Travel Insurance Philippines

Business Practices

It is customary to exchange business cards and filipinos have an American business style. English is widely spoken. The Philippine business environment is highly personalized: business matters are always best dealt with on a face-to-face basis with a warm and pleasant atmosphere. Where the Western businessperson thinks that time is gold and wants to get to the point immediately, the Filipino likes to be indirect, talk about mutual friends and family, exchange pleasantries, and joke. Only after establishing the proper atmosphere will people negotiate. No matter what the final result, the discussions should always sound cheerful. To a Filipino, cultivating a friend, establishing a valuable contact and developing personal rapport is what make business wheels turn. The Western businessperson should avoid grappling with the bureaucracy. Customs, for instance, requires dozens of signatures to clear air cargo. The Filipino approach to the problem is to use staff capable of moving through the bureaucracy. Whether getting a driver's license or registering a car, the Westerner will benefit by delegating the chore to that person paid to negotiate through a sea of desks, with a smile and the knack of delivering token gifts at Christmas. Philippine business has its own etiquette. For example, they address people by their titles (e.g. Architect Cruz, Attorney Jose) although the professional might request an informal approach. Business lunches and dinners are usually arranged personally over the phone and confirmed by the secretary. The person who invites pays. A guest does not order the most expensive items on the menu, unless the host insists otherwise. It is also customary to have a drink before sitting at a dining table. A pleasant atmosphere and a minimum of formality is the tone. Business is not usually discussed until after establishing a convivial tone, usually after soup. Dress is according to venue. It is never wrong to wear the national dress, the "barong Tagalog," a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt worn without a tie, to business and social functions. Filipinos tend to be lax in replying to RSVPs. Telephone follow-ups are best, about three days before. Party hosts usually have staff track down guests for a confirmation reply. In a formal occasion, seating is arranged. There is usually a head table for the VIPs. A guest speaker is often the highlight of the dinner. Light entertainment is not unusual. Observing office etiquette is also important. When reprimanding employees, take them aside and do it privately. Be as gentle as possible and always make it a point to end the meeting with some show of personal concern for his family to make him feel he is still part of the team and that the criticism is not personal. Christmas is also a time to show appreciation to people with whom you have regular dealings with, e.g., the security guard, doorman, messenger, as well as good customers and clients, through token gifts. Gifts range from baskets of goodies to company giveaways to plain calendars. Office hours for business firms and the Philippine Government normally are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is best to attempt to accomplish business objectives in midmorning or late afternoon. Many business deals are completed informally during meals, entertainment, or over a round of golf. Offices are generally closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Summer-weight clothing normally worn in temperate zones is suitable for the Philippines. It is acceptable for businessmen to conduct calls in short or long-sleeved shirt and ties without a coat. Either a two-piece suit or the native "barong tagalog"(a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt worn without a tie) are acceptable, ordinary business attire. Light suits and dresses are appropriate for women. Laundry and dry-cleaning facilities are available. Office hours vary, but are usually 0800-1200 and 1300-1700 Monday to Friday. Some private offices are open 0800-1200 Saturday.

Crime

Crime is of serious concern in the Philippines. Reports of homicides, kidnapping, other crimes of violence, confidence games, pickpocketing and credit card fraud are common in the local press and usually involve Filipino victims. However, foreign tourists and residents are sometimes victims of crimes as well. Visitors are urged to beware in crowds or areas not normally frequented by tourists and to be cautious when approached by strangers. Tourists frequenting lower quality nightclubs, where drugging and robbing can occur, are particularly at risk. Pickpockets are common in places where people congregate, such as busy streets, markets, shopping malls and transportation terminals. Criminals posing as police have approached foreigners on the pretext of immigration or counterfeit currency check and asked for their wallet. Unknowingly, they are relieved of money or possibly drugs may be planted to set the scene for an extortion attempt. If approached in this manner, the traveler should insist on being searched only at the nearest police station. As with most major cities, there are places that should be avoided. When walking about in the city, carry your valuables in your front pocket or use a well-secured fanny pack. Do not carry excessive amounts of currency. The use of credit cards should be avoided to the extent possible. If you do use a credit card, confine its use to large, reputable hotels. It is not uncommon for charge receipts to be used to manufacture fake cards. Travelers should avoid exchanging currency with street moneychangers. They offer higher rates but invariably cheat or attempt to cheat their customers. There have been recent reports of foreigners being approached by well-dressed couples in the larger hotels with offers of assistance or friendship. Once in an isolated location, such as a hotel room or vehicle, the unsuspecting foreigner is slipped a drug called ativan in his drink which renders him unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, the victim is left with a splitting headache and no money or valuables. If you are in the vehicle during an attempted carjacking, do not resist as these individuals may quickly resort to extreme violence. The most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines is a small, inexpensive, colorfully decorated bus called a jeepney. Their use should be avoided. Small gangs have robbed foreigners who use jeepneys. If you find yourself becoming a victim of a robbery in a jeepney or anywhere else, it is advisable not to offer resistance. These confrontations can turn violent with little provocation. The best and safest means of transportation in the Philippines is in the modestly priced taxi. Use taxis that are marked Aircon on the side. Negotiate a price before entering the cab or demand that the meter be used. Travel on local bus lines should be avoided.

Hotels

In Manila there are 11,745 first-class hotel rooms. There are numerous smaller hotels, inns, hostels and pensions. Prices are often quoted both in Philippine Pesos and US Dollars. A complete directory of hotels is available from the Department of Tourism. The majority of establishments belong to the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), Room 205, Regina Building, Trasiera, Legaspi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila.

Communications

Telephone IDD service is available from main towns. The country code is 63 and the outgoing international code is 00. International calls to the smaller towns must be booked through the operator. All 3- to 5-star hotels, most government offices and most businesses have facsimile services. Post office hours are 0800-1700 Monday to Friday

Electricity

is 220 volts (110 volts in Baguio) AC, 60Hz. 110 volts is available in most hotels. Flat and round 2- and 3-pin plugs are in use. Electricity 220 volts (110 volts in Baguio) AC, 60Hz. 110 volts is available in most hotels. Flat and round two- and three-pin plugs are in use.

Plug Types

A,B,C

Food And Dining

Unlike a lot of Asian cooking, Filipino cuisine is distinguished by its moderate use of spices. American, Chinese, Japanese, Malay and Spanish influences have all left their mark in a subtle blending of cultures and flavors. All the regional dishes are available in Manila?s excellent restaurants, which, like the restaurants of all the main towns, offer a varied cuisine. For the less adventurous, there are also European-style restaurants and American fast food. Restaurants are generally informal, with table service. Rice is a staple of Filipino cuisine. Fruit is plentiful with mangoes, papayas, bananas, chicos, lanzones, guavas and rambutans. Philippine preserves like atsara (a chutney-like vegetable preserve) and numerous native desserts such as Pili nut brittle bangus (a crunchy sweet made with the luscious pili nuts found only in the Bicol region) can be purchased in local markets. Things to know: Waiter service is common in bars and there are no strict regulations regarding the sale of alcohol.
National specialties:
? Lechon (roasted whole pig) is prepared for fiestas and family celebrations.
? Kare-kare (an oxtail stew in peanut sauce served with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste)).
? Sinigang (meat or fish in a pleasantly sour broth).
? Adobo (braised pork and chicken in a tangy soy sauce with vinegar and garlic).
? Seafoods such as bangus (the bony but prized milkfish), crabs, lobsters, prawns, oysters, tuna, freshwater fish and the sweet maliputo, found in deep-water lakes. It is freshly harvested and often simply grilled, boiled, fried or steamed and served with kalamansi (the local lemon), bagoong (a fish paste) or vinegar with labuyo (the fiery native pepper). National drinks:
? Locally brewed beer, such as San Miguel.
? Philippine rum.
Tipping:
Usually 10 per cent of the bill, unless service charge is included. Hotels generally add a 15 per cent service charge, but it is customary to leave small change.
Nightlife
The choice of entertainment in Manila displays the Filipino's affinity for music. 5-star hotels offer everything from high-tech discos to lavish cultural songs and dances, as well as superb pop singers and performers, trios, show bands and classical string ensembles. On most evenings there are cultural performances by local artists or foreign groups at the many other venues for the performing arts. Free concerts are offered by several parks every week, and occasionally by banks and other corporations. The Philippines also have some unusual musical groups like the Pangkat Kawayan bamboo orchestra, which uses bamboo musical instruments, and the Rondalla group which uses tiny guitars like the ukelele. Casinos are located in Cebu, Davao, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Manila, Pampanga and Zamboanga.