Welcome to the Philippines!  

(Parts with friendly authorization by Michael Effelberger) 

1. In the north, Luzon Island and Metro Manila

2. In the middle is the Visayas and Cebu Island

3. In the south, Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago

4. In the west Palawan with about 1.700 Islands

The best airport to arrive in the Philippines for experienced travellers is Cebu City. You have less stress than in Manila. The atmosphere in the airport provides a much more comfortable and relaxing trip than in Manila. It has all you need in one place.
 

 Cebu City City Hall

Cebu is about 350 Km long and maximum 40 Km wide. The Capital City is Cebu City -the center in Visayas.  Cebu Island is situated -well protected- between the Islands Negros, Leyte and Bohol.

The pulse of life in Cebu Island beats faster than on any nearby Islands. The Cebuanos don't relax on traditional laurel, the older money. They're making new one. Cebu is a dynamic economic region and investment centre in the Philippines. 
The advantage of Cebu in entrepreneurship is the deep-sea harbour; established before the Spanish came, ships from Siam, China and Arabian dispatched; at a time Cebu was called Sugbo. 
The Mountains are the spine of Cebu Island, in the north and south is an agricultural area. Cebu is exploiting copper, gold, silver, iron and coal.

Cebu is the heart of the Visayas. The Capital of this Island is Cebu City. Cebu City has about 950.000 inhabitants; the third biggest city in the Philippines. The Cebuanos call her “Queen of the South”. Cebu is the oldest Spanish foundation in the Philippines.
Capitol Building - The seat of the Provincial government is pre-war  vintage.  Constructed in 1937 under the administration of Governor  Sotero Cabahug, it stands as one of the  many  beautiful capitol buildings in the country  today.



    
Typical traffic in the City

    

The famous Jeepneys provide transportation for a few Pesos within the city area.

    

During rush hours, Cebu has traffic jams. You must find the secret ways!

Basilica Minore del Santo Nino 

The first Catholic Basilica in East Asia -- the Sto. Niño Basilica. It is the center of devotion and religious pilgrimage throughout the Visayas, for it houses the original deity of Sto. Niño or the infant Jesus,  the oldest Spanish religious relic in the Philippines and Cebu's Patron. The deity was given by Magellan to Queen Juana, the wife of Cebu's King Jumabon, and has survived fires and catastrophes since April 14, 1521. The Basilica is one of the oldest churches and was originally a hut made out of nipa.

Fort San Pedro 

The smallest and oldest Spanish fort in the country.  It was built in 1565 by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and served as the core of Spanish settlement in the Philippines. 

 

Lapu-Lapu Monument 

A bronze statue of Lapu-Lapu stands proudly at Punta Engaño, the victorious site of Lapu-Lapu, famously known as the first Filipino leader to resist Spanish attempts of colonization.




Magellan´s Cross 

Planted by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan for the glory of Spain in 1521.  It marks the spot where the first Christian Filipinos were baptized.

   

 Here are some places of Cebu City!

       
The Mango Ave                            

    From Cebu City - Mactan Bridge - to Mactan Island



     
Metro Department store 

 
 

Osmena Boulevard by night.

Osmena Boulevard at dawn.

A view from Ayala Shopping Center inside!

Colon Street

The oldest street in the Philippines.  Named after Christopher Colombus, it was built by the Spaniards during the time of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

At present, it is the heart of downtown Cebu, a glittering city by night lined with restaurants, department stores and other business establishments.

  Taoist Temple, Beverly Hills 



Taoism, a philosophical and religious order introduced by the Chinese to Cebu, is practiced in this temple. Excellent site for self-contemplation by people of any religion.

 

 Tops 

Located on top of breezy Busay Hills, it offers a breathtaking view of Metro Cebu and its neighbouring islands. An excellent sight especially at night. 

Restaurants

No streets in Cebu City without one or more restaurants. Filipino, Korean, Chinese, French, German, Swiss Food- is available. Austrian Specialties? Here you are!
 

Cebu City by Dark

For those who think that Cebu City is a sex tourism destination, it will be a disappointment. It is true, Cebu City was one of the rest and relax destinations of the American GI during the peak days of the Vietnam War. This created an extensive nightlife. After the war, however, this changed gradually. For a while American, European and Australian tourists tried to keep up this image, but in time Asian tourists took over. Cebu’s Nightlife adjusted to that.

A little hint: Some gorgeous looking and overly dressed sexy women are false - they are boys! 

Fiesta 
Sinulog for Cebuanos is not only a celebration of a feast but it is also a time for thanksgiving for the graces we received in the past year and for petitions for more graces this whole year. Some photos from Sinulog 2003:

Aside from tourists from Luzon and Mindanao, delegations from Hawaii and California in the United States, Australia, Netherlands and other parts of Europe are expected to attend the festivity.

General Information about the Philippines

Visa and Passport:
No Visas are required for foreigners entering the country for a stay no longer than 21 days provided that you have valid passports and tickets to leave the Philippines. A temporary tourist visa is required for those who are planning to stay up to 59 days, you may obtain it from the Bureau of Immigration  after your arrival. Vaccination certificates may be necessary for long term stays.

Currency: 
The currency in the Philippines is the Peso (PhP). Next to the peso, the US dollar enjoys wide acceptance. Foreign currency may be exchanged at your hotel, and in most of the large department stores, banks and authorized money changing shops.

Most large stores, restaurants , hotels and resorts accept major credit cards including American Express , Visas and MasterCard. Traveller' s checks preferably American Express are accepted at hotels and large department stores. Personal checks drawn on foreign banks are generally not accepted.

Customs:
Upon Arriving: Visitors are allowed to bring in duty free personal belongings, two cartons of cigarettes or two tins of pipe tobacco and up to one liter of alcohol. You may bring in unlimited amount of foreign currency.

Business Hours:
Most businesses are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays and 8:00 AM till noon Saturdays. Banks are open from 9:00 AM till 3:00 PM Mondays through Fridays. Most department stores stay open on Sundays and holidays. 
When banking in the Philippines, it is advisable to have your passport with you for identification. 
NOTE: The Standard lunch hour is noon to 1:00 PM. Most businesses and government offices are closed.

Language:
The national language is Filipino, with English as the most widely spoken second language. All business, governmental and legal transactions are conducted in English.

Philippine Time:
Philippine standard time is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime.

Electrical Appliances:
Most areas in Cebu are supplied with 220 volts, 60 Hertz. A plug with 2 flat parallel prongs is the norm.

How safe is your stay in the Philippines?

We always hear this question. The reason is the bad reputation the news from the Philippines is bringing abroad. What really is happening in the Philippines is not at all as it seems...
The Philippines is not composed of one island alone. There are more than seven thousand islands...
There are some small groups with criminal activities in some places in Mindanao or Sulu-Sea. We are in the Central Visayas, 600 Km away and separated by the sea. In Cebu Island, act of terrorism is unheard of.

Be responsible also, keep a watch on your baggage and wallets. Never  leave much money in your baggage. Documents and articles of value, well, hotels have safety boxes to offer. Of course, never show off your valuables, no wonder thieves are attracted to you.
I never feel unsafe here!

Therefore, once again; Welcome to the Philippines! A beautiful country for travel, with very nice dive spots, wonderful beaches, amazing places and nice and friendly people!

The Country and it's People

The most important initial step in gaining insights about the local resident is to understand him in his own setting. The following are just some general statements intended to help you in your behaviour in the local community: 

Avoid wearing sandals when attending special occasions in the local community - wearing shoes is a sign that the event is important to you.

Do invite people at least three times. Local residents are taught that it is proper to refuse the first time or two. To them, insistence is a clear sign that the offer or invitation is genuine. 

Do give the local residents a way out of difficult situations so they can save face, thus avoiding embarrassment. Embarrassing him will cause "hiya" or loss of face. 

Don't use the common sign of OK In the local community, it means money. You may use the new sign OK. This is the thumbs- up sign which has been commonly seen on television. 

Don't use your forefinger upward to call a local resident, it is considered somewhat degrading. One way of calling is to beckon with the hand in gentle downward motion. "Pssst" is another popular way to get someone's attention. As a rule however, it is preferred to call the person by name. It is even better to use nicknames, because these are reserved for close friends. 

Smiling is a form of friendship and a form of greeting. 

Do show respect for age - use the proper appellations for elders and relations. Find out right away what appellations are used in the family

Halo-halo is a Filipino word that means mixture. While it describes a popular dessert, it could also describe the Filipinos. They look like Asians, write and speak English like Americans, worship like Spaniards, and have an outlook that is international. 

Like the Southern Chinese, the Thai, Malay, Indonesian and Burmese, the modern-day Filipino traces his remotest genetic lines back to an Australoid and Mongoloid stock. You will also find a touch of Caucasian, Chinese, Indian and Arabic in their gene pool as well. But to truly understand the Filipino, you have to look at the land. The historic isolation between islands and the topographic isolation on each island, become the primary influence governing regional traits and societal behaviour.

 Some Hints!

Weather
Philippines is tropical with just two seasons--hot and dry from November to June, and rainy from July to October. Filipinos will tell you that it is cool from December through February and they themselves will wear jackets.

Clothing
People in the Philippines dress for the weather (HOT!). Casual attire during the day for women are light blouses and shorts. For men collared T- shirts worn over slacks. In the evening skirts are substituted for shorts and the T-shirts are tucked in.
For Men Only: If you expect to have to attend any occasion which would usually require a jacket and a tie (which is torture in this weather) there is a wonderful substitute. Go immediately to a department store and buy a barong tagalog. It is an embroidered shirt that is considered a formal dress. It will cost about PhP 1,000.00, but it is worth every centavo. 

What to Bring:
Wear natural fibre, lightweight clothing. You'll feel more comfortable. Bring shorts, hat, sunglasses, bathing suit, insect repellent, flashlight, sun block cream, tough shoes for walking, rubber slippers for the beach. Pack tissue paper in your purse as public toilets almost never have any. Shorts or sleeveless shirts should never be worn when visiting churches, mosques or temples.

Taxis: 
Air-conditioned taxis cost PhP 30.00 initially and additional PhP 2.50 is added for every succeeding 200 metres. Taxis are always lined up at the major hotels and tourist restaurants and can be hailed on the street. If you take a taxi, make sure the driver turns on the meter. If he gives you a story that it is broken, get out and take another taxi. Unless you are taking a long trip or the traffic is unusually horrible, most taxi rides should be well under PhP 100.00. At least a 10% tip is expected.

Send us mail!  Dr. Michael Feyerabend