Philippine Tourist And Travelers Tips

From our research we identified that there are many tourists (and expats living in the Philippines) that are not aware of some simple little ways to make life a little easier. So, please find below some tourist tips and traveler tips that will hopefully make your time in the Philippines, especially Angeles City and Subic, more enjoyable.

As the Angeles Xtra e-zine mainly caters to expats and tourists visiting Angeles City, Subic and Barrio Barretto, we have also included information on Clark International Airport (DMIA) services and details and a location map for the Angeles City Bureau of Immigration office (for visa extensions, etc.)

• For Angeles and Subic Emergency numbers and Emergency Consular services, please view our Emergency Contacts page.

Tips while in the Philippines

Accept that people are different here, think different here, and act different here. The quicker you accept that the quicker you will learn to fit in, and the less hassle you will endure.

Don’t become upset if Filipinos ask what you think are very personal questions even on first meeting. How old are you, how much money do you make etc., are all common questions.

Don’t flash wads of cash around or wear reams of gold around your neck like a punked out rap artist or Mr. T. When you go out, just carry enough to get through that day/night with a little in reserve, and leave the rest in the safety deposit box at your hotel. There is a threshold above which few of us are able to resist temptation!

Don’t let other people use or play with your cell phone. Bargirls are notorious for being able to transfer load from your cell to theirs.

Keep yourself clean neat and tidy if you want to be accepted and respected by the locals because grimy, grungy looking expats embarrass them!

Haggling is a way of life in the Philippines, so never buy without asking for Tawad (discount). Apart from supermarkets and bars discounts are available almost everywhere– but only if you ask.

Always be aware of scams – and do not be one of those naïve people who think all Filipinos are out to con you and all expats are trustworthy. There are good and bad ones in both groups.

Always have some form of identification with you – and if driving always carry your driving license.

Drive Smart - When driving in heavy traffic you need to be assertive (but not aggressive) – the roads are not a place for the meek! When trying to enter a major road from a junction, there is little point in waiting for a courteous motorist or a break in the traffic. The correct procedure is to slowly edge your vehicle forward into the stream of oncoming cars. You then repeat this procedure until your vehicle is so far onto the road that oncoming cars cannot pass, and so will let you enter the road. (However, please note that this must be done to coincide with the traffic flow – don’t just pull out suddenly in front of a bus doing 100kph as he will end up with a new hood ornament – you!).

If you don’t know how much it costs for a trike to take you where you wish to go, agree on a price with the driver before you get in. This will avoid any later hassle.

Avoid riding a trike or getting in a jeepney with someone who greets you on the street claiming to have met you earlier at a bar, on the bus, flight, etc. They haven’t! Go with them and you really will be taken for a ride, usually with unpleasant financial consequences.

Filipino culture places a very high emphasis on smooth relations. Something that visitors should be aware of is that ‘good manners and right conduct’ are important to Filipinos and one who displays the ‘correct’ behavior is treated with considerably more respect. Arguments, even minor disagreements, are actively discouraged and to be avoided. Shouting at someone, or making a great fuss, is thought of as very bad manners.

Abridge and selected expat tips reproduced with permission from The Philippines: Expat Survival Guide by Tom Henry (ISBN: 978-971-94601-3-8).

DMIA Clark International and Domestic Airport

Formerly Clark Field, the DMIA airport is one of the largest aviation complexes within Asia - set to become the premier aviation gateway to the Philippines within the next 10-years. In keeping with its growing status, DMIA is now a 24-hour operation, offering flights to a range of Asian destinations including; Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Korea, giving access to their quick, convenient flight connections all over the world.

DMIA also has domestic flights to Caticlan [Boracay] and Cebu, two of the county’s most prominent beach resort hubs.

For the more technically minded, the equipment at DMIA includes Terminal Radar Approach Control, Instrument Landing Service facilities, Navigational Aids, a Metrological Office and a bunch of other great gear which is really only of interest to pilots. Currently, the airport boasts two, large parallel runways of 3.2km. While once the longest in Asia (built to accommodate the space shuttle in an emergency) these runways are now being further extended to 4.0km to handle jumbo jets, specifically the Airbus A-380.

If you’re scheduled to fly out from DMIA, please make sure you arrange a car or taxi through your hotel or one of the car rental companies at least 24-hours before you fly. Trikes are not generally permitted in the Clark SEZ and the airport is a long walk from the main gate – especially if you’re dragging a suitcase or two!

Philippine Bureau of Immigration Office 

Please note that the Angeles City Bureau of Immigration office recently moved to a new location. So, if you want to obtain, renew or extend a visa you no longer go to the old office in 7th Street. 

The Bureau of Immigration now has new, larger premises up on Clark Freeport Zone. This move will particularly affect those without their own transport as trikes are not usually permitted entrance to Clark. There are, however, jeepney services and taxis operating from near Clark Main Gate.

Please remember that all government offices have a dress code of long trousers, collared shirt and shoes, so avoid hassle and do not turn up wearing shorts and thongs.

Bureau of Immigration Angeles District Office: Annex 4-B Birthaphil III, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. Tel: (045) 892-6110 or (045) 499-1246

Office hours: Monday to Friday,  7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For information on visa types and extension costs, please go to:www.immigration.gov.ph

NOTE: For those in Subic, The Bureau of Immigration office remains at 7th Street in Barrio Barretto.

If you are aware of any information not listed here you feel would be helpful to others, please  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  so we can include details.