, and they should refrain from tearing bills. A Japanese tourist, Chiaki Ueda, learned this the hard way. According to a report in the Daily Globe of July 30, 1988, he tore 1300 pesos after being told by a customs examiner that he couldn’t take the money with him. Subsequently, he was arrested. Authorities than informed him that according to Central Bank Circular 1028, it’s a criminal act to deface or mutilate Philippine currency. The offense is, according to the Globe, punishable by a fine of 20,000 pesos and/or imprisonment for five years.
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CLIMATE
The Philippine has a tropical climate with relatively abundant rainfall and gentle winds. There are three pronounced seasons: the wet or rainy season from June to October; the cool or dry season from November to February; and the hot or dry season from March to May.
SIZE
Stretching 1,840 kilometers north-to-south off the southeast coast of Asia, the Philippines has a total land area of 300,000 sq. kms. or 115,600 sq. miles, slightly larger than the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
POPULATION
There are about 76.5 million Filipinos as of the last census conducted in May 2000. Population growth is estimated at 2.36 percent annually. Luzon, the largest island group, accounts for more than half of the total population.
LANGUAGES
The Philippines is the world’s third English-speaking country, after the United States and the United Kingdom. While there are over 100 regional dialects, the national language is Pilipino. English is widely used in commercial and legal transactions.
RELIGIONS
The dominant religion in the Philippines is Catholicism, though a significant number are Protestants and Moslems.
UNIT OF MEASURES
The Philippines use the Metric System in most of trade and legal transactions.
ELECTRICITY
Most residents and business centers in the Philippines are using 220 volts a/c. However, a number of major hotels also have 110 volt a/c outlets.
CURRENCY
The Philippines’ monetary unit is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotels, most large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank Americard, Master Charge and American Express are accepted in major establishments.
TIPPING
Tipping is expected for many services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. Tipping is optional on bills that already include a 10% service charge.
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
The country has international and national direct dial phone and facsimile service, mobile phone sites, internet and e-mail facilities, and worldwide express delivery service. The postal system is efficient. Most national dailies are in English. Foreign publications are sold at major hotels, malls, and bookstores in Metro Manila and key cities. There are 7 national television stations. which broadcast mainly in Filipino. Cable TV is available in many hotels in Manila and in many parts of the country.
BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS
Private and government offices are open either from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Some private companies hold office on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Most shopping malls, department stores, and supermarkets are open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. There are 24-hour convenience stores and drugstores. Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, with automated teller machines (ATM) operating 24 hours.
DINING OUT
Filipino food is an exotic, tasteful blend of Oriental, European, and American culinary influences. There is a wide variety of fresh seafood and delectable fruits. First class restaurants offer gourmet specialties as well as Filipino cuisine.
ACCOMMODATIONS
In Metro Manila, key cities and towns throughout the country, a wide selection of de luxe, standard, economy and pension-type accommodations is available. In island destinations, there is a variety of resorts ranging from de luxe to special interest category. The Department of Tourism has a Homestay Program in several destinations outside Manila. The program offers visitors the comfort of modest homes and an insight into Philippine life. For information, contact the Tourist Information Center at Room 106, Department of Tourism Building, tel. nos. 524-2384 / 524-1703.
WHAT TO WEAR
Light, casual clothes are recommended. Warmer garments are needed for mountain regions. When visiting churches and temples, propriety dictates that shorts and scanty clothing be avoided. Formal occasions require dinner jackets and ties (or the Philippine barong tagalog) for men and cocktail dresses or long gowns for women.
SHOPPING
Visitors can choose from an exciting selection of great buys in a country known for export-quality items at reasonable prices: South Sea pearls, handwoven cloths, embroidered fineries, fashionable ready-to-wear and haute couture clothes, terra-cota, porcelain, coral and mother-of-pearl home accessories. Artifacts, pineapple fiber shirts, prehistoric jars, native handicrafts, and footwear are interesting items, too. The Philippines also produces fine basketry, furniture, fresh and processed fruits, exquisitely crafted jewelry, and gift items made of shell, wood, and stone. Big malls are located in Manila, Makati and EDSA, while handicraft, antique and curio shops abound at the Ermita District in Manila.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
By air, Philippine Airlines (Tel. No. 855-9999), Air Philippines (855-9000), Cebu Pacific (636-4938) provided daily services to major cities and towns. Asian Spirit (851-8888), Laoag International Airlines (551-9729), and Seair (891-8708) service the missionary routes. There are also scheduled chartered flights to major domestic destinations serviced by smaller commuter planes.
By sea, interisland ships connect Manila to major ports. Ferry services connect the smaller islands.
By land, Philtranco connects Manila to Bicol in Southern Luzon to Samar and Leyte in the Visayas and Davao in Mindanao.
Metered and fixed rate taxis are widely available in key cities nationwide. Jeepneys and buses are inexpensive ways of getting around most places. In Metro Manila the fastest way of commuting is via the railway system. LRT connects the northern district of Monumento to the southern district of Baclaran with stations situated at major intersections. MRT traverses the length of EDSA and connects North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City, passing through the major arteries of Makati’s financial district.
ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE
Metro Manila is the center of entertainment and cultural activities. The premier venue for the performing arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, features world-class performances by local and international guest artists. Museums located in Manila and in some parts of the country offer a glimpse of Philippine history and culture. Art galleries exhibit the works of the country’s leading and promising visual artists.
Manila’s nightlife is one of the most vibrant in Asia, reflecting the Filipino’s love for music. The hubs of nightlife activities are the Remedios Circle in Malate, Ayala Center and The Fort at Bonifacio Global City in Makati, Timog and Tomas Morato Avenues in Quezon City, and Eastwood in Libis, Quezon City. Nightclubs, music lounges, pubs, and sing-along bars feature Filipino bands and singers who are known for their great musical talent. De luxe hotels offer a variety of live musical entertainment. Concerts and stage plays form part of the country’s entertainment scene. For visitors who want to try their luck at the gaming tables there are casinos in Metro Manila and in the cities of Angeles, Olongapo, Tagaytay, Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, and