Philippines Travel - Hotels, Attractions, Information
Philippines
Tourist Attractions - The Philippines is a
tropical archipelago of 7,107 islands that is located in the South China and
Philippine Seas. The primary activity of tourists in the area is relaxing on
the areas many beautiful beaches that feature golden sand and crystal clear
waters as well as engaging in various beach activities such as surfing and
snorkeling. Some of the other popular sights which many tourists in the area
visit is Manila and Cebu, the two largest cities in the archipelago. There
is so much to do and explore in the Philippine Islands making it a top
travel destination in the South East part of Asia. more ...
New Dragonair services to Hanoi and Manila Cathay Pacific Group?s Dragonair celebrated the launch of its new services from Hong Kong to Hanoi, Vietnam and Manila, the Philippines at a gala ...
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino This grand hotel is one of the Philippines? most famous landmarks and presents a wealth of facilities in an excellent location 30 minutes from the ...
The Garden Plaza Hotel & Suites
Located in the heart of Manila, The Garden Plaza is in walking distance from the shopping entertainment district, historic landmarks, scenic park and the tourist belt.
The Old Swiss Inn Restaurant, famous since the 1940's for authentic Swiss and European cuisine.
The 7000-odd islands that comprise the Philippines are the forgotten
islands of southeast Asia. Off the main overland route and with a recent
history of martial law and endemic corruption, the country has struggled to
attract tourists in the numbers many of its southeast Asian neighbors have.
However, most of the Philippines is laidback, stable and relatively safe.
The locals are, by and large, an exceptionally friendly and helpful bunch.
On top of this, transport is cheap, the food is good, accommodation is
plentiful and English is widely spoken.
The Philippines has been dogged by trouble. In 2000 a Brussels-based
research centre declared the Philippines the most disaster-prone country on
earth. It named typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, garbage
landslides and military action against Muslim insurgents as just some of the
problems both locals and tourists have had to deal with.
Pearl of the Orient
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.
THE PHILIPPINES stands at the crossroads of the developed western world
and the Orient. It lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, stretching more than
1,840 kilometers. Composed of 7,107 islands, the Philippines is readily
accessible to the different capitals of the world. Its three main islands
are Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The South China Sea washes its western
shores. Taiwan, China and Hong Kong are northern neighbors and further north
is Japan. To the west lie Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore,
Malaysia and Thailand. An arm of the archipelago reaches out towards Borneo
and at its feet stands the chain of Indonesian islands. To the east and
south, the waters of the Pacific Ocean sweep its headlands, looking out
towards Micronesia and Polynesia. Its unique location has made the
Philippines the commercial, cultural and intellectual hub of Asia from the
dawn of history.
Weather - The Philippines is tropical with just two seasons hot and
dry from November to June and rainy from July to October. Filipinos will
tell you that it is cool from December through February and they themselves
will wear jackets.
Facts for the Traveler
Full country name: Republic of the Philippines Area: 299,000 sq km Population: 84.61 million Capital City: Manila (pop: 10 million) People: Predominantly descendants of Malays, Chinese and Muslim
minorities and a number of mestizos (Filipino-Spanish or Filipino-Americans)
Language: Pilipino (Tagalog), English Religion: 82% Roman Catholic, 9% Protestant, 5% Muslim, 3% Buddhist
Health risks: cholera, hepatitis, rabies, malaria, typhus Time Zone: GMT/UTC +8 Dialling Code: 63 Electricity: 220V ,60Hz Weights & measures: Metric
Visas:
All visitors to the country must hold a passport that is valid for at
least six months beyond the period they plan to stay. Everyone, except for
the stateless persons, nationals from restricted countries and those
originating from countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic ties
are allowed into the country without visas. They are permitted to stay for
up to 21 days provided they hold tickets for onward or return journeys.
Visas and special permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies or
consular offices overseas.
Extensions of Stay Visitors intending to extend their stay from 21 days
to 59 days should contact the Immigration Office (Commission on Immigration
and Deportation; CID), Magallenes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, and its offices
in Angeles, Cebu City and San Fernando (La Union).
Upon arrival at the Immigration Office, all you have to do is present
your extension application and passport to the various immigration officials
with which these documents will remain with the Immigration Office (Regular
Service) for processing. Fees for a 38-days visa extension range from P1,000
to P2,000 depending on whether the application for extension by the visitor
was filed before or after the 21 days limit. If you are planning to apply
for a visa extension, do remember not to dress in shorts and flip-flops
(thongs) or else you can expect to be refused service.
When to Go
The best time to make a trip to the Philippines is from the middle of
December to the middle of May because that is off-season for typhoons. Any
travelers to the country in December (Christmas) or April (Easter) are
advised against traveling more than necessary as the entire country is on
the move, making it difficult to get a seat on any type of transport.
January, May and December are the best months to visit the Philippines if
colorful celebrations and fiestas are on your list of 'purpose for making
the trip'. If your itinerary includes visits to the rice terraces in North
Luzon, the best time to do this would be in March and April as the weather
is pleasantly warm. Apart from that, these warm summer months are also ideal
for island hopping. Do be advised that for those who can't take the heat,
the month of May can be quite an experience of warm discomfort.
Events
New Year's Day is celebrated with great
vigour and plenty of fireworks. On 9 January, the Black Nazarene
Procession, the largest procession in the country, carries a life-size,
blackwood statue of Jesus through the streets of Quiapo in Manila, and the
procession happens again during Passion Week (the week following Palm Sunday
at Easter). The Filipino version of Mardi Gras is the three-day
Ati-Atihan, celebrated in Kalibo on Panay in the third week in January.
On Good Friday, there are many scourges throughout the country, which have
become popular attractions, especially those at San Fernando (Pampanga),
near Manila. Independence Day is celebrated on 12 June with military
parades. During the week leading up to 1 November (All Saints' Day)
Christian cemeteries throughout the archipelago are spruced up and given a
fresh coat of whitewash; if you happen to be in Manila on All Saints' Day
don't miss the huge party at the Chinese cemetery. There are local festivals
taking place just about every week of the year somewhere in the Philippines.
The Garden Plaza Hotel & Suites