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Bookmark & shareAlthough overlooked by the world, the Philippines is still cheap and cheerful.
With a reputation for being chaotic and corrupt, the Philippines has something of an image problem. But most who make the journey to the 7000-odd islands that comprise the Philippines are pleasantly surprised by their beauty and by the friendliness of the people.
Most of the Philippines is laidback, stable and relatively safe. The locals are an exceptionally helpful bunch and there are fantastic reefs and fish. On top of this, transport is cheap, the food is good, accommodation is plentiful and (for the monolinguistic) English is widely spoken.
Travel Warning: Typhoon - Terrorist Activity
Typhoon Fengshen tore through central and southern Philippines on June 21. At least 160 people lost their lives in addition to more than 700 people missing from a ferry that capsized during its journey from Manila to Cebu. Only 38 survivors have been found. The central province of Iloilo was the badly damaged and electricity is not expected to be restored for one week.
Travellers to the Philippines are advised to avoid most of Mindanao, an island group in the southern Philippines, especially the Zamboanga peninsula, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and the Sulu archipelago, where ethnic and religious animosities fuel ongoing violence. Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group who have claimed responsibility for attacks on foreigners, operate out of this area. Military operations against the group can flare into heavy fighting.
For more information go to Safe Travel or check out the Thorn Tree travel forum for some good advice from travellers.
severity: Mid-level alert
Fast Facts
Country Full Name
Republic of the Philippines
Population
84,619,000
Currency
Name: Philippine Peso
Code: PHP
Symbol: P
Electrical Plugs
220V 60Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: Pilipino (Tagalog), English
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +8
Country Dialing Code
+63
Weights & Measures
Metric
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Tags: Eating & Drinking • Philippines
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
