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