Philippines

Contents

• Introduction
• Manila
• Cebu City
• Safety & Security
• Money
• Bargains & Basics
• Best Buys
• Worst Buys
• Top Shops
• Shop Smart
• Important Tips
• Important Information

Destination Facts

Full name: Republic of the Philippines
Population: 84.6 million
Area: 299,000 sq km
Capital city: Manila
Languages: Filipino (Tagalog) and English

For more information, check out Lonely Planet’s range of books on the Philippines.

Introduction

The second-largest archipelago in the world, with more than 7000 tropical islands, the Philippines is one of the great treasures of Southeast Asia. Often overlooked by travellers, the Philippines rewards those who go the extra distance to reach it. First and foremost, the Philippines is a place of natural wonders – a string of coral-fringed islands strewn across a vast expanse of the western Pacific. The Philippines boasts some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling. Above sea level, it has a fantastic landscape. And if you’re after palm-fringed, white-sand beaches,the Philippines has too many to choose from. Of course, any traveller who has been to the Philippines will tell you that it’s the people and their culture that makes the Philippines unique.

Manila

It’s a pity that Manila is often disparaged, as there’s much here to like. For one, all the adjectives often used to describe the Philippines – jovial, laid-back, casual, shambolic, earnest and more are on display here more than anywhere else in the country. If you’re looking for a good time, Manila could be just the ticket: bars and entertainment venues will keep you well fed, well greased and in the party mood for months on end. Plus there’s plenty to do if you’re prepared to give it the time, from excellent museums to lively markets and cultural oddities such as the Chinese Cemetery.

Cebu City

Like an ageing screen siren, Cebu City somehow manages to seem young and innocent after all these years – just don’t look too closely. This place is older than Manila, has the nation’s busiest port and a population nearing one million. Chinese, Cambodians and Arabs are thought to have been wading ashore at Cebu as early as the 15th century, to trade gold, cotton, opium and slaves. So when European explorer Ferdinand Magellan finally rocked up in 1521, he was a late arrival. Cebu City is a major gateway to the Visayas and an attractive alternative to entering the country at Manila’s manic airport, with many popular destinations both on the island or on nearby islands. As far as most visitors are concerned, Cebu City is Manila minus the mayhem.

Safety & Security

The Australian Government recommends that you do not travel to certain parts of the Philippines.Travellers should check smartraveller.gov.au for current travel advice. Unfortunately, the Philippines, including Manila, has experienced terrorist attacks. Travellers need to be aware that further terrorist attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in the Philippines. Be careful when taking taxis as travellers have been threatened and robbed. Criminal gangs who drug and rob unsuspecting tourists are active in Manila.

Money

Currency The unit of currency in the Philippines is the peso (P), which is also spelled piso in Tagalog or Philipino, and is divided into 100 centavos (c). Banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 pesos. Coins are in 10c and 25c pieces, and P1 and P5.

Changing money

The smartest way to access cash in the Philippines is to bring a credit or debit card for cash or cash advances from banks and ATMs (note ATMs and banks are scarce in rural areas – always stock up on cash before leaving a city). US dollars are widely accepted, along with some travellers cheques, and you can also change Australian dollars at major banks in Manila. Avoid local moneychangers – they have a bad reputation with travellers.

Going offshore...

know the medicine law. It’s illegal to take PBS medicine (subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) out of Australia, unless it’s for your own use or the use of someone travelling from Australia with you. Penalties are steep; fines of up to $5000 and/or two years imprisonment.

If you do take PBS medicine overseas, follow these simple steps:

• contact the embassy of the country you’re visiting to ensure the medicine is legal there
• carry a letter from your doctor with the medicine, stating what the medicine is, how much you’ll be taking, and that it’s for your personal use
• leave the medicine in its original packaging, so it’s clearly labelled with your name and dosage.

For more information about taking PBS medicine overseas, call the Travelling with PBS medicine enquiry line on %1800 500 147, or log onto www.medicareaustralia.gov.au

Bargains & Basics

Cities are dominated by over-sized shopping malls, but across the Philippines local markets are a must-see, if only to experience the amazing riot of colours and delightful cacophony of sounds. You can find markets of varying sizes in almost all Philippine cities and towns. Some are held only once or twice a week – ask a local for advice. Manila is a bargain-hunter’s paradise, with everything ranging from simple street markets to ritzy boutiques. The largest variety of stores can be found in Manila’s many shopping malls. Similarly Cebuanos love their shopping centres and tend to do them in grand style. You can generally eat, bank, organise flights, and fulfil most of your consumer needs in these meccas, and all in the comfort of air-con.

Best buys

Go native Traditional handicrafts such as bowls, baskets and textiles can be found in cities such as Cebu, Davao and Zamboanga; or you could go to the source. Tacloban, on the island of Leyte, is famous for the quality of its abaca products, Iligan on Mindanao has a good range of Muslim-produced handicrafts, while Lake Sebu is known for weaving and betel-nut box-making. Goods made from plant or animal material must be declared for quarantine inspection on arrival back in Australia.

All dressed up The Barong Tagalog, the traditional dress-shirt (which usually includes an embroidered front) worn by Filipino men, is a popular purchase among tourists. The best barong are made from pinya (peen-ya), a fabric woven from pineapple fibres. Jusi (hoo-see), from ramie fibres, is more common and less expensive. The long-sleeved pinya or jusi barong is usually worn at formal occasions, while the cotton version, in either long or short sleeves (the latter is called polo barong), is suitable for everyday use. Ready-to-wear barong are available at most handicraft shops and department stores, and most tailors will gladly sew one to your specifications.

Most shops also carry womenswear made from the finely embroidered material. A less expensive form of jusi is made into elegant tablecloths and napkins. Buyer beware Environmentalists have serious concerns about the impact of uncontrolled shell harvesting in the Philippines. Never buy coral or shell products unless they have a stamp indicating that they come from sustainable resources. If you have any doubts about the source of an item, don’t purchase it – there are plenty of legitimate souvenirs to take its place. Trident shells and certain giant clams are protected under international laws governing trade in endangered species. You must declare all shells, including ornaments and jewellery, for quarantine inspection on arrival back in Australia.

Worst Buys

When you’re shopping, it’s important to know what you can and can’t bring back into Australia. Common items from the Philippines not allowed into Australia include:

• Eggs and egg products
• Dairy products including powdered milk, polvoron and milk sweets
• Uncanned meat products including dried, floss, pork crackling found in noodles, soup and sandwiches
• Bananas and banana chips
• Banana leaf – fresh, dried and as rice wrapping
• Ornaments and souvenirs made with banana leaf – for example photo albums and notebooks
• Fresh fruit including mango and dragon fruit.

Some of theses items are allowed in if accompanied by an import permit and/or treated by Quarantine (which will cost you money). Talk to Quarantine prior to departure about obtaining an import permit.

For more information about what you can’t bring back into Australia visit AQIS Travel

Carrying funds in or out of Australia?

In 2006, the Australian Government introduced stronger laws to protect Australians from money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Under this new law, you have to report travellers cheques, personal cheques, money orders, postal orders, promissory notes and other bearer negotiable instruments of any amount if a Customs or police officer asks you to.

You still have to report AUD$10,000 cash (or the equivalent amount in foreign currency) using a form available in the Customs area of airports or seaports. Check out Austrac for more information.

Top Shops

Don’t get so overwhelmed by all the great buys that you spend your money on stuff that won’t be allowed back into Australia. Snakes and live chickens are a definite no-no, and anything made from animal products and plant material must be declared to Quarantine (and may need treatment) when you get home.

Manila

Chinatown

The vibrant Chinatown district is bordered by three Goodwill Arches. As in any other Chinese enclave around the world, here you’ll find dozens of goldsmiths, intriguing herbalists, crowded teahouses and shops selling mooncakes, incense, paper money to burn for ancestors, trinkets and all kinds of curios.

Quiapo Church Apothecary Stalls
Quezon Blvd, Quiapo

Around Quiapo Church there are dozens of dubious apothecary stalls selling all manner of herbal and folk medicines, as well as amulets (carved stones and medallions believed to have magical powers). Don’t even think of trying, buying or exporting any of this stuff.

Ayala Center
Greenbelt St, Makati

The Ayala Center is the God of the monolithic mega malls. This is the biggest and the ‘best’ place to pick up discounted brand name goods and anything else that you fancy, really.
It’s also home to some hip bars.

Silahis Arts & Artifacts Center
744 General Luna St, Intramuros
Ph: 527 2111

It’s almost more cultural centre than store here. Authentic crafts from around the country are sold next to beautiful antiques. All of the merchandise is very high quality. Baskets and goods made from plant or animal material must be declared for quarantine inspection on your return to Australia.

Cebu City

Ayala Centre
Arch Reyes Ave, Cebu Business Park
Ph: 231 5342/0

With European and American label boutiques, restaurants, bars, health spas, cinemas, every fast-food chain imaginable, games halls and even a child-care centre, it makes you wonder if some people never leave this place. And before you ask – yes, it also has a bingo stage.

Carbon Market
CM Briones St

Chaotic, stinky, slippery and full of weird stuff you wouldn’t want to eat, the Carbon Market is Cebu City’s biggest market – where clothes and baskets snuggle cheek-by-jowl with stalls of fish, live chickens and drying intestines (yippee!). Of course you can’t take this stuff home, but it’s worth a browse.

National Bookstore
Mango Plaza, General Maxilom Ave
Ph: 255 4832

What’s a holiday without a best-selling paperback? There are several outlets of the National Bookstore in the city’s major malls. Here you’ll find local and international fiction and nonfiction, magazines, stationery and maps. Did anyone say Dan Brown?

SM City
North Reclamation Area

This is the pièce de résistance of shopping malls. You can organise travel and banking, and cover all other necessities in a place big enough to have its own government currency. You’ll also find very helpful information booths here.

Warning!

Endangered plants and animals. Buying products made from endangered species (for example traditional medicines, orchids, crocodile and snake products) could contribute to the extinction of the species in the wild. However, some species can be imported with the right permits – for more information see www.environment.gov.au/travel

Note: if you import wildlife products without the right permits, your products may be seized by Customs and you could face stiff penalties.

Prior to travel, you should consult your doctor for advice on how to reduce your risk of illness while travelling, including required and recommended vaccinations and whether booster doses of childhood vaccinations are necessary. Monitoring your health whilst away and when you return is important for your own wellbeing. There is a chance that during your travels you could have been exposed to infectious diseases such as influenza, gastroenteritis or malaria. It is very important that you consult with your doctor if you feel unwell, even after you return to Australia, and consider your recent destinations as a possible source for your illness.

Shop Smart

Before you spend your shopping money, it’s a good idea to know what you can and can’t bring back into Australia. That way, you get to keep your travel treasures and save money on any necessary quarantine treatments (or fines).

All food, plant material and animal products from overseas – including many common souvenirs – must be declared for quarantine inspection (and may need treatment) when you get home.

For more information about what needs to be declared to Quarantine visit AQIS Travel.

Common items from the Philippines that you must declare (and might need treatment and/or an import permit) include:

• Wooden items
• Bark − including on souvenirs and ornaments
• Plant products including souvenirs made with banana leaf and other plant material − for example photo albums and notebooks
• Fish products including dried fish and shrimp.

In many cases, declared goods are returned to you after inspection. However, any item that presents a disease risk or is found to contain insects or larvae will be withheld by Quarantine. You’ll be given a range of options for the item depending on the quarantine risk. These options include: treatment (for example fumigation) to make the item safe; holding the item until an import permit is presented; re-exporting the item; and destroying the item. Most of these options will cost you money.

Before you Return

• Make sure you eat or throw away all fruit and vegetables before you land in Australia – they’re not allowed in
• Leave ALL aircraft food on board, including nuts and snacks
• Wash shoes that have been worn in rural areas including farms, markets and zoos, or near animals
• Make sure you clean ALL soil from your hiking boots, sports shoes, golf clubs, camping gear, backpacks and mountain bikes – you still have to declare these to Quarantine
• Pack items for inspection together, and keep them at the top of your bag so they can be
  reached easily.

Important Tips

Before travelling overseas register your travel and contact details online at smartraveller.gov.au, or in person at the Australian Embassy in Manila at Level 23, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave, Makati City, %(63 2) 7578 100, once you arrive so we can contact you in an emergency.

Check the latest travel advice for your destination at smartraveller.gov.au before you go. Subscribe to receive free email notification each time the advice is updated. Take out travel insurance to cover hospital treatment, medical evacuation and any activities, like adventure sports, in which you plan to participate.

Obey the law of the country you’re visiting. Don’t expect to be treated differently to the locals just because you’re Australian, even if local laws appear harsh or unfair by Australian standards.
Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, travellers’ cheques, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home. Ensure your passport has a minimum six months’ validity.

For more travel tips and advice, check out smartraveller.gov.au

Important Information

With increased quarantine screening at Australia’s airports, you’d be mad not to declare all items made from food, plant and animal material. The detector dog’s sense of smell (100 times greater than ours), won’t miss a beat – and neither will the X-ray machines or Quarantine officers.

Don’t risk an on-the-spot fine or prosecution, or worse, threaten our flora, fauna and important agricultural industries with exotic pests and diseases. Some people don’t realise that a lot of things you can get overseas are illegal in Australia and will be seized by Customs if you bring them back. These include blowpipes; BB guns; flick knives; crossbows; nunchakus; knuckledusters; electric flyswats; and cigarette lighters designed to look like weapons; coral; orchids; and reptile skin or ivory goods.

Don’t forget to check www.customs.gov.au for A Guide for travellers – know before you go or call the Customs Information and Support Centre on Ph: 1300 363 263 for advice about your customs clearance and items that must be declared.

Shopping on holidays?

If you are 18 or over you are entitled to bring A$900 worth of goods back into Australia. This includes goods purchased overseas, in Australia duty/tax free before you left, or goods for which a refund of tax has been approved through the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS). You can also bring back 2.25 litres of alcohol and 250 cigarettes. Please note: Customs must verify your TRS purchases at least 30 minutes prior to departure. For details contact Customs on Ph: 1300 363 263 or check www.customs.gov.au

Remember when overseas, you are subject to local laws. Local laws and legal processes can be very different from those in Australia. A violation of local laws may result in a jail sentence, served in a local prison. Consular assistance cannot override local law, even where local laws may appear harsh or unjust by Australian standards. Penalties for drug offences can be severe and include the death penalty.