The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Repúblik ng Pilipinas), is a vast archipelago of the Insulindia delimited by the Sea of ​​the Philippines to the east, Sea of ​​Celebes and Sea of ​​Sulu to the south and Sea of ​​South China to the west. The Strait of Luzon to the north separates the Philippines from Taiwan, the Strait of Balabac to the southwest, is one of the maritime borders with Malaysia, and there is also maritime border with Indonesia to the south. Also Palau is located in the vicinity, to the southeast. Its capital is Manila. Unlike the other Asian countries, the Philippines is a largely Catholic country.

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Filipino and English

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Philippine Peso

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To enter the Philippines you must have the following documents and conditions:

1. Valid national passport or internationally recognized valid travel document
2. Tourist entrance visa (except for European Community countries if the stay exceeds 21 days).
3. Valid return travel ticket and sufficient funds during your stay.

Taking into account the various conditions required for entry into the Philippines, it is suggested that you contact the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the visitor's country of residence to check these requirements before you begin your journey.

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The Philippines remains a safe and fun destination for all tourists. Domestic and international shipping in the Philippines remains available and remains operational. The Philippines has a vast majority of tourist offerings, whether it be natural wonders, landmarks, culture and tradition, arts and crafts, shopping, recreation and entertainment, among many others. Tourism activities continue in the different regions of the country, each with its own resources and products.

The Visayas region, despite the typhoon Haiyan, houses several important destinations such as Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo and Bacolod, which remain open for business, with their respective ports of entry still accessible to tourists. With one of the longest coasts in the world, the Philippines offers a number of unlimited attractions on all its more than 7,100 islands.

Our islands, like Boracay, consistently cited by international travel publications as one of the best beaches in the world, serve as a must-see destination for water sports activities, fun and relaxation. Looking inland, the varied landscape of our country also offers breathtaking natural landscapes from the Chocolate Mountains of Bohol, the perfect Mount Mayon in Albay to the smallest Taal volcano in the world, featured on the international 1,000-seat bestseller to see before he died.

One can also try an adventure hike to Mt. Pinatubo in Pampanga or Monte. Apo in Davao or swim with the gentle giant whale sharks in Donsol, Sorsogon; explore the Underground River of Puerto Princesa, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature; or dive into the Tubbataha Reef Marine National Park, another World Heritage Site in Palawan. There are also a number of notable museums and art galleries in Metro Manila and the provinces, showing the rich history and culture of the Philippines. In addition, Metro Manila, Cebu and Boracay are some of the places to enjoy the nightlife in the Philippines.

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During the nineteenth century, Chinese cuisine began to exert its influence.

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the emergence of other cultures has brought other styles and that is why the influence of American, French, Italian and Japanese cuisine, as well as the introduction of new culinary processes, is now evident.

A wide variety of fruits and vegetables is often used for cooking. Bananas, calamondins, pulp and coconut milk, guava, mango, papaya or pineapple add a tropical touch to many dishes. Many green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, eggplant or green beans are also used. The combination of tomato, garlic and onion is found in many dishes. Some vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, taro, cassava, ubu and sweet potatoes also find their place in Filipino cuisine. Other specialties are sweet potatoes and a type of banana called saba that can be fried and gilded with brown sugar.

Meats include chicken, pork, veal and lots of fish. Seafood is also popular and very abundant because it is an archipelago. Among the most popular are tilapia, mackerel, mackerel, mackerel, swordfish, tuna, shrimp, prawns, oysters, mussels, clams, cuttlefish, squid, crabs, etc. Seaweeds prepared in various ways are also popular.

Foods are often served with different sauces and fried foods are often dipped in vinegar. Soy sauce, squeezed kalamansi juice or a combination of both are also used. Ginger root and pepper are also condiments that are often added to the dishes.

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The Philippines is a country with a tropical climate, a climate where the average temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius, and where the summer is from March to May, this being the best time to visit this country since next months the rainy seasons begin.

The climate in the Philippines as described above is a tropical climate with a dry season that begins in December and runs through February, a rainy season between June and September with frequent rains and two seasons remaining more enjoyable. Therefore, the best time to visit this country is in the months of March to May.

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The safety conditions are unstable.

The traveler should remain vigilant in the Philippines in view of crime resulting from poverty and attacks perpetrated by extremists and organized groups.
Redouble surveillance is recommended in some areas north of the island of Luzon, and in the coastal tourist resorts.

The traveler is advised to have his / her identification permanently in possession and may use photocopies of the relevant pages of his passport, leaving the original in the hotel safe.
Additional precautions should be taken in the capital, Manila, especially in public places such as hotels, restaurants, bars, cinemas, shopping centers, places of worship and public transportation.
No drinks or food from strangers should be accepted.
Avoid city tours at night.

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In an emergency, the traveler should be referred to a public or private hospital in the most populous city.
The health network is deficient. The traveler should have health insurance whose policy covers not only hospital care but repatriation from the Philippines.
In an emergency, the traveler should be referred to a public or private hospital in the most populous city. Medical treatments are very expensive.

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Mobile Phones
The use of mobile devices can be used if roaming is enabled, however, paying attention to very high roaming charges.

Internet
The major cities are well served by internet services, there are several cybers-cafes with high-speed links.
In case you have a laptop or notebook, there are numerous cafes that offer the free wi-fi connection.

Electricity
The electricity is 220 Volts 60 Hz.
It is advisable to have an adapter kit for the sockets.

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