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The Republic of the Philippines lies of the
South-East coast of Asian mainland.
It is
an archipelago of 7,107 Islands and islets, set in
deep blue waters which contain some of the richest
marine life in the world.
The islands can be
divided into four major island groupings: Luzon,
Visayas, Mindanao & Palawan.
With so many islands, the Philippines have a wealth
of opportunities for diving and snorkelling. Each island offers something very unique.
Favoured locations for reef & wall diving are Puerto
Galera, Alona Beach (Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan)
and the Island of Apo. If is wreck diving you are
keen on, then why not discover the WWII wrecks of
Coron.
The Philippines most outstanding feature is its
people, with a mixture of Malaysians, Chinese,
Spanish and American. This country is blessed with a
unique culture. They are a fascinating blend of east
meets west, with ancient & modern ways.
The Philippines is the third largest English
speaking country in the world. The country has a
population of approximately 76.5 million. Filipinos
are probably one of the few, if not the only,
English-proficient Oriental people today.
Filipino
is the official national language, with English
considered as the country's unofficial one.
Filipinos are a fun-loving people. Throughout the
islands, there are fiestas celebrated everyday and
foreign guests are always welcome to their homes.
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| Travelling Around the Philippines |
Moving around the country
by land is easy with national highways connecting
the major islands and an extensive public
transportation system, which includes the exotic
Philippine jeepney. Trains, taxis, buses, jeepneys,
and trikes are the main modes of public
transportation.
The undisputed “King of the Philippine Roads” is
the jeepney (half jeep, half bus). Since it first emerged after the
Japanese occupation of the Philippines, it has
become a fixture in roads all over the country.
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| Location Travel Tips |
Getting There:
Philippine Airlines (PAL), the national flag
carrier and considered “Asia’s First Airline,”
remains the country’s biggest airline company. It
has the largest number of international flights to
the Philippines as well as domestic flights. Other
airlines that presently fly the Philippine skies
are Air Philippines, South East Asian Airlines,
Cebu Pacific, Laoag International Airlines, Asian
Spirit Airlines, and Pacific Airways – each
serving popular tourist destinations at
pocket-easy prices.
Climate: The Philippines offers a warm
tropical climate with Three distinct seasons. The
Cool - dry season is from November to February ,
and the wet season is from June to October and hot
- dry season from March to May.
Temperature: November to May:
22°C to 32°C and fron June to October: 22°C to
28°C (wet season). The average humidity year
round is 77%
Languages: Two official languages ---
Filipino and English. Filipino, which is based on
Tagalog, is the national language. English is also
widely used and is the medium of instruction in
higher education.
Religion: Some 80% of Filipinos are
Catholic. About 15% are Moslem. The rest are made
up of smaller Christian denominations and
Buddhist.
Electricity: 220 volts a/c is the common
standard. 110 volts a/c is also used, especially
in major hotels.
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, Master Card, and
American Express are accepted in major
establishments.
Visas: For most foreign visitors
visas are not needed for stays of less than 21
days. Three-month visas can be obtained in advance
and cost around US$35. Multiple-entry visas
(lasting six and 12 months) are also available but
are expensive and only allow for stays of 59 days
at a time. Visa extensions are possible and
generally faster to obtain in regional areas.
Citizens of the following countries require visas,
Albania, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea,
Russia, Vietnam, Brazil, Israel, Romania and Sri
Lanka
Health risks: Malaria, typhus, cholera,
hepatitis, and rabies |
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