The backbone of Philippines local economy are these small businesses.  They require small capital and there is always a demand for any product and service we could imagine in this highly populated archipelago.  The government has always been pushing the entrepreneur spirit among the Filipinos, after all they are known for their ingeniousness and hardwork.

Advantages of Small Busines

We always here our business minded elders tell us to “start small”! The biggest edge of small business is that they can be started at a very minimal cost and sometimes you can also do it on  a part-time basis.  Nowadays it has even propelled even easier with the use of internet, that we can do our marketing online. Prior to internet revolution finding your clients for your  specialized niches and something very hard to do and requires big sum of money.  Small business proprietors tend to be intimate with their customers and clients which results in greater accountability and maturity.

Independence is another advantage of operating a small business. The number one reason that inticed people in running their own business from the start is having that kind of freedom and the need of being their own boss.Freedom to operate independently is a reward for small business owners. In addition, many people desire to make their own decisions, take their own risks, and reap the rewards of their efforts. Small business owners have the satisfaction of making their own decisions within the constraints imposed by economic and other environmental factors. However, entrepreneurs have to work very long hours and understand that ultimately their customers are their bosses.

Small Business in the Philippines

Problems confronted by Small Businesses

Number one reason for bankcruptcy among small business  is undercapitalization.   This is often a result of poor planning rather than economic conditions – it is common rule of thumb that the owner should have  a sum of money at least equal to the projected revenue for the first year of business in addition to his anticipated expenses. Failure to provide this level of funding for a small business could leave the owner liable for all of the company’s debt  and ends up bankcrupt in the end. Most often, entrepreneurs who launched a career in small time business lacks also the management skills of a well seasoned businessman and this of course contribute on the life expectancy of any small businesses. Lack of good marketing strategy also contributes a lot of to small scale business to flourish.

Marketing Small Business

Getting your new customers has always been the biggest challenge so far of small business.  Remember that the life of your company depends on it.  The owners are the one’s typically responsible in creating marketing campaigns on a daily basis to keep customers flowing.  Common marketing techniques for small business include networking, word of mouth, customer referrals, yellow pages directories, television, radio, outdoor (roadside billboards), print, email marketing, and internet. Electronic media like TV can be quite expensive and is normally intended to create awareness of a product or service.  Twitter, Facebook, and the blogging industry are also often employed to get closer to your customers.  The internet has ahelped a lot of small businesses products anywhere else in the world.

In the Philippines, Franchising is fast becoming a popular, reasonable investment vehicle for Filipinos. For whatever reason you may have: an individual seeking financial independence, or a family looking for additional income, investing in a proven franchise is a tried and tested way of making money, more so than starting your own business from scratch,   where the startup risks are often higher.  Here are some important tips if you are at the brink if getting a franchise or thinking of franchising your business:

1.  When do I franchise my business?

First ask yourself if your business is already in place?   This means that all your operations, from production to distribution, is all in placed  and it can easily be replicated.  To successfully copy a business, have a set of standards and operating procedures (or SOPs). Putting them down on paper will ensure that all  the important aspects are covered, and all potential problems have a ready solution.  You should follow this  up by building a program for  your franchisees training for it plays a crucial role in helping them see how things are done in a franchise system. A uniform, comprehensive training program is a must. The financial system is the heart and soul of any enterprise, so pay extra attention to this aspect of the business. A solid finance system incorporating best practices will help you and your franchisees monitor the health and long-term viability of the business, and solve future problems in the future.  Dependability and facility of service are two backbones any business should have, especially if you plan to spread your concept to a wider marketplace. Establish a cohesive and well-structured logistics and distribution scheme.

2.  Choose the right franchise partner!

In the Philippines there exist a saying  referring to married couple’s relation as “hindi yan parang kanin na isusubo na kapag napaso ay iluluwa”, which translates that entering into a relationship is not as easy as eating rice that if its hot you could just spit it.  Well, choosing a franchise partner is basically same as choosing a life-time partner.  In the Philippines , the average franchise agreement term is between five and 15 years. If choosing the right franchise is difficult enough, then choosing the right franchisee for franchisors is another aspect that needs a careful study. Remember that even if you have the right business model and formula if you do not have the good franchisee to spread and do the job. For the success of any franchise business also depends on the  performance of the franchisee acquiring it.  A thorough background of the education, work experience, personality and credit history of your possible applicant is a must!  Ask them to make a letter of intent to see their motivations and passion.  Do they have the drive and the stamina to do it?  You need to undergo a series of interview and sessions to get to know them better.

3.  Top Franchising Ideas

Despite the economic difficulty, Filipino franchise companies are among the more optimistic and the more robust sectors in the local landscape, the country credited with the most number of original franchise ideas—close to 700—in the world.  The top franchising sectors are:

Homegrown Franchise Food Cart: Taho Boy

Food and Retail

Economist are optimist on the continued growth of the food franchising business in the Philippines.  In the country where people eat more than three times a day, there is no doubt that this tops the industry.  The country has seen —several new brands  taking center stage, paving the way for upstarts to try and make their mark in the food scene. Filipino consumers are seen to increasingly favor health alternatives  like tea and yogurt, and Filipino food (the huge success of Mang Inasal is a very good example). The retail sector, on the other hand, is expected to expand this year because of the increasing demand for convenience shopping within business centers and residential villages. More and more consumers now go to convenience stores to pay their bills, buy medicines and groceries, get quick meals and buy mobile phone credit.

Services

This sector will continue to offer a lot of opportunities this year, from educational centers, lying-in clinics to training for becoming a pop star.  Middle class families will definitely demand for pre-school learning centers in their neighborhood.  Review center and call centers to name a few.

Beauty, Health and Wellness

The recent financial crisis proved the strength of yet another segment of the country’s SMEs: the beauty, health and wellness sector. This sector has the potential to grow even more this year because more and more people would want to feel good about themselves in order to avoid costly medical treatment and care.

For more franchising ideas check the business ideas chapter.

]]> http://www.in-the-philippines.com/franchising-in-the-philippines-2/feed 1 http://www.in-the-philippines.com/business-ideas-in-the-philippines http://www.in-the-philippines.com/business-ideas-in-the-philippines#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 04:25:07 +0000 admin http://www.in-the-philippines.com/?p=403 “An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.” -Buddha

Small businesses has always been the backbone of  Philippines economy.  If you’re interested in starting your own business  or If you already run a business or you want to buy into a proven business opportunity (aka a franchise), you’ll find some useful business ideas here to fuel that drive in you!

Business Ideas

Small Business Ideas

When you need from zero to small capital these ideas are perfect for you:

1.    Consultancy business

2.    Tutorial and Review Center

3.    Web-designer/ Web Developer

4.   Tour Guiding Business

5.   Tour Operator (arranging and packaging local tours)

6.   Merchandising Bangus Products

7.  Fashion Consultant/Adviser

Home- based Business Ideas

Businesses that you can start at home:

1.   Bookkeeping Business

2.  Web designing Business

3.   Web Developing Business

4.   Blogging

5.  Baked Goodies

6.  Merchandising Bangus Products

7.  Merchandising Beauty and Health Care Products

Online Business Ideas

1.  Blogging

2.  Web Designing

3.  Web Developing

4.  Online Store

Franchising Business Ideas

1.  Water Refilling Station

2.  Stir-fried noodles

3.  Fruit juices & Fruit shakes (Healthy Juice Bar)

4.  Cupcakes

5.  Wellness and Spa Resort

6.   Customer Service/ Call Center

7. Theme Restaurants

Food Business Basics:  FAQs on getting started

Where do I get food business ideas to start with? The simplest, the cheapest and fastest source to get idea for your food business entity is through internet.  You can already start by gathering food concept and trends abroad that has a big potential to hit big in the Philippines.  Once you have narrowed down your list you can follow it up by travelling in the Philippines or abroad (if you have the budget).  Take as much pictures as possible which will prove to be useful in the future to document your research. You can also read magazines and interview people in the industry for more information.

From these food ideas, how do I choose the best? Look for the competitive advantage of the food product or food service that you will be employing. Is the product comparable to existing ones? What’s its edge over the other? Or are you choosing a totally novelty item. You might not encounter competitor but might spend a lot of money in marketing it. Bottomline is, weigh things out and choose the best idea without forgetting the importance of knowing the marketability of the product, availability of the ingredients and the skills of the people that will be eventually employed.

Where is the best spot for my food business? This is a very important aspect of your business. Remember that no matter how good your food is it needs to be near the market you are targetting. It doesn’t necessarily mean that if it is located in a big shopping mall you’ll be successful. Although there is a sure traffic of people, competition is in general very stiff and it incurs an expensive monthly rental. In food businesses there are cases of success stories of certain restaurants’ inhabitual location: hidden, hard to find that puts the mystery to the customers.

Eating Preferences & Habits

Food dominates the life of the Filipino. People here just love to eat. There are eight official meals are called,in order: breakfast, snacks, lunch, merienda, pica-pica, pulutan, dinner.  Filipino meals is never complete without eating rice although there are more and more people keen to eating like the Westerners burgers, sandwiches and pasta, the important place of rice is still irreplaceable.

Sweet taste of love.  And when it comes to taste, if other Asian countries prefer it spicy Filipinos love it sweeter.  They always have a knack for something sweeter: Filipino sweet style spaghetti (not soury taste like the Italian one but with the sweetness of banana ketchup), Pork or Chicken Barbeque is marinated in soysauce, sugar, ketchup.  And of course the sweeter the taste the better.

Food Business Ideas

Here are some ideas to inspire you if you are thinking of embarking in the food  industry. More business ideas are discussed on a separate business idea chapter.

1.  Home Baked Goodies

2.  Desserts on-line

3.  Merchandising Bangus Products

4.  Gourmet Filipino Delicacy (Tuyo Puttanesca, Tinapa in olive oil, etc)

5.  Merchandising Different Sauces

6.  Sisig Kiosk

7.  Buy one take one Burger

Food Trends in the Philippines

International Franchised Food Concepts & Food Kiosk

Undeniably the major food trends in the Philippines are international franchised food concepts and food cart or kiosk  businesses.  It has always been a sure hit in the Philippines when a popular food establishment abroad is brought in in the country. From donuts, coffee, burger to frozen yogurt.  The international brands like Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, White Hat to name a few.  Interestingly, the flourishing food cart/kiosk is apparent everywhere.  The reason for this could be accounted for the facility of putting it up.  There are food kiosk package that cost at least 25 thousand pesos and you can already start your business.  There are normally located where there are a great traffic of people.

It is trendy to eat….

The following products are what we could consider that’s creating a big buzz in the country:  hamburgers, siomai, frozen yogurt, take out noodles, scramble, sisig and chicken barbeque.  Despite that Filipinos are known rice eater, hamburgers are still widely consumed everywhere.  Recently we have seen the popularity of these young brands: Burger Project, Crave Burger, Brothers Burger or its cheaper buy one take counterpart the Angel Burgers.  On the otherhand Siomai, scramble and stir-fried noodles still remain a popular food product for the masses.  Cheaper but with good packaging this time! This year’s home-run success still remains to be the chicken barbeque.  The successful story of Mang Inasal from  its humble beginning ending up being both by Jollibee with a colossal price of  3 billion pesos.

Healthy and Green

The future of Philippine food industry is going towards much healthier options and menu.  There is a growing popularity of healthy or vegetarian restaurants all with the idea of pushing people to eat healthier. There  exist right now self acclaimed “green chef” like Chef Claude of Bale Dutung or Chef Sau del Rosario both which uses local and organic ingredients with the thrust of promoting sustainable and organic cuisine.

Latest food trends in the Philippines

]]> http://www.in-the-philippines.com/food-business-in-the-philippinesi/feed 0 http://www.in-the-philippines.com/procedure-putting-up-a-business-in-the-philippines http://www.in-the-philippines.com/procedure-putting-up-a-business-in-the-philippines#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:59:55 +0000 admin http://www.in-the-philippines.com/?p=368 Should I start my own business?  Have you ever asked yourself this question before?  It may not be surprising that  nowadays there are growing number of Filipinos interested in starting up their own business.  More and more people are leaving their 8 to 5 hour routinary work in exchange for the adventure of starting their own. So many among us have the desire to be their own boss .  After all there are joys of being your own boss.  Others on the otherhand are tempted to create their own in quest of ending up a millionaire after hearing numerous success stories of businesses that started small. So if you have an idea and you think it’s worth it or probably have an idea but still skeptical to embark in this adventure, take note of the following step by step procedure in creating your own business:

Starting your own business!

In putting up your own business you have two options, you either choose to get a Franchise of an existing successful company or creating your own from scratch. Whatever your choice is, the same procedure applies on its basic procedures.  Additional information on Franchising is discussed on franchising chapter.

1.  First, start by deciding which business form is applicable to you;

Single Propertorship, when you are the sole owner and the sole responsible of the business. It simpler and easier to put up but it could have it’s own disadvantages too.  This means that you and your personal assets  are liable when problem arises in the future.

Partnership, when there are two owners of the business.  Like the single propertorship it has its own advantage and disadvantages too.

Corporation, is an entity of three or more people with common interest , a form employed to protect the personal assests of the shareholders from debt. Where its only the company and its asets are the only one liable when problem arises.

For  both Single and Partnership, the procedure starts by going to the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) office nearest your domicile for the business name registration. This is the most crucial part of your business as the name of your business is something that will make or break your concept.  DTI have recently made strict rules on registering your names: it should not be a common name or a business name that sounds like an existing one  as to avoid confusion. Additional   guidelines on this is written on your application form.  You need to have at least three possible names on my mind, meaning if the first one  exist already you still have the two others as option.  Next you will be ask on the scope of your business name registration: within baranggay, city, region or nationwide.  And the amount of your payment will depend on its scope.  If you have no time to go to their nearest office for this you can do this procedure  entirely online.

For the corporation form on the otherhand, it is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) located along EDSA in front of EDSA Shrine and POEA (Philippine Overseas and Employment Agency) one must go.  To facilitate your task try to reserve the name of your corporation online .  You can reserve the name for at least one month or up to three months.  After reserving it online, print this proof and go to the SEC office at the ground floor directly at the cashier for payment.  You will be paying 40 pesos per stamp which represents the number of months you are reserving the name.  Do not think that one month is enough to process your application.  It is advisable to pay for at least three months.  But if you think one month is enough, no worries for you can always extend it. A much detailed step by step procedures on creating a corporation is discussed in the creation of corporation chapter.

2.  Get the Baranggay Clearance.

Again the facility of getting your barangay clearance normally depends on the baranggay where you will be operating your business.  Sometimes a simple photocopy of your DTI business name registration or SEC Registration is the sole requirement while others could entail a visit of  the site of your proposed business to see the veracity of  why they ney to issue a clearance.  Some may also require a general insurance policy for your business like in some barangays in Makati.  Nonetheless, go there directly and ask for the requirements.

3.  Get the Mayor’s Permit

With the decentralisation of the issuance of the business permit it is the local city where we will be operating that we go to get a permit.  Again this phase depends on what type of business you will be operating and the city you will be doing your business.  Restaurants and all the other business that hygiene is necessary a Sanitary permit is also required.  In Quezon City for example , the owner and all employees are  required to undergo seminar on handling of food and an additional AIDS seminar before your Sanitary Permit ID is issued.  There are also medical and laboratory exams demanded to be sure that you are fit to do this kind of business.  Again this depends on the business and the are you will be doing your business.  Be informed to avoid unnecessary hassle along the way.  In getting the mayor’s permit for your business the usual requirements are as follows: Locational Clearance (an approval that there has been no renovation done on the location of the future business), Barangay Clearance, DTI Business Registration  or SEC Registration, Proof of ownership of the land/Contract of Lease that are duly notarized, Occupancy Permit (Ask a copfy from your landlord), Third Party Liability Insurance .  Again you may have additional requirements depending on the city you will be operating.

4.  Obtain a Fire Clearance

Go to the Bureau of Fire Protection nearest to your business address for the Fire Clearance.  Be warned that you might encounter red tape/corruption in getting this clearance.  Depending on your business you might be needing installation of emergency light/s and fire extinguisher on your establishment.

5. Go to the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue)

For registration of your  value added tax (VAT) or NON VAT business go to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). assigned to the area where you will be operating.  Timeline is two (2) days and the cost is Php550 – Php1,000 which includes registration fee + certification fee + documentary stamp tax. You will also be needing an authority to print receipt or invoices depending your business.  Get an application for registration (BIR Forms No. 1901 or 1903),  original form or photocopy of TIN card; and (5)Proof of payment of annual registration fee (BIR Form No. 0605). This part could take about 1 to 2 weeks.

6.  Get SSS and Philhealth Card

The SSS (Social Security Services) card has no cost but you have to wait seven  days for processing. To register with the SSS the company must submit the following documents – (1)Employer registration form (Form R-1); (2) Employment report (Form R-1A); (3) List of employees, specifying their birth dates, positions, monthly salary and date of employment; and (4) Articles of incorporation, bylaws and SEC registration or the certificate of registration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The employees may attend a SSS training seminar after registration. SSS prefers that all members go through such training so that each member is aware of their rights and obligations. To register with PhilHealth, the company must submit the following documents – (1) Employer data record (Form ER1); (2) Report of employee-members (Form ER2); (3) SEC registration; (4)BIR registration; and (5) Copy of business permit. It takes about three months for the release of this card.

]]> http://www.in-the-philippines.com/procedure-putting-up-a-business-in-the-philippines/feed 1 http://www.in-the-philippines.com/doing-business-in-the-philippines http://www.in-the-philippines.com/doing-business-in-the-philippines#comments Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:44:24 +0000 admin http://www.in-the-philippines.com/?p=360 More and more Filipinos and foreigners alike are showing great interest in engaging in their own businesses in the Philippines as manifested in the growing numbers of local and foreign companies established every year.  The Philippines with its’ strategic location in Asia, its’ good foreign relation abroad and where english is widely spoken makes this country a competitive place to open up a business.  In principle anyone, regardless of sex, religion or nationality is free to engage in a business in the Philippines.  And with the liberalization of the foreign investment law, 100% foreign equity may be allowed in all areas of investment except those reserved for Filipinos by mandate of the Philippine Constitution and existing laws.

Putting up a business is as easy as ABC if you know the procedure beforehand but could also be a nightmare if you lack the necessary information.  Gone are the days that we pay an errand boy/girl to take care of the hassles of putting up your businesses.  The government is slowly modernizing as it tries to improve its services along the way. There are some phases of the procedure that can be done under the click of your fingertips.  And if you are lucky (depending on the city that you are putting up your business) gettingthe necessary requirements could just be a one-stop deal. But nonetheless expect still to encounter fixers and problems.  After all they are all part of this adventure.

The procedure in putting up a business will be discussed into two categories: local business and foreign business.

Famous local and international companies in the Philippines

Lanzones, legend says that mortals couldn’t it this fruit for it is poisonous.  A fairy then pricked each of this fruit to let humans eat it safely.  This legend explains the “unexplainable marks” inside the fruit of lanzones.  Whether its true or not, it would have been such a waste if humans couldn’t taste this delectable fruit.

Lanzones or Lansium domesticum is a fruit native in Asia.  They are usually find in clusters of two or three fruit.  In contrast with the sweet-sour flavor of the fruit’s flesh, the seeds are extremely bitter so be careful when eating them.

Camiguin white island

Camiguin is a small island province of the Philippines off the northern coast of Mindanao. It belongs to the Northern Mindanao region.  It’s capital is Mambajao and is considered the second smallest province both in population and land area.  Camiguin is famous for its pristine beaches, volcanoes and delicious lanzones.

Getting there

Camiguin is accessible by Air and Sea from Manila and Cebu.  You can take direct flights from Manila domestic airport or Cebu International airport.  The other option is to take boats from Manila to Cagayan de Oro then take ferries to Camiguin.

Things to see

Camiguin was still an untapped tourist destination until a movie in the 90’s was shot in this island featuring the mysterious beauty of this place.  Camiguin offers a lot to tourists from old century churches, beautiful forest and magnificent beaches. Sto Rosario church in Sagay built in 1882  and the church ruins of San Roque are a must to see.  The famous Sandbar of White Island and the sunken cemetery who submerged after a volcanic eruption.  There is also the week long festival of the Lanzones Festival  which are a must to see in this island.

Jollibee is one of the biggest example of this Filipino franchising success story that beat up almost all its international food chain competitors.  Although getting a franchise of Jollibee costs a lot of money nowadays there are hundreds of other affordable franchise opportunities we could try on.

The advantages of doing Franchise business is that you will never feel alone.  Embarking on a business has always been difficult, but with Franchising, the package always includes the marketing package support, management training and the best of it all, you will be selling something who’s name is already known to many.  However, franchising does not always guarantee success and it sometimes requires a lot of money depending on the franchise you are planning to open.

Starting a franchising business in the Philippines requires still a thorough study.  Learn more about the franchise business that you want to invest.  Be sure to know and understand very well the inclusion of the franchise package deal to avoid getting frustrated in the long run.  And the most important be ready to invest yourself to the success of this endeavor.

Franchising Opportunities

Franchsising opportunities in the Philippines has grown drastically.  It opened wider choice from food industry, schools, internet business, clothing lines among others.  Choose the most credible franchise company that shows passion in the product they are selling.

The Department of Trade and Industry are regularly organizing seminars to help interested entrepreneurs to widen their horizon.

Useful Directory:

franchisephilippines.org/listings/

A directory of franchise opportunities in Philippines updated regularly.

phfranchise.com/

Shows listing of franchise opportunities also updated regularly.

jollibee.com.ph/index.php?/investors/contents/11/6

Informations for franchising Jollibee

For more information on Franchising inthe Philippines check Franchising 101

When summer is hot there is no better way to beat it but by eating cold stufs.  Filipinos love cold snacks like Halo-halo or Banana con hielo for they are easy to make and are definitely delicious.You can always find one at a nearby shop.  Kids on the other hand enjoy ice-candy all year round.  Even when rainy season comes, Ice-candy are a  sure hit to children.  Here’s a recipe to try;

Buko Salad Ice-candy

Ingredients:

one fourth cup of sago (tapioca)

1 tablespoon of dried raisins

half a cup of shredded coconut meat

1 sweetened banana (saba in preferance)

half a cup of melon strips

half a liter of coconut juice

one fourth cup of evaporated milk

5 tablespoons of sugar

Procedure:

Mix everything in a big bowl.  Taste the sweetness to determine if you want to add more or less sugar.  Pour them with the help of your funnel on your ice-candy bags.  Freeze them for at least 24  hours.

Iloilo and Guimaras are probably two of the provinces you have never visited yet. Or even worse not even heard of. Well this two twin provinces are definitely one of the jewels of the Visayas region.  These two provinces are equally rich in cultural heritage to begin with and splendid beaches to enjoy with.

Miag-ao Church of Iloilo

Iloilo is a province in the Western Visayas region in the Southeast portion of Panay Island. And just off Iloilo’s Southeast portion is the Guimaras island that used to be part of Iloilo.  One cannot just enjoy Iloilo without passing to Guimaras.  And across Guimaras Strait and Panay Gulf is Negros Occidental.  Hiligaynon or Ilonggo is the language spoken in this area.

Things to see and do

Iloilo is rich in Spanish architecture evident in the old buildings of downtown Iloilo.

As a leading province during the Spanish Colonial Era, the province of Iloilo is widely known for its beautiful old world architecture similar to that of Latin American Countries. Spanish colonial Churches are amongst the well knowned tourist sites in the province.

Miagao Church. is a World Heritage Site. This is an  Aztec-Baroque inspired church with Filipino botanicals used to carved on the facade. It is known for its intricate facade and pyramidal bell towers. The church was used as a fortress during the olden days. It is a massive structure built of yellowish Limestones.

Molo Church. The Gothic Renaissance Church of Molo was used as a watch tower to warn the people if there are any attackers on the shore of Iloilo City. It is a fine coral stone church with Classical and Gothic details. It is also known as the feminist church because of the beautiful female saints lining inside the church.

Cabatuan Church. This Neoclassic Church, known to be the most massive Hispanic structure in Iloilo is built of red bricks. It is believed to be the largest red brick structure in the Visayas and it was given the title “Model of Temples” by the ‘El Eco de Panay’. The Cabatuan Church is known to be the only extant Spanish colonial church with three facades.

San Jose Church. The beautiful church in front of plaza Libertad is considered the most historic amongst the churches in Iloilo City. It is a Byzantine-Neoclassic Church planned to look like the Spanish Church of Valencia del Cid. The Church is known for its collection of priceless Catholic treasures.

The Historic province of Iloilo is also known for ‘Calle Real’; a street of old buildings with their classical designs. During January, the city heats up for Dinagyang, the festival dubbed as “The best tourism event in the Philippines” It is a collection of tribe warriors dancing in honor of the Child Jesus.

Guimaras on the other hand is known for its agricultural crops.  Be sure not to miss the Manggahan festival (Mango Festival), where the city boasts of its world renowned delicious mangoes.  The celebration normally last for a few days and various activities are organized.  Date changes yearly decided by the Fiesta committee.  To enjoy the beaches in Guimaras you can check out the following resorts; Isla Naburot, Costa Aguada resort.  You can also visit the Mambukal resort and Trapist Monastery.

Getting There

The fastest and the easiest way is getting to Iloilo is via an airplane from Manila.  Flight takes about an hour.  There are various affordable domestic plane servicing this route so finding a seat is always easy.  The other option is through “roro”, buses that crosses Luzon and ends up at ferry boat to reach Visayas.  This normally takes long about a day, but if you love beautiful scenery and does not mind being seated for a long time in a bus this is for you. From Iloilo you can go to Guimaras via ferry boat that brings you there, travel last for about an hour.

Things to taste and buy

Iloilo is famous for its Lapaz Batchoy.  This is a noodle soup specialty of Lapaz Iloilo.  Go to the market in the morning to enjoy this province specialty.  In guimaras do not fail to taste their mangoes and different products out of mangoes; dried mangos, fruit juice and candies.

Mambukal resort

Pasalubong

Siopao is one of my favorite Filipino snack.  In my family we love to pair it with wonton soup and some siomai dipped in soy sauce and Kalamansi. Although we used to cook our own siopao , nowadays buying is a lot easier than cooking them as you can even find them in some Fastfood restaurants.  If you have time and would love to try the home-made version of Siopao here’s a great recipe to try.

Siopao Recipe

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cup flour

4 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup sugar

2/3 cup warm milk

Bola-bola filling

1 onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic minced

1 tablespoon of ginger juice

2 tablespoons of soy sauce

2 tablespoons of sesame oil

250 g of ground pork

salt

pepper

2 hard boiled eggs  sliced(if you have salted eggs to use that’s better)

Procedure:

Sift flour and baking powder together in a large bowl. Add sugar in the flour. Pour warm milk in the flour gradually. Knead the dough until it becomes as soft. Divide the dough into 8 balls. Set aside. In amixing bowl put the ground pork, onion, ginger juice, soy sauce and sesame oil.  Mix well.  Put some salt and pepper to taste.  Your dough balls will double in size, punch them down. Knead them one by one on your floured table.  Flatten your dough, on the center put a sliced cooked egg and a scoop of your meatball filling.  Gather sides toward the center, twist and be sure to seal it correctly.  Place the pinched side down on a parchement paper.  Cook in a steamer and steam for about 20 to 25 minutes depending on the size.

Sagada is one of the municipalities of Mountain Province.  It is adjacent to Bontoc, another interesting place to visit in Mountain Province.  You can’t go to Sagada without dropping by at Bontoc.  Sagada is located 275 Km north of Manila and 140 Km from Baguio.  Sagada is popular for its hanging coffins, an old tradition that is no longer practice nowadays.  Traditionally not anyone has the privillege to be buried this way, one has to be married, have children among others.

Things to do

Popular activities in Sagada includes trekking, exploring both caves and waterfalls, spelunking, bonfires, picnics, rappelling, visiting historical sites, nature hikes, and participating in tribal celebrations.  Upon arrival at Sagada, head on at the Tourism Office for registration at the Sagada Municipal Hall.  They have a complete listing of the things that you can do.  You can also hire a tourist guide, fee varies according to the activitiy you wish to do.  You can also arrange for transportation with the tourism office. Do not miss to check out these places:

Hanging Coffins

You can see near the entrance going to the famous Sumaging cave.  You can either see them from a far or walk closer and take some pictures.

Echo Valley

Kiltepan tower

Rice Terraces

Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves

Bomod-ok and Bokong Falls

Do not miss dropping by at Bontoc Museum, they have a magnificent collection of Bontoc’s traditional houses, clothes and utensils.  The mini-community displayed on the exterior of the Museum is also very impressive.

Getting there

You can go to Sagada by land from Baguio.  From Manila you can take air-conditioned buses plying to Baguio daily.  Once in Baguio, you can take regular buses going to Bontoc- Sagada.  Another option is to take a domestic flight from Manila to Baguio and arrange for a private vans going to Sagada.

Do not miss

Sagada Coffee

Sagada Blueberryjam

Sagada native bags

Getting there

The trip going to Capones Island takes about 4 to five hours drive from Manila passing through city of Olongapo and heading towards north to San Antonio following directions to Barangay Pundaquit.

Things to do

Upon arrival at the village you will notice the magnificent scenery of beach behind a mountain, perfect to watch the sun set. The island is accessible for day picnics, swimming and even over-night swimming just be sure to pre-arrange with your boatmen for them to pick you up. Snorkelling and kayaking are also possible on the beach so be sure to bring all your necessary equipments.

Surfing Capones Island

Capones Island is popular for its easy and manageable surfing waves. During the best season the beach offers well formed breaks for advanced surfers. During the season beginners can enjoy 3-9 feet waves perfect practicing. It is advisable to come from July to December to enjoy such adventure but the best one is just right after a storm when water is still agitated.

Sometimes I wonder what makes filipinos crazy about Fruit Salad! For no special occassion is complete without this dessert to finish off all those mouth-watering dishes that we ate. Pinoy Fruit Salad is different because we love it sweet, creamy and gooey! The longer they stay in the fridge the better it taste!

Pinoy Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

If you are in a hurry you can either use 1 can of tropical fruit cocktail

or If you prefer freshness then go for: freshly cut fruits like mangoes, bananas,apples, pear, watermelon, melon

half a cup of pineapple chunks

half a cup of fresh lychees

half a cup of freshly grated coconut

half a cup of sweetend sago (tapioca)

half a cup of nata de coco (optional)

one can of condensed milk

1 pack of heavy all purpose cream

Procedure:

This is so easy even children can do. Mix them all in the bowl and be sure they are well stirred. Put them in the fridge for at least two hours.

MI ULTIMO ADIOS (My Last Farewell)

¡Adiós, Patria adorada, región del sol querida,
Perla del mar de oriente, nuestro perdido Edén!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante, más fresca, más florida,
También por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien.

En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio,
Otros te dan sus vidas sin dudas, sin pesar;
El sitio nada importa, ciprés, laurel o lirio,
Cadalso o campo abierto, combate o cruel martirio,
Lo mismo es si lo piden la patria y el hogar.

Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora
Y al fin anuncia el día tras lóbrego capuz;
si grana necesitas para teñir tu aurora,
Vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora
Y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz.

Mis sueños cuando apenas muchacho adolescente,
Mis sueños cuando joven ya lleno de vigor,
Fueron el verte un día, joya del mar de oriente,
Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,
Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor

Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,
¡Salud te grita el alma que pronto va a partir!
¡Salud! Ah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir.

Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar un día
Entre la espesa yerba sencilla, humilde flor,
Acércala a tus labios y besa al alma mía,
Y sienta yo en mi frente bajo la tumba fría,
De tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor.

Deja a la luna verme con luz tranquila y suave,
Deja que el alba envíe su resplandor fugaz,
Deja gemir al viento con su murmullo grave,
Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave,
Deja que el ave entone su cántico de paz.

Deja que el sol, ardiendo, las lluvias evapore
Y al cielo tornen puras, con mi clamor en pos;
Deja que un ser amigo mi fin temprano llore
Y en las serenas tardes cuando por mí alguien ore,
¡Ora también, oh Patria, por mi descanso a Dios!

Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura,
Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual,
Por nuestras pobres madres que gimen su amargura;
Por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura
Y ora por ti que veas tu redención final.

Y cuando en noche oscura se envuelva el cementerio
Y solos sólo muertos queden velando allí,
No turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio,
Tal vez acordes oigas de cítara o salterio,
Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto a ti.

Y cuando ya mi tumba de todos olvidada
No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,
Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,
Y mis cenizas, antes que vuelvan a la nada,
El polvo de tu alfombra que vayan a formar.

Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido.
Tu atmósfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré.
Vibrante y limpia nota seré para tu oído,
Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido,
Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fe.

Mi patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,
Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adiós.
Ahí te dejo todo, mis padres, mis amores.
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
Donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios.

Adiós, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía,
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso día;
Adiós, dulce extranjera, mi amiga, mi alegría,
Adiós, queridos seres, morir es descansar.

“El Nido”, a spanish term for nest explains the islands famous marble and limestone cliffs housing a great number of the nestling ground for balinsasayaw or swiflets. The swiflets nests are actually very much used in cooking specially in Chinese cuisine. In El Nido you have a good chance of seeing hawksbill turtles, which abound in the El Nido
archipelago. It is also  home to dugong, whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins and a rich
diversity of fish. Sting Rays can also be seen from time to time.

El Nido is located in the islands of Palawan, bordered by Linapacan Strait , Sulu Sea and South China Sea. It is composed of 45 islands and islets each worth visiting for its formation and rich marine life.

Things to do In El Nido

Aside from appreciating the beauty of the scenery here two of the most important activity in El Nido are diving, island hopping and snorkelling. But of course not to forget swimming and sunbathing. The town of El Nido is not that big you can also explore this small fishing town by walking and probably buy your souvenirs in the market. You can also enjoy eating out in El Nido for there are quite some great restaurants to try. You can also hire a van or tricycle to bring you to some places nearby El Nido; cave tours or mangrove tours.

Island Hopping, Snorkelling and Diving Tours in El Nido

The two major activities tourist do in El Nido are snorkelling and diving. Although, there more beautiful diving spots in Port Barton or Coron Palawan, the spectacular beauty of El Nido Palawan is beyond compare. There are normally tour operators specialising in organizing tours to El Nido but some hotels do it for you. You can also negotiate with some boatmen for a much cheaper organized trip to El Nido’s islands. You can book them in advance before coming or make your reservation upon arrival.  The organized tours normally includes a picnic lunch in the island, the use of boat and a guide.  Prices vary.  Some are cheaper than the other.  Be sure to ask well and confirm the inclusion of your tour before buying.  The tours proposed to tourists are normally organized into three major tours: Tour A, Tour B and Tour C.

Tour A

Includes Big and Small Lagoon, Shimizu Island and Commando Beach.  This is the closest tour packages.  You can even do this trip for a half day tour. This is normally the cheapest tour among the three.

Tour B

The tour includes the famous Snake Island, Lagen Island, Inabuyatan Island and Cathedral Cave.  This is ideally done on the second day.  This could roughly cost about 800 pesos per person.

Tour C

The last tour is considered the farthest and the best among the three.  It includes Matinloc Island, Tapiutan Island and the famous Secret Beach.  Sea turtle abound the area, ask your boatmen when is the best time to see them.

When to Go

There are two seasons in El Nido: wet and dry.  It is generally dry, from December to May, and wet, from June to November. April and May are typically the driest months, while the heaviest rainfall occurs around August.  It is recommended to visit El Nido during the dry months of April and May.  December is considered a peak season in El Nido.

Getting there

There are possible ways of going to El Nido.  The first one is by taking the direct flight Manila to El Nido of ITI Airways (formerly Soriano Aviation) a private nineteen seater plane.  This is a private plane used to bring in and out of El Nido the clients of Lagen Island Resort, an exclusive luxury resort in El Nido.  The cost is quite high compared to normal domestic airlines servicing in Philippines.  Be sure to book in advance because the guests of the hotel are their priority. From flights departing from El Nido you can pick up your tickets directly at El Nido Artcafe, their authorized ticketing office in El Nido. Another way  lesser expensive thand the first one is by taking a plane from Manila to Puerto Princesa.  There are various domestic airlines servicing this route: Philippines Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines.  The flight takes about 45 to 60 minutes.  From Puerto Princesa you can either hire a van specially if you are travelling in a small group or

Whale shark watching Season

Butanding season starts around November and goes on through month of May. The best month to see them is February through April. It is advisable to go in the morning, as the waters are clearer and it easier to spot the Whale Sharks. According to the locals, the Whale Sharks are also more abundant before noon. On peak season, it is very common for each visitor to see more than a dozen different Butanding.

Getting there

If you are coming from Manila there are two options in getting there. First is by airplane, about 45-50 minutes a short ride from Manila to Legaspi (your entry point in Bicol region). There are various airlines servicing this route with varied prices too. You can check on Philippines Airlines, Cebu Pacific or Zest Air. Upon arrival at Legaspi airport, there are Van drivers waiting for passengers there. The hotel you will be staying can book the transportation for you in advance. Or if not you can just find one there for sure. The trip is about an hour from Legaspi to Donsol, prices also varies. From Legaspi, you can make a short stop-over to marvel at the majestic Mayon Volcano either on your arrival or on you way back to Manila. Often in the Legaspi airport But if you are not press with time, would love to see the beautiful scenery of Luzon vegetation and is willing to take that long bus ride (about 15-18 hours depends on bus company), there are buses plying from Manila (EDSA, Pasay, Cubao) directly to Donsol,Sorsogon.

Registration at Donsol Tourism Office

Upon arrival at Donsol you must register that day (if you wish to do whale shark watching the next day) at the Donsol Tourism Office. You can take a tricycle going there or walk by the beach or along the road depending where your hotel is located. At the Tourism Office, you will be required to register and attend a brief orientation session prior to heading out to see the Whale Sharks. You will also be required to pay the fee for: Boat Rental and Crew, Registration, and snorkeling equipment rental (if needed). The maximum number of registrants per boat is 7 people. If you are travelling alone it is recommended that you find other visitors that can come with you on the boat to help you lessen the bill. There are always backpackers travelling alone so it won’t be such a hard task to do.

Butanding Interaction

Whale shark watching trips are often organized in the morning. They will advise you that the best time to leave is between 6-7 am. You can arrange to have a small breakfast by the beach in the hotel you are staying as you wait for your boat to arrive. It is normally your BIO (Butanding Information Officer) that will welcome you on board the 12m (40 ft) boat. He will further explain you the rules and regulations and how the interaction normally occurs. There will be a spotter, the guy who is usually on the highest point of the boat to spot where the whale sharks are, and the rest of the crew. For a guaranteed safe and enjoyable trip it is advise to listen carefully your BIO. When a spotter sees one, he tells the BIO where it is, the BIO gives the signal position, and tells you to jump. The BIO will swim and guide you to this once in a life time experience of whale shark watching. Generally, you do not need to be out in deep waters in order to interact with the Whale Sharks. Your BIO will point them out and educate you on how to spot them, as well as provide additional information you need to know during the experience. The BIO’s are quite knowledgeable and friendly, and are willing to answer your questions. When the BIO feels that the situation is ideal, he will instruct the crew on the boat’s approach to the whale shark, and take the lead in getting you ready for the experience. Seeing the Butanding for the first time is an extremely exciting experience. It is very important to keep the safety procedures in mind, and always follow the lead and instructions of your BIO.

Places to stay

There are a lot of interesting places to stay in Donsol. There is Amor Farm Beach Resort, a great place with a beautiful garden and a great restaurant. There is also Vitton Beach, Woodland Resort and Casa Bianca. You can also do some homestaying in Donsol.

Contact Numbers

Woodland Resort
Contact Marichu (09219699544) / Mel (09182315420)
Rates: Big Cottages AC (10 pax) P2,700.00
AC Rooms (2 pax) P1,500.00
Non AC Cottages P 800.00

Amor Farm Beach Resort
Contact Agnes (0917-6941687)/ 0917-9682733/ 0910-4586140/ 0910-4762176/ rasyl_r_amor@yahoo.com
Rates: Fan Room w/Bathroom (2 single size bed, 2 fan) P1,000
Fan Room w/Bathroom (1 double size bed) P 700
Fan Room (2 double size bed, common bathroom) P 600

Vitton Beach Resort
Contact Nora (0927-9126313)
Rates: AC Rooms (2-4 pax) P1,500.00 Extra Person: P200 per head
AC Rooms w/ Hot & Cold (2-4 pax) P1,700.00

Casa Bianca
Contact Hazel (0921-3687066)/Jun Balmonte (0906-3099372)/ Jun (fireflies) (0906-9320457)
Rates: Fan Room P800
AC Room P1,500

Q & A

How many whale sharks we can see in a trip?

If you are lucky you can see as much as 12 Butanding in a day. But there is really no guarantee on how many you can see.

How long the trip last?

The trip normally lasts three hours.

Do I need to be a good swimmer to do this activity?

No. If you are a good swimmer it’s great but if you are not so comfortable in the water you can take some life jacket and your BIO will even assist you.

What other activities we can do in Donsol?

Aside from Butanding interaction you can also organize a “Firefly watching” with the tourism office. It is a night activity.

]]> http://www.in-the-philippines.com/travel-guide-donsol-whaleshark-watching/feed 6 http://www.in-the-philippines.com/other-things-to-do-in-pagudpud http://www.in-the-philippines.com/other-things-to-do-in-pagudpud#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 17:23:31 +0000 admin http://www.in-the-philippines.com/?p=239 Although to many going to Pagudpud means only enjoying and frolicking the beach, well you are mistaken. For there are a lot of exciting things we can do when visiting Pagudpud.

1. Start with the Pagudpud Viaduct

2. Stop by at Paraiso ni Anton (Anton’s Paradise)

Beside the grotto there is a clean stream nearby to explore.

3. Go to Blue Lagoon and swim

Enjoy this still untapped “tourist destination” a place where water is soothing and relaxing.

4. and last but not the least Trek the Kaibigan Falls

A winning itinerary for nature lovers out there!

There are so many exciting things to do and visit in Ilocos Sur. You can start with Vigan followed by the Crisologo Museum, Vigan Park how about a little bit of strolling in the City to enjoy the famous empanada, okoy and other delectable Ilocos goodies.

1. Vigan City

Found in the province is the historic town of Vigan, which was inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in November 1999. Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines and from China with those from Europe to create a unique culture and townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia. Its Kamestizoan District is replete with ancestral houses with ancient tiled roofs, massive hardwood floorings, ballustrades and azoteas in varying Spanish-Mexican-Chinese architectural styles.

2. Sta Maria Church

Centuries-old Sta. Maria Church, declared a National Landmark, was used as a fortress during the Philippine Revolution of 1896. Tirad Pass, declared a National Shrine, had been the last stand of the Filipino Revolutionary Forces under General Emilio Aguinaldo during the same period. Bessang Pass served as the backdoor to General Yamashita’s last ditch defense during the last stage of World War II.

3. Burnay (Jar) makers

Burnay, are the big jars where the delicious bagoong(shrimp paste) are usually kept in Ilocos. You can drop by and watch them make them and help preserve this legacy.

4. Crisologo Museum

A family museum of the famous Crisologo family of Ilocos. Marvel at their car collections and other historical related artifacts.

5. Vigan’s Baluarte

One of Vigan’s newer attractions is the Baluarte Zoo which is owned by then Ilocos Sur Governor, Chavit Singson. The zoo houses a wide array of animals like pythons, tigers, snakes, birds, ponies and a whole lot more. Kids and kids at heart will surely love this place!

Ilocos Sur

The province of Ilocos Sur is often dubbed as a living museum of a spirited past because of the strong presencen of Spanish legacy where myriad of cultures and histories converge. In here you will find a national shrine, a national landmark, a national museum, heritage museums, ancestral houses, period houses, cobble-stoned streets – they all share space in the timeless land of Ilocos Sur.

Places to see:

Vigan, Burnay Jars, Vigan Park, Crisologo Museum, Vigan’s Baluarte

Touring  Vigan by yourself

Things to eat

Ilocano Empanada and Okoy.

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte is a province in the Philippines in the Ilocos Region in the island of Luzon. The capital of this province is Paoay. This province is not only popular because of its historical monuments, museum, beautiful beaches but more importantly because the prominent politician Marcos clan hails from this region.

Things to see:

Paoay Church in Laoag,  St. William’s Cathedral in Laoag, Sta. Monica in Sarrat,  Bacarra Church, Malacanang of the North and Pagudpud Beach

Bitso Bitso (Pinoy Donut)

Ingredients:

150 g of flour

1 tablespoon of orange water
50 g of sugar
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 egg
10 cl of warm milk
1 sachet of dry yeast
a pinch of salt
cooking oil for deep frying
and icing or granulated sugar for coating

Dissolve the dry yeast in warm milk. Separate the egg yolk from the white. In a bowl put the flour, half of the sugar, the salt, the orange water, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and the egg yolk. Mix them well. Then add the yeast-milk mixture in the flour. Mix well and let it stand for three hours. Whisk the egg white until it becomes firm, then add the rest of the sugar. Mix them well. Add this mixture on the dough and combine them until it becomes homogenous. Warm your oil in a deep frying pan. Scoop a spoonful of your dough and slide it directly to the warm oil. It should be cook on both sides until its golden brown, about five minutes. After cooking dry them in

Let’s say its a  good way to say that you  invited them into your kitchen!

Butandings, although called as Whales are not mammals like other whales but they are actually fish and belong to group of sharks. However, this type of shark is not a predator like other varieties of sharks and just feeds on the plankton and small fish. Thus, in a sense a giant vegetarian fish. The seawater of Donsol have just the right temperature and are rich in plankton that attracts them. Butanding actually means “Gentle Giant” in the local dialect and this represents their true nature. This is the largest fish in the world and grows up to the length of 60 feet and weight up to 15 metric tons. We have never heard of them hurting humans intentionally although sometimes collisions with fishing boats are common. After declaring it a protected species and after knowing its behavior, the Filipino government was quick to spot the opportunity for “Eco-tourism” in Donsol. Butandings are found in this region from February to June when they migrate looking for the right water temperature and food.

Visiting Donsol: how to go, where to stay, what to do.

Claudine’s Beef Salpicao

1 kg tenderloin or sirloin, cut into cubes
2 tsp garlic, crushed
½ c Knorr Liquid Seasoning
1 pc green sili
½ c canola oil

Marinade:

2 tsp garlic, crushed
½ tsp ground black peper
½ c soy sauce
¼ c Knorr Liquid Seasoning
1 sachet Knorr Real Sarap

Procedure:

In a bowl, put the cubed tenderloin, Knorr Real Sarap, ½ c soy sauce, ¼ c Knorr Liquid Seasoning and chopped garlic. Sprinkle ½ tsp ground pepper.

Mix then leave for 15-20 minutes or until the sauce seeps in the beef.

Heat the pan in low fire. Put the oil in the pan.

When the oil is hot, put the garlic in the pan and then add the marinated beef (make sure sauce is squeezed out from beef). Cook beef until light brown then remove from pan.

Using the same pan, put the marinated sauce and green sili and let it simmer for 3-5 minutes.

Put the beef back in the pan and let it simmer for another 3-5 minutes.

Adobo is a Spanish term for marinade or seasoning but in Philippines it is considered the most popular dish among Filipinos.  Every region has their own version of this dish inspired by the Spaniards their colonizer for three centuries garnished with Filipino’s ingeniuty.  Here’s a recipe of a famous filipina actress who is also a good cook. Try it and love it!

Claudine’s Adobong Ilonggo

Ingredients:

½ kg chicken
½ kg pork liempo
1 tsp garlic, crushed
2 slices ginger, crushed
1 pc onion, sliced
1 tsp whole peppercorn
1/3 c vinegar
2 tbsp Knorr Liquid Seasoning
½ c water
1 tsp achuete powder
1 sachet Knorr Real Sarap

Procedure:

In a small bowl combine all ingredients except chicken, pork and achuete. Add Knorr Real Sarap to season.

In a wok, place the pork and the chicken, taking care that the pork is closer to the bottom of the pan.

Pour in the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer until tender.

Dissolve achuete powder in 1 tbsp of water and mix into the meat.

Continue cooking until the oil comes out. Mix well. Serve.

]]> http://www.in-the-philippines.com/adobong-ilonggo/feed 1 http://www.in-the-philippines.com/chicken-kinasal http://www.in-the-philippines.com/chicken-kinasal#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 13:51:15 +0000 admin http://www.in-the-philippines.com/?p=205 Are you familiar with tabon tabon fruit? Probably not.  A fruit native only to northern Mindanao and Camiguin Island. This is an intriguing fruit that physically looks like an elongated chico, with a hard shell, but the pulp inside looks unusual and somewhat like a split brain. Tabon tabon was said to be the key to the assertion that Filipinos enjoyed kinilaw (dish of raw fish or meat) well before the Spaniards arrived, because tabon tabon shells were found near fish bones in an anthropoligical site in the south. The pulp is used to remove the “fishy” taste of fish “langsa” and may have other medicinal properties as well. Here’s a recipe where you could use this unusual fruit  featured in the television serie Ysabella of Judy Ann Santos.

Chicken Kinasal of Judy Ann

Ingredients:

1 kilo of chicken cut in serving portions

1 spoon of tabon tabon fruit (hydrophytune orbiculatum) A fruit native in Northern Minadanao and Camiguin, this fruit is normally use in preparing Kilawin as this removes the pungent smell of the fish (langsa)

2 tablespoons of honey

1 tablespoon of bagoong balayan (fish pasta)

2 dayap or lime juice (you can replace this with lemon or kalamansi)

Procedure:

Mix all the ingredients and marinade for 24 hours. The next day steam the chicken for thirty minutes. Then in a frying pan fry the chicken until its golden brown.

1. Sole Proprietorship – is a business structure owned by an individual who has full control/authority of its own and owns all the assets, personally owes and answers all liabilities or suffers all losses but enjoys all the profits to the exclusion of others. A sole proprietorship must apply for a business name and be registered with the Department of Trade and Industry- National Capital Region (DTI-NCR). In the provinces, application may be filed with the extension offices of the DTI.
2. Partnership- Under the Civil Code of the Philippines, a partnership is treated as juridical person, having a separate legal personality from that of its members. Partnerships may either be general partnerships, where the partners have unlimited liability for the debts and obligation of the partnership, or limited partnerships, where one or more general partners have unlimited liability and the limited partners have liability only up to the amount of their capital contributions. It consists of two (2) or more partners. A partnership with more than three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) capital must register with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
3. Corporation- are juridical persons established under the Corporation Code and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission with a personality separate and distinct from that of its stockholders. The liability of the shareholders of a corporation is limited to the amount of their share capital. It consists of at least five (5) to fifteen (15) incorporators each of whom must hold at least one share and must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Minimum paid up capital: five thousand pesos (P5,000.00). A corporation can either be stock or non-stock company regardless of nationality. Such company, if 60% Filipino-40% foreign-owned, is considered a Filipino corporation; If more than 40% foreign-owned, it is considered a domestic foreign- owned corporation.

1. Branch Office – is a foreign corporation organized and existing under foreign laws that carries out business activities of the head office and derives income from the host country. It is required to put up a minimum paid up capital of US$200,000.00, which can be reduced to US$100,000.00 if (a) activity involves advanced technology, or (b) company employs at least 50 direct employees. Registration with the SEC is mandatory.
2. Representative Office - is a foreign corporation organized and existing under foreign laws. It does not derive income from the host country and is fully subsidized by its head office. It deals directly with clients of the parent company as it undertakes such activities as information dissemination, acts as a communication center and promotes company products, as well as quality control of products for export. It is required to have an initial minimum inward remittance in the amount of US$30,000.00 to cover its operating expenses and must be registered with SEC. Under RA 8756, any multinational company may establish an RHQ or ROHQ as long as they are existing under laws other than the Philippines, with branches, affiliates and subsidiaries in the Asia Pacific Region and other foreign markets.
3. Regional Headquarters (RHQs) – An RHQ undertakes activities that shall be limited to acting as supervisory, communication and coordinating center for its subsidiaries, affiliates and branches in the Asia-Pacific region. It acts as an administrative branch of a multinational company engaged in international trade. It does not derive income from sources within the Philippines and does not participate in any manner in the management of any subsidiary or branch office it might have in the Philippines. Required capital: US$50,000.00 annually to cover operating expenses.
4. Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQs) – An ROHQ performs the following qualifying services to its affiliates, subsidiaries, and branches in the Philippines.

Ingredients:

500 g of flour

200 g of butter

5 eggs

half a cup of warm milk

1 teasepoon of sugar

50 g of sugar

10 g of dry yeast

1 egg for eggwash, grated cheese, sugar to top it and some margarine

Procedure:

Start first by putting one cup of flour in a big salad bowl and add your warm milk. Put the the yeast and salt. Try to put the salt as far as possible from the yeast. Mix well this mixture and add your egg and sugar. Continue mixing, pour on the top another one cup of flour and let this stand for about an hour. We want the yeast to ferment. You will notice later that the flour you put on the top seems to crack that’s the indication that the yeast have already started fermenting. Add the rest of the flour (but be sure to do it little by little try to leave about half a cup), add your butter cut in small cubes. If you have a kneading machine or a bread machine you can use them to help you handle the dough. The dough will be very sticky at this point. You will have to add the butter and eggs at the same time little by little. Be sure that the butter is cold so it wont stick too much. Add more flour if needed. Knead this dough for about ten minutes. Put some oil on your salad bowl and put back this sticky dough cover it with floured towel and put this in the fridge. The next day, get your dough and try to knead it again. Cut your dough in 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a small rounded band and make your ensaymade. If you want you can just make a giant ensaymada. You need to put directly on the top of your parchment paper your ensaymada. Brush it with egg white and let it stand for another two to three hours before baking. Preheat the oven at 200° celsius. This would depend on a lot of ovens, bake your bread for about twenty minutes. Before serving brush the top with margarine, sprinkle with sugar and some grated cheese.

Francis Magalona also known as the Master Rapper, FrancisM, the Man from Manila or simply Kiko. Undoubtedly he is dubbed as the King of Pinoy Rap. He is the child of famous Filipino screen stars in 1940’s Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. His music is admired for its beautiful and meaningful lyrics that often talks about his patriotism. He is a rapper, musician, songwriter, actor, producer and a photographer. His untimely death last March 16 2009 of leukemia has devastated the entire nation. The government awarded him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Merit for his musical and artistic brilliance, his deep faith in the Filipino and his sense of national pride that continue to inspire every Filipino. You could check out his blog : A freemind, he wrote and managed in between his chemo sessions. Admire the talent of FrancisM from his designs, poetry and photographs. In 2008 he won the title for the Camera Club of the Philippines for his photography on grasshopper.

Freddie Aguilar or Ka Freddie a folk musician that fusioned his music with his nationalistic, political and social ideals.  He became popular in 1978 when he released his single lbum entitled Anak (Child) becoming the most commercially successful Philippine recording history.  The was became popular in Asia and in Europe, prompting the songs to be translated in various  languages.

Grasshoppers by Francis Magalona

The First place winning photograph (Camera Club 2008) of Francis Magalona, famous Filipino rapper.

Lea Salonga

Lea Salonga , the multi-awarded singer, stage actress and film actress. Born on February 22, 1971 in the Philippines. She was a childhood star in the Philippines debuting in the “King and I” stage play of Repertory Philippines. Her first album was “Small Voice” which received a golden recognition. Her first real big break in the international scene was when she played the role of Kim in the musical play “Miss Saigon” that made her won an Olivier and Tony awards. She was also the first Asian to play Eponine in Les Miserables of broadway.

She is currently busy performing concerts in Las Vegas and Seattle. For more details of her upcoming shows check on her website: www.leasalonga.com

Regine Velasquez

Regine Velasquez Who could ever imagine that joining and bagging the title of that famous singing contest in the 80’s, Bagong Kampion (New Champion) will pave the way for her singing career. Regine Velasquez is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host. She is dubbed as the Asia’s Songbird for having a wide vocal range. She is consider as the best selling Filipino Artist for selling more than 5 million albums. She is still busy hosting every weekend at GMA 7. She is currently engaged to Ogie Alcasid, another institution in the Philippine music industry.

OUR TOP MUST SEE PLACES

The beautiful Coron

1. Coron, Palawan (Snorkeling & Diving)

A municipality in Palawan famous for its wreck diving and aquatic views. No doubt this place has been listed in Forbes Traveler Magazine’s top 10 best diving sites in the world.

2. Donsol, Sorsogon (Encounter with the Whale Shark)

Donsol is a popular destination for tourists who wanted to see, meet and swim with the Butanding or the whale sharks. In 2004 the Time Magazine featured this place as one of the Best Animal Encounter in Asia.

3. Banaue Rice Terraces

Banaue Rice Terraces are 2000 year old terraces built and carved in the mountains of Ifugao. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe.

4. Boracay

Boracay is one of the most popular island in the Philippines located in the northwest tip of the Island of Panay popular for its sugarlike sand and pristine water. The island is consist of three baranggays; Manok Manok , Balabag and Yapac.

5. El Nido, Palawan

El Nido is a municipality in Palawan popular for diving and snorkelling. The island boasts of its towering marble cliffs, beautiful beaches and rich marine life. It is located about 432 kilometers southwest of Manila and about 238 kilometers from Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan

6. Ilocos

The Ilocos region is one of the best places to visit in the Philippines if you are in to culture and history.  Vigan in the South and the famous Malacanang of the north in Ilocos Norte are few of these places to mention.  The region of Ilocos is not only rich in history but a beautiful beaches like Pagudpud and delicious cuisine.

Ingredients:

1 kilo of pancit canton

*1 kilo could serve about ten to twelve guests. But it depends on their capacity to eat and if there are other dishes on the table.

half a kilo of pork belly (slice thinly)

2 cooked chicken breasts (meat shreaded)

1/4 kilo of shrimps (shells removed )

1/4 kilo of squid balls (cut into two)

2 onions sliced

3 cloves of garlic

one cup of sliced cabbage

2 carrots (cut in julienne strips)

half a cup of caulliflower (cut in small pieces) you can also use some broccolli

half a cup of celery stalks sliced

one bunch of fresh kintsay (chinese parley)

1/4 cup of soy sauce

pepper

1 pork cube (dissolve in half a liter of water)

half a cup of water

Procedure:

There are many versions of cooking canton. This one is the version of my friend’s mom she taught us, and I swear its really good. In a big wok or sautéing pan, put the pork and half a cup of water. Cover it and let it boil. After few minutes of simmering you can take now the liquid from the wok. You will save it for future use later. Add oil on the wok and start frying the pork, once they change color, take them off and put the shrimps. Cook them lightly until they change color. Next put the squid balls and do the same. After all these fry all the vegetables lighlty. You can add more oil if necessary. The vegetables need to rest crunchy and sweet. Reserve in one big plate all the fried vegetables, pork, shrimp, squid balls and cooked chicken breast. On the same wok, sauté the garlic and onion and pour the pork broth cube dissolved in water. Let it boil. Add the pancit canton. Pour the soy sauce. Do not put everything immediately, try to taste it, to determine whether you will need to put more or less. Let the canton noodles soften and absorbed the juice. If you like your pancit canton with a little bit of liquid you can already turn off the fire as soon as the noodles tenderized. But if you prefer a pancit canton drier you need to wait that the juice have already evaporated. But do not overcook because noodles have tendency to become soggy. At this point mix half of all the fried ingredients you have on the pancit. Mix them well to be sure they are proportionally distributed everywhere. The other remaining half of your fried veggies and meat goes on top of the noodles so that it will look more appetizing. Serve with kalamansi (lemon or lime) mixed with soy sauce and siling labuyo (chili hot pepper).

Ingredients:

half a kilo of chicken cut into serving pieces

half a kilo of pork cut in cubes (about 3- 4 inches)

one clove of garlic, minced

1 tsp of grated ginger

1 tsp of peppercorn (pamintang buo)

1 tsp of sugar

1/4 soy sauce

1/4 cup of vinegar

2 tbsp of cooking oil

Procedure:

The secret to any adobo is the marinating sauce. And the key to its success is slow cooking. In a salad bowl mix half of the pounded garlic, with sugar, peppercorn, vinegar and soysauce; mix well. Put the cut chicken and the pork into this mixture and cover it. Let it marinate for about 24 hours. The next day put the marinated chicken and pork along with the sauce plus half a glass of water in a casserole and cover it. Let it simmer slowly over medium fire until the juice of the meat has come out and the sauce has reduced. Remove the cover of the casserole then put the cooking oil and the remaining garlic freshly pounded. Fry them altogether. Best served with pandan rice and eaten with your hands!

Money Matters

Philippines is one of the “value for money” places to stay in Asia. Although it may not be the cheapest in Asia, traveling is still considerably affordable for Western standards. Travel expenses could go up or down depending on your budget. Accommodation could be cheap or moderately expensive on some touristic areas but transportation fares and food are relatively cheap.

Peso is the country’s unit currency. Banknotes are in denomination of 10,20,50,100,200, 500 and 1000. While coins are from 10 centavos, 25 centavos and 1 peso, 5 pesos and 10 pesos. Be careful in using your big bills (500 to 1000) as people are often afraid of fake bills. Some stores refuse payment with big bills.

When traveling in Philippines it is preferable to bring your “ATM cards” as it is easy to withdraw money anywhere anytime in Manila and some major cities like in Cebu. However, there are certain places like in Palawan that it is impossible to find an ATM machine that accepts international cards. Cirrus, Plus, Mastercards and Visa are widely accepted. Cash advances are subject to daily withdrawal limit depending on banks. This is normally around 5 to 7 thousand pesos. Carrying and use of travelers checks is also possible in Manila. Certain international banks, money changing shops and even SM (Shoe Mart) a commercial center accepts to change your travelers checks. But be warned of the price they will pay your TC as it often cheaper than the normal exchange rates. Exchange money is possible too in Manila and in most places in the Philippines.

15th and 30th of the Month are normally Filipinos salary day so do not be surprised to see if restaurants, shops or ATM are flooded with people during these days. Although nowadays more and more Filipinos prefer to have a different salary dates (2nd and 17th of the month) to avoid this kind of trouble. Filipinos being highly superstitious consider paying on Mondays, a sign of badluck. As it is not good to start the week by money getting out of the pocket.

Health Matters

If this isn’t your first time in Philippines you know that sunblock lotion is a must in your travel bag. Protecting your skin against the scorching heat of the sun is very important. Like any other countries, there are some areas in Philippines that requires necessary vaccinations when you visit them: like in Palawan. It is preferrable to bring your own medicine with your doctor’s prescription. Otherwise, buying commonly used medicines like paracetamol or immodium can easily be made over the counter. The country’s biggest and leading drugstore is Mercury Drug with some branches that are open 24 hours a day. But other than that finding any pharmacy is definitely easy there is always one in the corner. Do not be surprise too if you can purchase medicines on some small “sari sari store” when you buy your bottle of coke.

The best thing is to go and visit your doctor before your scheduled departure to be sure you haven’t forgotten anything.

WOW Philippines logo

Wow Philippines
Tourism is an important economy in the Philippines. The flagship campaign of Department of Tourism “WOW Philippines” for the first time after so many years has finally reaped its reward combined with a much stable economy attaining it’s last year’s target tourist arrivals. For the next three years before Arroyo’s administration ends the DOT (Department of Tourism) targets five million arrivals.

Current Tourism Trends
South Korea tops the Philippine tourist arrivals for this year, a little bit higher than the US visitor arrivals that topped the list previously. This current trend is largely attributed to the “English as a Second Language Centers” across the nation with the National Capital Region and Cebu being identified as the most popular destinations. However, the local travel retailer has been losing revenue to Korean travel agencies operating in the market. The growth of hotels and spa in the country is also evident due to growing number of Korean investments. Low Cost Carrier also showed positive growth. The increasing interest of both inbound and outbound tourism is largely attributed to route expansions evident among all carriers.

Destination for Health and Wellness
The Philippines currently ranks as the fifth in Asia for Health and Wellness destination. To further boost on this, the government, travel agencies, tour operators and even hospitals have joined forced in attracting more “health and wellness” tourist in the country.

Starting up a business in the Philippines is easy depending on the type of the business entreprise that you would like to put up. Mostly Filipinos tend to begin with the single proprietorship as it is the easiest one to apply for. It requires fewer documents to be submitted.

The first step is to register the business name of your company, it would mean going to the Department of Trade and Industry in its  main office in Makati.  You will be required to write in a piece of a paper three chosen names for you company 1st priority, 2nd priority and third priority. It will be verified afterwards if the first chosen namen does not exist yet.  After this you may go on with the rest of the procedure.

The applicant should be at least eighteen years old. Sometimes they require a certificate from the Philippine National Police or from the National Bureau of Investigation in the area where you want to start your.

At the DTI get an application form, remember to bring two 2″ x 2″ identical color photos and sign them at the back. These photos should have been taken within one preceding year when you register a business in the Philippines.

Another document necessary register a business with a single owner is to present proof of citizenship. If your surname or family name sounds foreign you may inspect your passport (bring it along, it might come in handy). If you register a business where you’ll be a practicing professional (medical doctor, accountant, lawyer etc.) you will be required to present a photocopy of your license from the Philippine Regulatory Commission.

If you want to register a business as a corporation we need to get a certificate of registration from the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). A minimum of five people is required to register a business as a corporation, the maximum would be fifteen (majority of these should be residents of the Philippines).

Bring the following to register a business at the SEC:

Your cover sheet
A name verification slip
Registration Data Sheet
Bank Certificate of Deposit for your Paid-up capital
Articles of Incorporation
Undertaking to Change Name
A Treasurer’s Affidavit
Your Corporate By-Laws
Endorsements/clearances from other government agencies
Proof of remittance by foreign corporate subscribers and for a corporation with Foreign Equity
Application Form F-100, for corporations with more than 40% foreign equity

If you want to register a business in the Philippines as a partnership you would also have to go to the SEC. There should at least be two applicants. Majority of the partners should be residents of the Philippines. A partnership in Philippine law is where business partners “contribute money, property, or industry to a common fund with the intention of dividing the profits” among themselves.

Here’s a list of items you should bring to the SEC.

A Cover sheet
A Name verification slip
Your Articles of Partnership
A Registration Data Sheet
Endorsements/clearances from other government agencies
Application Form F-105 (For partnerships with Foreign Partners)
Bank Certificate on the capital contribution of the partners
Proof of Remittance of foreign partners

These are the items you need to bring with you when you register a business in the Philippines. Remember to bring every single item along so you don’t waste time going back and forth.

Before Spanish Arrival

Negritos are believed to be the first inhabitants of the Philippines. They said to have migrated some 30,000 years ago from Borneo, Sumatra, and Malaya. Malayans came after in successive waves passing in different direction. These people are said to belong to the primitive Malayan culture that up to this day is believed to survived among certain ethnic groups like the Igorots of the Mountain Province. The Philippines was said to be muslim dominated while others adore their pagan gods. They have already a flourishing culture and economy. There were even records of its early commercial international trades with the Chinese.

Spanish Colonization

Philippines was accidentally discovered by Ferdinand Magellan (Fernando Magalhaes), a Portuguese explorer who’s leading a Spanish fleet in March 1521 in search for the so called Spice Island. He landed in Humonhon island Leyte with his 150 crew being the first European to have set foot in Philippines. With the aid of his malay interpreter Enrique, he succeeded in exploring Cebu and converting Rajah Humabon to embrace christianity. However he was killed during a battle by another RAjah, Lapu Lapu after refusing to be a christianized. He died on the morning of April 27, 1521. Numerous Spanish expeditions were sent after the failure of Magellan. Ruy Lopez de Villabos from New Spain (Mexico) in 1542 who gets credit for naming the country after King Philip. It was only in 1564 that the Spanish expedition headed by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi succeeded in fully controlling the country. Spanish leadership was soon established over many small independent communities that previously had known no central rule. By 1571, when López de Legaspi established the Spanish city of Manila on the site of a Moro town he had conquered the year before, the Spanish foothold in the Philippines was secure, despite the opposition of the Portuguese, who were eager to maintain their monopoly on the trade of East Asia.

The Chinese pirate Limahong tried to attack Philippines at several occasions but Manila repulsed it. In fact long before the Spaniards, the Filipinos were already trading with the Chinese. There were numerous uprisings by the Filipinos, who resented the encomienda system. The period from 1600 to 1663 was marked by continual wars with the Dutch, who were laying the foundations of their rich empire in the East Indies, and with Moro pirates.

The Revolution

Filipinos were more and more fed up and with the Spanish colonization and were more and more hungry for independence. The rising opposition against the cruel clergies, Spanish injustices, bigotry, and economic oppressions paved the way for the birth of the KKK – Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng̃ mg̃á Anak ng̃ Bayan ( Supreme and Venerable Society of the Children of the Nation) or simply Katipunan. Katipunan was founded by the plebeian Andres Bonifacio largely influenced the propaganda movement of the pacifists Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar and Mariano Ponce, who expresses their sentiments through pen and writing. When Dr. Jose Rizal was executed via firing squad at Luneta (or bagumbayan) for conspiracy against the Spaniards Bonifacio gathered the Katipuneros and started the revolution. After 300 years of colonization the Philippine Independence was finally declared, but only for a short time as the Americans were starting to gain the territory.

American Occupation

After the famous so called “Mock Battle of Manila Bay ” (Mock because the entire battle was staged and the Spaniards have already surrerendered for they do not want to lose face against the Americans) the Katipuneros specially Emilio Aguinaldo were heavily supported by the Americans. The Filipinos had also declared their independence and established a republic under the first democratic constitution ever known in Asia. Their dreams of independence were crushed when the Philippines were transferred from Spain to the United States in the Treaty of Paris (1898), which closed the Spanish-American War. The Hare-Hawes Cutting Act, passed by Congress in 1932, provided for complete independence of the islands in 1945 after 10 years of self-government under U.S. supervision. The Philippine legislature finally ratified the second bill Tydings-Mcduffie which resembled the precendent act. The constitution, approved by President Roosevelt (Mar., 1935) and was accepted by the Philippine people in a plebiscite. Manuel L. Quezon was elected the first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935. He was reelected in Nov., 1941. To develop defensive forces against possible aggression, Gen. Douglas MacArthur was brought to the islands as military adviser in 1935, and the following year he became field marshal of the Commonwealth army.

Filipinos are said to be freedom-loving people, having waged two peaceful, bloodless revolutions against what were perceived as corrupt regimes. The Philippines has  a vibrant democracy, manifested by presence of  12 English national newspapers, 7 national television stations, hundreds of cable TV stations, and 2,000 radio stations.

Filipinos are a fun-loving people. Throughout the islands  fiestas are celebrated everyday overflowing with a lot of warm hospitality and good sense of humor.

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 is 77%.

POPULATION
There are a total of 76.5 million Filipinos as of the latest national census in May, 2000. Population growth is estimated at 2.36 percent annually. Luzon, the largest island group, accounts for more than half of the entire population.

LANGUAGES
Two official languages — Filipino and English. Filipino which is based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is also widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education.

Eight (8) major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense. Filipino is the native language whish is used commonly as the language of communication among ethnic groups. Filipino is in a process of development through loans from Philippine languages and non-native languages for various situations, among speakers of different social backgrounds, and for topics for conversation and scholarly discourse. There are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects.

RELIGIONS
Some 83% of Filipinos are Catholic. About 5% are Moslem. The rest are made up of smaller Christian denominations and Buddhist.

UNIT OF MEASURE
The Metric System is used in most trade and legal transactions.

ELECTRICITY
220 volts a/c is the common standard. 110 volts a/c is also used, especially in major hotels.

CURRENCY
The Philippines’ monetary unit is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotels, most large department stores, banks, and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank Americard, Master Card, and American Express are accepted in major establishments.
Education

The Philippines has both private and public school systems for elementary, secondary and college levels. The public schools are subsidized by the Government, fees are minimal and teaching is done in English and Filipino. The normal school year is from June to March.

Foreign nationals have a choice of going to either the elitist local private schools, majority of which are run by religious orders and teaching is done in English, or the international schools.

Public Transport

The most common and inexpensive mode of transportation in the Philippines are jeepneys. There are also buses that are classified into non-aircon and airconditioned. Taxis are all airconditoned. The Philippines has also Tricycles. These are motorcycles / bicycles with a sidecar attached for short trips on the side streets. (depends on the locality). Also, the country have Light Rail Transit(LRT) & Metro Rail Transit(MRT). These are overhead railway system that currently runs in Metro Manila. Lastly, the country has also Air Transport (Domestic Flights –One way Fare per Person)

* Subject to increase based on fuel

Shopping in Manila

Metro Manila is considered as shopper’s paradise.  The major shopping center in Makati is the Ayala Commercial Center where most items found overseas can be bought. The SM Megamall, Robinson’s Galleria, Rustan’s Department Store and Edsa Plaza Shopping Mall are modern malls with extensive array of consumer goods and a must when shopping.The Divisoria area, on the otherhand, are for adventuresome bargain hunter/s who wish to experience a typical Asian open market.

The current map of the Philippines

Seventeenth Century map of the Philippines

Old map of the Philippines

Map of the Philippines used during WWII