LEAGUE GOTHIC VIETNAM TRAVEL

DESTINATION

TRAVELERS GUIDE

BanGkok

HISTORY The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans via land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan on Homonhon Island, southeast of Samar on March 16, 1521. Prior to Magellans arrival, there were Negrito tribes who roamed the isles but they were later supplanted by Austronesians. These groups then stratified into hunter-gatherer tribes, warrior-societies, and petty plutocracies. Spanish colonization and settlement began with the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legazpis expedition in 1565 and established the first permanent settlement of San Miguel on the island of Cebu, and more settlements continued northward reaching the bay of Manila on the island of Luzon in 1571. Spanish rule unsuccessfully attempted to achieve the political unification of the whole archipelago of previously independent kingdoms and communities. Unification of the Philippines was not achieved until the twentieth century. The Philippine Revolution against Spain began in April 1896, culminating two years later with the proclamation of independence and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic. However, the Treaty of Paris, at the end of the Spanish-American War, transferred control of the Philippines to the United States. Of course this agreement was not recognized by the Philippine

Government which, on June2, 1899 declared war against the United States. The Philippine-American War resulted in massive casualties. Philippine president Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in 1901 and the U.S. Government declared the conflict officially over in 1902, although hostilities continued and only began to decline in 1913. U.S. colonial rule of the Philippines began in 1905 with very limited local rule. Partial autonomy (commonwealth status) was granted in 1935, preparatory to the planned full independence from the United States in 1946.

GOVERNMENTIn the Philippines , politics and entertainment are almost synonymous. Political events and politicians antics unfold like a soap opera with many twists and drama, captivating the people. Democracy is enjoyed and taken very seriously and thus Filipinos would easily dispute any sign of political suppression. The media in the Philippines is one of the freest in Asia and are the biggest allies of the people in voicing their concerns and sentiments. The Philippines is a republic constituting three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. It is headed by a president and vice-president, who are elected to a six-year term respectively. The Congress is bicameral with a 24 member Senate and a 200 member House of Representatives. The government is modeled after that of the United States of America.

POPULATIONThe Philippines has a population of 92 million and is now the 12th most populous nation. It is estimated that half of the population resides on the island of Luzon.

TIMEThe Philippines is GMT plus 8 hours. The Philippines is 12 hours ahead of the east coast of the United States, 15 hours ahead of the west coast.

VISASUnited States citizens may enter the Philippines without a visa for tourism purposes upon presentation of their U.S. passport, valid for at least six months after the date of entry into the Philippines, and a return ticket to the United States or an onward ticket to another country. Upon arrival, immigration authorities will annotate the travelers passport with an entry visa valid for 21 days. If the traveler plans to stay longer than 21 days, he/she must apply for an extension.

LANGUAGEFilipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan.

THE PEOPLEThe Philippine people are known for their friendly warmth and informal or casual nature. As with most predominantly Roman Catholic cultures, religious customs and family values shape their everyday life and view of the world. A combination of Eastern and Western cultures, The Philippines shares many aspects with other Asian countries with a traditional Malay heritage; however its culture displays a significant amount of American and Spanish influence.

RELIGIONThe Philippines is a predominantly Roman Catholic country. Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

CLIMATEThe Philippines is hot year-round but sea breezes can add freshness during the winter (November to February). The typhoon season lasts from around July to October, although in recent years it seems to have been starting and finishing later in 2010 for example there was severe flooding in North Luzon as late as November. Rainfall patterns vary across the country. In Manila, Palawan and Coron, for example, most rain occurs in the typhoon season. Other areas (including much of the Bicol region) have no distinct dry season, with the most rain from December to February. The Visayas have only a short dry season from November to January, while in Leyte and Bohol, rainfall levels dont change much throughout the year. Travellers should therefore check the local climate before making plans. Most tourists visit from January to May (and particularly the first half of that period) when most of the country is undergoing its best climatic conditions.

CREDIT CARDSMany shops, restaurants, hotels and resorts accept payment by plastic, and credit-card cash advances are possible in larger towns and cities; in small towns and on islands rarely visited there are often no provisions for credit cards.

CURRENCY The unit of currency in the Philippines is the peso (P), which is also spelled piso in Filipino, and is divided into 100 centavos (c). Banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 pesos. Coins are in 10c and 25c pieces, and P1, P5 and P10. The smartest way to bring cash to the Philippines is in the form of a credit card, cash card or debit card. Provided you have your PIN, you can use these to get cash or cash advances from thousands of banks and ATMs in the Philippines (but don't expect to find these in rural areas - always stock up on cash before leaving a city)

TIPPING Service charges of 10% are added to bills in most leading hotels and restaurants. Where it is not included, a tip of 10-15% of the bill is appropriate.Airport porter/hotel bellboy: $1.00 - $ 2.00 US per bag. Your tour guide: $10.00 - $ 12.00 US per person per day. Driver/assistants: $ 6.00 - $ 8.00 US per person per day.

Manila Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecRainfall(inches) 0.7 1.5 1.5 3.2 7.7 9.3 12.7 10.9 11.5 10.2 1.7 0.8Min Temp (F) 55 57 63 70 73 79 79 79 75 72 64 59Max Temp (F) 68 70 73 82 90 91 91 90 88 84 79 72 Alaminos Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecRainfall(inches) 0.2 0.5 0.5 3.6 7.2 11.2 9.5 10.9 11.5 10.2 4.8 1.5Min Temp (F) 70 72 75 77 77 75 75 75 75 75 73 72Max Temp (F) 90 91 93 95 91 90 88 90 88 88 88 88

WHAT TO PACKThe Philippines temperate weather means you can pack lightly for your Philippines trip. A few items we suggest: Lightweight cotton clothing Hat Sunscreen Sunglasses Lightweight rain jacket Comfortable walking shoes Swimsuit and cover-up Prescription medications and over-the-counter remedies Voltage converter (220 Voltage, 60 cycles).

Lightweight cottons and linens are worn throughout most of the year, with warmer clothes are useful on cooler evenings. Rainwear or umbrellas are advisable for the rainy season (July to October). Bring resort casual and formal wear if you plan on frequenting upscale dining establishments and nightspots.

COMMUNICATIONSTelephone: Country code: 63. Public telephones are available in post offices, hotels and shops displaying a telephone unit sign and at roadside kiosks. To call the Philippines from the USA/Canada dial 011 + 63 + Area Code + Phone Number. Mobile Telephone: Roaming agreements exist with most major international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in towns and cities throughout the country, with sporadic coverage in rural areas. Internet: Internet is available in many areas of Philippines; there are Internet cafes in many main towns and cities that have restricted access to internet sites critical of the government. Post: Postal service takes a month, airmail services takes approximately 5-10 days. Express-mail service takes 5 days or less. Many hotels have a mail drop. Post Offices are generally open 9:00am 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Overall, the Postal service in the Philippines is not known for its efficiency or dependability, if you have something to mail you may want to consider doing so during another leg of your journey if possible. Receiving a package from abroad can be difficult and time consuming due to the lengthy inspection process and could take weeks. Media: The Philippiness media are tightly controlled by the country's leadership. The industry has been opened up in the areas of distribution and advertising but not in editorial content and access to foreign news providers is limited. In general, the press report on corruption and inefficiency among officials, but they avoid criticism of the government.

ETIQUETTE The Nepalese are very polite people. Handshaking is customary for both men and women upon introduction and smiling is definitely a national tradition. There are a few taboos - The use of the left hand to give and receive as well as crooking your finger to call someone are considered impolite. Improper dressing is probably the most significant and visible faux pas committed by visitors. Modesty applies to men as well as women, but women should be especially careful to cover the upper arms and legs and avoid tight or revealing clothing. When entering homes, shoes are usually left at the door. The same applies to temples and monasteries, especially if the shoes are leather ones. Watch what others do. Children can become veritable pests in their desire to pose for photography, but it's polite to seek permission before photographing an adult: by smile and gesture, if not verbally. Don't sit or stand on statues, chortens, chaityas, prayer walls or any vaguely religious object. Buddhism maters here and pervades every aspect of daily life. When visiting a temple always walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas, chortens or mani walls. Always remove your shoes before entering a Buddhist or Hindu temple or sanctuary. There are many rules, but they are constantly repeated, so you won't make any mistakes. If you do, the Bhutanese will forgive you if they see you are trying to be reverent. It's the custom to give a white scarf of khata to a Buddhist abbot when you are introduced. You may be subjected to a rapid barrage of questions on personal subjects. This is not considered rude, but if you feel it is you can change the subject, or start questioning the questioner. Among Hindu castes, cooked food is a primary vehicle for ritual contamination. Any food or utensil that touches the lips is juto, ritually impure, and should not be given to anyone else. Empty glasses and dishes should be placed on the ground, away from cooked food. Drinking chang or butter tea in a Sherpa home is a ritual in which a quest's glass is refilled (or at least topped up) at least three times in the course of the first few minutes. Pace yourself and allow the server to do his or her duty. Body language can be confusing. Bobbing the head from side to side signals agreement, not 'no' and when a Nepali waves 'come' it looks as if he saying 'go'. Pointing with the finger is impolite; villagers use their chins to point. Physical contact between the sexes, even hand-holding, is frowned upon in public, but it's perfectly all right for members of the same sex. As in most of Asia, time is a malleable concept and promptness is a relative thing. If it does not happen today it may happen tomorrow. This charmingly, relaxed approach can be infuriating if you are waiting for something urgent. It's good to donate a few rupees to genuine beggars, religion mendicants, wandering minstrels or the blind, crippled or ill. Beggars who harass are a different category, as are begging children. Many are quite well off, and play 'one rupee, one pen, on chocolate as a game. Confrontation and aggression are avoided at all costs, and people will go to great lengths to save face and not push an issue or person to the wall. Polite persistence may calmly make it clear you're not interested in the object they're shoving in your face.

THE LANDThe Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 square miles). With a coastline of over 36,289 kilometers (22,548 miles), The Philippines has the 5th longest coastlines in the world.Most of its mountainous islands are covered in tropical rainforests and are volcanic in origin. The highest mountain is Mount Apo on the island of Mindanao standing 2,954 meters (9,692 ft.) above sea level. The longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon. Situated on the northwestern fringe of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. To the east, on the Philippine Sea bottoms lays a tectonic subduction zone. About 20 earthquakes are registered in this area although most are too weak to be felt. The last major earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake. The Philippines is home to a number of active volcanoes such as the Taal Volcano, Mayon Volcano, and Mount Pinatubo. Due to the volcanic nature of the islands there is an abundance of natural mineral deposits. The Philippines is estimated to have the 2nd largest gold deposits in the world, after South Africa, and one of the largest deposits of copper in the world. There are also significant deposits of nickel, chromite, and zinc, although most of these resources have remained largely untapped. One area that The Philippines has excelled is in the use

of geothermal energy. It is second in the world behind the United States with approximately 18% of its countrys electricity coming from geothermal power.

COMMON ETIQUETTEInitial 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. Close female friends may hug and kiss when they meet. Use academic, professional, or honorific titles and the persons surname until you are invited to use their first name, or more frequently, their nickname.

PHOTOGRAPHS It is polite to ask permission before taking photographs as some people may take offense.

CRIMEThe Philippines is an underdeveloped country with more than its fair share of beggars, pickpockets, and con-artists. Drive-by thieves on motorcycles and bag snatchers in trains are common. The Philippines is likely safer than many large North American cities but you must exercise caution.

SHOPPINGMetro Manila is known as a shopping haven with giant shopping malls and arcades, specialty stores, bargain shops, as well as luxurious department stores. The Philippines is famous for pearls, hand-woven cloths, embroidered fineries, ready-to-wear and haute couture clothes, terra-cotta, porcelain, coral accessories, fabric, pineapple fiber shirts, pre-historic jars, brassware, earthenware, and native handicrafts. Haggling is the name of the game in Manilas frenzied & frantic flea markets with bargain basement prices on fabrics, clothing, shoes, as well as housewares, home dcor and fresh produce. Dont forget about airline weight limits.

Words of Wisdom-Buyer BewareBring your purchases home with you. Unless you are prepared to wait a prolonged period of time, do not have it shipped -- not even by air freight. Do not purchase expensive goods of supposed high quality unless you are absolutely sure of what you are buying. Unless you are an expert in gems, antiques, artifacts, etc., you should not assume that it is of the highest quality or value. Always take the time to read the charge slips for credit card purchases before you sign them. This may seem obvious; but in the excitement of making a foreign purchase, travelers sometimes overlook this and are unpleasantly surprised when they return home and are billed by the credit card company. Taking a few moments to review the charge slip before signing it (and computing the exchange rate to be sure you are charged the right amount) can save you headaches later.

CUSTOMSThe following are prohibited items: military ammunitions, drugs, food, live animals, snails, insects, vaccines, viruses. You are allowed to import without duty, Tobacco: 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 gramspipe tobacco, and Alcohol, 2 bottles.

FOODThe population of the Philippines is made up of numerous different ethnic groups, each of which has added their own flare to Filipino food. The Chinese have had a major influence although seasoned to local tastes. In the 19th century many Chinese dishes had their names changed for the ease of Spanish clientele.

WATER SAFETYDrink only bottled water.