Strategy Guide: The Philippines

Hopefully all of my previous posts about my time in the Philippines has sparked some interest and that maybe one day, some of you readers might consider adding it to your list of travel destinations. Whether that time will be in the next few months or in the next few years, here’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts that should prove helpful in your time there regardless of when you decide to go!

DO:

• Brush up on your Tagalog skills or learn some key phrases: Though English is spoken and understood in most parts of the country, there’s a chance that you might run into someone who doesn’t know a lick of English, so knowing a few words or phrases such as “How much is it?” or “How do you get to x place?” will come in very handy. If you’re an American born Filipino, speaking in Tagalog is sure to help you get the local rates for goods and services, rather than get the “foreigner specials”.
• Research your destination!:If you’re traveling alone, do your due diligence and read about your destination as much as possible. Familiarize yourself with the landmarks, the prices for goods/services, and write up an itinerary for all of your activities. There will be an opportunity for you to be random and spontaneous, so there’s no need to jeopardize your safety or well being by jumping in blind.
• Polish up your negotiation skills: They call it “tawad” in the Philippines and it’s something that most Filipinos are pretty adept at doing. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pricing goods and services, so if you know the average price and you’re smooth talker, you can get some sweet discounts to stretch your budget out even further. Even if you’re not the best negotiator, you can at least score the local rate instead of the inflated tourist rates!
• Do as the locals do: Believe it or not, people in the Philippines rarely leave tips so if you don’t want to stand out as a foreigner, don’t give your driver or your waiter an extra couple of bucks unless you asked him/her to go above and beyond the call of duty. Most Filipinos don’t have money to spare, so tipping is not really part of the culture. Also be respectful in all of your dealings, particularly if you are young; this is a culture that puts emphasis on respecting your elders and those who are more experienced.
• Dress for the weather!: It’s hot in the Philippines; really hot, so don’t forget to only pack warm weather clothes like shorts and T-shirts and dress in single layers as much as possible. You’re likely to sweat through most of your clothes so be sure to pack spares in case you won’t be doing laundry on location. Avoid wearing socks and shoes whenever possible; trust me, your feet will thank you, stick with sandals and flip flops instead.
• Keep your belongings near you at all times: There are a lot of good, honest people in the Philippines, but unfortunately, there’s a fair amount of undesirables around as well. Do not leave your luggage or possessions unattended and keep a real close eye on them, especially if other people are handling them. This also means not leaving your valuables (jewelry, electronics, etc) in your bag in the hotel room since it is likely that other people have access to your room. When riding public transportation, keep a hand on your wallet as pickpockets are known to practice in crowded buses and jeepneys.
• Bring your own napkins, tissue, or toilet paper: For some reason, napkins and toilet paper are not freely handed out in the Philippines; whether you’re in a restaurant or the bathroom, it’s unlikely you’ll find any for your use so be prepared and load up before your trip.
• Bring US Dollars for exchange: Avoid buying Philippine Pesos (PHP) before your trip, the exchange rate is almost always better when you exchange your money in the Philippines. Practically all banks and money exchangers in the Philippines take dollars and will gladly give you a good rate in return. Cash is still the preferred form of currency in the islands so always try to have some in your wallet.
• Wear sunblock!:Pretty self explanatory! The Philippines is much closer to the equator, where the sun’s rays are much more intense and it won’t take long for it to damage your skin if left unprotected.
• Keep an open mind!: Never forget that you are a visitor in a foreign land, so you might run into a few situations where your idea of normal or acceptable might be challenged and my best advice is to just go with it. You can’t visit a place like the Philippines and expect the local facilities to be first class or for people to drive around in an organized manner; that would be a little boring wouldn’t it?

Don’t:

• Make yourself a target: There are lowlives that specifically go after tourists and they can spot them fairly easily, either by their general appearance or the way they trust pretty much anyone. Be wary of anyone aggressively hawking their services (common at the airport), don’t flash your cash or your expensive goodies, and try to look as “local” as possible. Even if they can tell you’re a tourist, at least they don’t know about your wad of cash or your expensive camera. Filipinos are really friendly and this can sometimes disarm someone’s suspicions, so always be wary and don’t let your guard down.
• Ride with strangers: Probably a no brainer, but some people offer up their own vehicles as transportation for a little extra cash on the side. I won’t generalize and say that they’re all suspicious, but it’s best to go with established, regulated transportation companies or registered transportation vehicles (tricycles, jeepneys, buses, taxis) if you need to get somewhere. In most cases, these private transporters are more expensive in addition to the possibility of being unscrupulous individuals.
• Drink water that doesn’t come from a bottle or a water treatment service: Drinking water from the tap or any other source that you cannot verify can ruin your entire vacation. The water supply is known to harbor pathogens that will leave you puking from sun up to sun down. The locals reportedly drink it without consequence, but keep in mind they were probably raised on this water and may have developed immunities. Do yourself a favor and drink only bottled water or water that you can confirm came from a professional water purification service. However, tap water used for cooking is less dangerous due to sterilization resulting from the heat used to boil the water.
• Walk alone at night: In some areas, it’s not a good idea to walk alone even during the day, but regardless of where you are, definitely avoid walking alone at night. This is good advice in any country really, but it’s something to be taken extra seriously in the Philippines. If you simply have to go somewhere at night, try to go with someone else or take a tricycle or taxi straight to your destination.
• Give money to beggars: Giving money to a beggar lets everyone know you have money to spare, which might make you a target for thieves or more beggars. In addition, in some areas of the Philippines, it’s actually illegal to give money to beggars (anti-mendicancy laws). In most cases, just refusing to make eye contact or acknowledging their presence is enough to get them to leave you alone.
• Expect traffic to give way for you: There are very few rules when it comes to driving in the Philippines, for the most part it’s simply “don’t hit people or other cars” and everything else is fair game. Whether you’re driving or walking, don’t expect the other drivers to let you in regardless of how long you’ve been waiting at an intersection and don’t expect anyone to stop and let you cross the street; young or old, everyone here is responsible for making their own way.

The most important advice I can give you is don’t forget to have fun! There are far more things to enjoy in the Philippines than to dread, so when planning your trip, try your best to highlight all of things that make the islands an unforgettable place. Some of you might feel daunted after reading this list, but let me remind you that I’m no Anthony Bourdain; I’m as green when it comes to traveling and exploring the world as a home schooled Amish boy and I made it out in one piece! Don’t let your fears dictate where you can and can’t go, because with a little planning, no place is beyond your limits!