DSP Relocations Asia

Your DSP Relcoations Asia Office in the Philippines DSP Relocations Philippines 16 Villonco Drive, South Bay Sucat, Paranaque City 1770, Philippines. Tel : +63 2842 6300 Fax : +63 2850 1305 E-mail : phyliss.encluna@dsprelocations.com		Local time :

PHILIPPINES - FACTS AND FIGURES

Capital	:	Manila
Location	:	Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Total Area	:	300,000 sq km
Climate	:	Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Population	:	103,775,002 (July 2012- estimated); Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano13.1%, Ilocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3%
Government Type	:	Republic
Official Languages	:	Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Religions	:	Catholic 82.9% (Roman Catholic 80.9%, Aglipayan 2%), Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1%
Currency	:	Philippine Peso (PHP)
Country Code	:	+63

GENERAL
Catholic, relaxed and cast away from its neighbors both geographically and culturally, the PHILIPPINES bemuses first-time visitors and veteran observers alike. Yet when expatriates and travelers do first set foot in this charmingly enigmatic country they are more often than not pleasantly surprised. Beyond the hospitality of the locals, it’s “bahala na” – the whatever-will-be-will-be Filipino attitude – which fascinates and ultimately captivates visitors. This attitude leads the soft-spoken Filipino to be generally jovial, to splash jeepneys with brightly colored graffiti and to remain happy in the face of misfortune. The US legacy arguably looms even larger than that of Spain, the Philippines’ original colonizers who ruled the country for 350 years. With the notable exception of the Spanish clergy, which was busy sowing seeds of Catholicism in what today is the second largest predominantly Catholic country on earth, Spain didn’t pay all that much attention to the Philippines. The US, on the other hand, paid a whole lot of attention: teaching English, building roads and establishing education and political systems that survive to this day. The Church heavily influences politics and and shapes conservative attitudes toward family planning in this rapidly growing country. Business, meanwhile, is dominated by the mestizo descendants of the 19th-century Chinese immigrants.
LOCAL CUSTOMS & ETIQUETTE
SPECIAL BELIEFS
Visitors to the Philippines should be aware of the following special beliefs :
Food is served on banana leaves in some native-style restaurants and you’re expected to eat with your hands, combining the rice and food into mouthful-sized balls with your fingers - if you don’t feel up to this, it’s fine to ask for cutlery. With the Filipinos’ strong desire to please, many Filipinos find it difficult to say NO. Instead of replying in the negative, in order not to upset you, they will typically say “maybe”, “whatever” or “if you say so”. Filipinos have a carefree disposition and thus, are not very time-conscious. There is always “plenty of time.” The eyes and mouth play a significant role in revealing non-verbal cues. They can also be used for pointing and indicating directions. Raising of the eyebrows is not a sign of annoyance. It is a sign that the meaning of a message has been understood. Situations of direct conflict are avoided. When conveying bad news or during conflict, Filipinos smile in an effort to reduce tension.
When interacting with Filipinos, don’t :
Turn down an invitation to partake in a main meal or “merienda” (the Philippines’ snacks eaten between breakfast and lunch, and between lunch and dinner) as this may be considered rude. Be confused by the absence of a knife from most table settings. It’s normal to use just a fork and spoon, cutting any meat with the edge of the fork and using the spoon to put it in your mouth. Be surprised if you’re pleasantly interrogated by everyone you meet. Filipinos are outgoing people who don’t consider it rude to ask personal questions. Show irritation at poor rates of service. The speed of service has improved, but you should still expect your patience to occasionally be tested. Bark orders and give public scoldings, all the more so with those in higher office or social standing. A firm and forthright tone is only.