Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Health
As long as you're careful about what you
eat and drink and how long you spend in
the sun, you shouldn't have any major
health problems in the Philippines.
Hospitals in cities and even in small
towns are generally of a good standard,
although health care is rudimentary in
the remotest barangays and anything
potentially serious is best dealt with
in Manila. Doctors and nurses almost
always speak English, and doctors in
major cities are likely to have received
some training in the US or the UK, where
many attend medical school.
We've listed
hospitals
in the accounts of cities
and major towns in the Guide; for a full list, plus
a searchable database of doctors by location and
area and expertise, check
W
rxpinoy.com. There
are
pharmacies
on almost every street corner
where you can buy local and international brand
medicines. Branches of Mercury Drug, the country's
biggest chain of pharmacies, are listed on
W
mercurydrug.com.
If you are hospitalized, you'll have to pay a
deposit on your way in and settle the bill - either
in person or through your insurance company (see
box, p.50).
concentrate. Good fresh juices, usually available
only in the more expensive restaurants, include
watermelon, ripe mango, sour mango and papaya.
Fresh
buko
(coconut) juice is a refreshing choice,
especially on a hot day. In general, sugar is added
to fresh juices and shakes unless you specify
otherwise, though you might well want sugar with
the delightful soda made from calamansi, a small
native lime.
Filipinos aren't big
tea
drinkers and, except in the
best hotels, the only tea on offer is usually made
from Lipton's tea bags.
Coffee
is popular and can
be ordered anywhere, but the quality varies widely.
It's usually instant, served in “three-in-one” packets,
and dominated by Nescafé, though local, Malaysian
and Indonesian brands are also available. Where
brewed coffee is served, it's often local and very
good. Latte-addicts may be tempted by
Starbucks
which has scores of branches across Manila and is
popping up in provincial towns such as Bacolod.
Fresh milk is rare outside the cities so you'll often
find yourself being offered tinned or powdered milk
with coffee or tea.
Alcohol
The
beer
of choice in the Philippines is
San Miguel
,
the local pilsner established in 1890 and still
dominating ninety percent of the domestic market.
San Miguel also produces Red Horse Extra Strong
lager. The only competition comes from Asia
Brewery, which produces the uninspiring Beer na
Beer and Colt 45 brands. Only a few foreign beers
are available in bars and supermarkets, notably
Heineken, Budweiser and Japanese brands. For
something stronger there are plenty of Philippine-
made
spirits
such as Tanduay rum, San Miguel
Ginebra (gin) and Fundador brandy. Wine can be
found in liquor stores in the larger cities though
the range is usually limited to Australian or New
Zealand mass-market brands.
All restaurants, fast-food places excepted, serve
alcohol, but
wine
is rarely drunk; a cold beer or
fresh fruit juice is much preferred. European restau-
rants usually have a limited wine list. For an average
bottle of Australian Chardonnay or Merlot expect
to pay at least P750. For something authentically
native, try the strong and pungent
tapuy
(rice
wine) or a speciality called
lambanog
, made from
almost anything that can be fermented, including
fruit. In the provinces both can be di
cult to
find because they're usually brewed privately for
local consumption, though
lambanog
is now being
bottled and branded, and can be found on some
supermarket shelves in Manila and other cities.
Stomach upsets
Food- and waterborne diseases are the most
likely cause of illness in the Philippines. Travellers'
diarrhoea
can be caused by viruses, bacteria or
parasites, which can contaminate food or water.
There's also a risk of typhoid or cholera - occasional
cases are reported in the Philippines, mostly in
poor areas without adequate sanitation. Another
potential threat is that of hepatitis A. The authorities
in Manila claim
tap water
in many areas is safe for
drinking, but it's not worth taking the chance - stick
to bottled water (see p.33).
Mosquito-borne diseases
Dengue fever
, a debilitating and occasionally fatal
viral disease, is on the increase across tropical Asia.
Many cases are reported in the Philippines each
year, mostly during or just after the wet season
when the day-biting mosquito that carries the
disease is most active. There is no vaccine against
dengue. Initial symptoms - which develop five to
eight days after being bitten - include a fever that
