What to expect if you’re visiting the Philippines

Originally posted on Reddit.

I’m posting this here because I received questions about this very topic from people who seem to think I’m a credible source of information. If anyone has anything to add or correct, please feel free to do so because this is for them, not me.

Let me preface this with the disclaimer that I moved here way back in 2000, and I was 12 at the time. Things are going to be different for you at this time and at your age, so please do keep an open mind and prepare yourself for the unexpected.

The first thing you’ll notice upon stepping out of the airplane is how hot it is here. Lucky you, you’re coming to the Philippines during the hottest month of the year, so dress accordingly (lots of tourists here just wear flipflops, t-shirts and shorts) and bring lots of sunblock if you burn easy.

Because of the heat, people sweat. It’s human biology, we expect it to happen so it’s no big deal as long as you’re mindful about it. If you sweat buckets, maybe bring a face towel instead of just a handkerchief. More importantly, though, make sure to shower at least once a day. Twice for comfort, if you can. We don’t mind sweat, but body odor is a big no-no. If you can smell yourself, so can we.

When you get to your relative’s house, make sure to greet them with a warm hello, hugs and kisses all around. They will probably teach you the “beso beso” which is a traditional customary cheek-to-cheek “kiss” shared between close acquaintances upon initial meetings (this is another reason to shower and care for your personal hygiene). We also do handshakes, bro-fists, high-fives, and pretty much every form of western hand communication. Americans have influenced us deeply.

Be open, and be prepared to tell a lot stories about your life in the States. People here generally love hearing about that sort stuff. Some sensitive topics include religion, abortion, politics, the usual. Use common-sense. If you’re openly opinionated, maybe reign it in a little until get know your audience better. We’re even more sensitive to hearing different perspectives than you’re used to, especially if they’re in direct opposition to our own.

Cultural things you may want to be mindful of: generally everyone here is pretty chill, but of course you have some prudes, elitists, zealots, nationalists, assholes, and pretty much every kind of undesirable out there. First thing’s first, Filipinos are people, too. Treat them, and even talk to them as if you would anyone else, and you’ll be okay.

More specifically: it’s ingrained in our society to equate foreign with rich, so act like you’re in Detroit whenever you’re not in a secure place; there will be street beggars on every major road you travel on, yes you’ll feel a painful stab in your chest the first few weeks but you need to ignore them - I’ve been told that there are syndicates controlling these beggar networks (some background on this provided by /u/agentlangdon), and you’ll be doing more harm than good by handing out alms; religion is pretty ubiquitous here with Christianity leading the way by a large margin, so expect to see and hear mentions of it every so often (we say “Merry Christmas” just as often as we say “Happy Holidays”); there’s a huge (in my opinion, misplaced) sense of national pride in all things Filipino, so try not to be too critical about our food, products, or celebrities around an unfamiliar crowd; traffic is terrible here and we all hate it, so it’s best to find a way to live with it sooner rather than later; make it a habit to leave for scheduled appointments much earlier than expected, as we don’t like latecomers - though we’re usually pretty lax about it ourselves.

When I go out and shop with my girlfriend, we usually spend about Php 9k-10k (USD 200-225) bimonthly for her family of 6+, but this is inclusive of other household needs (toiletries, feminine products) and exclusive of fresh meat products. If you’re buying for yourself, depending on how much you eat and where, I think you can comfortably live on less than Php 4k (USD 90) every time you need to go buy groceries. You said you’ll just be buying food and drinks, right?

Nightlife is very active here if you’re talking about bars and clubs. For adventures into places of ill repute, there’s plenty of choices as well. Overall I think you’ll find that there’s lots to do in the Philippines if you’re open-minded and patient (because traffic). A fair price for local beer (which is pretty good, as far as local beers go) at a hole-in-the-wall cantina would be maybe Php 30-50 (USD 0.70-1.15), which can go up to Php 60, or even Php 90 at super fancy restaurants. Imported beer (Stella Artois, Heineken, Hoegaarden, Leffe, etc) usually hovers between Php 120-280 (USD 2.70-6.30) per 335ml bottle. Some beers are more expensive, like Chimay or Delirium. Our local craft beers are around that price as well. /u/agentlangdon describes the practice of tagay, a drink-sharing custom that you may be expected to partake in if/when you go out drinking with friends. /u/Akocabs explains how the word is used in various sentences.

For a night of debauchery, you might spend as little as Php 2000 or even less, for 3 hours, 2 pops, no anal, no CIM. For higher quality and safer trips, don’t expect spending less than Php 4k for the same deal. Or so I’ve heard.

I think you’ll be alright, because in general Filipinos are pretty friendly and open especially to foreigners. Yes there are some crazies like the guy who killed that British tourist a few days ago but you get that everywhere. Just don’t treat anyone like they’re lower than you (even if you do happen to literally tower over them in height) and you’ll be liked.