Vacation in the Philippines: First Timers

-
By: Kira Chan




Part and parcel of travelling is the various new experiences it brings. During your short term stay in the Philippines, you may be shocked by how foreign everything seems. Look at those differences as opportunities and not as hindrances. After all, a vacation in the Philippines promises to be exciting and memorable. How special can a Philippines vacation be if it resembles home too closely?

FOOD

There are many types of international cuisine readily available in the Philippines but Filipino food is still the most predominantly served whether you are in the malls, the beaches, or the hotel. Most Filipino meals are served with rice, and are not too ‘exotic’. Still, there are some strange Filipino delicacies. These foods are tasty, but their descriptions may discourage you from sampling them. One such treat is the balut a duck delicacy.  Another kind of street food is the "Isaw", when you taste it, you will keep on coming back.  But its best eaten with fresh and veggies.

WEATHER

Whenever Filipinos go abroad; they usually wear many layers of clothing. This is because the Philippines is near the equator, making the country very humid and hot. Air-conditioning is also relatively rare – generally only the malls have air-conditioning 24/7 which makes it a very popular place to hang out in. If you are planning on going to the beach or taking public transportation, prepare yourself accordingly. Wear light clothing, slather on some sun screen, and bring other protective wear such as a hat and/or sunglasses. Others may also want to bring a hand fan, or an umbrella. Another thing to do would be to plan a vacation for the cooler times of the year. The ‘cold’ season is generally from December to February. Don’t worry, there will still be a lot of sun for your ideal beach trip!

PEOPLE

Even to strangers, Filipinos are generally very open and friendly. If you need help at any point during your temporary stay in the Philippines, you can ask any Filipino. They are likely to help you and smile while doing it too. That being said, there are certain traits common in many Filipinos that should be avoided. One of these traits is the bahala na habit where Filipinos ‘solve’ problems through inaction. It is the belief that things will work themselves out. While this may be the case at times, some problems are better tackled head on. Another common quirk that may irritate others is the Filipino sense of time. Many Filipinos often show up late for appointments, and many events often start an hour behind schedule.

These culture shock surprises can be hard to accept, but ultimately they make for a better vacation, since the differences in life ultimately enrich it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hair Styles in the Philippines

-
by: JC Bulan In the Philippines, when it rains, it really pours.  Now if you want to keep on looking great with your hair firmly in tact then take note of the following tips. Filipinas like their hair to be classy but not too flashy.  An excellent style for the long-haired gals is the Gibson tuck.  You’ll need a hair tie and pins for this one.  Put your hair up in a ponytail.  Just above the hair tie, part your hair into roughly two equal parts using your finger.  Next, twist your ponytail and insert it into the gap and tuck it inside along with the hair tie.  Wrap your hair up tight and secure the top of the tuck with hair pins.  You might also want to use a hairspray for the finishing touches.  Also it would look more elegant by pulling a few strands of hair for each side of your face. You can do a lot with braids.  One simple style is the high braided bun.  You can create this by first tying your hair in a high pony tail, then section it into three parts.  Get the leftmost part and
Read more

All Saints and All Souls Day Coming Up in Novaliches, Quezon City

-
Image
by Charles Bolanos All Saints and All Souls Day is a special day in the Philippines. This is the day when we remember the Saints and our beloved departed relatives and friends. Officially we do not have classes on 1 November and 2 November because that is when we are busiest. The government of the  past years typically cancels work on the 30th of October till 3 November. The reason for this is because of the people going to their respective provinces or homes where we gather and celebrate as early as 31st of October. Some even went to a point of sleeping overnight from 31st of October till 2 November. 1 November is actually a feast day as we commemorate those who have lived saintly lives. 2 November is not, but we offer Holy Masses till 30th of November for the souls of our departed relatives and friends. We believe that we gain Plenary Indulgences for them so they have a short stay in Purgatory, since we know that not all of our friends and relatives are saints...Oth
Read more

Documents Needed for a Catholic Wedding in the Philippines

-
by: JC Bulan If you plan to surprise or plan to get married in the Philippines, Filipino couples should prepare the following: 1.Marriage License, the couple applies for this at the city hall, the couple would need to submit copies of their certificates of birth (NSO-certified), baptism (6 months validity for both), and certificate of no marriage or singleness (CENOMAR) as well as community tax certificates, and valid IDs.  2. Certificate of Baptism 3. Certificate of Confirmation These documents must be in place at least two months before the wedding because the couple’s respective parishes will be posting marriage banns for a span of three consecutive weeks, announcing the pair’s intention to get married on a certain date. The couple would also be required to attend the canonical interview and a Pre-Cana seminar, organized by a parish or an independent Catholic organization.  These events  would touch on the importance of the sacraments, aspects of married life such as communication
Read more