TIME ZONE

There is only one time zone for the entire country, which is 120° East Meridian Time and eight hours in advance of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

ENTRY REGULATIONS

A valid passport is required.

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. Holders of Hong Kong and Taiwan passports must have special permits. Visas and special permits may be obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates.

HEALTH REGULATIONS

A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers coming from infected areas.

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. Warmer garments are needed for mountain regions. When visiting churches and temples, propriety dictates that shorts and scanty clothing be avoided. Formal occasions require dinner jackets and ties (or the Philippine barong tagalog) for men and cocktail dresses or long gowns for women.

CURRENCY

Unit of currency: Peso (P) = 100 centavos.

Bank notes: P10, P20, P50, P100, P200, P500 and P1,000. Coins: 5c, 10c, 25c, P1, 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.