TIME ZONE: GMT plus 8 hours
GETTING THERE: Manila and Cebu are international gateway cities. Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier links Manila to 26 cities in 20 countries. Major international carriers and cruise liners serve Manila. Cebu services chartered flights from Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
ENTRY REGULATIONS: Valid passport. Except for stateless persons and those from countries with which the Philippines has no diplomatic relations, all visitors may enter the country without visas and may stay for 21 days provided they have tickets for onward journey.
CLIMATE: March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy. November to February is cool.
Average temperatures: 78 F/25 C to 90 F/32 C; humidity:77%.
WHAT TO WEAR: Light casual clothes are recommended. An umbrella and a raincoat are musts during the rainy season. Warmer garments are needed for trips to the mountain regions, On formal occasions, a dinner jacket and a tie or the Philippine Barong Tagalog may be worn.
CURRENCY: Unit of currency: Pesos (P) = 100 centavos, Bank notes: P10, P50, PI 00, P500, PI,000. Coins: 1c, 5c, lOc, 25c, 50c, PI, P2, P5, P10.
TIPPING: Tipping is expected for many services. The standard practice is 10% of the total bill. Tipping is optional on bills that already include a 10% service charge.
LOCAL TRANSPORT:
Air: Philippine Airlines provides daily service to and from 45 local destinations. Pacific Air, Cebu Pacific, Star Asia, Air Ads, Air Philippines and GrandAir provide scheduled and chartered flights to major domestic destinations.
Sea: Inter-island ships with comfortable accommodations connect Manila to major island ports. Ferry services connect the smaller islands. Scheduled departures from the Port of Manila may be found in major newspapers.
Land: jeepneys and buses offer an inexpensive way of getting around most places, In Manila, air-conditioned buses ply certain key routes. Metered taxis generally cruise for hire. In most hotel vicinities, they are on call. In Manila, the elevated Light Rail Transit (LRT) provides fast service along a 15-kilometer line from Baclaran in the south to Caloocan City in the north, There are 15 stations spread 800 meters apart and situated at major intersections, Travel time from end to end ; 30 minutes.
LANGUAGE: Filipino is the national language. English is widely spoken and is extensively used in business and government.
BUSINESS AND BANKING HOURS: Private and government offices are open from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m. and from 9:00 to 6:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays. Some private companies hold office on Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:00 noon. Most shopping centers, department stores and supermarkets are open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

DINING OUT: Filipino food is an exotic, tasteful blend of Oriental, European and American culinary influences. There is a wide variety of fresh seafood and delectable fruits. First class restaurants: offer gourmet specialties as well as combination of local and international cuisine.
SHOPPING: Visitors can choose from an exciting selection of great buys in a country known for export-quality items at reasonable prices: South Sea pearls, hand-woven cloths, embroidered fineries, fashionable ready-to-wear and haute couture clothes, terra-cota, porcelain, coral and mother-of-pearl home accessories. Artifacts, pineapple fiber shirts, pre-historic jars, native handicrafts and footwear are interesting items, too. The Philippines also produces fine basketry, furniture, fresh and processed fruits, exquisitely crafted jewelry, and gifts made of shell, wood, and stone.
CREDIT CARDS: International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bankamericard,
Mastercard and American Express are accepted in major establishments,
ELECTRICITY: 220 volts A. C., 60 cycles. Most hotels in Metro Manila have 110-volt outlet.
TOURS AND SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES: Exciting tour packages, from day trips to five-day programs, provide glimpses of the country's diverse attractions, Special interest activities include golf, game-fishing, water-skiing, diving, mountain climbing, and trekking. Fiesta and village tours, cultural and historical tours, and visit to farms and ancestral houses are special ways of discovering the Philippines and its wealth of culture. Information on tours may be obtained from REN International Travel & Tours or the Department of Tourism.