Tips for Foreigners when Travelling to the Philippines

See VIDEO below…

Learn the basics of Filipino culture, the weather and know the nature of the place you will be staying.

Pag-aralan ang mahalaga sa kultura ng mga Filipino, ang panahon at ang lugar kung saan ka maglalagi.

English is pretty much a second language for people from Manila. Filipinos that live outside of Manila have their local dialect. Tagalog is their second language, but pretty much all Filipinos know the English language. Average Filipinos are just awkward sometimes to speak English with a foreigner who they think knows better. They are very aware of their grammar and their accent. It helps them to get comfortable by being patient and nice when they are trying to speak to you in English. You won’t have too much problem with others at all because many are good in speaking the English language.

Pangalawang salita ng karamihan sa mga Filipino na naninirahan sa Manila ang English. Sa mga naninirahan sa probinsiya, ginagamit nila ang kanilang salita at pangalawang salita nila ang Tagalog pero karamihan sa Filipino ang marunong ng English. Minsan lang, nahihiya silang magsalita ng English pag kausap nila ay dayuhan dahil batid nila na iba ang kanilang punto at eksperto sa pananalita ng English ang kausap nila. Nakakatulong kung maging matiyaga ka at mahinahon sa pakikipag-usap sa kanila. Pero, karamihan ay nakakapagsalita ng English at walang problema na kausapin ka.

Get prepared for a hot and humid weather. It gets cold in the months of December through February but not as cold as we experience in the western part.

Maghanda sa mainit at mahalumigmig na panahon. Malamig sa mga buwan ng Disyembre hanggang Pebrero pero hindi kasing lamig ng nararanasan natin sa bansang kanluran.

Be prepared for brownouts. They cut off the power supply when there is typhoon and there is usually a power shortage in the summer time. Generators are available for hotels and shopping malls.

Maghanda sa brownouts. Nawawala ang kuryente pag mayroong bagyo at madalas nawawala ang kuryente sa panahon ng tag-init. Gumagamit ng generators ang mga hotels at mga shopping malls.

When packing your luggage, know that it is great to shop in the Philippines. Just bring the stuff you need not unless you plan to leave some of them in the Philippines. There are many bargains when you go for a shopping in the Philippines and you probably want to buy them all and this will not put you in trouble of paying for excess weight on your luggage when you go back. Excess weight can be very expensive.

Kapag nag-iimpake, isipin mo na magandang mamili sa Pilipinas. Kuhanin lang ang mga kakailanganin maliban lamang kung plano mong iwanan ang iba sa Pilipinas. Maraming mura pag namili ka sa Pilipinas at siguro marami kang gustong bilhin para hindi ka magbabayad ng labis sa timbang ng bagahe mo pagbalik mo. Mahal ang bayad sa labis na timbang.

Cotton and light made clothes are best to wear (it is what I think). Sandals are best worn, but shoes are a great protection to your feet when you go for a hike.

Pinakamaginhawang gumamit ng mga kuton at magagaan na damit lamang. Ang karaniwan na ginagamit ay tsinelas pero mas maganda pa rin ang sapatos pag malayo ang lalakarin.

Bring a good off-mosquito lotion and sprayer.

Magdala ng good-off mosquito lotion o sprayer.

Philippine Airlines is the major carrier of the Philippines. If you want to practice your Tagalog language while you are on board and get familiar with Filipino foods, then this airline is the best way to go.

Philippine Airlines ang pinakamalaking tagapagdala sa Pilipinas. Kung gusto mong matuto ng Tagalog at matikman ang ulam ng mga Pinoy sa biyahe, itong eroplano na ito ang pinkamainam na sakyan.

It is nice if you know how to say some of the basic Tagalog languages when meeting Filipinos like “Kumusta kayo?” which means “How are you?”. They can understand your English greetings, but it will make them smile more when they hear you saying your words in their language. When meeting older people, they would love to hear from you the words, “Kumusta po kayo” which means a more polite way of saying “How are you?“.

Mabuti kung alam mong bigkasin ang mga mahahalagang salita sa Tagalog kagaya ng “Kumusta kayo?”. Maiintindihan ka nila sa salitang English pero ikakatuwa nila na marinig kang nagsasalita ng Tagalog. Pag makakakilala ka ng matatanda, mapapasaya mo sila pag babatiin mo sila sa Tagalog at gagamitin mo ang po. (“Kumusta po kayo?”) dahil ito ay nagpapakita na nirerespeto mo sila.

When you reach the Philippines, you will be greeted by Filipinos with the word “Mabuhay” which means “Welcome and Long live”, and usually porters are around to help if you need help to carry your luggage. You know the usual rule of giving them tips for their service. There are porters who will just grab your luggage and try to help even without asking them, this is their way of getting your attention to avail their service. Just politely say, “Kaya ko ito, salamat” which means “I can manage, thanks”.

Pagdating mo sa Pilipinas, babatiin ka ng “Mabuhay” at marami ang nag-aabang na tutulong na magkarga sa mga bagahe mo. Alam mo na kailangan mong magbigay ng tip. Minsan makikita mo na lang na ang isa sa kanila ay hinahawakan ang maleta mo. Ito ay agresibong paraan para makapagsilbi sila sa iyo pero kung hindi mo kailangan ang tulong, sabihin mo lang, “Salamat, kaya ko ito”.

When riding a taxi to the hotel, it is common to get the plate number of the taxi (it is not to be paranoid but if you have some issues with them, you are prepared for a reference). Ask them if their meter is working because you can be more confident that they will charge you appropriately for your fare. Tell them you want the shortest way to the hotel. They are usually fun to talk with even asking them personal things like “Kumustaang pamilya mo?” which means “How is your family?”, “How is your taxi driving today?” which means “Kumusta ang pagmamaneho natin ngayon?”. Every Filipino loves to talk about politics. You can ask “Kumusta ang trabaho ng presidente?” which means “How is the president doing?”.

Kung sasakay ka sa taxi papunta sa hotel, karaniwan na kinukuha ang plate number. Tanungin ang driver kung gumagana ang kanyang meter. Sabihin mo na kunin ang pinakamalapit na rota. Masaya silang kausap. Puwede mo silang tanungin ng personal kagaya ng “Kumusta ang pamilya natin?’, “Kumusta ang pagmamaneho natin ngayon?”. Gusto ng mga Filipino na pag-usapan ang pulitika. Kumustahin mo ang trabaho ng presidente.

Traffic in Manila is bad during rush hours. Rush hours in the morning start from7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and in the evening, 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. People are usually out for shopping on the weekends, so expect a heavy traffic anytime. In the provinces, traffic is not bad.

Matumal ang daloy ng sasakyan sa Manila sa mga oras na marami ang tao sa daan. Marami ang tao sa mga oras ng alas siyete hanggang alas nuwebe sa umaga, at alas kuwatro hanggang alas diyes naman sa gabi. Namimili ang mga tao sa katapusan ng linggo kaya kahit anong oras sa mga araw ng Sabado at Linggo ay puwedeng maging matumal ang daloy ng sasakyan.

Filipinos are good at serving. They would love to help all the time :). Any request is possible. They will give their best to meet your needs. I hope you don’t mess up with them because they know it when you do.

Ang mga pinoy ay likas na magaling maglingkod. Gusto nilang maglingkod sa lahat ng oras. Ano man ang kahilingan mo, ibibigay nila lahat ang kaya nila para mapagsilbihan ka. Huwag mo lang silang lokohin dahil alam nila pag ginawa mo ito.

Know at least some popular good foods you can try like “Adobo”, “Sinigang”, and “Leche Flan” and the famous “Pandesal” bread. When being served on a table, they usually set up a fork and spoon to go with your plate. You can request for a knife.

Alamin mo ang mga kilalang ulam sa kanila na puwede mo ring subukan katulad ng “Adobo”, “Sinigang”, “Leche Flan”, at ang kilalang “Pandesal”. Kung pagsisilbihan ka sa hapag kainan, madalas tinidor at kutsara lang ang ibibigay kasama ang plato mo. Puwede mong hilingin na bigyan ka rin ng kutsilyo.

Be prepared for rainy days, floods, and typhoons. They usually happen in the months of May through December.

Maghanda sa tag-ulan, baha at bagyo. Nangyayari ang mga ito sa buwan ng Mayo hanggang Disyembre.

Drink bottled or filtered water. Don’t eat foods from the streets to avoid getting sick.

Uminom ng “bottled o filtered water”. Huwag kumain ng mga pagkain na nabibili sa mga kalsada para maiwasan ang magkasakit.

Most Filipinos love shopping, parties, outings, and Karaoke. Karaoke is everywhere. Learn to sing “My Way” or “Dancing Queen” professionally. There are just many of them that can sing these songs like those on American Idol.

Karamihan sa mga Filipino ang mahilig mamili, magsaya, lumalabas at nag-kakaraoke. Makakakita ka ng karaoke sa lahat ng dako. Pag-aralang kantahin ng mabuti ang “My Way” o “Dancing Queen” dahil karamihan sa kanila ay magaling kantahin ang mga ito na parang sa American Idol.

Don’t show off that you have good cash in hand to avoid getting robbed. Credit or debit cards are great options, but they are not accepted in small stores. Don’t worry about security, just know the proper way how to use your credit cards. I’ve always used my debit cards the time I lived there and I had no problem about security.

Huwag ipakita na mayroon kang hawak na maraming pera para maiwasan ang mga magnanakaw. Puwedeng gumamit ng “credit cards or debit cards” pero hindi nila tinatanggap sa maliliit na pamilihan . Alamin lang ang mga pamantayan sa ligtas na paggamit ng mga ito. Ginagamit ko lagi ang “debit card” ko sa Pilipinas noong nakatira ako doon at wala naman akong naging problema sa seguridad.

Don’t be annoyed when a business shuts down from12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. It means all workers are on lunch break and it is the way some of the businesses do.

Huwag magalit pag ang mga opisina ay nakasara sa tanghali. Marami sa mga negosyo ang nagsasara sa mga oras na ito dahil nanananghalian lahat.

Don’t be annoyed when they say “sandali lang po” which means “wait for a moment”, and it has taken them forever to do it. Sometimes it happens.

Huwag magalit pag sinabi “sandali lang po”, at sobrang matagal ang paghihintay. Minsan nangyayari ito.

Divisoria and Baclaran are well-known bargain centers for shopping but don’t go to these places without a Filipino friend with you. It is safer for foreigners to hang out in the malls like SM and Robinsons Shopping Mall, and not in these areas.

Magandang mamili sa Divisoria at Baclaran dahil mura ang mga bilihin pero huwag pumunta kung walang kasama na Filipino. Mas ligtas ang mamili sa mga shopping malls katulad ng SM o Robinsons Shopping Mall.

Filipinos love to have fun and that is why probably the Department of Tourism came up with the all time theme “It is More Fun in the Philippines”. Fun for them is simple. Giving your time to talk with them and joining them in what they are doing even just for simple things like riding a bicycle, watching movie series “teleserye“, singing in karaoke are fun for them. There are a lot of fun activities to do in Manila but if hiking and beaches are your way of fun, explore outside Manila.

Ang mga Filipino ay mahilig sa katuwaan kaya siguro ang Department of Tourism ay gamit ang tema na “It is more Fun in the Philippines”. Ang kasiyahan sa kanila ay simple lang. Kausapin mo lang sila at samahan mo lang silang mag-bisikleta, manood ng teleserye o mag-karaoke, masaya na sila. Marami ang puwedeng gawin sa Manila, pero pag ang gusto mong gawin ay mag-hiking at makita ang tabing-dagat, kailangan lumabas ka sa Manila.

Don’t say you cannot be up overnight or all day because party for them most of the times is overnight or all day.

Huwag mong sabihin, hindi mo kayang magsaya ng buong magdamag o buong araw dahil karamihan sa mga kasiyahan na ginaganap nila ay buong araw o magdamag.

They like to see your reaction when you taste their food. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like them. They just want to capture those funny moments from a foreigner. Try to eat the “balut” or “fertilized egg” :).

Gusto nilang makita ang reaksiyon mo kung titikman mo ang kanilang pagkain. Ok lang pag hindi mo gusto ang mga ito. Gusto lang nilang makita ang pangyayari na ito sa isang dayuhan. Subukan mong kumain ng balut.

It is not too much to give a smile even if you don’t like what they eat or what they do or even if it feels or looks weird for you.

Hindi mahirap gawin ang ngumiti lang pag hindi mo nagustuhan ang kinakain nila o kakaiba sa iyo.

You can live like a queen or king. Filipinos are by nature, servants and they love to please their visitors. Filipinos are very hospitable. It is true that you can live like a king or queen because everyone loves to help out. They won’t ask you to pay them, but you just know that you have to at least give or show your gratitude by giving them something (a kind of gift or cash will do). You are not required to give them, though.

Puwede kang mamuhay na parang reyna o hari. Ang mga pinoy ay magaling magsilbi. Hindi sila hihingi ng bayad pero maiintindihan mo na matindi ang pangangailangan nila kaya maganda rin kung bibigyan mo sila ng regalo o pera kung masaya ka sa serbisyo nila. Hindi kailangan na bigyan sila.

There are many fun activities to do in Manila but don’t just stay there. Breathtaking sceneries can be found outside of Manila. If you are willing to take some short plane trips, places like Palawan and Boracay are nice places to see. If you want to see the whole of Luzon (flying is optional), a drive will take you to nice places like “Hundred Islands” in Pangasinan, Baguio City, Tagaytay City, and beaches in the North.

Maraming puwedeng gawin sa Manila pero huwag lang manatili doon. Kung puwede sa iyo ang maikli na biyahe sa eroplano, ang mga lugar ng Palawan at Boracay ay magagandang tanawin na dapat puntahan. Kung gusto mong makita ang buong Luzon (puwedeng hindi sumakay sa eroplano), puwedeng magmaneho sa mga lugar katulad ng “Hundred Islands” sa Pangasinan, Baguio City, Tagaytay City at mga magagandang tabing-dagat sa Norte.

Carry some good foods when you go for a long drive. There are stores along your way, but it may not be the foods you wish to eat. When buying something, cash is usually accepted in the provinces.

Magdala ng pagkain pag nagbibiyahe ng malayo. Mayroon ding mga bilihan pero puwedeng hindi mo magustuhan ang mga ito. Pag nasa probinsiya ka, pera na hawak ang kadalasan na ginagamit na pambili.

Have fun, talk to the people, ask them anything. If they see you getting engaged with them, they will feel more comfortable to talk with you in English.

Magsaya, kausapin mo ang mga tao, tanungin mo sila ng kahit ano. Kung alam nila na kinakausap mo sila, makakatulong sa kanila na kausapin ka rin sa English.

Don’t be surprised when they will offer you rice for foods three times a day :).

Huwag kang mabibigla kung pakakainin ka nila ng kanin tatlong beses sa isang araw :).

Final Note:

If you think the Philippines is a dangerous place to go, I think everywhere is dangerous. Be nice and you will expect the same. Don’t judge and you will see great smiles.

Kung iniisip mo na mapanganib ang Pilipinas na puntahan, sa palagay ko, sa lahat ng dako ng mundo ay mapanganib. Maging mabait, at aasa ka rin ng pareho. Huwag manghatol, at makikita mo ang mga magagandang ngiti.