Brief History
Philippine culture is shaped by diverse regional and outside influences throughout its
history. Early Filipinos bartered with Chinese, Arabian and Malay traders, some of whom
settled on Philippine shores and intermarried with the local inhabitants. An ancient culture
was predominantly Malay in origin, but three centuries of Spanish rule left its indelible
mark on the country and its people. Spice seeking Spaniards first landed in these islands
on March 16,1521.
Time Zone
Local time is GMT plus 8
Government
Following a people's revolution in 1986, the democratic form of government was re-installed
after decades of martial law. There are three equal branches of government: executive,
judiciary, and a bicameral legislature.
Economy
Philippine economy is agriculture-based,with vast farm lands planted to staples such as rice
and corn. The country is also the world's largest producer of coconuts. Other sector like mining,
fishing, manufacturing, electronics, and other industries also contribute significantly to the
economy of the nation.
Money
The unit of currency is the Philippine Peso ( P ). Notes are issued by the Central Bank of the
Philippines in denominations of P5, P10, P20, P50, P100, P200, P500 and P1,000. Coin comes
in 5c (centavos), 10c, 25c, 50c, P1, P5.
Travelers cheques issued by American Express, Bank of Tokyo, Bank of America, Barclays, and
Citibank are widely recognized. Major international credit cards are widely accepted. Banks are
open Mondays to Fridays from 9AM to 3PM.
Religion
The Roman Catholic relegion is the predominant religion in the country, although the number of
Protestant religious is increasing. A smaller percentage are Moslems, while others belong to
fundamentalist groups, the Iglesia ni Kristo (Church of Christ), and the Aglipayan community
of the Philippine Independent Church.
Climate
Tropical climate prevails year-round all over the country. The hot, dry season runs from March
to June. July usually signals the start of the wet monsoon season, which lasts until October.
November to February is generally cool with fair weather. Average daytime temperature,
except in mountainous regions, ranges from 22.2 celcius to 32.1 celsius. Humidity is 77%.
Getting Around
Jeepneys
These colorful expresions of Filipino ingenuity and pop art are ubitous around Metro Manila's
streets and on provincial roads. Minimum fare P8.
Sea Transport
Ferry boats and shipping lines provide both first-class and economy class transport along the
sea lanes that sorround the many islands of the Philippines.
Light Rail Transit
The Light Rail Transit is a fast, traffic-free way to travel around Metro Manila. The operational
LRT speeds through through 18 stations along major roads, from the north-end terminal in
Caloocan City to baclaran terminal in the south.
Domestic Flights
Local airlines connect to many provinces of the Philippines with Metro Manila. Daily flights to key
cities and provincial towns, as well as charter flights to more exotic locations, are readily
available at very reasonable rates.
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