Several thousand years ago, the first settlers in the Philippines crossed shallow seas and land bridges from the mainland Asia to arrive in this group of islands These were the Negritos or Aetas Direct descendants of these people can still be found in Zambales province to the North of Manila Several thousand years later, they were then followed by Austronesian settlers travelling the same route as the Negritos but this time over sea in their impressive Balangay boats This word is where the basic form of political institution, the baranggay, came from The settlers are believed to originate from neighbouring countries notably Malaysia and Indonesia
After the first Filipinos settled in the islands, they traveled further Pacific The early Austronesians of the Philippines simultaneously traded with each other as well as with the Chinese, Japanese, Okinawans, Indians, Thais, Arabs and other Austronesians of present-day Malaysia and Indonesia An interesting mix of cultures developed in the islands, and a writing system called baybayin or alibata, as well as a social structure developed quickly, some of the traders stayed and married the natives Hinduism and Buddhism was introduced by traders from India, Sumatra and Java These two religions syncretized with the various indigenous animistic beliefs Later, Arab, Malay and Javanese traders converted the natives, mainly in the island of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago to Islam Later then Indianized kingdoms associated with the Srivijaya Kingdom and Islamic sultanates came to rise in the country
When the explorer Ferdinand Magellan set foot on Philippine soil through the island of Homonhon in 1521, the Philippines was predominantly animist, with some Muslim and Hindu inhabitants mainly in the southern part of the country Famished, Magellan's crew were treated to a feast by the welcoming islanders who wore elaborate gold jewelry Magellan was Portuguese but it was a Spanish Expedition which he led to the islands which were eventually claimed by Spain as its colony Lapu-Lapu was against the Christianization of the natives, he then fought a battle with Magellan where Lapu-Lapu won while Magellan was killed The Philippines was later on named for Crown Prince Philip II of Spain and most of the natives converted to Catholicism The Muslims in the south and various animistic mountain tribes, however, resisted Spanish conquest and Catholic conversion
The longest revolt against Spanish colonization was led by Francisco Dagohoy in Bohol which lasted for 85 years covering the period of 1744-1829 As a cabeza de barangay or barangay captain, Dagohoy opposed the Spanish colonizers which were represented by priests and civil leaders, which require payment of excessive taxes, tributes They also oppresed the Philippines' natives by not subjecting them as slaves and sending them to prison for disobeying rules The Manila Galleon trade made contact between the country and Mexico as well as the whole of the Americas, Mayans and Aztecs settled in modern day Mexico, Pampanga and introduced their cultures which then was embraced by the Filipinos, other Asians used the Manila Galleon trade in order to migrate to the West During the Spanish rule, people such as the Dutch, Portuguese and British tried to colonize the country, however only the British did so and it lasted for 2 years in the modern-day capital; Manila The Philippines remained a Spanish colony for over 300 years until 1899 when it was ceded by Spain to the United States following the Spanish-American War
The Filipinos declared independence on June 12, 1898 and resisted the American occupation and colonization and fought the Americans for seven years until the Filipinos surrendered which completed the colonization of the Philippines The American presence remained until World War II when Japan invaded the Philippines The Japanese occupation lasted from 1941 to 1945 when Gen Douglas McArthur fulfilled his promise and liberated the country from the Japanese In 1946, the Philippines was granted full independence by the US, although they maintained a military presence in the country through the Subic Naval Base in Zambales and Clark Air Base in Angeles City These facilities were ultimately returned to the Philippines in the early 1990's
Up until the 1960's, the Philippines was second only to Japan in terms of development in Asia Several decades of rule by Ferdinand Marcos plunged the country into deep debt Poverty was widespread and infrastructure for development was severely lacking In 1986, the People Power uprising finally overthrew the Marcos government He was replaced by Corazon Aquino, widow of slain opposition leader, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr
Prior to the 21st Century, corruption became one of the main problems of the country The country suffered slightly in the 1997 Asian Financial crisis but led to a second EDSA which overthrew Pres Joseph Estrada, the then Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo daughter of one of the former presidents took his place who will end her term this 2010 Growth in the Philippines is slow but it is hopefully catching up with its neighbours On 2009, Typhoon Ketsana stormed the country, in just a day it flooded the whole of Metro Manila leaving casualties
As of 2008, the Philippines has a population estimated at 96 million From its long history of Western occupation, 300 years by the Spaniards and 30 years by the Americans, its people have evolved as a unique blend of East and West in both appearance and culture But Filipinos are largely Malay in terms of ethnic origin Austronesian or Malayo-Polynesian However, many, particularly in the cities of Luzon and the Visayas, have heavy Chinese, Spanish, and American mixtures, whereas those living in the provinces are mostly of pure Austronesian origin known as "native" Many Muslims in Mindanao have Arab, Indian and Chinese mixtures The four largest foreign minorities in the country are as follows: Chinese, Koreans, and Indian, and the Japanese Also of significance are the Americans, Indonesians, and Arabs Pure Spaniards, and other Europeans, form a very small proportion in the country's population
Needless to say, the Filipino trait is a confluence of many cultures put together Filipinos are famous for the bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie taken from Malay forefathers They observe very close family ties which is said to have been passed on by the Chinese Religion comes from the Spaniards who were responsible for spreading the Christian faith across the archipelago The Spaniards introduced Christianity Roman Catholicism and succeeded in converting the overwhelming majority of Filipinos At least 83% of the total population belongs to the Roman Catholic faith
The genuine and pure expression of hospitality is an inherent trait in Filipinos, especially those who reside in the countryside who may appear very shy at first, but have a generous spirit, as seen in their smiles Hospitality, a trait displayed by every Filipino, makes these people legendary in Southeast Asia Guests will often be treated like royalty in Philippine households This is most evident during fiestas when even virtual strangers are welcomed and allowed to partake in the feast that most, if not all, households have during the occasion At times, this hospitality is taken to a fault Some households spend their entire savings on their fiesta offerings and sometimes even run into debt just to have lavish food on their table They spend the next year paying for these debts and preparing for the next fiesta At any rate, seldom can you find such hospitable people who enjoy the company of their visitors Perhaps due to their long association with Spain, Filipinos are emotional and passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian
Filipinos lead the bunch of English-proficient Asian people today and English is considered as a second language The American occupation was responsible for teaching the Filipino people the English language While the official language is Filipino which many incorrectly equate to Tagalog and whereas 76-78 languages and 170 dialects exist in this archipelago, still English is the second most widely spoken language in the country
The geographical and cultural grouping of Filipinos is defined by region, where each group has a set of distinct traits and dialects - the sturdy and frugal Ilocanos of the north, the industrious Tagalogs of the central plains, the loving and sweet Visayans from the central islands, and the colorful tribesmen and religious Muslims of Mindanao Tribal communities or minorities are likewise scattered across the archipelago
Also, it may seem peculiar for tourists to notice the Latin flair in Filipino culture Mainstream Philippine culture compared to the rest of Asia is quite Hispanic and westernized at the surface level But still, Filipinos are essentially Southeast Asians and many indigenous and pre-Hispanic attitudes and ways of thinking are still noticeable underneath a seemingly westernized veneer Muslim Filipinos and indigenous groups, who have retained a fully Malayo-Polynesian culture unaffected by Spanish-influence, are also visible in cities like Manila, Baguio, Davao or Cebu, and can remind a visitor of the amazing diversity and multiculturalism present in the country
The Philippines is not only the largest Christian country in Asia, but also it is the world's third largest Catholic Nation The Catholic faith remains the single biggest legacy of three hundred years of Spanish colonial rule Catholicism is still taken quite seriously in the Philippines Masses still draw crowds from the biggest cathedrals in the metropolis to the smallest parish chapels in the countryside During Holy Week, most broadcast TV stations close down or operate only on limited hours and those that do operate broadcast religious programs The Catholic Church also still exerts quite a bit of influence even on non-religious affairs such as affairs of state Mores are changing slowly, however; Filipinos are now slowly accepting what were previously taboo issues in as far as Catholic doctrine is concerned, such as artificial birth control, premarital sex, and the dissolution of marriage vows
The biggest religious minority are Muslim Filipinos who primarily live in Mindanao and ARMM, but also increasingly in cities such as Manila, Baguio or Cebu in the north and central parts of the country They account for around 5% of the population Islam is the oldest continually practiced organized religion in the Philippines, with the first conversions made in the 12th century AD Islam became such an important force that Manila at the time of the Spanish arrival in the 16th century was a Muslim city Many aspects of this Islamic past are seen in certain cultural traits many mainstream Christian Filipinos still exhibit such as eating and hygiene etiquette and has added to the melting pot of Filipino culture in general Sadly, Terrorist attacks and violent confrontations between the Filipino army and splinter militant Islamic organizations such as the Abu Sayyaf and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have strained relations between Muslim and the non-Muslim Filipinos in rural areas in the south Yet, the Muslim Filipinos are much more liberal in their interpretations of Islam, and like the Muslims of Indonesia, are generally more relaxed regarding such topics as gender-segregation or the hijab veil than South Asians or Middle Eastern Muslims
Indian Filipinos, Chinese Filipinos, and Japanese Filipinos are mostly Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist which all accounts 3% of the population of the Philippines These populations have been in the country for centuries preceding Spanish rule, and many aspects of Buddhist and Hindu belief and culture are seen in the mainstream culture of Christian or Muslim Filipinos as well As with many things in the Philippines, religion statistics are never clear-cut and defined, and many Christians and Muslims also practice and believe in indigenous spiritual aspects such as honoring natural deities and ancestor-worship, as well as the existence of magic and healers that may in some cases contradict the orthodox rules of their religions
The climate is tropical, with March to May summer being the hottest months The rainy season starts in June and extends through October with strong typhoons possible The coolest months are from November to February, with mid-January to end of February considered the best for cooler and dryer weather Locations exposed directly to the Pacific Ocean have frequent rainfall all year This includes the popular Pagsanjan Falls southeast of Manila though the falls will get you wet regardless The average temperatures range from 78°F / 25°C to 90°F / 32°C, and humidity is around 77 percent Baguio, which is branded as the summer capital of the Philippines, tends to be cooler due to its being located in mountainous regions with temperatures at night going below 20°C 68°F During summer, the country experience droughts, sometimes at extreme conditions, from Marchsometimes early as February to Maysometime extending to June water supply drops with most of the power plants being hydro electric meaning during summer, you'll be experiencing regular black-outs locally known as brown-outs, so it isn't much suggested to travel during the months of March to May
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Christmas: The Filipino Way
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The Philippines is a Multi-Cultural country having Christian, Muslim and Chinese holidays aside from Secular holidays The year is welcomed by New Year's Day on January 1, being a predominantly Catholic country means observing the traditional Catholic holidays of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday during Lent or months around April or May, Araw ng pagkabuhay or Easter Sunday is celebrated 3 days after Good Friday Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor, Boy scouts reenact the march every 2 years in honor of this day that is also known as Bataan Day, they march as long as 10 kilometers, the Bataan Death March was part of the Bataan Battle which was also part of the Battle of the Philippines, the Bataan Death March was a 60 Kilometer march and the people who participated in this march were captured, tortured and murdered All Saints Day on November 1 and All Souls Day on November 2 In recognition of the Muslim Filipinos, the Islamic feast of Eid-Al-Fitr known in the Philippines as Hari Raya Puasa, held after Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, is also a national holiday This day changes year by year, as it follows the Lunar Calendar Chinese New Year is also celebrated by the Chinese Community but dates vary according to the lunar calendar Secular holidays include Labor Day May 1 and Independence Day June 12 August 30 is declared National Heroes Day Some holidays also commemorate national heroes such as Jose Rizal Dec 30 and Andres Bonifacio Nov 30 as well as Ninoy Aquino August 21 Metro Manila is less congested during Holy Week as people tend to go to their hometowns to spend the holidays there Holy week is also considered part of the super peak season for most beach resorts such as Boracay and the most popular ones tend to get overcrowded at this time Due to its cool mountain weather, Baguio is also where a lot of people spend the Holy Week break Christmas is widely celebrated on December 25
Dates
The Philippines is a diverse country just like Singapore, making the country more of a Salad bowl Every foreigner that has stepped in its history has taken the Asian identity of the Filipinos People in the big cities, such as Manila, may seem heavily Westernized However, many people from the city do come from rural areas and are still deeply rooted to traditional Filipino ways Tribal people do their best to maintain their heritage and culture despite the unavoidable influence of modern western culture, travelling remote places and meeting tribes and experiencing their culture and heritage is the best way to see how the Filipinos lived before the arrival of the Spanish Filipino culture can be seen in the Tinikling dance which also shows distinctive influence from the Indonesians, the dance is mistakenly known as the national dance because of its popularity, the dance is demonstrated by two or more people holding two or more bamboo sticks known as Kawayan, then they start moving the bamboo sticks as the dancers put their foot in between the bamboo sticks quickly out and in Kamayan, a literal meaning for eating with hands, try this while in the Philippines , to experience the Filipino way of eating
The Filipinos have also retained their animistic ways Many believe heavily in the presence of spirits and existence of ghouls, elves, and spirits in nature Some Filipinos are also deeply religious and devout people Regardless of your own beliefs, as a visitor, observance of religious rules and respect for the Filipinos beliefs will be greatly appreciated
Filipino literature is a mix of Indian sagas, folktales, and traces of Western influence Classical books are written in Spanish as well as in Tagalog, to this day most of Filipino literature is written in English The Philippines thus is a Multi-cultural country with its roots stretching from Asia to Europe and to the Americas History, Documentary
Literature
The Filipino film industry is suffering because of its main rival; the Western film industry, since the 21st century every year only 40 films are produced down from 200-300 films a year in the 1990s Western culture has also permeated the music industry in the Philippines Many songs are in English American Rock-n-Roll and, recently, rap and hip-hop are heard and performed Traditional Filipino songs such as Kundiman nostalgic/poetic songs are still held dearly by the population but is, unfortuantely, slowly losing influence among the younger generations Award winning films done by Filipino directors The Filipino Film industry was booming the earlier days with over 200 movies per year produced and made but prior to the arrival of Western films, the Film industry collapsed in the 1990s but by the 21st century, successful attempts in reviving the independent Film industry were done Filipino movies face fierce competition with western movies to this date
Film
Fancy horror movies? Just like its neighbouring countries the Filipinos enjoy watching horror and thriller movies
Music
In the Philippines, Barangays which is the somewhat the equivalent of a typical Western Sub-Urban is abbreviated as Brgy, the word Barangay comes from the word Balangay which is an old boat, a Barangay contains usually not less than 100 families Barangays are then further divided into Subdivisions, which is abbreviated Subd While getting a taxi or jeepney, Filipinos don't give the street's name, they give the address of a popular landmark instead which is near to their destination, so when you get a taxi or jeepney just give the popular landmark near your destination
The Philippines has two official languages: English and Filipino Filipino is mainly based on the Tagalog language a relative of Malay, it has loanwords from Spanish, English, Malay, Indonesian, Arabicsome words through Malay, Min nan, Japanese, Hindi and many other languages mostly from the Indian subcontinent and Europe The history of Tagalog is that it was formerly the Javanese language which was brought by the Indonesians in moving to the archipelago, the language dramatically change in trading with other countries and during the Spanish colonial times, to this day the language is dominated by Spanish loanwords which is helpful for some Spanish people and which is also the reason why some Filipinos understand a little Spanish In addition, as Malay and Filipino are closely related, speakers of Malay would also recognise many cognates in the Filipino language Generally, somebody who speaks Malay and Spanish would be able to understand the conversations of locals to a certain extent, and might just be able to get by
Filipino is the language spoken in the Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog regions as well as the National Capital Region NCR or Metro Manila In the Northern Luzon provinces, Ilocano is the most common language spoken The provinces of Pangasinan and Pampanga also have their own languages Further south of Metro Manila lies the Bicol Region where Bikolano is used In the Southern Islands of Visayas and Mindanao, Cebuano is the most common language spoken Other languages in the south include Hiligaynon and Waray
English is an official language of the Philippines and is a compulsory subject in all schools, so it is widely spoken in the larger cities and main tourist areas However, it is usually not the first language of choice for locals, and is largely restricted to formal speeches by the upper class Tourists won't have problems using English when making inquiries from commercial and government establishments A few simple phrases in Filipino will come in handy when traveling to rural places as English proficiency is limited there Taglish is spoken nowadays by the youth, it is a mix of Tagalog and English, an example is shown below,
Spanish is no longer widely understood, though many Spanish words survive in the local languages A Spanish based Creole language known as Chavacano is spoken in Cavite and in Zamboanga The government is trying to revive Spanish by providing Spanish in public schools as an optional language Younger Spanish-Filipinos tend to speak Filipino languages and/or English as their primary language
There are some other ethnic groups who reside in the country, particularly in more urbanized areas like Manila The largest group is the Chinese, many of whom have assimilated with Filipino society Take note however that since most of them come from Fujian province, they speak Hokkien as well as Lan-ang; a language which is made with the mix of Filipino and Hokkien, they are also taught Mandarin in Chinese schools Muslim Filipinos are taught Arabic in schools in order to read the Qu'ran Other groups include the Indians, Japanese, Arabs, Koreans, Americans and Europeans use their native language as their first language In some cosmopolitan areas, there are establishments catering to Korean speakers Indian languages such as Hindi and Punjabi are also spoken by the Indian communities while Europeans speak their own languages
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Exchange Rates
As of January 2010:
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The Philippine Peso₱PHP is the official currency As of January 2010, one US dollar trades at around ₱46Peso bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 One peso is equivalent to 100 centavos and coins come in 5, 10 and 25 centavo variants in addition to the 1, 5 and 10 peso coins Money changers are not so common in the Philippines apart from some heavily touristed areas and most malls which usually have their own currency exchange stall Banks on the other hand are widely available to exchange currency but usually impose a minimum amount and have limited hours of operation, usually from 9 AM to 3 PM on weekdays except Bank of the Philippine Islands84 BPI and Banco De Oro85 BDO which have longer hours of operation Don't exchange money in stalls along the streets as some of them might be exchanging your money for counterfeit money, contact Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas86 Central Bank of the Philippines if you suspect if your money is counterfeited or not
Be aware that no person is allowed to enter the Philippines carrying more than P10,000 without prior authorisation by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Those who have not gained prior authorisation will have to declare the excess money at the customs desk upon arrival — but if you have a reason to do so, like you are going to, say rent an apartment in Manila, you can be allowed pass through without any fee while carrying P30,000 However, it's entirely possible that this was a one-day luck and on a different day you may lose out by entering with a large amount of money
Visitors can also use the 6,000 ATMs nationwide to withdraw funds or ask for cash advances The three major local ATM consortia are BancNet, MegaLink and Expressnet International networks, like PLUS and Cirrus, are accessible with many ATMs, however Cirrus is more predominant than PLUS; however, withdrawals are often limited to 5,000 pesos An exception is HSBC where up to 50,000 pesos is possible Visitors who have a MasterCard/Maestro/Cirrus cards can withdraw funds or ask for cash advances at ATMs that display their logos The most prominent MasterCard ATMs are the Express Tellers by BPI Bank of the Philippine Islands and the Smartellers by Banco de Oro PLUS ATMs are not available locally as a complement by itself, but instead it is available along with Cirrus Prominent examples include the Fasteller by Equitable PCI Bank and the Electronic Teller ET by Metrobank Most MegaLink ATMs are linked to PLUS and Cirrus
Credit card holders can use VISA, MasterCard, American Express and JCB cards in many locations in the Philippines but merchants would usually require a minimum purchase amount before you can use your card Cardholders of China UnionPay credit cards can get cash advances at many BancNet ATMs particularly of Metrobank but cannot use their cards in point of sale transactions at the moment
Traveling in Philippines is cheap one of the least expensive places to visit in Asia and as well in the rest of the world Some accommodations may be pricy , more so in some cases places to stay are cheaper in Thailand For example a stay in a hotel would cost as low as $30 or ₱1400, a flight to Cebu from Manila and vice-versa will cost $35 or ₱1645 Transportation is low as ₱850 for the first 4km in a Jeepney Using the internet for 1 hour in an internet cafe range from ₱20 to ₱50 depending on the Internet Cafe's location, a can of coke costs as low was ₱16 while a copy of the International Herald Tribune costs ₱70 and Economist as low as ₱160 In most restaurants, there is 12% Value Added Tax VAT usually included in the unit price but service charge is often excluded and computed separately
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What's a Pasalubong? A pasalubong is a tradition practiced by Filipinos for a long time, a Pasalubong is something you bring to your friends and family as a souvenir, keepsake or gift from a place you have recently visited, nowadays Filipino immigrants from abroad as well as Filipinos who work outside their hometowns but within the Philippines bring pasalubong or send them mostly during Christmas, New Year, Birthdays, Holy Week and during the summer and winter vacations Try this tradition if you're planning what to buy as a souvenir from the Philippines, Filipinos tend to be not selfish even co-workers, friends and neighbours as well as their co-worker's family, their friend's friends and their neighbour's neighbour try giving pasalubongs to your enemies also, even the meanest person to them they'd also give them pasalubongs, it's funny but that's how Filipinos are A Pasalubong consists the following, Food; usually delicacies and sweets, T-shirts, Souvenirs such as key chains, bags etc they usually put all their pasulubongs into one box This may be hard for you but as they say it's better to give than to receive, get tips from locals for what a typical pasalubong consists |
It isn't hard to find malls in the Philippines, the 3 largest malls in the world are found in the country, it's a fact consumerism has been part of a Filipino's life, even things they don't need but are in sale and discount they'll buy it The reason why the country hasn't been affected much by recent financial crisis is because of the circulation of money, even if Filipinos are broke they'll find a way to buy something at least in a week for themselves
As stated above, living in the Philippines is cheap, shopping there is also cheap Sales tend to happen during pay day and last for 3 days and also during the Christmas season in the Philippines Christmas season extends from September to the first week of January in Department stores like SM Department Store87 Cheaper items are sold at flea markets and open markets where you can bargain the price like Divisoria, Market!Market!, Greenhills in Metro Manila Ayala Center88 is often compared to Singapore's Orchard Rd, from Entertainment to shopping, they have it all there, located in the Financial district of Makati Not far from Makati is Serendra, a Piazza that offers lifestyle and luxury shops and often called the Luxury lifestyle center of Metro Manila The piazza features modern architecture that will make you think you're somewhere near the world of Star Wars, stare, drool and be amazed at the public art displayed there Coffee shops and tea shops are found around this area, as well as furniture and clothing stores and is located in Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig The 4 largest mall operators are SM, Gaisano, Ayala and Robinson's with branches around the archipelago
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Cooking terms What's in your menu?
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Filipino cuisine has developed from the different cultures that shaped its history As such, it is a melange of Chinese, Malay, Spanish, European and American influences Though its cuisine is not as renowned as many of its neighbours, such as that of Thailand and Vietnam, Filipino cooking is nonetheless distinct in that it is possibly the least spicy of all South East Asian cuisines Don't make the mistake of thinking that Filipino food is bland, though It is just that instead of spices, Filipino food depends more on garlic, onions and ginger to add flavor to dishes Painstaking preparation and prolonged cooking time is also a characteristic of most Filipino dishes, and when done properly is often what brings out the flavor of the food as, opposed to a healthy dose of spices Kamayan, literally means Eating with Hands Some Filipinos who were born and raised in rural provinces still eat with their hands, mostly at their homes during mealtimes They would often say that Kamayan makes food taste better Wash your hands clean before attempting this to avoid illnesses Almost all Filipinos in the urban areas though use spoons, forks and knives Eating with hands in public is not uncommon however if you're eating in a mid-range and splurge restaurant this may be considered rude
To experience how the Filipinos eat in a budget way, Carenderias food stalls and Turo-turo meaning Point-point, which actually means you point at the food you want to eat in the buffet table are some of the options Mains cost less than $1 Carenderias serve food cooked earlier and it may not always be the safest of options
As with the rest of Southeast Asia, rice is the staple food of the Philippines Some areas in the Visayas prefer corn but elsewhere Filipinos would generally have rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner Uncooked rice usually comes in 50kg sacks but can be bought by the kilogram at the wet market or at neighborhood rice dealers Single servings of rice are readily available at fastfood restaurants or eateries
The word diet is non-existent in the vocabulary of Filipinos or has never existed, as mentioned before they are laid back people, they love to eat as much as they can as if there is no tomorrow They spend most of their money on food, a Filipino teenager might at least enter a fastfood chain twice to thrice a week, during fiestas in a city, town, barangay, purok or subdivision Filipinos would have big parties and it would last from noon to midnight when some of the people would end up being drunk, you can ask if you can join a fiesta in a home and some might welcome you as this is a tradition If you're visiting the Philippines it is the best time to cut your so called diet and eat to your heart's content The Filipino diet is a lot more similar to the west than the east, with Filipinos eating less vegetables, more oil, meat and sugar than people in neighboring countries; most Filipinos aren't health conscious Cancer and heart-related diseases are the leading causes of death here However if you visit rural areas they use more vegetables and less meat and practice old Filipino medicine
Some Filipinos strictly use the serving spoon rule, sharing the belief with Indians that offering utensils or food that had come contact with someone's saliva is rude, disgusting, and will cause food to get stale quickly Singing or having an argument while eating is considered rude, as they believe food is grasya/gracia or grace in English; food won't come to you if you keep disrespecting it Singing while cooking is considered taboo because it will cause you to forever be a bachelor or a widow for life, another belief shared with the Indians Conservative Filipinos share another belief with the Chinese that not finishing your food on your plate is taboo and rude, you'll often see Filipino parents scolding their children to finish their food or not they'll never achieve good academic performance Usually before a meal starts Filipinos say a prayer before food is served Wait also till the host invites you to start eating Also, it is rude to refuse food that the host offers While eating in front of Chinese/Japanese/Korean-Filipinos don't stick your chopsticks vertically upright into a bowl of food refer to China, Japan, South Korea eat sections for more information
Filipinos usually serve at least one main course accompanied by rice for lunch and dinner At times you would have two with a vegetable dish accompanying a meat dish On special occasions such as fiestas, several main dishes would be served, a Filipino party or a Fiesta wouldn't be complete without Spaghetti, Pasta, Fruit Salad, Ice Cream, Rice, spring rolls, cake or rice cakes and soda Soups are also often the main course apart from being a starter It is not uncommon for Filipinos to douse their rice with the soup and eat the meat that came with the soup alongside
Kanin means Rice in Tagalog while Kakanin means Rice cakes
Other kinds include Biko, Cuchinta, Pichi-Pichi, Sapin-Sapin, etc The towns of Calasiao in Pangasinan and Binan, Laguna are famous for their puto
Pancit/Pansit or Noodles, an influence from Chinese cuisine and believed to give long life because of its length, often eaten in celebrations such as Birthdays and New Year Below listed are some popular Filipino noodle dishes
Usually eaten at breakfast, this is the Filipino version of a typical American breakfast of egg, bacon and pancakes Silog is an contraction of the words Sinangagfried rice and Itlogegg They are not only sold in Filipino eateries and stalls but also in restaurants and fastfood chains such as McDonald's
Pankaplog
A slang term for a breakfast that mainly consists of Pande Salbread, kapecoffee and itlog
Ulam means Mains in Tagalog
Spanish, Portuguese, Mexicans, Americans and other European and Mediterranean people introduced their cuisine to the locals and just like they did to the Chinese, they embraced it While the Spanish occupied the Philippines, connections of the Mexicans and the Aztecs with the Filipinos started in the Manila-Acapulco trade, the people introduced to each other their native cuisine American influence came during the American colonization
Western fast food chains have alot of branches within the country, with all the usual suspects being widely present including McDonald's called as McDo in the Philippines for short, Wendy's, Burger King and Pizza Hut Not only western fastfood is available but also localized versions of fastfood chains such as Jollibee and Greenwhich Coffeshops such as Seattle's Best Coffee, Costa Coffee and Starbucks also operate in the country
The Filipinos and Chinese traded with each other in the early times, then the Chinese finally began settling in the Philippines and introduced their cuisine and culture, the Filipinos embraced the Chinese heritage and started adapting it in their lives including food Most of the dishes found below are served in Chinatown and Filipino-Chinese fast food chains and eateries
Arguably Filipino streetfood is one of the best however it may not be as clean as the ones you find in Singapore Streetfood vendors have been criticized because of their unhygienic practices as well as unhealthy options but praised by many especially the youth because of its affordability and taste, nowadays streetfood is also found in malls but the traditional way of street vending still hasn't died out Items are sold for as low as P5 Street food is usually enjoyed with beer or soda, usually eaten during the afternoon till night
Tropical fruits abound in the Philippines Most of the countryside produce finds its way to the metro areas and can be easily bought in supermarkets, such as:
Fruits
Sweet treats
Muslims will find it hard to find Halal food outside predominantly Muslim areas in the Philippines even though the country is one of the fastest emerging markets in exporting certified halal products Ask if there is pork in the dish before eating it Seventh Day Adventists would possibly find some vegetarian restaurants in the Philippines, mostly lurking in the commercial, financial and provincial capitals, and most of them use tofu instead of meat, Sanitarium products may be found in Seventh Day Adventists or Sanitarium hospitals Hindus will find Indian restaurants which serve some vegetarian options around Metro Manila Vegetarians and vegans will find it difficult to find a Filipino dish which is wholly vegetarian as most of the Filipinos love to add meat in every single dish they eat Jews will also find it hard to find Kosher meals However rabbis in the Philippines suggest some stores which sell Kosher food, visit Kosher Philippines for advice
Tropical fruit drinks made from dalandan green mandarin, suha pomelo, pinya pineapple, calamansi small lime, buko young coconut, durian, guyabano soursop mango, banana, watermelon, strawberry and many more are available at stands along streets, as well as at commercial establishments such as food carts inside malls They are often served chilled with ice
Sago't Gulaman a sweet drink made of molasses, sago pearls and seaweed gelatin, and taho, a sweet, warm snack made from sago pearls, soft tofu and carmelized syrup, are worth trying They are affordable and sold in stalls along streets or by vendors around the a common area as well as in malls Zagu is a shake with flavors such as strawberry and chocolate, with sago pearls Another famous drink is 'buko juice, the juice is consumed via an inserted straw on the top of the buko or young coconut
Salabat, sometimes called ginger tea, is an iced or hot tea made from lemon grass and pandan leaves or brewed from ginger root Kapeng barako is a famous kind of tea in the Philippines, found in Batangas, made from coffee beans found in the cool mountains Try the Filipino hot chocolate drink, tsokolate, made from chocolate tablets called tableas, a tradition that dates back the Spanish colonial times Champorado isn't considered a drink by Filipinos, but it is another version of tsokolate with the difference of added rice Records say that chocolate was introduced by the Aztecs to the Filipinos during the Manila-Acapulco trade
Metro Manila is home to many bars, watering holes, and karaoke sites Popular places include Makati particularly the Glorietta and Greenbelt areas, Ortigas Metrowalk, and Eastwood in Libis Other big cities such as Cebu City and Davao also have areas where the nightlife is centered Establishments serve the usual hard and soft drinks typical of bars elsewhere Note that Filipinos rarely consume alcohol by itself They would normally have what is called as "pulutan" or bar chow alongside their drinks which is like the equivalent of tapas At the least, this would consist of mixed nuts but selections of grilled meats and seafood are not uncommon food alongside the customary drinks When having a party, Filipinos enjoy drinking round-robin style using a common glass One is supposed to drink bottoms-up before passing the glass to the next person This custom is known as "tagayan" and one person usually volunteers to pour the drink
Beer is perhaps the most common form of alcohol consumed in bars San Miguel Beer is the dominant local brand with several variants such as Light, Dry, Strong Ice and their flagship variant Pale Pilsen Budweiser, Heineken and Corona can also be found in upscale bars Rum and ginebra which is the local form of gin are commonly available forms of hard liquor Indigenous forms of liquor are lambanog and tuba which are both derived from coconut sap Tuba is fermented from the coconut sap and though tuba itself can be drunk, it is also distilled to take the form of lambanog Lambanog is now being marketed widely both locally and internationally in its base form as well as in several flavored variants such as mango, bubble gum and blueberry
Alcohol is extremely cheap in the Philippines and probably cheapest in the whole of Asia For a bottle of San Miguel bought at a 7-11 or Mini-Stop, a bottle would costs about ₱20-₱30 about US$050 For top-end bars and clubs, a bottle would costs about ₱100-200 A bottle of 750ml Absolut Vodka at the supermarket will cost about ₱750, and a popular local rum especially amongst knowledgeable expats tanduay costs just below ₱70 at a 24 hour convenience store in Makati The Financial District
Housing options for tourists include hotels, condotels, apartelles, motels, inns/bed-and-breakfasts, and pension houses
Hotels are usually for the higher-end traveller, although hotel rates--even for four-star establishments-- are not very high compared to other international destinations Condotels are furnished condominium units rented out for long or short term stays, apartelles are set up for both short and long term stays, and a pension house is usually more basic and economical These all vary in terms of cleanliness, availability of air conditioning, and hot water showers Motels, inns, and lodges also serve lodging purposes but have a reputation as meeting places for illicit sex, a unit being usually a small room with a connected carport, hidden behind a high wall which provides for secret comings and goings You can distinguish these by their hourly rates, while more reputable institutions usually have daily rates
It is possible for foreigners to earn casual money while staying in the Philippines, especially in Manila and other bigger cities in provinces These may include temporary teaching in schools, colleges and other institutions; and working in bars and clubs Temporary work may also be available as an "extra" on the set of a film or television series Fluency in English is very important in jobs while knowledge of Filipino or Tagalog is considerably low
Unlike other countries, there are no strict bureaucratic papers needed such as carte de sejours and NBI IDs, so some formal jobs are not hard to come by and get Do not expect large sums of money even for formal jobs Wages are displayed on a per day basis rather than a per hour basis
Most establishments pay monthly but informal jobs pay out variably either cash on hand or weekly
