Volunteer Travel Guide Philippines

The Philippines archipelago of more than 7,000 islands is sandwiched between Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, flanked by the South China Sea. All her neighbours have magical tourist appeal to various degrees, but the Philippines, even though the sea is just as blue and clear and the myriad coral islands just as alluring, seems to have missed the boat when it comes to marketing its attractions.

Bad press in recent years, after some high-profile terrorism and kidnapping incidents, have not helped matters. The country has also laboured under a turbulent political reputation and is still overcoming the effects of martial law. Its poor infrastructure, dilapidated roads and unsafe ferries, have also all played a role in deterring potential travellers and the country has been overlooked as an eco-tourist destination because of local disregard for the natural resources (such as fishermen dynamiting coral reefs). While resources are being channelled into education to prevent such practices a great deal of damage has already been done to the environment.

The good news is that Filipinos themselves are warm and welcoming - as underscored in the country's tagline - 'where Asia wears a smile'. Apart from some beautiful, remote tropical islands and legendary scuba diving spots, the archipelago's best resource is the friendliness and laid-back attitude of the Filipino people. Their hospitable and embracing attitude is enough to put a smile on any visitor's face; this is even more the case in the rural areas. The Philippines has some superb all-inclusive luxury resorts spread around the islands which cushion visitors from the general degradation and safety-risks of the cities and towns, and a major plus is that the country is amazingly good-value. Also, the food is delicious, and English is widely spoken.

Independent travellers who like to wander off the beaten track, and do not mind doing without the conveniences of running water and the like, will find plenty to fascinate them in the countryside and coastal parts of the Philippines; albeit without the assistance of guide books. The Philippines is one of the few places left in the world where adventurers can wander through tribal lands, unfettered by modern interferences. Travellers are however advised to follow the current safety advice on areas to avoid.

During 2000 a Belgian research centre declared the Philippines to be the most disaster-prone country on earth, citing typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, garbage landslides and militant action against Muslim insurgents as just some of it's problems! The current Government, however, is trying to improve this image, so now may be the time to see the country in its unspoilt state, before the major mass package resort developers move in.

The Basics

Time:

Local time is GMT +8.

Electricity:

Electrical current is 220 volts, 60Hz. Two-pin flat blade attachments and two-pin round plugs are used.

Language:

The official language of the Philippines is Filipino, but English is widely spoken. Tagalog is the most predominant of the many dialects or local languages spoken throughout the islands.

Health:

No special vaccination certificates are required, except by travellers entering the Philippines from an area infected with yellow fever. Recommended vaccinations include typhoid as there are frequent outbreaks of typhoid fever. There is a malaria risk in parts of the Philippines and visitors should seek medical advice before travelling; urban areas are generally considered risk-free. Dengue fever is a risk throughout the country; the best prevention is to avoid mosquito bites. Tap water is not safe to drink and ice in drinks should be avoided; cholera is a risk in the country and precautions are advised. Sea snakes can be highly venomous; travellers should be cautious in remote coastal waters, lakes and rivers, as anti-venom may not be readily available. Medical care is good in the major cities, although very expensive, however it is limited in the remoter areas. Comprehensive medical insurance is advised.

Tipping:

Tipping is expected for most services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. Tipping is optional on bills that already include a 10% service charge.

Customs:

The concept of 'shame' is very important in Filipino culture and visitors should avoid offending or embarrassing anyone in public. Failure to live up to accepted standards of behaviour brings shame not only on themselves, but also on their family. Any food or drink offered should be accepted, as this is a sign of hospitality.

Business:

Third party introductions are useful when conducting business in the Philippines and face-to-face communication is key. Emphasis is placed on building good working relations and getting to know each other. Business is conducted formally, and although punctuality is important, meetings may not begin on time. Dress should be conservative; suits and ties are the norm, although many Filipino men wear a shirt known as a barong tagalong, which is a far cooler option in the humid environment. English is widely spoken in business circles and business hours are usually from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Communications:

The international access code for the Philippines is +63. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the United States). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)2 for Manila. The major towns, cities and popular tourist spots are covered by GSM 900 and 1800 mobile phone networks. Internet cafes are available in Manila and the tourist resorts.

Duty Free:

Travellers to the Philippines over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g pipe tobacco; and 2 litres of alcoholic beverages. Prohibited items include firearms or parts thereof, explosives and ammunition; printed material that contains subversive, obscene or pornographic content; drugs, gambling machines, lottery sweepstake tickets, or coin-operated video machines; gold, silver and other precious metals that do not have authentication of quality; non-identifiable brands of medicines or foodstuffs; coca leaves and any prohibited drugs; plants or parts thereof, fruits and vegetables.

Health

View information on diseases: Typhoid fever, Malaria, Dengue Fever, Cholera

Typhoid fever

Cause:
Salmonella typhi, the typhoid bacillus, which infects only humans. Similar paratyphoid and enteric fevers are caused by other species of Salmonella, which infect domestic animals as well as humans.

Transmission:
Infection with typhoid fever is transmitted by consumption of contaminated food or water. Occasionally direct faecal-oral transmission may occur. Shellfish taken from sewage-polluted beds are an important source of infection. Infection occurs through eating fruit and vegetables fertilized by night soil and eaten raw, and milk and milk products that have been contaminated by those in contact with them. Flies may transfer infection to foods, resulting in contamination that may be sufficient to cause human infection. Pollution of water sources may produce epidemics of typhoid fever, when large numbers of people use the same source of drinking water.

Nature of the disease:
Typhoid fever is a systemic disease of varying severity. Severe cases are characterized by gradual onset of fever, headache, malaise, anorexia and insomnia. Constipation is more common than diarrhoea in adults and older children. Without treatment, the disease progresses with sustained fever, bradycardia, hepatosplenomegaly, abdominal symptoms and, in some cases, pneumonia. In white-skinned patients, pink spots (papules), which fade on pressure, appear on the skin of the trunk in up to 50% of cases. In the third week, untreated cases develop additional gastrointestinal and other complications, which may prove fatal. Around 2-5% of those who contract typhoid fever become chronic carriers, as bacteria persist in the biliary tract after symptoms have resolved.

Geographical distribution:
Worldwide. The disease occurs most commonly in association with poor standards of hygiene in food preparation and handling and where sanitary disposal of sewage is lacking.

Risk for travellers:
Generally low risk for travellers, except in parts of north and west Africa, in south Asia and in Peru. Elsewhere, travellers are usually at risk only when exposed to low standards of hygiene with respect to food handling, control of drinking water quality, and sewage disposal.

Prophylaxis (protective treatment):
Vaccination.

Precautions:
Observe all precautions against exposure to foodborne and waterborne infections. Source: WHO.

Malaria

General considerations:
Malaria is a common and life-threatening disease in many tropical and subtropical areas. It is currently endemic in over 100 countries, which are visited by more than 125 million international travellers every year. Each year many international travellers fall ill with malaria while visiting countries where the disease is endemic, and well over 10,000 fall ill after returning home. Fever occurring in a traveller within three months of leaving a malaria-endemic area is a medical emergency and should be investigated urgently.

Cause:
Human malaria is caused by four different species of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae.

Transmission:
The malaria parasite is transmitted by various species of Anopheles mosquitoes, which bite mainly between sunset and sunrise.

Nature of the disease:
Malaria is an acute febrile illness with an incubation period of 7 days or longer. Thus, a febrile illness developing less than one week after the first possible exposure is not malaria. The most severe form is caused by P. falciparum, in which variable clinical features include fever, chills, headache, muscular aching and weakness, vomiting, cough, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; other symptoms related to organ failure may supervene, such as: acute renal failure, generalized convulsions, circulatory collapse, followed by coma and death. It is estimated that about 1% of patients with P. falciparum infection die of the disease. The initial symptoms, which may be mild, may not be easy to recognize as being due to malaria. It is important that the possibility of falciparum malaria is considered in all cases of unexplained fever starting at any time between the seventh day of first possible exposure to malaria and three months (or, rarely, later) after the last possible exposure, and any individual who experiences a fever in this interval should immediately seek diagnosis and effective treatment. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can be life-saving. Falciparum malaria may be fatal if treatment is delayed beyond 24 hours. A blood sample should be examined for malaria parasites. If no parasites are found in the first blood film but symptoms persist, a series of blood samples should be taken and examined at 6-12-hour intervals. Pregnant women, young children and elderly travellers are particularly at risk. Malaria in pregnant travellers increases the risk of maternal death, miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death. The forms of malaria caused by other Plasmodium species are less severe and rarely life-threatening. Prevention and treatment of falciparum malaria are becoming more difficult because P. falciparum is increasingly resistant to various antimalarial drugs. Of the other malaria species, drug resistance has to date been reported for P. vivax, mainly from Indonesia (Irian Jaya) and Papua New Guinea, with more sporadic cases reported from Guyana. P. vivax with declining sensitivity has been reported for Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, India, Myanmar, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand. P. malariae resistant to chloroquine has been reported from Indonesia.

Geographical distribution:
The risk for travellers of contracting malaria is highly variable from country to country and even between areas in a country. In many endemic countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Mediterranean region, the main urban areas, but not necessarily the outskirts of towns, are free of malaria transmission. However, malaria can occur in main urban areas in Africa and India. There is usually less risk of the disease at altitudes above 1,500 metres, but in favourable climatic conditions it can occur at altitudes up to almost 3,000 metres. The risk of infection may also vary according to the season, being highest at the end of the rainy season. There is no risk of malaria in many tourist destinations in South-East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Source: WHO.

Dengue Fever

Cause:
The dengue virus - a flavivirus of which there are four serotypes.

Transmission:
Dengue fever is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which bites during daylight hours. There is no direct person-to-person transmission. Monkeys act as a reservoir host in south-east Asia and west Africa.

Nature of the disease:
Dengue occurs in three main clinical forms: Dengue fever is an acute febrile illness with sudden onset of fever, followed by development of generalized symptoms and sometimes a macular skin rash. It is known as "breakbone fever" because of severe muscular pains. The fever may be biphasic (i.e. two separate episodes or waves of fever). Most patients recover after a few days; Dengue haemorrhagic fever has an acute onset of fever followed by other symptoms resulting from thrombocytopenia, increased vascular permeability and haemorrhagic manifestations; Dengue shock syndrome supervenes in a small proportion of cases. Severe hypotension develops, requiring urgent medical treatment to correct hypovolaemia. Without appropriate treatment, 40-50% of cases are fatal; with timely therapy, the mortality rate is 1% or less.

Geographical distribution:
Dengue fever is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of central and south America and south and south-east Asia and also occurs in Africa; in these regions, dengue is limited to altitudes below 600 metres (2,000 feet).

Risk for travellers:
There is a significant risk for travellers in areas where dengue fever is endemic and in areas affected by epidemics of dengue.
Prophylaxis (protective treatment):
None.

Precautions:
Travellers should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites both during the day and at night in areas where dengue occurs. Source: WHO.

Cholera

Cause:
Vibrio cholerae bacteria, serogroups O1 and O139.

Transmission:
Infection occurs through ingestion of food or water contaminated directly or indirectly by faeces or vomit of infected persons. Cholera affects only humans; there is no insect vector or animal reservoir host.

Nature of the disease:
An acute enteric (intestine) disease varying in severity. Most infections are asymptomatic (i.e. do not cause any illness). In mild cases, diarrhoea occurs without other symptoms. In severe cases, there is sudden onset of profuse watery diarrhoea with nausea and vomiting and rapid development of dehydration. In severe untreated cases, death may occur within a few hours due to dehydration leading to circulatory collapse.

Geographical distribution:
Cholera occurs mainly in poor countries with inadequate sanitation and lack of clean drinking water and in war-torn countries where the infrastructure may have broken down. Many developing countries are affected, particularly those in Africa and Asia, and to a lesser extent those in central and south America.

Risk for travellers:
The risk of cholera is very low for most travellers, even in countries where cholera epidemics occur. Humanitarian relief workers in disaster areas and refugee camps are at risk.

Prophylaxis (protective treatment):
Oral cholera vaccines for use by travellers and those in occupational risk groups are available in some countries.

Precautions:
As for other diarrhoeal diseases. All precautions should be taken to avoid consumption of potentially contaminated food, drink and drinking water. Oral rehydration salts should be carried to combat dehydration in case of severe diarrhoea. Source: WHO.

Contacts

Visa Agencies

Travel Visa Pro, San Francisco, USA. 1-888-470-8472 or www.TravelVisaPro.com
Tourism

Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp, Manila: +63 (0)2 525 9318 or www.tourism.gov.ph

Philippines Embassies
Philippines Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 467 9300.

Philippines Embassy, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7937 1600.
Philippines Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 233 1121.
Philippines Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 2535/6.
Philippines Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 346 0451/2.
Philippines Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 9848.

Foreign Embassies in Philippines
United States Embassy, Manila: +63 (0)2 528 6300.

British Embassy, Manila: +63 (0)2 580 8700.
Canadian Embassy, Manila: +63 (0)2 857 9000.
Australian Embassy, Manila: +63 (0)2 757 8100.
South African Embassy, Manila: + 63 (0)2 889 9383.
Honorary Consul of Ireland, Manila: +63 (0)2 896 4668.
New Zealand Embassy, Manila: +63 (0)2 891 5358.

Philippines Emergency Numbers
Emergencies: 166/117

Airports

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)

Location: The airport is situated four miles (7km) south of the centre of Manila.

Time: GMT +8.

Contacts: Tel: +63 (0)2 877 1109.

Transfer between terminals: A Jeepney operates between the terminals for P2.

Transfer to the city: There are numerous taxis awaiting customers outside the airport, but it is best to book one before leaving the airport at one of the Taxi Offices. On presentation of a receipt at the desk outside the airport, an attendant will organise an official metered taxi. There is an airport bus service to the city centre, and regular buses that leave from outside the airport every 15 minutes to traverse destinations along Manila's ring road. Colourful 'Jeepneys' offer services between the airport and a metrorail terminal, which connects to the city centre.
Car rental: Avis, Hertz and National have desks at the airport for car hire services.

Facilities: Passenger services at Manila airport include shops, restaurants and bars; ATMs, banks with currency exchange, left-luggage and postal services. The airport is hot and uncomfortable, however there is an excellent lounge, the Manila Lounge, which offers showers, clean toilets, drinks, magazines and newspapers for only US$11, or free for Diners Club members.

Departure Tax: P750 (international), P200 (domestic).

Website: www.miaa.gov.ph

Climate

Manila has hot, humid weather all year round, although it is a little cooler between November and February. The hottest month is May, when the temperature averages 83ºF (28ºC). The rainy season is between June and October, although some precipitation is possible all through the year.

Passport & Visa

Visa Agencies:

Avoid the stress and queues, get a visa agency to arrange your visa.
Travel Visa Pro, San Francisco, USA. 1-888-470-8472 or www.TravelVisaPro.com
Global Visas, London, UK. 0207 190 3903 or www.globalvisas.com

Entry requirements for Americans: US nationals require a passport and a visa to enter Cameroon.

Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport and a visa to enter Cameroon.

Entry requirements for Canadians: Canadians require a passport and a visa to enter Cameroon.

Entry requirements for Australians: Australians require a passport and a visa to enter Cameroon.

Entry requirements for South Africans: South Africans require a passport and a visa to enter Cameroon.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a passport and a visa to enter Cameroon.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport and a visa to enter Cameroon.

Passport/Visa Note: All travellers require confirmed onward or return tickets and all necessary documents for next destination. Visas on arrival can only be issued to those holding a prior approval from Le Delegue General de L'Immigration. All other visas must be acquired before travel to Cameroon.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.