Philippines <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:rp-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>Manila</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>republic<br/></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>Philippine peso (PHP)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>''total:'' 300,000 sq km <br>''water:'' 1,830 sq km <br>''land:'' 298,170 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>84,525,639 (July 2002 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%</td></tr> </table> </div>  The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia. It is an archipelago of 7,107 islands and lies between Taiwan and Indonesia. Climate is tropical. The hottest months are from March to May (summer). The rainy season starts in June and extends through October. The coolest months are from November to February. The average temperatures range from 78°F / 25°C to 90°F / 32°C, and humidity is around 77%. Image:rp-map.png|frame|Map of Philippines ==Regions== *Luzon The northernmost and largest region in the Philippines. The interior of the country is mountainous and filled with dense jungle. *Mindoro A large island to the south of Luzon. *Visayas The central region, composed of many islands. *Palawan A large island to the west, renowned for its beaches. *Mindanao The southernmost large island in the Philippines. ==Cities== *Manila -- national capital *Cebu (city)|Cebu *Davao *Baguio -- resort city in the mountains, known for its cool climate, its Igorot culture and its strawberries ==Other destinations== *Banaue - rice terraces *Bohol - beaches, Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, dolphin and whale watching, diving *Boracay - famous white sand beaches, nightlife, great food *Cebu (island)|Cebu - beaches *Pampanga - hiking Mount Pinatubo *Siargao - surfing *Tagatay - Taal volcano ==Understand== ==Get in== ===By plane=== Since the Philippines is an archipelago, most visitors will arrive by plane. International travelers can fly into airports in Manila or Cebu (city)|Cebu. Some major airlines that fly to the Philippines are Northwest, KLM, Singapore Airlines, Continental, Cathay Pacific, and of course, Philippine Airlines. Philippine Airlines flies out of the international airport's Terminal 2, while other international airlines fly out of the old Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal (NAIA). From either international airport, passengers can connect to domestic flights. Philippine Airlines domestic flights leave from the same airport (Terminal 2), while other domestic airlines fly out of the old domestic airport. ==Get around== ===By plane=== Philippine Airlines and Air Philippines, Cebu Pacific, Seair, and Asian Spirit are some of the airlines that operate domestic flights. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific serve most large cities, while smaller operators like Seair typically fly to popular resort destinations. ===By train=== Metro Manila has three electric railways: the original Light Railway Transit (LRT or MRT-1); the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3), often referred to simply as "the MRT", and sometimes called the MetroStar; and the Metro Rail Transit 2 (MRT-2). Plans are underway to begin construction of three more lines. The MRT (MRT-3) runs the length of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), from Taft Avenue in Pasay until North Avenue in Quezon City. Costs are low - one can go from North Avenue to Taft Avenue (12 stops) for less than 20 pesos. There is also a motor railway, part of the Luzon railway system, which passes through the metropolis. ===By car=== The metropolis has an extensive system of highways connecting the various cities and municipalities. The major roads include ten radial roads, which branch out from central Manila and five circumferential roads which form concentric arcs around downtown Manila. Most of these roads are very important transportation arteries. One is the C-4 (Circumferential Road 4) also called Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or more popularly known as EDSA. Some other other important roads are R-1 (Radial Road 1) or Coastal Road/Manila-Cavite Road; R-3 or South Luzon Expressway (SLEX); R-7, which consists of Espana Avenue, Quezon Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue; R-8 or the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX); and C-5 going from Bicutan to Libis (simply referred to as C-5). Travel from Metro Manila to various provinces in Luzon will typically start off from either the North or South Expressways. Taxi drivers are required to use their meter unless you get an 'airport taxi'. These taxi's have much higher (non-metered) rates. Usually you are given a slip of paper giving the name of the taxi company and driver when you take a taxi from the airport. Keep this paper in case of problems. Don't give it to the driver. Outside of the airport area (anyplace else), always notice if the driver starts his meter. If he doesn't and gives you a fixed price for your destination, either offer him the meter price plus a little bonus (okay if it is far), or ask to get out. There are plenty of taxis! If you find a taxi driver you like, you can sometimes arrange to rent the taxi for the day if you want to go sight-seeing, or arrange to have him pick you up for your next trip. ===By bus=== Good luck. ===By boat=== WG&A SuperFerry and a number of other companies operate interisland ferries. There is a convenient Friday overnight ferry trip to Coron, Palawan. This allows divers to spend the weekend in Coron and take the Sunday night ferry trip back to Manila, arriving around noon. Ferry trips to other islands can take over 24 hours, depending on distance. ==Talk== The Philippines has two official languages: English and Filipino phrasebook|Filipino. Filipino is mainly based on the Tagalog language, with heavy Spanish and English influences. Tagalog is a relative of Malay. Communication with the locals should not be a headache for the English speaker- the Philippines is the third largest English speaking country. It also has one of the highest percentages of truly bilingual and multilingual speakers in the world, surpassing other officially bilingual/multilingual nations and territories in Asia, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. English is widely used around the country, particularly in big cities. It is also widely used in government, the media, and in commerce. Street signs and billboards will likely be in English, but public messages may be in Filipino. English is a compulsory subject in all schools (public and private) from elementary school to university. Practically everyone visitors are likely to meet will understand English, even if they are not always completely fluent. Spanish is widely understood, but is only spoken fluently by a select but declining population. Other minor languages spoken include Cebuano phrasebook|Cebuano, Ilokano, Bikolano phrasebook|Bikolano, Ilongo phrasebook|Ilongo, and Waray phrasebook|Waray. ==Buy== ==Eat== McDonald's, Burger King and other multinational fast food chains have established themselves in the Philippines, but do yourself a favor and try the local cuisine. Filipino food reflects the country's rich cultural heritage, and it is simply wonderful. Don't miss: * adobo (chicken or pork) * bibingka (rice cake) * halo-halo (fruit, sweets, crushed ice, milk, and sometimes ice cream) * balut (not for the faint of heart--somewhat like a hard-boiled egg, except the egg isn't as young) * ripe mangoes (Philippine mangoes are among the best in the world) * bangus na daing (small fried milkfish, usually served for breakfast with garlic rice and egg.) ==Drink== Don't miss: * fresh buko juice (young coconut) * green mango shake * lambanog or tuba (local alcoholic drinks) ==Sleep== Housing for tourists are hotels, condotels (mostly in Manila), apartels and pension houses. Hotels are usually more expensive, condotels are furnished condos rented out for long or short term stays, apartels are set up for both short and long term stays, and a pension house is usually more basic and economical. These all vary in terms of cleanliness, availability of air conditioning and hot water showers. Motels, Inns and lodges are for illicit sex, and are usually a small room with a connected carport, hidden behind a high wall which provides for secret comings and goings. Hourly rates are sometimes available. ==Learn== ==Work== ==Stay safe== Unless you are Filipino you will stand out here. Use common sense. Don't wear fancy jewelry or anything else to broadcast your wealth. Odds are you won't have any problems but keeping a low profile in a 3rd world country generally is a good idea anyway. ==Stay healthy== Drink the readily available bottled water. Buko (young coconut) juice is also safe if they have not added local ice to it. Buy and eat fruit that has not already been cut up. Pre-cooked food from a karenderia (outdoor canteen) is okay if there is a fire under the pots and the food has been kept hot. ==Respect== A little courtesy goes a long way. Filipinos are a friendly people. Take the time to smile and say "thank you", and you'll receive much better responses. ==Contact== The country code for the Philippines is 63. Area code for Metropolitan Manila is 2. GSM cell phones are in wide use all over the country. In most urban locations and many resorts, cell phone service will be available. The average cost of an international long-distance call to the United States is 40 US cents per minute. Internet cafes are plentiful in city malls, much less so outside the cities. Apart from the Philippine postal service (which can be slow and unreliable), FedEx and DHL courier services are also available. Local Couriers are also available. ==External links== fr:Philippines ro:Filipine WikiPedia:Philippines {{stub}} de:Philippinen First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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