GUIDEBOOK TO THE
PHILIPPINES
Chew Shi Tong
Chiu Haidee
Seah Xue Er Cheryl
Sylvie Tan Seine Wen
Willie Wee Ye Chiang
Final Reminders
Attire
On full school days, all students are to wear the formal Hwa Chong uniform (with collar pin).
However, if there is a trip in the morning or afternoon, students can wear a school-related
shirt with the college skirt/ pant. (subject to accompanying teachers-in-charge)
Gifts
Do bring gifts (school T-shirts, collar pins or Singapore memorabilia etc) along for your host
family and classmates.
Luggage
Pack as light as possible so as to allow more capacity for shopping! Checked-in luggages
must not exceed a total of 20-25 kg, while hand-carry bags must not exceed 7kg.
Remember that liquids (including toothpastes, lotions and mineral
water) exceeding 100ml are not allowed in hand-carry baggage.
However, liquids stored in containers with a capacity not exceeding
100 ml and which may easily fit in a re-sealable, transparent plastic
‘zip lock’ bag of capacity not more than 1 litre, are allowed . Each
passenger is only permitted to have one such plastic bag.
Introduction of the Philippines!
Brief history of the Philippines
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The Philippines was first colonized by the Spanish in the year 1565 and it lasted for more
than 3 centuries. The Spanish could not achieve political unification of the whole country
and it was only in the twentieth century did unification of the Philippines was achieved. The
Spanish introduced many things into the Philippines, including Christianity which is the
predominant religion in Philippines today.
After 3 centuries under the Spanish, the Filipino people started the revolution against the
Spanish to achieve independence. However, the Treaty of Paris, at the end of the Spanish–
American War, transferred control of the Philippines to the United States. this was not
recognised by the Philippines and on June 2, 1899, proclaimed a Declaration of War against
ry When full independence was about to be given to the Philippines, this was unfortunately
stopped due to the Japanese Occupation during World War 2.
A promising economy soon ensued for the Philippines during the 1950s to 60s. However,
student activism and civil unrest followed the country during the early 1970s due to
corruption under President Ferdinand Marcos who declared martial law in 1972. The peaceful
and bloodless People Power Revolution of 1986, however, brought about the ousting of Marcos and
a return to democracy for the country. The period since then, however, has been marked by political
instability and hampered economic productivity.
Information about the Philippines
The Philippines in the 12th most populous country in the world and has approximately 92
million living there. The country is an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area of
approximately 300,000 square kilometres. However it is divided into three island groups:
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These are divided into 17 regions, 80 provinces, 120 cities,
1,511 municipalities and 42,008 barangays. The place where you would be going is Luzon, in
Quezon City (where the school is).
As Philippines is situated on the northwestern fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country
experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Around 20 earthquakes are registered
daily, though most are too weak to be felt. The last major earthquake was the 1990 Luzon
earthquake. There are many active volcanos such as the Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo,
and Taal Volcano(this is the volcano that you would be visiting).
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The Philippines have a tropical climate and the weather is roughly about the same as
Singapore.
There is about 180 different types of native dialects and languages spoken in the
Philippines. However, the main language would be Tagalog. However, there is no need to
worry as almost everyone is able to speak in English and lessons are conducted in English
as well.
Disasters
Ketsana brought the worst rainfall to Metro Manila among recorded typhoons producing
only moderate winds but hours of extremely heavy rain. President Gloria Arroyo declared a
"state of calamity" encompassing most of Luzon after at least 86 people was initially
reported dead in landslides and other incidents. Flood water levels reached a record 20 feet
high in rural areas. As of October 24, 2009, at least 464 deaths were officially reported from
the typhoon in the Philippines.
Ketsana approached Metro Manila and caused widespread flooding into the cities. Flooding
also occurred in nearby provinces of and other Southern areas. Major roads were rendered
impassable because of huge flood currents and clogged cars. Air flights were cancelled
because of heavy rains.
Army troops, police and civilian volunteers were deployed to rescue victims. The Philippine
National Red Cross and Philippine Coast Guard dispatched teams to rescue stranded and
trapped people. At that time, flood average was from two-feet to waist high, and in some
areas be more than six feet. The resulting landslides and severe flooding left at least 246
people dead and 38 others missing. Public and private roads were clogged by vehicles stuck
in floodwater. Thousands of motorists and more than 500 passengers were stranded at the
North Luzon Expressway (NLEx). Distress calls and e-mails from thousands of Metro Manila
and their worried relatives flooded TV and radio stations overnight as most of the power,
communication and water lines were lost. Ketsana also caused the shutting down of flights
and operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for almost a day.
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The economic region of Metro Manila and many adjoining provinces incurred damages to
both infrastructure and agriculture. Total damage of Ketsana as of September 28, 2009 is
estimated at $100 million.
Compared to other storm-hit areas in the Philippines, Marikina City was the most
devastated region where almost all of the city's area was submerged in water not more than
ten feet and tons of knee-deep mud. During the typhoon, Marikina River broke off from its
banks and transformed streets into rivers of flood. The breakage of the river from its dike
causes heavy flooding on other Metro Manila streets. Marikina residential areas, particularly
Provident Village, were highly spawned by flood was at least eight people were found dead.
Marikina itself recorded 78 deaths, the highest among Metro Manila cities.
In Mindanao, several towns in Cotabato City and nearby Sultan Kudarat municipalities were
submerged. The closing of national highway in Bulalo, Cotabato City led to the isolation of
connecting towns for several days.
Politics
As president Corazon Aquino entered the final year of her six-year term in 1991, she
presided over a demoralized nation reeling from the effects of natural calamities and
economic malaise. The country had slid into dictatorship and gross economic
mismanagement during Ferdinand E. Marcos's twenty-year presidency. When Aquino was
elevated to the presidency in an inspiring People's Power Revolution in 1986, Filipinos'
hopes rose. Inevitably, the stark realities of the nation's economic and political
predicaments tarnished Aquino's image.
Aquino's achievements, however, were significant. She helped topple a dictator who had
unlimited reserves of wealth, force, and cunning. She replaced a disjointed constitution that
was little more than a fig leaf for Marcos's personalistic rule with a democratic, progressive
document that won overwhelming popular approval in a nationwide plebiscite. She
renounced the dictatorial powers she inherited from Marcos and returned the Philippines to
the rule of law; she lived with the checks on her own power inherent in three-branch
government; and she scheduled national elections to create a two-chamber legislature and
local elections to complete the country's redemocratization.
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The 1987 constitution returned the Philippines to a presidential system. The national
government is in theory highly centralized, with few powers devolving to provincial and
municipal governments. The national government consists of three branches: the executive,
headed by the president; two houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of
Representatives; and the Supreme Court, which heads an independent judiciary. A bill of
rights guarantees political freedoms, and the constitution provides for regular elections.
Political parties grew in profusion after the Marcos martial law regime (1972-81) was ended.
President Aquino's early years in office were punctuated by a series of coup attempts. Her
greatest frustration, and a most serious impediment to economic development, was a
fractious, politicized army. Some officers wanted to regain the privileges they enjoyed under
Marcos; others dreamed of saving the nation. Although all coup attempts failed, they
frightened away foreign investors, forced Aquino to fire cabinet members of whom the
army did not approve and pushed her policies rightward.
Introduction about PSHS(Philippines Science High School)
The Philippine Science High School System is a specialized public high school system in the
Philippines that operates as an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Science and
Technology.
The PSHS System offers scholarships to Filipino students who are gifted in the sciences and
mathematics. Admission to the PSHS is by competitive examination only, and the graduates
of PSHS are bound by law to pursue a degree in the pure and applied sciences, mathematics,
or engineering upon entering college. The student population in PSHS are about the top 1%
of the whole of Philippines.
PSHS has 11 campuses throughout the whole of Philippines and the main branch would be
the one in Quezon city and it would also be the school that you would be visiting.
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For
more
information
about
the
school,
do
visit
the
school
website:
http://www.pshs.edu.ph/
PSHS Phone Numbers
Admission's Office
926-5701
Registrar's Office
924-0614
PSHS MIS Department
929-1603
PSHS System
(02) 924-0639
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Useful phrases
ENGLISH
TAGALOG
How are you?
kumustá
Hello, or literally, Long Live
Mabuhay
Good morning!
Magandáng umaga!
Good noontime! (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
Magandáng tanghali!
Good afternoon! (1 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) Magandáng hapon!
Good evening!
Magandáng gabí!
Good-bye
paálam (literal - "with your blessing")
Thank you
salamat
Sorry
pasensya pô (literally - "patience")
or patawad po (literally - "forgiveness")
Where's the bathroom?
Nasaán ang banyo?
Beautiful
Magandá
Father
Tatai
Mother
Nanai
Elder Brother
Kuya
Elder Sister
Ate
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Transport
Manila Metro Rail Transit System
Originally built as an attempt to decongest Metro Manila, the MRT is only partially
successful due to the rapid increase in the motor vehicle population. It is slated to extend
further and cut down travelling times.
The MRT has a daily ridership of 630,000 and 17km of track, as compared to its Singapore
counterpart, which has a daily ridership of 1,800,000 and 120km of track.
Jeepneys
After the United States pulled out of the
Philippines after WWII, the leftover military jeeps
were either sold or given to local Filipinos. The
natives then stripped the jeeps down to
accommodate several passengers, added metal
roofs for shade, and decorated the vehicles with
vibrant colors and bright chrome hood
ornaments.
The jeepney rapidly emerged as a popular and
creative way to re-establish inexpensive public transportation, which had been virtually
destroyed during World War II. Recognizing the widespread use of these vehicles,
the Philippine government began to place restrictions on their use. Drivers now must have
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specialized licenses, regular routes, and reasonably fixed fares, starting from just 2 Pesos (1
cent)!
The jeepney is a very efficient mode of transportation. Each jeepney has a designated route
which it circles continuously throughout the day. The route is designated either in a sign
board in the front window or in a marquee in the front of the jeepney.
Standing along the road and hailing a jeepney with a raised hand is enough to stop the
vehicle and catch a ride. Usually a cobrador collects your fee of 2 pesos outside Manila and
3-5 pesos in Manila for local routes. Longer routes are more expensive.
When the two seating benches have filled in a jeepney, full passengers will sit with the
driver in the cab, when these seating resources are exhausted, passengers take to the top of
the jeepney (though illegal) and hang from the tail bumper. The jeepney ride is a positively
Philippine experience!
(Happy Jeepney passengers :D)
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General Information
Money
The Philippine peso (PHP) is the official currency. The exchange rate between Philippine
peso and S$ (as of 18/12/09) is PHP 33.18 to SGD 1.
Banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 pesos. Coins are in
10c and 25c pieces, and P1, P5 and P10.
Time difference
Philippines and Singapore are in the same time zone. Hurray!
Weather
The climate is tropical, with March to May (summer) being the hottest months, when temperatures
hover as high as 38°C. The rainy season starts in June and extends through October with strong
typhoons possible. The coolest months are from November to February, with mid-January to end of
February considered the best for cooler and dryer weather.
Sunrise/set
Sunrise is usually around 6 a.m., while sunset is usually around 5.30 p.m..
Electricity
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Quezon City typically uses 110/220 Volt 60 Hz with the older 2-prong plug. This is not a common
voltage-frequency combination. Hence, please remember to bring adapters for essential
appliances like hand phone and camera chargers
Emergency number
Police and Ambulance
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Handphones
The country code for Philippines is 63.
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies.
Eating out
Try everything you see and you’d be sure to taste something you enjoy, be it Kare-Kare
(peanut butter curry), Lechon (roasted pig), Sinigang (meat or fish in a pleasantly sour broth)
to Turon (fried bananas) and Halo Halo (Philippine desert).
McDonald's, Dairy Queen, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Subway and
other Filipino food chains like Jollibee, Chow King, Goldilock's, and Greenwich, can easily be
found at any corner of Philippines.
Jollibee deserves special mention, as it is the biggest fast-food restaurant chain in
Philippines, even beating heavyweight (pun intended) MacDonald’s, which traditionally
dominates the fast food market of each country it has presence in.
Drinking water
Tap water is NOT safe to drink in Philippines. Buy bottled water, or bring water from the
host family. PSHS students can be seen lugging along a huge water jug of ~5 litres to school
every day, so bringing a bottle of water to school everyday is a good idea.
Shopping
Opening hours are from around 10 am to 10pm, but these timings can vary.
In Quezon City you are not too far away from the country’s best shopping malls especially if
you’re in the Cubao and the North Avenue areas. Take your pick from the more upscale
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malls like Trinoma (nearest mall to PSHS, ~15 mins walking time) and Gateway Malls and for
those looking for a bargain you can visit the shopping areas of Ali Mall and Farmers Plaza.
The city is also home to the second largest mall in the Philippines that is SM North EDSA.
Security
The Philippines street can be quite lawless at times. Muggings are frequent and hence it is
not advisable to wander along deserted streets alone, especially since Singaporeans look
distinct from Filipinos and muggers tend to prey on foreigners with deeper pockets and
usually defenceless.
You are advised to keep your wallets, valuables and bags close to you at all times. Thefts
occur almost religiously, even in PSHS! Anecdotes about thieves stealthily slicing open one
jeans pockets to steal your wallet are abound. Hence practise constant vigilance!
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Culture & Etiquette
Greeting
Upon arriving and leaving home, some conservative families expect children to practice the
kissing of hands or placing their parents or elder family members’ hand to their foreheads
with the words “mano po” as a sort of greeting.
Dining
Filipinos regularly use spoons together with forks and knives. Some also eat with their
hands, especially in informal settings, and when eating seafood.
Faith
With 90% of the 90 million Filipinos declaring themselves to be Roman Catholics, the
Philippines is not only the largest Catholic country in Asia, but it is also the world's third
largest Catholic Nation. The Catholic faith remains the single biggest legacy of three hundred
years of Spanish colonial rule. Catholicism is still taken quite seriously in the Philippines.
Masses still draw crowds from the biggest cathedrals in the metropolis to the smallest
parish chapels in the countryside.
Houses
Filipinos normally wear their shoes into the house. Some change into slippers.
Family
Filipinos highly value the presence of their families. Regardless of the liberal influence they
have gotten from the west, the family remained the basic unit of their society. In a
traditional Filipino family, the father is considered the head and the provider of the family
while the mother takes responsibility of the domestic needs and in charge of the emotional
growth and values formation of the children.
Another trait Filipinos made themselves exceptional from others is their strong respect for
elders. Children are taught from birth how to say “po” and “opo” and to properly respect
their elders. These words are used to show respect to people of older level. Filipinos keep
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close connection with other relatives. They recognize them from 2nd degree to the last they
can identify. As Filipinos say, “not being able to know a relative is like turning their backs
from where they come from.”
Places of Interest
Quezon Memorial Circle
Named after former President Manuel L. Quezon, the monument is found in the middle of a
rotunda park. A nearby museum houses the remains of Quezon situated in a marble niche.
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Santo Domingo Church
Home to the statue of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, said to be more than 400 years
old.
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San Pedro Bautista
One of the oldest churches in the country, this houses the bones of the patron saint. There
is also a catacomb in the basement of the church where the friars of the past where buried.
Fort Santiago (san-ti-eh-goh)
The Spaniards destroyed the native settlements and erected the Fuerza de Santiago in 1571.
Today the fort serves as a museum which houses well-preserved legacies of the Spanish
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government, José Rizal, Rizal Shrine, and the prison dungeons for criminals used by the
Spanish officials.
José Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, was imprisoned in the fort before his execution in
1896. the site features, embedded onto the ground in bronze, his final footsteps
representing the walk from his cell to the location of the actual execution.
Manila (mah-ni-lah) Ocean Park
Similar to our underwater world but larger, this is one of Asia’s biggest aquarium. There is
also an indoor ‘jungle forest’ setting that showcases alligators and trees with long vines,
leading to the entrance of the Oceanarium.
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There is also an Asian Food Village by Makansutra (sounds familiar?) that sells popular food
of the region, including Singapore fare!
Tagaytay (the-guy-thai)
This popular resort city in the mountains is only about 56km south of Manila. The city sits on
top of a ridge with spectacular views, to the north you can see Manila Bay, to the east you
have Laguna de Bay, the south you have Taal Lake and Taal Volcano and to the west is the
South China Sea.
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Taal (tah-el) Volcano
It has been called the smallest active volcano in the world, located about 70-km south of
Manila on an island inside a lake called Taal Lake. What makes Taal Volcano more unique is
the fact that the volcano itself has a lake of its own inside its crater which is called the
"Crater Lake."
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