AIESEC IN DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
G N I C I V SER A N D n o i t p e r ec t e l k o bo 1
CONTENTS Reminders
1
Geography and Climate
2
Language
3
Currency
4
Other Payment Methods
5
Basic Fares/Prices
6
Useful Phrases
7
Modes of Transportaion
8
Philippine Cuisine
10
Let’s Go To...
12
Body Language
15
Meeting Etiquette
16
Visa Matters
19
Final Reminders
20
Want More Info?
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Bucketlist
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REMINDERS Be acquainted with the weather in the country. Make it a point that you bring the proper clothes fit for the weather. We encourage you to allocate enough funds for umbrellas and insct repellant. Bring clothes for the weather such as raincoats. The condition of the weather may affect the course of your internship. An example would be the suspension of work and classes due to a storm. Your AIESEC representative will guide you through the contingency plan regarding your projects. The Local Committee is well prepared for these types of situations. If you have any inquires or concerns, don’t hesitate to ask your host entity.
Other reminders:
• Local time is GMT +8 • Be mindful of non-smoking areas (e.g. Public transportation, public areas especially those near schools.) • Allot a budget for terminal fees (around Php 650 - Php 750) • Don’t forget to bring your travel adaptors for your chargers and other gadgets/appliances. If you don’t have one, you may buy one in malls for around Php 50
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Geography & Climate The Philippine archipelago is comprised of 7.107 islands which is located in Southeast Asia. It has three main divisions which are Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, Luzon being the largest, Mindanao coming in second and Visayas being the smallest one. The Philippines is considered to have a tropical climate with an average temperature of 26.6°C. The coolest month is in January with an average temperature of 25.5°C, while the warmest month is in May, with an average temperature of 28.3°C.
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Language The Philippines has over a hundred local dialects but most Filipinos make use of two languages which are: FILIPINO: This is considered to be the mother tongue of the country. It is mostly Tagalog with some influences of English, Chinese and Spanish languages. ENGLISH: Most Filipinos (especially those in the metro) are familiar, if not fluent, with the English language. Knowing the English language will get you very far.
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Currency COINS
5 25 1 10 centavos centavos centavos centavos
1 peso
5 pesos
10 pesos
BILLS
IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the new variants of the Philippine bills. The old bills are not accepted anymore at establishments so please be wary of what kind of bills the people hand you. Though you can exchange the old bills in banks. Do not exchange currency in your own country because they might give you old bills that are not circulated here 4
OTHER PAYMENT METHODS YAZZ CARD The YAZZ card is a prepaid card created by MetroBank, one of our partners. The prepaid card provides an easy method of payment where the user can purchase goods, whether online or in an establishment. All you have to do is to load the card in selected distribution partners. WHERE YOU CAN USE THE YAZZ CARD: Major Department Stores and Supermarkets via Bills payment, Concierge, Customer Service counters, Information Desks or other locations assigned by the partner, 24/7 Convenience Stores , Identified Retail Partners, Direct Sales and MCC managed Booth Sites, Event Exhibits and Caravans.
The card itself can be considered as a saving account, since you can deposit and withdraw money. This is an option the EP can take to safeguard their earnings during their time in the Philippines, without them having to hold too much money where they can risk losing it. To avail of the Yazz card, please contact: Sedric Yap Business Development Team Leader for Incoming Exchange Operations sedric.yap@aiesec.net 5
BASIC FARES/PRICES • Taxi Cab: There will be a flag down rate of Php 40 for the first 500 meters, and an additional Php 3.50 for every 300 meters or 2 minutes waiting time as the meter runs. • Movie: Php 200-250 depending on the film, and the movie house. • Lunch or Dinner: You may allocate Php50 - 200 per meal. Most meals are composed of one cup of rice and your choice of viand. Disclaimer: Most people in the Philippines eat meat. However, you may find vegetarian restaurants around as well. • SIM Card: Sim cards usually cost around Php 60-90. Coordinate with your host LC which network provider would be more convenient for you to have. • Mobile credit/ Load: You may buy from sari-sari stores (neighborhood variety store), convenience stores or malls. You have the option to have it sent to your phone (e-load) or to buy them as load cards. Sari-sari stores usually sell e-load instead of load cards. • Restaurant Tip: Tipping is optional but greatly appreciated. Some establishments already have a 10% service charge in the bill. You may tip from Php 20-100 based on your liking.
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Useful Phrases English Good morning/afternoon/evening
Filipino Magandang umaga/hapon/gabi
How are you?
Kumusta ka?
Thank you (so much)
(Maraming) salamat
Yes
Oo (Formal: Opo)
No
Hindi
My name is _______
Ako ay si _______/ Ako si______
I am from _________
Ako ay galing sa _______
Let’s eat!
Kain tayo!
How do I get to _____? Here’s my fare/payment (To pay for the jeepney fare) This is my stop (Used for riding the jeepney/tricycle) One
Paano pumunta sa ______?
Two/Twenty
Dalawa/Dalawampu
Three/Thirty
Tatlo/Tatlumpu
Four/Forty
Apat/Apatnapu
Five/Fifty
Lima/Limampu
Six/Sixty
Anim/Animnapu
Seven/Seventy
Pito/Pitumpu
Eight/Eighty
Walo/Walumpu
Nine/Ninety
Siyam/Siyamnapu
Ten
Sampu
One hundred
Isang daan
One thousand
Isang libo
Bayad po! Para po! Isa
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Modes of Transportation TRICYCLE/PEDICAB: A tricycle is a motorcycle with an attached sidecar, while a pedicab is a bicycle with the same attached to it. You may ride these for short distances. They’re not allowed to operate on main and national roads so their routes are on the inner streets of the metro. Usually, a tricycle or pedicab can accommodate up to 4 passengers and can cost from Php 20-50 depending on the distance of your destination. JEEPNEYS: These are one of the icons of the country and one of the most used mode of transportation in the metro. A standard jeepney can hold from 14-20 passengers at the back, facing each other, and two more in front, alongside the driver. The minimum fare is Php 7.00 and increases as the destination gets farther. It’s better to ask the driver how much the fare is to your desired destination. To pay for your fare, just tell the driver “Bayad po” and pass your fare. When another passenger is seated farther from the driver and hands it near you, it is of common courtesy that you pass his/her payment to the driver or someone near the front. When you arrive at your destination, just tell the driver “Para po!” and the driver will stop the jeepney. 8
Modes of Transportation TRAINS (METRO MANILA): The major railway systems in Metro Manila are the LRT line 1, LRT line 2, the MRT and PNR. These are cheap and convenient alternatives for commuting. The fares range from Php 15-30 depending on your destination. However, try to avoid using them during rush hours because the trains tend to be jam packed. FERRY: Since the Philippines is an archipelago, there are a lot of islands you can choose to visit. Naturally, boats are a commonly used mode of transportation when travelling. You may make use of the roll-on-roll-off (RORO) ships from Manila to other areas of the country. The two major shipping lines in the country are www.2go.com.ph and www.montenegrolines.com.ph. AIRPLANE: Majority of the airlines directly fly to nearby countries such as Singapore, Japan and the like. It is best to keep your eye out for promo fares because this can save you a lot of money. However, be aware that there are additional fees and taxes at the airport, so might as well prepare extra money. Some of the major airlines in the country are Cebu Pacific (www.cebupacificair.com), Philippine Airlines (PAL) (www.philippineairlines. com), Tiger Air (www.tigerair.com.ph), AirAsia Zest (www.airasia.com.ph).
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Let’s Eat! The Philippine cuisine is a diverse selection of food which is also influenced Spanish, Chinese and other cuisines. Rice is the staple food of the country, so most meals would normally include at least a cup of rice. Listed below are some of the most popular dishes and delicacies everyone is recommended to try at least once during their stay here.
SINIGANG: A sour clear soup with leafy vegetables combined with your choice of pork, chicken, beef, shrimp or fish. It gets its sour flavor from a tamarind based soup. ADOBO: Your choice of pork or chicken slow cooked in a marinade of soy sauce, vinegar, peppercorns, garlic and dried bay leaves. SISIG: Pig’s head and liver seasoned with calamansi and chili peppers, and served on a sizzling plate usually with an egg on top.
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Let’s Eat! BALUT: The famous balut is a developing bird embryo usually that of a duck. It is boiled and eaten from the shell. It is best seasoned with a bit of salt as you eat it.
HALO-HALO: A popular dessert composed of shaved ice, sugar palm, flat rice crisps, coconut get, ripe jackfruit, gelatin, tapioca pearls, sweetened bananas, macapuno and evaporated milk and served with ice cream on top.
BUKO PANDAN: Coconut served with screwpine leaf-flavored gelatin. It is usually served with sweetened cream or vanilla ice cream .
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Let’s Go To... METRO MANILA
INTRAMUROS Intramuros, or the walled city, was the historic core of Manila. It was the seat of the Spanish government during the colonial era. Several structures and memorials from the Spanish to the contemporary times may be visited here, as well the Bureau of immigration.
MANILA BAY One of the best natural harbours in Southeast Asia that serves the Port of Manila. The sunset here is simply breathtaking.
CHINATOWN Manila Chinatown, also called Binondo, is the world’s oldest Chinatown. It is famous for its retail stores, restaurants, traditional Chinese institutions, and festivals.
THE FORT If you’re looking to party at night, The Fort in Taguig City is the place to go.. It also houses several tea and coffee shops for your afterparty or early morning lounging. 12
Let’s Go To... THE PHILIPPINES
MANILA Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. It is a cosmopolitan and complicated city influenced by its cross-cultural heritage and modern commercial centers.
VIGAN Vigan is known for its wellpreserved Spanish colonial and Asian architecture. It lies on the west coast of Luzon island and is home to the famous Vigan longganisa. BORACAY Famous for its very fine white sands and gleaming white puka shells, Boracay was declared the 2012 world’s best island. Best way go get there is by plane.
CAMARINES SUR Camarines Sur is in the Bicol region of Luzon. This province is becoming more famous for the CamSur Water Complex. People usually go here using land transportation. 13
Let’s Go To... PALAWAN Palawan is the largest province in the country. It is home to the two UNESCO Heritage Sites: the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Prinsesa Subterranean River. Airlines have direct flights to Palawan. SIARGAO Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island that’s well-known as the “Surfing Capital,” and holds its annual Siargao Cup competition in “Cloud 9” every September. You can visit this island in Mindanao by either taking a flight to Surigao then riding the boat, or fly directly to Siargao island.
CEBU Located in the Visayas group of island. You may find the cross from the King of Spain given by the great explorer Ferdinand Magellan stands tall in the island of Cebu, the oldest city in the country and the Seat of Christianity. You may also drop by the AIESEC LC. DAVAO Davao, one of the safest cities in the Philippines, is a center of commerce in Mindanao. It is famous for its exotic fruit called Durian. It is also the home of Mt. Apo, the highest peak in the country, and the national animal, the Philippine Eagle. You may visit the AIESEC LC here as well! 14
Body Language • Never point out your finger when you’re calling someone. One should also be knowledgeable of the non verbal expressions practiced in the Philippines. • If Filipinos don’t understand a question, they open their mouths, it’s normal. Raised eyebrows signify recognition and agreement. • Laughter may convey pleasure or embarrassment; it is commonly used to relieve tension. • Staring is considered rude and could be misinterpreted as a challenge, but Filipinos may stare or even touch foreigners, especially in areas where foreigners are rarely seen, so please be cautious. • To Filipinos, standing with your hands on your hips means you are angry. • Never curl your index finger back and forth (to beckon). This may intimidate Filipinos. • “Eyebrow flash” – a quick lifting eyebrows – is a filipino greeting.
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Meeting Etiquette • Initial greetings are formal and follow a set protocol of greeting the eldest or most important person first. • A handshake, with a welcoming smile, is the standard greeting. • Men and women shake hands with everyone present at a business meeting or social occasion and when saying “goodbye.” Handshakes should be friendly and informal, but firm. Women should wait for Men to extend their hand. • Close female friends may hug and kiss each other cheek to cheek when they meet. • Use academic, professional, or honorific titles and the person’s surname until you are invited to use their first name, or even more frequently, their nickname. • Dress well for most occasions. • Men should wear a coat and tie for initial meetings. • Women should wear western dresses, skirts and blouses. • Don’t be offended by personal questions. These are asked to show interest. Feel free to ask the same questions in return, especially about family. • Speak softly and control your emotions in public. Make requests in a polite manner, not demands. • Never bring shame to a person. This reflects on his family. Personal goals are sacrificed for the good of the family. • Never criticize anyone, especially not in public. Never offer insincere comments or compliments.
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Visa Matters Here are ways to obtain a visa for your stay in the Philippines: A.) Apply for a visa partially or fully covering your stay in the Philippine emabssy in your home country. Refer to http://www. pcoo.gov.ph/embassies_phil-dir.htm for a directory of the PH embassies. B.) Have your visa extended here in the Philippines. Passport holders from certain countries are granted either a 7 day 1421 or 31-day VISA. Check if your country is one of them: https://www. dfa.gov.ph/index.php/list-of-countries-for-21-day-visa. Holders of Brazil and Israel passports are granted a 59-day visa upon arriving.
We advise our EPs to avail of either 9a or 47a2 visa 9a For temporary visitors coming for business, pleasure, or reasons of health.
47a2 Special non-immigrant visa granted to, but not limited to, locally and internationally recognized organizations and institutions (including AIESEC).
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Visa VISA Matters MATTERS 9a Fees* Toursists given a 21-day visa can Php3030 extend for another 38 days (free 21 days + 38 daywaiver = 59-day visa) Tourist visa extension after first 59 May cost up to Php 7,407.40 for an days: additional 1 month stay after the initial tourist VISA The fee includes a mandatory ICR express fee of Php500 card which us required for those staying for longer periods of time. You can extend your visa every two months for total stay of 16 months‌ After regular extension of 2 Php1830 + Php500 for every month months: of extension Extension fee after 6 months of Php3240 + Php500 for every stay (to be charged on the 7th month of extension month of stay) *Subject to change as of February 22, 2017. *You may email us for inquiries on this topic. The 47a2 multiple entry working VISA is meant for those under Global Talent. Global Talent: 47a2 Global Volunteer and Global Entrepreneur: 9A Tourist
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Visa Matters I-Card (pricing depends on Local Government) The Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card Project is an accreditation card issued by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration for foreigners to stay in the Philippines. This is required for a foreigner to open a bank account in the country. Other benefits include online payment of immigration fees, faster processing time at the ports of entry and exit, among others. This is also the government’s way of eliminating illegal middlemen and “fixers.” You are required to get this upon extending after the first 59 days.
Visa FAQ 1. Which visa should I avail? * You can decide based on duration and overall cost. EPs staying 6-8 weeks usually extend using the 9a visa. The 47a2 might seem more practical than the 9a, but consider that processing can take a few weeks. EPs staying 6-8 weeks usually claim a tourist VISA upon arriving and then opt for the 9a extension. Processing can take up to 2-3 days. 2. What if the last day of my visa falls on a holiday or a weekend? * You must extend on or before the last business/working day immediately preceding the expiry date. Otherwise, penalties and motions will apply. 3. I need to visit another country’s embassy while I’m in the Philippines. How can I get in touch with them? * You can find them here: http://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/ Philippines 4. What if I’ll stay in the Philippines more than 59 days but less than a month after that? * The Bureau of Immigration doesn’t give partial visas, so you would have to pay for the whole month. Alternatively, some EPs choose to fly to a neighboring country. Upon arriving back to the Philippines, they are issued another tourist VISA. Sometimes this can be cheaper than actually renewing your VISA. 5. What if I get employed by the TN after my internship? * You will no longer be an AIESEC Exchange Participant once an organization hires you as an employee. Therefore, you would have to avail of the professional working visa. More details from the Bureau of Immigration website: http://immigration.gov.ph/index.php/faqs/visa-inquiry/ pre-arranged-employee-visa
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Final Reminders SAFETY FIRST Please be careful when walking at night! Travel in large groups. Stay where it is bright and have a lot of people. [Also applies to the Philippines in general] WISE SPENDER Beware of people trying to scam you. For example tricycle drivers and item vendors. Ask fellow AIESECers or refer to other answers for a more detailed list of normal prices. Download the Grab app or Uber app on your smartphone for easier access to taxi services. All you need is internet connection for it. It might cost you a bit more but it comes in handy when you don’t have time to wait for a ride.
Have you… ☐☐ Sent your EP AN and received your TN AN? ☐☐ Signed the indemnity form and EP agreement form? ☐☐ Been officially matched in myaiesec. net? ☐☐ Gotten the contact details of who will pick you up at the airport and the guidelines for the pick-up itself? ☐☐ Gotten your travel insurance? ☐☐ Had expectation setting with your host LC? ☐☐ Settled internship-related matters, such as accommodation, housing, and costs involved? ☐☐ Do you have your… ☐☐ Copies of AIESEC documents ☐☐ TN Acceptance Note ☐☐ EP Agreement ☐☐ Indemnity form
☐☐ Valid passport, photocopies of your passport and other documents ☐☐ Visa (unless you’re going to have it extended in the Philippines) ☐☐ Pocket money (international ATM card, if you have one) ☐☐ Travel insurance ☐☐ Clothes appropriate to the weather (shorts and slippers are okay for Summer, jackets and hoodies are okay for the rainy season) ☐☐ Toiletries ☐☐ Medicines ☐☐ Cultural materials – food, flag, costume, souvenirs, whatever you want to showcase to Filipinos ☐☐ Gadgets such as camera, laptop, chargers, mobile phone (make sure your phone can accept foreign/ Philippine SIM cards) ☐☐ Other internship-specific materials 20
Want More Info? We highly recommend the Department of Tourism’s website: www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com. This website is aimed at tourists, so you will find a lot of useful information here about going around the country. If you want to know how to get around without riding a cab or private vehicles, then you might find www.ph-commute.com useful as well. If you want to learn how to cook Filipino food, some good recipes are in www.panglasangpinoy.com. For more general information, www.philippinestravelwiki.com is a good site for foreigners in the country as well. For more details and inquiries, please contact:
Sean Price LCVP for Customer Experience sean.price@aiesec.net +639173117641
Alex Dimagiba Director for Exchange Support alex.dimagiba@aiesec.net +639173017311 21
BUCKETLIST ☐☐ Try eating Balut! ☐☐ Ride a jeep to a famous landmark ☐☐ Visit one of the beaches mentioned in the “Let’s Go To” page ☐☐ Cook your own Filipino meal! ☐☐ Learn to speak 20 different Filipino words ☐☐ Wear the Filipino national costume ☐☐ Attend a festival in the province ☐☐ Buy something while only speaking in Filipino ☐☐ Visit Rizal Park and take a picture with the monument ☐☐ Ride a pedicab going back to your residences
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AIESEC IN DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY 1617 Servicing and Reception Booklet