| The Philippines, also known as the pearl of the orient, is | | | | (spelunking, trekking). Bars are quite common in the |
| an archipelago located in southeast Asia. It consists of | | | | Philippines if you're into bar-hopping, drinking, and go-go |
| about 7,000 islands; a little more if it's low tide. It's quite | | | | dancer amusements. I would always travel with a |
| hot all year round, and it seems that the heat only | | | | buddy or two or three, especially if you're roaming at |
| dissipates sometimes during the monsoon season or | | | | night or travelling through Muslim infested regions. |
| "wet season." During this time a series of typhoons | | | | Mindanao is the Muslim hotspot. You should also watch |
| slam the Philippines with strong rains. Apart from | | | | out for the NPA (New People's Army) as they oppose |
| typhoons causing occasional floods, the Philippines also | | | | foreign intervention. NPA members and affiliates are all |
| experiences volcanic eruptions every now and then; | | | | over the Philippines, but especially in the rural areas. So |
| Mt. Pinatubo, Mt. Mayon, and Mt. Taal are some of the | | | | those are who you watch out for... the Muslims, the |
| more active Philippine volcanoes in the past | | | | NPA, and the other NPA (people with no permanent |
| century.Filipinos are some of the friendliest and most | | | | address, hehe).You should also watch out for who you |
| fun-loving bunch of people you'll ever meet. However, | | | | date in the Philippines. STDs are not uncommon, and |
| some of these same people will not think twice to fool, | | | | hookers aren't either. And sometimes hookers aren't |
| steal, or take advantage of you in some way if they | | | | the gender you expected them to be either. |
| think they can profit from it. Unfortunately, the | | | | Homosexuals are all over the place there, so don't be |
| Philippines is still a third world country for the most part | | | | surprised if you meet several and meet some that you |
| and so the majority of the people are very poor and | | | | thought were women. But as far as the real Filipina |
| struggle in their daily lives. The country also has its fair | | | | women goes, don't be surprised if you fall head over |
| share of litter and pollution. Top of the line sky | | | | heels for one of them (this is considering you didn't |
| scrapers can be found in metropolitan areas such as | | | | already fall in love with one of the many attractive |
| Manila and Cebu, and straw huts are still being used in | | | | Chinese flight attendants of China Airlines). Just as |
| provincial areas.Food is exceptionally delicious in the | | | | anywhere else in the world, Filipinas can be downright |
| Philippines, but most of these are high in fat as is | | | | gorgeous, downright butt ugly, or just the plain medium |
| usually the case for great tasting food. Most things in | | | | blah. But it's more than skin deep, right? Right. You will |
| the Philippines are cheaper in price than what you will | | | | also have to take into account that many of the |
| find in more developed countries. But Filipino wages | | | | Filipinas hide, lie, manipulate, and have an overwhelming |
| are also very cheap.If you plan on visiting in the | | | | lust for wealth. Oh yes, and don't be surprised if their |
| Philippines you will probably land via the Ninoy Aquino | | | | loyalty to you is overruled by their loyalty to their family |
| International Airport in Manila, although an airport can | | | | (who, by the way, view you as the golden rooster |
| also be found at Clark Air Base and Cebu City. You | | | | who can allow their hen to lay their share of golden |
| will probably want to arrange for ground transportation | | | | eggs that they've been yearning for all their lives).But |
| beforehand for taking you to your desired location | | | | Filipinas also have a desirable side. They hold traditional |
| within the Philippines. Otherwise, you may find yourself | | | | values and some actually really do love you (and will |
| getting ripped off by the taxi drivers. One of the first | | | | continue to exhibit their love for you endlessly). But |
| things you will notice when you step out of the airport | | | | those are hard to find nowadays anywhere in the |
| is the intense heat, the crowds of people and traffic, | | | | world. And please note that the aforementioned Filipina |
| the manner in which the people drive, the litter and | | | | descriptions are purely stereotypical; just as anywhere |
| pollution, and the humongous billboards. You will also | | | | else in the world, women come in all shapes, sizes, and |
| notice how everyone calls you sir, ma'am, or boss and | | | | personalities in the Philippines. You just have to find one |
| acts overly polite. Some are being friendly but don't be | | | | that suits your liking.As far as communication goes, |
| fooled, most of the time it's just a facade to hide their | | | | English is widely spoken. You may want to invest in a |
| less presentable intentions. You will be approached by | | | | cell phone as the Philippines is the txt capital of the |
| old beggars, young hustlers, and tugging children, so | | | | world (even the dirt poor have cell phones).Nursing and |
| prepare yourself. Although you may feel sympathetic, I | | | | IT seems to be the boomers for jobs in the Philippines. |
| wouldn't recommend giving them anything as they | | | | Registered nurses are sometimes lucky enough to go |
| usually don't spend it as they should.You will see | | | | abroad, and the IT sector is seeing growth as the US |
| sari-sari stores everywhere, which are usually small | | | | is beginning to realize the profit of outsourcing most IT |
| versions of stores you would find in a typical gas | | | | jobs to lower waged Asian IT professionals. But for |
| station that sells general items. I mentioned the traffic, | | | | the most part, jobs are scant in the Philippines |
| and I must say that I wouldn't want to maneuver | | | | (especially for foreigners) and are usually not desirable |
| through the mess of traffic they create in Manila and | | | | (either because of the pay or the nature of the job |
| other urban areas. Even driving (or walking) down rural | | | | itself). Political corruption is rampant, and only the very |
| roads can be dangerous as most drivers make a habit | | | | rich get richer. The rest are left to fend for themselves, |
| out of fearless passing. Stray dogs, cats, and other | | | | hence starvation, poor health, the homeless, and theft |
| animals can be found roaming the streets. I wouldn't | | | | are also rampant.Holidays and festivals are wonderful |
| mess with them to avoid getting bitten, infected, or | | | | in the Philippines. Filipinos do know how to put on a |
| hassled by their owner.Produce is usually fine to buy in | | | | party. Fiestas are vibrant and the food is always |
| the Philippines (always wash though). Fish is fresh if | | | | plenty. The Christmas holidays are usually the best |
| you go to the open markets early in morning. As far | | | | celebrations of the year. "Chismis" or gossip is very |
| as meat and poultry goes, sanitation isn't that great so I | | | | common. What did you expect? Remember that most |
| would just recommend cooking until well done to avoid | | | | of the Filipinos are either homeless, jobless, lazy, or are |
| getting sick. Water doesn't taste that great either and | | | | just plain talkative. So don't go to bed with multiple |
| you may experience a bad case of traveler's diarrhea | | | | women who live in the same neighborhood, because |
| after a few days from arrival. You can boil it, buy | | | | you may end up with one too many protective fathers |
| bottled water (although it's not guaranteed that the | | | | chasing you with a machete. Tricycles and jeepneys |
| bottled is any different from tap), or just let your | | | | (old WWII jeeps revamped) are the typical local means |
| intestinal flora adapt to the tap water (especially if | | | | of transportation. Always demand your change, you |
| you're staying in the country for a while). "Chicheria" | | | | can't support the whole union.As far as sports goes, |
| (chips, crackers, etc.) and other processed foods is | | | | basketball, billiards, and boxing are the most popular |
| abundant. Milk, cheese, and other dairy products will be | | | | (and probably in that order).Showbusiness stars are a |
| hard to find.Fast food is readily available as | | | | hit in the Philippines. Actors, singers, sports stars, sitcom |
| McDonald's, Jollibee (like McDonald's), Greenwich (like | | | | hosts, and matinee idols are loved by the Filipinos, who |
| Pizza Hut), and Chow King (Chinese fast food) have | | | | are fanatic about showbusiness and mainstream |
| infested the place. Food is dirt cheap for the typical | | | | entertainment. Filipino movies are not that great |
| foreigner or tourist, even in the local restaurants. You | | | | compared to international standards. But Filipinos can |
| may have a hard time finding a five star hotel or | | | | sing, and karaoke is a popular past time there. Drugs |
| something that even comes close if you're staying | | | | and alcohol are common, and so are corrupt police |
| outside of Manila. Although Filipinos learn quickly and | | | | officials. I'm sure that if it were plotted, statistics would |
| work hard when they need to, a lot of Filipinos are not | | | | show a direct relationship with average income and |
| very professional and can sometimes develop a nasty | | | | moral standard for the Filipinos. As you can see, the |
| habit of being lazy. There are lots of beaches in the | | | | Philippines has more than enough flaws to make |
| Philippines, and a lot of the beaches are dirty (in some | | | | people to want to leave the country, but despite the |
| cases, very dirty). Don't be surprised to find cans, | | | | detractors, something enchanting about the ambiance |
| plastics, diapers, feces, and other types of trash and | | | | of the Pearl of the Orient keeps many coming back, |
| debris in the water of a non-resort locale (and | | | | myself included.David Poarch is a freelance writer, a |
| sometimes even at the resorts).Boracay, Puerto | | | | web developer, an avid learner, a hobbying artist, a |
| Galera, Puerto Princesa, and Cebu have more | | | | nutrition and fitness expert, and a modern nomad |
| tourist-oriented beaches and facilities. If you're more of | | | | traveller. He left the comforts and financial security, a |
| a party-goer, Boracay and Cebu would be the perfect | | | | full scholarship to a US Ivy League College, and the |
| place. If you're more in need of some peace, the | | | | whole American Dream to roam the Philippines as a |
| Puertos would be more your thing. Or why not | | | | modern nomad. His web site features a written and |
| experience all four yourself and find out? Other tourist | | | | picture detailed account of himself, a wandering |
| hot spots include but are not limited to Baguio (cool | | | | nomad, as he travels and roams the Philippine |
| weather, rice terraces), Manila (urban frolicking), | | | | countryside and experiences the Filipino culture and |
| Zambales (Subic Base and Hundred Islands), Bohol | | | | diaspora. Includes photo galleries, articles, products, |
| (Chocolate Hills, near Cebu City), and Palawan | | | | music, and other Philippines related information. |