People and Society of Philippines

Nationality

Filipino(s)

Ethnic Groups

Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%

Population

99,900,177

Population in Major Urban Areas

MANILA (capital) 11.862 million; Davao 1.565 million; Cebu City 855,000; Zamboanga 884,000

Adequate medical care is available in major cities in the Philippines, but even the best hospitals may not meet the standards of medical care, sanitation, and facilities provided by hospitals and doctors in the United States. Medical care is limited in rural and more remote areas. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost several or even tens of thousands of dollars. Most hospitals will require a down payment of estimated fees in cash at the time of admission. In some cases, public and private hospitals have withheld lifesaving medicines and treatments for non-payment of bills. Hospitals also frequently refuse to discharge patients or release important medical documents until a bill has been paid in full. A list of doctors and medical facilities in the Philippines is available from the U.S. Embassy in Manila. You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information. In the past, the Philippines has seen outbreaks of dengue and schistosomiasis. The CDC website has additional information about both diseases. Schistosomiasis is transmitted by waterborne larvae and is endemic in the Philippines. The disease presents a risk on Mindanao, Bohol, and Samar, as well as the provinces of Sorsogon (the southern tip of Luzon Island) and eastern Mindoro Island. Travelers should avoid freshwater exposure in these areas.

Major Infectious Diseases

high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Classroom

Except for schools in remote, mountainous areas, the Philippines has essential resources such as books, paper, and desks. Some of the modern equipment is either donated by the government or by foreign-assisted programs. Private schools have much better facilities than public schools. Problems in the schools include a lack of updated technology and a lack of teacher training. Some teachers are not motivated because their salaries are at the poverty level. The most severe problem is the lack of classrooms. Some classes are held under the trees, or the classes are so full that children are sitting on floors.

Learning

School usually starts at 7:30 A.M., with the first recess around 9:30. Lunch is generally at 11:30. The children typically go home to eat lunch. Those children whose homes are far from school bring a packed lunch of rice and a viand. Classes resume again around 1:00 P.M. and end around 4:00 P.M. In a public school ratio, the student-teacher would be 45:1. For private schools, it is less. After school, some children play around the school grounds or in the plaza. Additionally, going to computer stations and playing computer games is becoming a trend. Most children go directly home and watch TV. Somebody at home, like a mom or a relative, always stays with the family to watch the children. Very few attend private lessons such as piano, ballet, or taekwondo because of the cost of such classes. A child starts grade one at 6-7 years old and then finishes grade 6 at around 12. The main subjects taught at the primary level include English (grammar and literature), Filipino (grammar and literature), science, math, values, social studies (History, etc), P.E., and home economics. Private schools also have computer classes. English subjects are taught from pre-school to college. In addition, exposure to media provides children with enough English to be familiar with the language but not to master it.

To School

Most children in the rural area walk to school.  Some take the jeepney (a Philippines bus seating about a dozen passengers) or the tricycle (motorcycles with a sidecar). Only a few families have their transportation. Families are responsible for ensuring their children attend school, but the school does not provide this service.

• Roman Catholic83.0%
• Protestant9.0%
• Muslim5.0%
• Buddhist and other3.0%

two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense

There are two official languages in the Philippines, Pilipino and English. English is used for business, government, and education from the fourth grade through college. Pilipino, which is based mostly on Tagalog, which is the language spoken in central Luzon. Pilipino is referred to as Tagalog by most people.

• Filipino
• Tagalog

Crime Information

Crime is a significant concern in Manila. As a rule of thumb, U.S. citizens should exercise good judgment and remain aware of their surroundings. Reports of confidence games (con games), pick pocketing, Internet scams, and credit/ATM card fraud are common. U.S. citizens should be wary of unknown individuals who attempt to befriend them, especially just after their arrival in the country. It is best not to accept food, drink, or rides in private vehicles from strangers, even if they appear to be legitimate. There have been several cases of solo travelers meeting people on Roxas Boulevard in downtown Manila, striking up a conversation, developing a relationship, and then being invited to a tourist destination outside of Manila under the guise of meeting their Philippine family. The travelers are taken to the area and, typically, during a meal are given a substance that knocks them unconscious. They are then robbed of valuables, including their ATM cards, which are then used to drain their bank accounts. While U.S. citizens are not typically targeted, kidnappings and violent assaults do occur in the Manila area. Taxis are the recommended form of public transportation. The following safeguards are important: do not enter a taxi if it has already accepted another passenger and always request that the driver use the meter to record your fare. If the driver is unwilling to comply with these requests, wait for another cab. It is also a good idea to make a mental note of the license plate number of the cab, or text it to someone, should there be a problem. There have been several instances of travelers arriving at the Manila international airport and, shortly after they leave the airport area in a taxi or private vehicle, their vehicle is stopped, typically by an intentional rear-end collision, and the travelers are robbed. When driving in the city, make certain that vehicle doors are locked and the windows are rolled up. For both safety and security reasons, avoid all other forms of public transportation, such as the light rail system, buses, and “jeepneys.” You should also be vigilant when using credit and debit cards. One common form of credit/ATM card fraud involves an illicit electronic device attached to ATM card readers that retrieves and records information, including the PIN, from a card's magnetic strip. The information is then used to make unauthorized purchases. To limit your vulnerability to this scam, never let your card out of your sight. Avoid ATMs with unusual coverings attached to the card receiver. When using an ATM, be aware of your surroundings. Avoid ATM locations in dimly lit areas. Be careful to prevent observation by others when entering your PIN code. A continuing problem is the commercial scam or sting that attempts to sell or to seek negotiation of fraudulent U.S. securities. Visitors and residents should be wary when presented with supposed Federal Reserve Notes or U.S. securities for sale or negotiation. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in the Philippines, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. Criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in the Philippines, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. U.S. citizens should also be aware of a recent statement by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) regarding the participation of foreigners in demonstrations in the Philippines. In the statement, the BI advised foreigners against participating in public protests or political rallies since this activity may be considered a violation of the terms of admission to the Philippines. Foreign nationals who participate in these activities may be detained and deported for violating Philippine immigration laws. Persons violating the Philippines’ laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession of, use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the Philippines are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. If a traveler is found to have any amount of drugs on his or her person, or nearby, when arriving at or departing from the Philippines, he or she will be charged with trafficking. This offense is non-bailable, and the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. There have been instances where persons carrying controlled substances (e.g., medical marijuana or morphine) as well as a doctor’s prescription for the substance were charged with drug possession because they did not possess the proper prior clearance from the Philippine government before entry. If you are arrested in the Philippines, authorities of the Philippines are required to notify the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. If you are concerned the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should request that the police or prison officials notify the U.S. Embassy of your arrest.