CAPITAL: |
Manila |
CURRENCY: |
Philippine Peso (PHP) |
TIME ZONE: |
GMT + 8 hours |
GOVERNMENT: |
Democratic Presidential System |
ELECTRICITY: |
220 volts, AC 60 cycles.(Some hotels carry 110 volts outlets) |
LANGUAGE: |
Filipino is the national language.English is the business language and spoken widely. There are also 176 local dialects. |
CREDIT CARDS: |
MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club, American Express and JCB Most establishments in Metro Manila and other provincial capitals accept mostinternational credit cards. But when travelling around the islands, make sure you carry enough cash as ATMs are less common/available outside the cities. |
CLIMATE AND SEASONS: |
Average temperature of 77°F/25°C to 90°F/32°C March to May – hot and dry months
June to October – wet season November to February – cool and windy |
WHAT TO WEAR: |
Light, casual clothes are recommended. Warmer garments are needed for mountain region visits. When going to 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. |
BUSINESS HOURS: |
Government offices: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, weekdays Malls: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, daily Banks: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, weekdays ATM: 24 hours, daily |
COMMUNICATION: |
The country has international and direct dial phones, facsimile services, worldwide express delivery, mobile phone coverage, internal facilities and wireless connectivity. |
WATER: |
Metro Manila and other provinces have ample supply of water. Bottled water is recommended for drinking purposes and is available in stores and supermarket nationwide. |
RELIGION: |
Predominantly Roman Catholic. Smaller populations of Protestants, Muslims, and Buddhists. |
TIPPING: |
Tips are normally 10% of the bill, but are optional when there’s service charge. |
Source: Department of Tourism
