Welcome to the PHILIPPINES

Cebu LC

Geography FOREWORD

Geography The Philippines is composed of

7, 107 islands located in

Southeast Asia in the Western

Pacific Ocean.

The archipelago is divided into

three major regions: Luzon,

Visayas and Mindanao.

Climate The Philippines has a tropical

climate with an average

temperature of 26. 9 C.

The coolest month is January,

with an average temperature

of 25.5 C.

The warmest month is May

with an average temperature

of 28.3 C.

The Philippines has over 100 local languages, but it has two official

languages:

FILIPINO: This is the native language. It is a mixture of languages found in the Philippines, mostly coming

from Tagalog with English, Spanish and Chinese loan words.

ENGLISH: The language was adopted when the Philippines was colonized by the United States.

Most Filipinos are native speakers of the language.

Other languages spoken in the Philippines:

Spanish: The use of Spanish has declined, and it is

no longer an official language, but there remain

some Filipino-Spanish families mostly in Metro

Manila, Iloilo and Cebu that speak Spanish, and in

a few universities it is still required to learn Spanish.

Chinese: The Philippines has a Significant Chinese

population, and in Chinese schools Mandarin

Chinese is often used as the medium of instruction.

Other Chinese languages spoken in the Philippines

are Lan-nang (Philippine variant of Hokkien) and

Cantonese.

Arabic: Primarily used in religious instruction in

Muslim schools, and was once the common

language spoken by Muslim traders around the

Malay islands.

Japanese: There are significant Japanese

communities in Laguna, Baguio, Davao, and metro

Manila.

Remember to be mindful of weather conditions, even before arriving in the country. Keep in mind as well that weather conditions might affect your internship. Bring appropriate clothes and other materials, such as raincoats during the rainy season and mosquito repellents during the

warm season.

In case of storms and the calamities, your OC will brief you on contingency plans for your project. Rest assured that the LCs and the OCs are prepared for such situations. If you have questions and concerns, feel

free to bring them up with your host entity or the MC.

Be reminded of the following:

• Local time is GMT +8 • Beware that certain areas in the country strictly

forbid smoking in public • Prepare terminal fees, estimated at around (PHP

650-750.00) • Keep an umbrella with you. You’ll find it handy! • Keep an insect repellant handy as well! • Check your appliances! Electrical outlets are

220 V. Adaptors for the prongs are available in the country for PHP 50.00.

5 Centavos

5 Philippine Pesos

1 Philippine Peso

10 Centavos

25 Centavos

10 Philippine Pesos

A new design for the Philippine Bills

were released in 2010, but both set

of bills are still honored.

1 US Dollar 43.554 Philippine Peso (PHP)

1 Japan Yen 0.43 PHP

1 Great British Pound 74.5 PHP

1 Hongkong Dollar 5.62 PHP

1 Canadian Dollar 40.48 PHP

1 Singapore Dollar 35.04 PHP

1 Australian Dollar 40.83 PHP

1 Indonesia Rupiah 0.0037 PHP

1 Thailand Baht 1.35 PHP

1 China Yuan 7.02 PHP

A Taxi ride charges

Php 40.00 for the first

500 meters and an additional Php 3.50 for every 300

meters or two minutes waiting time.

Watching a Movie

can cost around

PHP150-200 depending on the cinema type and location.

Spending for Lunch or

Dinner usually amounts up

to PHP 50.00 to PHP 200.00 per meal, depending on

where you eat. Most meals have one viand and one rice.

Local sim cards are

usually PHP 30-50.

Those sold in the air-

ports are more expensive. Check

with your host LC which network provider they prefer you to have.

Mobile credits are

bought from sari-sari

and convenient stores.

They range from PHP 10 to PHP500. They can be directly sent to your phone or you can buy them as cards.

Tips are not required but

are highly appreciated.

Some restaurants charge

a service charge. You can tip from PHP20-100 depending on the restaurant and their service.

A Tricycle is a motorcycle

with a sidecar, while a

pedicab is a bicycle with a

sidecar. These forms of public

transportations are usually for

shorter distances in Cebu. However, they are

convenient choices for passing through routes too

narrow for cars or jeepneys. They can have up to 4

passengers, and they cost from PHP10-40

depending on the distance of the destination.

These colorful and iconic

Jeepneys can be found

anywhere! A Jeepney can

usually hold 14-20 passengers

passengers facing each other, and two more

beside the driver. Passengers are expected to

pass the fares to the driver. Jsust say “Bayad oh!”

And say “Lugar lang” to signal your stop.

These Philippines is an

archipelago, so expect to

travel by Ferries. Try the

roll-on-roll (RORO) ships

between Cebu and other

major ports.

Airplanes are also used to

travel within the country and

to nearby countries as well.

Watch out for their promo

fares! Note that there are fees and taxes at the airport, so bring extra Philippine Pesos.

The Philippines also uses

Buses as means of

transportation. Instead of

shorter distances, they are

used to travel from town to

town.

English Cebuano

Good Morning/afternoon/evening! Maayong Buntag/Hapon/Gabii!

How are you? Kamusta ka?

Thank you (so much)! (Daghang) Salamat!

Yes Oo

No Dili

My name is ________. Ako si __________.

I am from __________. Gikan ko sa __________.

Let’s eat! Mangaon ta!

How do I get to (place)? Unsaon pag-adto sa (place)?

(literally, “here’s the fare”. Used when riding jeepneys)

Bayad o.

(“Stop”, used when riding a jeepney or

tricycle) Lugar niya/lang.

English Cebuano English Filipino

One Usa Twenty Baynte

Two Duha Thirty Traynta

Three Tulo Forty Kwarenta

Four Upat Fifty Singkwenta

Five Lima Sixty Saysenta

Six Unom Seventy Sitenta

Seven Siyete Eighty Otsinta

Eight Walo Ninety Nobenta

Nine Siyam One Hundred Usa ka gatos

Ten Napulo One thousand Usa ka libo

Philippine cuisine is a mix of Spanish,

Chinese, and Malay influences, so our plates

are a delightful combination of east and

west!

Our staple food is rice, and a meal isn't a

meal without rice! We usually eat rice with

an "ulam" or viands. These can have pork,

beef, fish, or vegetables.

Our choice of cutlery is spoon and fork.

(Tip: Use the fork to push food into the

spoon.)

We don't usually use our hands to eat, but

some restaurants, like Kamayan, do offer

that. Don't worry, hand washing is a

common practice as well.

Filipinos have a sweet tooth, so every meal

must have a sweet ending! Choose from a

wide range of desserts and sugary pastries.

Sinigang is a sour soup native to the

Philippines. It has leafy vegetable combined

with a main ingredient. This can be pork,

chicken, beef, shrimp or fish.

A popular appetizer from Pampanga!

Sisig can be made of either parts of the pig,

or even with healthier seafood.

Adobo is one of the signature dishes

from the Philippines! It can be pork or

chicken with the basic ingredients:

vinegar, soy sauce, peppercorns, and

dried bay leaves.

Here are some dishes your host AIESECers

recommend to every EP visiting our country.

Make sure you try to try everything at least once!

Halo-halo is composed of several ingredients,

including sugar palm, flat rice crisps, coconut gel, ripe jackfruit, colored gelatin, tapioca pearls, sweetened plantains, and macapuno, all mixed

togther with shaved ice and evaporated milk.

"Buko" means coconut, while "pandan" are

Screwpine leaves. Buko Pandan is mixed

with green gelatin, and sometimes topped

with vanilla ice cream.

Did you know that the sweetes mangoes are

from the Philippines? Enjoy these and more

tropical fruits on our shores! (For a fairly low

price too!)

Here are some famous

desserts you should try!

We also recommend our street food! Try them first, then we'll

tell you what they're called. (Don't worry, they're good and

safe. We eat these too!)

FORT SAN PEDRO is a military defence structure,

built by Spanish and indigenous Cebuano labourers

under the command of Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the Spanish government in Cebu. It is located in the area now called Plaza Indepedencia, in the Pier Area of Cebu.

MAGELLAN’S CROSS is a Christian cross planted

by Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered

by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on (depending on source) March 31, 1521.

BASILICA DEL SANTO NINO is a minor basilica

in Cebu city in the Philippines that was founded in the 16th century. It is the oldest Roman Catholic Church established in the country (it is the second church ever built, on the spot where the image of the Santo Nino de

Cebu, a statue depicting the Child Jesus was found in 1565 by Spanish explorers.

MUSEO SUGBU Museo Sugbo is the Cebu

Provincial Museum housed at what was once

called Cárcel de Cebú, the provincial jail of Cebu. It was established on August 5, 2008.

MANILA is the city capital of the

Philippines! Manila is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. It is a cosmopolitan and complicated city, influenced by its cross-cultural heritage and modern commercial centers.

Vigan was recognized as a UNESCO

Heritage Site. You can see how the

Philippines looked like during the Spanish era. Also try the Vigan Longganisa!

BORACAY is famous for its very fine

white sands and gleaming white puka shells. Boracay was declared the 2012 world's best island. The quickest way to get there is by air.

PALAWAN is considered the Philippines'

last ecological frontier. It is home to two UNESCO Heritage Sites: The Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean River. You can fly directly to Palawan.

SIARGAO is well-known as the "Surfing

Capital," and holds its annual Siargao Cup Competition in "Cloud 9" every September. You can visit this island in Mindanao by either taking a flight to Surigao then riding a boat, or fly directly to Siargao Island.

CAMARINES SUR is the Bicol region in Luzon. This province is becoming more

famous for the CamSur Water Complex.

You can get there by sea or plane.

Public Holiday Annual Date

Cebu Province Charter Day 6 Aug 2014

Ninoy Aquino Day 21 Aug 2014

National Heroes Day 26 Aug 2014

Don Sergio Osmeña Day 9 Sep 2014

All Saints Day 1 Nov 2014

All Souls Day 2 Nov 2014

Andres Bonifacio Day 30 Nov 2014

Christmas 25 Dec 2014

New Year's Day 1 January 2015

Chinese New Year 10 February 2015

Sinulog Festival 18 February 2015

Anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution 25 February 2015

Maundy Thursday 2 April 2015

Good Friday 3 April 2015

Black Saturday 4 April 2015

Easter Sunday 5 April 2015

Bataan Day 9 Apr 2015

A

B

We advise our EPs to avail of either 9a or 47a2 visa.

For temporary visitors coming for business, pleasure, or reasons of health

Special non-immigrant visa granted to, but

not limited to, locally and internationally

recognized organizations and institutions (including AIESEC)

Tourists given a 21-day visa can extend for another

38 days (free 21 days + 38 day waiver = 59-day visa)

PHP 3090

1 Tourist visa extension after first 59 days PHP 4300 for one month

PHP 4800 for two months

At this point, you will also be required to get an i-Card worth US$50 + express fee of PHP500.

US$50 + express fee of PHP500

You can extend your visa every two months for total stay of 16 months.

After regular extension of 2 months PHP 1830 + PHP500 for every

extended month

Extension fee after 6 months of stay (to be charged on the 7th month of stay)

PHP 3240 + PHP500 for every

month of extension

Upon filing in the Department of Justice PHP 3020

Upon implementation of visa:

One Year PHP 4600

Two years PHP 6620

+ express Lane fee PHP500

You may apply for a 47a2 from your

country. Consult with the nearest

Philippine Embassy for more information.

The alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-

Card Project is an accreditation card issued

by the Philippines Bureau of Immigration for

foreigners to stay in the Philippines.

This is required for a foreigner to open a

bank account in the country. Other benefits

include online payment of immigration fees,

faster processing time at the ports of entry

and exit, among others. This is also the

government’s way of eliminating illegal

middlemen and “fixers”.

You are required to get this upon extending

after the first 59 days.

2. What if the last day of my visa falls on a holiday or a weekend? You must extend on or before the last business/working day immediately

preceding the expiry date. Otherwise, penalties and motions will apply.

3. What if I’ll stay in the Philippines for more than 59 days but less

than a month after that? The Bureau of Immigration doesn’t give partial visas, so you would have to

pay for the whole month. Alternatively, some EPs choose to fly to a

neighboring country. Upon arriving back to the Philippines, they are issued

another 21-day visa.

1. Which visa should I avail? You can decide based on duration and overall cost.

Eps staying for 6-8 weeks usually extend using the 9a

visa. The 47a2 might seem more practical than 9a, but

consider that processing can take 2-3 weeks.

4. I need to visit another country's embassy while I'm in the

Philippines. How can I get in touch with them?

You can find a directory here:

http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/Philippines

5. What if I get employed by the TN after my internship?

You still no longer be an AIESEC Exchange Participant once an

organization hires you as an employee. Therefore, you would

have to avail of the 9g working visa. More details from the

Bureau of Immigration website:

</http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&t

ask=view&id=25&ltemid=36>

In 1967, Eric de Guia brought AIESEC back from his MBA at Wharton with Alfonso "Jing" Puyat. Before then, there had been two attempts to start and AIESEC entity in the Philippines. AIESEC Philippines started at the University of

the Philippines-Diliman (UPD) and became officially recongnized at the Istanbul Congress in 1968. The first official AIESEC National Committee President (NCP) was Tony Cailao (1967). The first Study Tour was sent to Japan under NCP Eric Mondragon. It was in 1968-1969 that AIESEC in the Philippines first sent trainees out.

LC Ateneo De Manila University became recognized in 1970. Other local committees were formed in De La Salle University, Maryknoll College (now Miriam College), University of San Carlos in Cebu, and Ateneo de Davao in 1973.

Since then, AIESEC has expanded to 6 full member LCs, 4 extension LCs, and 1 applying LC. In 2011-2012, AIESEC Philippines has engaced 500 team members, 275 team leaders, 406 incoming trainees, and 166 outgoing trainees.

• To Filipinos, standing with your hands on your hips means you're angry.

• Never curl your index finger back and forth (to beckon). This is an insult.

• To indicate two of something, raise your ring and pixie fingers.

• To beckon, extend arm, palm down, moving fingers in scratching

motion. Touch someone's elbow lightly to attract attention. Do not tap

on the shoulder.

• "Eyebrow flash" -- a quick lifting of eyebrows -- is a Filipino greeting.

• While calling out someone, one should refrain from pointing the finger. Also avoiding too much of eye contact is preferred. One should also be knowledgeable of the non verbal expressions practiced in the Philippines.

• If Filipinos don't understand a question, they open their mouths. Raised eyebrows signify

recognition and agreement.

• Laughter may convey pleasure or embarrassment; it is commonly used to relieve tension.

• "Yes" is signified by a jerk of the head upward. "No" is signified by a jerk of the head down. Since the Filipinos rarely say no, the non-verbal sign for "no" is sometimes accompanied by a verbal yes, which would still indicate "no."

• Staring is considered rude and could be misinterpreted as a challenge, but Filipinos may stare

or even touch foreigners, especially in areas where foreigners are rarely seen.

• Initial greetings are formal and follow a set of protocol of greeting the

eldest or most important person first.

• A handshake, with a welcoming smile, is the standard greeting.

• Men and women shake hands with everyone present at a business

meeting or social occasion and when saying "goodbye."

• Handshakes should be friendly and informal, but limp. Men should wait

for women to extend their hand.

• Close female friends may hug and kiss when they meet.

• Use academic, professional or honorific titles and the person's

surname until you are invited to use their first name or even more

frequently their nicknames.

• Dress well for most occasions.

• Men should wear a jacket and tie for initial meetings.

• Women should wear western dresses, skirts and blouses.

• Don't be offended by personal questions. These are asked to show interest. Feel

free to ask the same questions in return, especially about family.

• Speak softly and control your emotions in public. Make requests, not demands.

• Never bring shame to a person. This reflects on his family. Personal goals are

sacrificed for the good of the family.

• Never directly criticize anyone, especially in public. Never offer insincere

comments or compliments.

Sent your EP AN and received your TN AN?

Signed the indemnity form and EP agreement form?

Been officially matched in myaisec.net?

Gotten the contact details of who will pick you up and the

guidelines for the pick-up itself?

Gotten your travel insurance?

Had expectation setting with your host LC?

Settled internship-related matters, such as accommodation,

housing, and costs involved?

Copies of AIESEC Documents:

TN Acceptance Note

EP Agreement

Indemnity Form

Valid Passport, photocopies of your passport and other

documents

Visa (unless you're going to have it extended in the Philippines)

Pocket Money (International ATM card if you have one)

Travel Insurance

Clothes appropriate to the weather (shorts and slippers are okay for

summer, jackets and hoodies are okay for the rainy season)

Toiletries

Medicines

Cultural materials-food, flag, costume, souvenirs, whatever you want

to showcase to Filipinos!

Gadgets such as Camera, laptop, chargers, mobile phone (make

sure your phone can accept foreign/Philippine SIM Cards)

Other internship-specific materials

Check out the Manila reception Booklet:

<http://issuu.com/diosaquinones/docs/phesreceptionbooklet>

We highly recommend the Department of Tourism's website:

itsmorefuninthephilippines.com. The website is aimed at tourists, so you will

find a lot of useful information there about going around the country.

If you want to know how to get around without riding a cab or private

vehicles, then you might find ph-commute.com useful as well.

If you want to learn how to cook Filipino food, some good recipes are in

panlasangpinoy.com

For more general information, travel.wiki.com/philippines is a good site for

foreigners in the country as well.

LCP

Mary Kaye G. Abellana +639 17 434 1085

marykaye.abellana@aiesec.net

LCVP ICX

Elley Shelley B. Becite +639 23 936 8741

ellen.becite@aiesec.net

LCVP MaC

Danielle F. Figuracion +639 99 506 4531

danielle.figuracion@aiesec.net

Director for Service and Reception (S&R) Min Young Claire Y. Orquillas

+639 23 520 6838

minyoungclaire@gmail.com

Sources: AIESEC UPD reception Booklet (2013-2014), myaiesec.net,

itsmorefuninthephilippines.com, travel.wiki.com/philippines, panlasangpinoy.com,

foreignerinthephilippines.com, davaotourism.com, cebutourism.com

Images from the Internet. None belong to the authors of this booklet.

© Min Young Orquillas. August 2014.