Mabuhay!

Congratulations for stepping foot on one out of the 7,107 glorious islands of the Philippines! On behalf of AIESEC here, I warmly welcome you to a place you will soon call your second home.

It must be very exciting yet admittedly a bit scary to be in a strange place with people you know very little of. However, amongst all this country’s wonderful qualities – its beaches and scrumptious food which I am sure you’ve already heard of – you could call its people the best the country has to offer. No one leaves the Philippines without making a new friend for life, and as you conclude your internship, you will bring with you the smiles and optimism of people whose lives you will have changed for the better.

But apart from this, I hope this booklet will also come in handy for you. This is especially prepared by Filipino AIESECers to help make your stay as seamless as possible so you can focus on your volunteer experience, or simply exploring the unique beauty of our country. At the end of the day though, it can only do so much and is just barely scratching the surface. Should you need assistance in anything, or simply in need of some good company, feel free to contact any AIESECer and we’ll be sure to help you out.

Enjoy your stay and may you discover how it truly is more fun in the Philippines.

All the best, Audrey ElumbaMember Committee PresidentAIESEC in the Philippines

The Philippines has a tropical climate

with an average temperature in the

Philippines is 26.6o C

The coolest month is January,

with an average temperature of 25.5o C

The warmest month is May with an

average temperature of 28.3o C.

The Philippines is comprised 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.

Remember to be mindful of weather conditions, even before

arriving in the country. Bring appropriate clothes and other

materials, such as raincoats during the rainy season, and

mosquito repellents during the warm season.

Keep in mind as well that weather conditions might affect

your internship. During and after storms, for example, most

schools cancel classes. 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.

The Philippines has over 100

local languages, but it has two

official languages:

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.

Filipino

The language was adopted when

the Philippines was colonized by the

United States. Most Filipinos are

native speakers of the language.

English

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.

25 Centavos

1 Philippine peso

5 Philippine

pesos

10 Philippine

pesos

A new design for Philippines was released in

2010, but both set of bills are still honoured.

OLD

NEW

OLD

NEW

A new design for Philippines was released in

2010, but both set of bills are still honoured.

Taxi ridePhp40 for the first 500 meters, and additional Php3.50 for every 300 meters or two minutes waiting time.MoviePhp150-200 depending on cinema type and location.Lunch or DinnerDepending on where you eat, you can spend as much as Php50 to Php200 per meal. Most meals have one rice and one viand.SIM CardLocal SIM cards are usually Php60-90. Those sold in the airport are more expensive. Check with your host LC which network provider they prefer you to have. Mobile credit (Load/Top up)You can buy from sari-sari and convenience stores. They range from Php10 to Php500. They can be directly sent to your phone or you can buy them as cards.Restaurant tipTipping is not required, but it is highly appreciated. Some restaurants charge a service charge. You can tip from Php20-Php100, depending on the restaurant and their service.Ride in a…Jeepney? Base fare is Php8, but prices go higher the farther the destination is.Bus? Base fare is Php10, but prices go higher the farther the destination is.

As of 06 December 2012:

1 US Dollar 40.95 Philippine Peso (PHP)

1 Euro 53.42 PHP

1 Japan Yen 0.50 PHP

1 Great British Pound 65.75 PHP

1 Hong Kong Dollar 5.27 PHP

1 Canadian Dollar 41.21 PHP

1 Singapore Dollar 33.53 PHP

1 Australian Dollar 42.71 PHP

1 Indonesia Rupiah 0.0042 PHP

1 Thailand Baht 1.33 PHP

1 China Yuan 6.56 PHP

English Filipino

Good morning/afternoon/evening! Magandang umaga/hapon/gabi!

How are you? Kamusta ka?

Thank you (so much)! (Maraming) salamat!

Yes Oo (polite form: Opo)

No Hindi

My name is ______. Ako ay si _____.

I am from ______. Ako ay galing sa _______.

Let’s eat! Kain na!

How do I get to (place)? Paano pumunta sa (place)?

(literally, “here’s the fare”. Used

when riding a jeepney)

Bayad po!

(“Stop,” used when riding a

jeepney or tricycle)

Para po!

“Po” is inserted in phrases and sentences to denote politeness, especially to older folks and authority.

Numbers in Spanish are also often used, such as in age and price.

Most Filipinos use numbers in English as well.

English Filipino English Filipino

One Isa Twenty Dalawampu

Two Dalawa Thirty Tatlumpu

Three Tatlo Forty Apatnapu

Four Apat Fifty Limampu

Five Lima Sixty Animnapu

Six Anim Seventy Pitumpu

Seven Pito Eighty Walumpu

Eight Walo Ninety Siyampu

Nine Siyam One Hundred Isang daan

Ten Sampu One Thousand Isang libo

- Local time is GMT +8

- Beware that certain areas in the country strictly

forbid smoking in public

- Prepare for terminal fees, estimated at around

Php650-Php750

- Keep an umbrella with you. You’ll find it handy!

- Keep an insect repellent handy as well!

- Check your appliances!

Electrical outlets are 220 V.

Adaptors for the prongs are

available in the country

for Php50.

These colourful and iconic jeepneys can be

found anywhere! A jeepney can usually hold

14-20 passengers facing each other, and two

more beside the driver. Passengers are

expected to pass the fares to the driver. Just

say “Bayad po!” And say “Para po!” to signal

your stop!

A tricycle is a motorcycle with a sidecar, while

a pedicab is a bicycle with a sidecar. These forms

of public transportation are usually for shorter

distances in the Metro. However, they are also a

more convenient choice for passing through

routes too narrow for cars or jeepneys.

They can have up to 4 passengers, and they cost

from Php20-40 depending on the distance of the

destination.

Most of our local airlines fly to nearby countries. Watch

out for their promo fares! Note that there fees and taxes

at the airport, so bring extra Philippine pesos.

Cebu Pacific – www.cebupacificair.com

Interisland Airlines – www.interislandairlines.com

Philippine Airlines (PAL) – www.philippineairlines.com

Air Philippines – www.airphils.com

SeaAir - http://flyseair.com/

Zest Airlines – www.zestair.com.ph

The Philippines is an archipelago, so you can expect

to travel by boat when you’re travelling. Try the roll-

on-roll-off (RORO) ships between Manila and other

major ports.

Here are the two major shipping

lines: http://www.2go.com.ph/ or

http://www.montenegrolines.com.ph/.

And a helpful blog: http://cebuboattrips.com/

Source: itsmorefuninthephilippines.com

The trains are one of the quickest ways

around Metro Manila. They are cheap

and convenient, with prices ranging

from Php10 to Php14. However, avoid

them during the morning and late

afternoon rush hours as they are almost

always packed with people. Make sure

to secure your belongings with you,

and never leave them unattended.

All three lines are interconnected.

The yellow line is LRT-1, purple is

LRT-2, and the blue is MRT. All the

LCs in Metro Manila are accessible

through these trains.

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.

Here are some dishes your host AIESECers

recommend to every EP visiting our country.

Make sure you try to try everything at least once!

Source: panlasangpinoy.com

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.

A popular appetizer from Pampanga! Sisig can

be made of either parts of the pig, or even with

healthier seafood.

Sinigang is a sour soup native to the Philippines. It

has leafy vegetables combined with a main

ingredient. This can be pork, chicken, beef,

shrimp, or fish.

This dessert 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

together with shaved ice and evaporated milk.

Source: panlasangpinoy.com

“Buko” means coconut, while “pandan” are

Screwpine leaves. This dessert is mixed with green

gelatin, and sometimes topped with vanilla ice

cream.

Here are some famous desserts you should try!

Did you know that the sweetest mangoes are from

the Philippines? Enjoy these and more tropical fruits

on our shores! (For fairly low prices too!)

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!)

October 26 – Friday – Aidul Adha

November 1 – Thursday – All Saints Day

November 2 – Friday – Special non-working holiday

November 30 – Friday – Bonifacio Day

December 24 – Monday – Special non-working holiday

December 25 – Tuesday – Christmas Day

December 30 – Sunday – Rizal Day

December 31 – Monday – New Year’s Eve

January 1 – Tuesday – New Year’s Day

February 25 – Monday – EDSA Revolution anniversary

(special holiday for schools)

March 28 – Maundy Thursday

March 29 – Good Friday

March 30 – Holy Saturday

April 9 – Tuesday - Araw ng Kagitingan

May 1 – Wednesday – Labor Day

June 12 – Wednesdsay – Independence Day

August 21 – Wednesday - Ninoy Aquino Day

August 26 – Monday – National Heroes Day

November 1 – Friday – All Saints’ Day

November 2 – Saturday – Special non-working holiday

November 30 – Saturday – Bonifacio Day

December 25 – Wednesday – Christmas Day

December 30 – Monday - Rizal Day

December 31 – Tuesday – New Year’s Eve

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos shall inform the Office of the President

when the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eid’l Adha will be for 2013.

With its historical sites, commercial centers,

and lively nightlife, you’ll always have

something to do in Metro Manila

Intramuros, or the walled city, was the seat

of the Spanish government during the

colonial era. Now, you can see structures

and memorials from the Spanish to the

contemporary times. The Bureau of

Immigration is also located here.

One of the best natural harbors in

Southeast Asia and one of the finest in

the world. Indeed, watching the sunset

here is breathtaking.

The Manila Chinatown was founded in

1594 after the Spaniards settled in the

Philippines. Now, Chinatown is famous for

its retails stores, restaurants, traditional

Chinese institutions, and festivals.

The Fort in Taguig City is famous for its

clubs and thriving nightlife. It also

houses several tea and coffee shops for

your after-party or early morning

lounging.

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!

There are hundreds of places to visit in

the Philippines, but here are some to get

you started.

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.

Camarines Sur is the Bicol region in

Luzon. This province is becoming

more famous for the CamSur Water

Complex. You can get there by land.

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.

Located in the Visayas group of islands,

Cebu is the Seat of Christianity and the

oldest city in the country. You can find also

the cross from the King of Spain given by

the great explorer Ferdinand Magellan in

Cebu. Drop by the AIESEC LC in Cebu!

Davao is the center of commerce in

the Mindanao group of islands. Davao

is famous for the exotic fruit Durian,

the tallest peak in the country, Mt. Apo,

and the national animal, Philippine

Eagle. Visit the AIESEC LC here as

well!

Here are ways to obtain a visa for your stay in the Philippines:

AApply for a visa partially or fully covering your stay in the

Philippine embassy in your home country. Refer to

<http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/embassies_phil-dir.htm> for a

directory of the PH embassies.

BHave your visa extended here in the Philippines. Passport

holders from certain countries are granted a 21-day visa

upon arriving. Check if your country is one of them:

<http://www.dfa.gov.ph/index.php/consular-services/visa>.

Holders of Brazil and Israel passports are granted a 59-day

visa upon arriving.

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

For temporary visitors coming for business,

pleasure, or reasons of health9a

47a2Special 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)

Tourist visa extension after first 59 days:

At this point, you will also be required to get an

i-Card worth US$50 + express free of Php500

You can extend your visa every two months

for total stay of 16 months..

After regular extension of 2 months:

Extension fee after 6 months of stay (to be

charged on the 7th month of stay)

Php3030

Php4300 for one month

Php4800 for two months

US$50 + express fee of

Php500

Php1830 + Php500 for

every month of extension

Php3240 + Php500 for

every month of extension

Upon filing in the Department of Justice

Upon implementation of visa

One year

Two years

+Express Lane Fee

Php3020

Php4600

Php6620

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.Reference: Bureau of Immigration website

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 the 9a, but consider

that processing can take 2-3 weeks.

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 neighbouring country. Upon arriving

back to the Philippines, they are issued another 21-day visa.

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 are 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&Itemid=36>

6. Do you need to have a return flight when entering the Philippines?

You need to have an “on-going” flight when you enter the

Philippines. It can be a return flight or a flight going to another

country. The flight date doesn’t have to be before the expiration

of your visa.

• 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 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.

• To Filipinos, standing with your hands on your hips means you

are angry.

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

an insult.

• To indicate two of something, raise your ring and pinkie

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.

• Initial greetings are formal and follow a set 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 nickname.

• 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.

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 an AIESEC entity in the

Philippines. AIESEC Philippines started at University of the

Philippines-Diliman (UPD) and became officially recognized

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.

Sources: AIESEC Pamana, myaiesec.net

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 engaged 500 team members, 275 team

leaders, 406 incoming trainees, and 166 outgoing trainees.

Sources: AIESEC Pamana, myaiesec.net

Sent your EP AN and received your TN AN?

Signed the indemnity form and EP agreement form?

Been officially matched in myaiesec.net?

Gotten the contact details of who will 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 Davao reception booklet:

<http://issuu.com/enarosaroso/docs/davaoreceptionbooklet>

We highly recommend the Department of Tourism’s website:

itsmorefuninthephilippines.com. This 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.

MCP Audrey Elumba

Cellphone: 09062794413

e-mail: audrey.elumba@aiesec.net

In case of emergency:METRO MANILA: 117

DAVAO: 911

MCVP

Projects

Margery “Marge” Bumagat

Cellphone: 09176308774

e-mail: margery.bumagat@aiesec.net

MCVP

IGCDP

Kazumi “KC” Shiroma

Cellphone: 09175959981

e-mail: kazumi.shiroma@aiesec.net

Sources: AIESEC UPD reception booklet (2011-2012), myaiesec.net, itsmorefuninthephilippines.com, travel.wiki.com/philippines, panlasangpinoy.com,

foreignerinthephilippines.com, davaotourism.com, cebutourism.comImages from the internet. None belong to the authors of this booklet.

© Diosa Quinones, Kim Lumibao, Emma Dooc. December 2012.