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The Philippines is a developing democratic republic located
in South East Asia. The archipelago consists of more than 7,000
islands, of which 880 are inhabited. The major islands are Luzon
in the north, Visayas in the center, and Mindanao in the south.
Tourist facilities are available within population centers and
main tourist areas. English is widely spoken in the Philippines,
and most signs are in English.
Philippines
Capital: Manila
Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the
Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam (
slightly larger than Arizona )
Customs
Regulations:
Registration
Embassy and Consulate: U.S. citizens living in or visiting
the Philippines are encouraged to register with the Consular
Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manila, located at 1201 Roxas
Boulevard, Manila City; tel. (63-2) 523-1001. The Consular
American Citizen Services fax number is (63-2) 522-3242 and the
ACS web page is
http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwh3004.html.
The U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu provides limited services for
U.S. citizens. The Consular Agency address is: Third Floor, PCI
Bank, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City; tel. (63-32) 231-1261
Consular
Access:
US Embassy & Consulates
Background
The Philippines were ceded by Spain to
the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained
their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese
in World War II. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in
1986 when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile.
In 1992, the US closed down its last military bases on the
islands. The Philippines has had two electoral presidential
transitions since Marcos' removal by "people power." In January
2001, the Supreme Court declared Joseph ESTRADA unable to rule
in view of mass resignations from his government and
administered the oath of office to Vice President Gloria
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO as his constitutional successor. The government
continues to struggle with ongoing Muslim insurgencies in the
south.
Ethnic
Groups
Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay
4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Language
two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and
English, eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocan,
Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense
Currency -
Currency Converter
PHP
Philippine peso (PHP)
Philippine pesos per US dollar - 48.68 July 2009
Climate -
World Weather
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April);
southwest monsoon (May to October)
Population
82,841,518 (July 2001 est.)
Religion
Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other
3%
Medical
Adequate medical care is available in major cities but is
limited in rural and more remote areas. Serious medical problems
requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the
United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and
hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health
services.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United
States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide
payment for medical services outside the United States.
Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face
extreme difficulties. Check with your own insurance company to
confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including
provision for medical evacuation. Ascertain whether payment will
be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will
be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance
policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for
disposition of remains in the event of death. Useful information
on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance
programs, is provided in the Department of State’s Bureau of
Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans
Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs
home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be
obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via
their Internet site at
http://www.cdc.gov.
Travel Warning (See
State Department for most recent updates)
1/21/2000 0:00:00A number of recent security-related
incidents highlight the danger of travel in the Philippines.
Kidnappings of foreigners, bombings, and other violent incidents
call for Americans to exercise great caution throughout the
Philippines. Moreover, as a result of the September 11 terrorist
attacks in the United States, U.S. citizens and interests may be
at increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups, as
stated in the Worldwide Caution updated by the Department of
State on October 23, 2001.
On June 5, 2001, a group of American Navy personnel on leave and
their guides were fired upon by an armed group on the slopes of
Mt. Pinatubo. Americans are warned to avoid hiking or camping in
this area.
On May 27, 2001, members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) kidnapped
20 tourists, including three Americans, from Palawan Island in
the southern Philippines and took them by boat to Basilan
Island. This followed a similar attack by an unknown group on
May 22 on a resort on Samal Island near Davao City, Mindanao.
That attack was repulsed with the loss of two Filipino lives.
The ASG has taken hostage a number of Filipinos and foreign
tourists since April 2000. Several were freed after payment of
substantial ransoms, some escaped or were rescued by military
action, and some were killed by their captors. Other Americans
have received threats of kidnapping from persons claiming
affiliation with such groups.
There have also been sporadic incidents of violence in southern
Mindanao, including bombings in General Santos City and at the
Cotabato Airport in Maguindanao Province, as well as bus
hijackings on national highways.
The ASG or other groups may attack U.S. citizens and others
again. For example, the ASG has been reported in the press as
having targeted beach resorts on Boracay Island for kidnappings.
Because the ASG has broadened its area of operations and has
demonstrated its ability to travel long distances by boat to
kidnap foreigners, it is possible that other locations in the
Philippines could be attacked. While this ongoing
terrorist/criminal campaign of kidnapping foreigners is in
progress, Americans should defer travel to beach resorts in the
southern Philippines, especially those located away from urban
areas.
U.S. citizens are also warned to avoid travel to the southern
and western areas of the Island of Mindanao, to include
Zamboanga City, due to incidents of terrorism and violence. U.S.
citizens should avoid travel to the islands of Basilan,
Tawi-Tawi, and Jolo, located in the Sulu archipelago in the
extreme southwest of the Philippines. Americans residing in
southern or western Mindinao and in the Sulu archipelago should
carefully review their situation and evaluate their security
posture in light of local circumstances. As a precaution, the
U.S. Government has temporarily withdrawn resident official
Americans and contractors from these areas.
In view of these incidents and the possibility of future
terrorist activity or kidnappings for ransom, Americans are
urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to increase
their security awareness. For further general information on
travel to the Philippines, please consult the Department's
latest Consular Information Sheet for the Philippines, which is
available via the Internet at
http://travel.state.gov. This Public Announcement supersedes
the Public Announcement of October 4, 2001, to note the
withdrawal of official Americans and contractors from southern
and western Mindinao and the Sulu archipelago. It expires on
April 22, 2002.
U.S. citizens living in or visiting the Philippines are
encouraged to register with the Consular Section of the U.S.
Embassy in Manila, located at 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila City;
tel. (63-2) 523-1001. The Consular American Citizen Services fax
number is (63-2) 522-3242 and the ACS web page is
http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwh3004.html.
The U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu provides limited services for
U.S. citizens. The Consular Agency address is: Third Floor, PCI
Bank, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City; tel. (63-32) 231-1261
Crime:
Safety: The security situation has improved in most areas
of the country in recent years. Most of the country is
hospitable to travel. The government has been engaged on and off
in negotiations with communist and Muslim rebels. Nevertheless,
rebel activity and armed banditry in certain areas of the
Philippines still poses potential security concerns. New Peoples
Army insurgents remain active in some mountainous and jungle
areas, including parts of Mindanao and Negros Island as well as
Quezon Province and the Cordillera and Bicol regions of Luzon.
In Mindanao, crime and insurgent activity may make travel
hazardous to and within the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao,
Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur,
Zamboanga del Norte, North and South Cotabato, and Sultan
Kudarat.
The threat of terrorist action by extremists, both domestic and
foreign, does exist in the Philippines. There are periodic
reports of plans for possible kidnapping or terrorist acts aimed
at U.S. Government installations, public and private
institutions and transportation carriers. Although there have
been some attempts directed against U.S. interests, most of
these reports have not been followed by terrorist action.
Security is not a major concern at the popular tourist and
diving sites.
The State Department reminds all Americans traveling or living
abroad of the need to remain vigilant with regard to personal
security issues. With international events such as the actions
against Iraq in 1999, the August 7, 1998 bombings of the U.S.
Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, the August 20, 1998 air
strikes in Afghanistan and Sudan, and the apprehension of
persons believed to be involved in the Embassy bombings, the
potential for retaliatory acts against the official American
community exists worldwide. Periodically, the U.S. Embassy
receives credible threats directed against USG personnel and/or
facilities. The Embassy takes these threats seriously, and they
can usually be countered by following some very basic personal
security countermeasures, which private Americans can also
follow: Do not establish a pattern in movement and travel; times
and routes should be varied to the extent possible. Maintain a
low profile at all times, and immediately report any unusual
activity, to include possible surveillance, to the Philippine
police and Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy.
Travelers are encouraged to call the U.S. Embassy for an update
of the current security situation, especially if traveling
outside the Manila metropolitan area.
Traffic Safety: Travel within the archipelago is possible
by boat, plane, bus, or car. Few tourists rent a car to drive,
as the road system is crowded and drivers are undisciplined.
Driving off the national highways and paved roads is
particularly dangerous, especially at night. To avoid
overcrowded or unsafe transport, caution is urged in planning
travel by older, inter-island ferryboats or other public
conveyances. The information below concerning the Philippines is
provided for general reference only, and may not be totally
accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: Poor
Urban Road Constructions/Maintenance: Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor
For specific information concerning Philippine driver’s permits,
vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact
the Philippines Department of Tourism via
http://www.tourism.gov.ph.
Other Travel Resources
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Jobert
dispensing eyeglasses to patients
P
Jobert's wife is a nurse that also volunteers with EyeCare WeCare Foundation.
Here she is seen taking blood pressures on the indigents while in the other
photo, Jobert giving instructions to the disadvantaged as to how the system
works to receive the free eye examinations and eyeglasses
