Philippines information
Esquema de sección
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This course contains general information (mostly logistics) regarding travel and staying in the Philippines, for example:
- Philippines Tropical Medicine Course (PTMC) - see section below
- Master's / PhD students
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Flight
If you are departing from Nagasaki, you can travel use Fukuoka Airport to travel to Manila. Nishitetsu provides an express busk between Nagasaki and Fukuoka Airport.
Metro Manila has one airport called Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) but has 4 terminals, depending on which airline you use. These terminals are not physically connected and you will need to use a shuttle bus to get in between terminals. If you are flying from Fukuoka using Philippine Airlines, you will land in Terminal 2.
Documents to print or download into your phone
- Vaccination documents
- Itinerary of your flight going and leaving Philippines
- Contact information of SLH-Nagasaki Philippine staff for emergencies
Visa requirements
A visa is generally not required for stays of up to 30 days. It will depend on the passport you are traveling with. If you exceed the 30 days, you will need to obtain a visa at the Immigration Bureau before doing so. The first extension is only available for 30 days. Please do check with the Philippines embassy in Japan or your country for updated information.
Visa-Free Entry for Temporary Visits
The following guidelines provide information on the entry of foreigners as temporary visitors to the Philippines without a visa. Temporary visits refer to periods of stay generally NOT exceeding 59 days for purposes of attendance to conferences, company meetings, workshops/seminars, medical treatment, and those trips of a personal nature for pleasure, such as tourism/sightseeing, visiting relatives and/or friends, recreation and amusement.
Nationals of the countries listed on the website below who are traveling to the Philippines for business or tourism purposes are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding thirty (30) days, provided (1) they hold valid tickets for their return journey to port of origin or to their next port of destination, and (2) their passports are valid for a period of six (6) months beyond their contemplated period of stay in the Philippines.
Details can be checked on the website below, or from your country's Philippines embassy.
https://tokyo.philembassy.net/consular-section/services/visa/visa-free-entry-for-temporary-visits/#nav-cat
Entry requirements due to COVID19
There are currently no restrictions, but confirm this with your country's Philippines embassy.
Border control and customs
The Philippines has introduced a e-travel notification system replacing landing cards. These can be filled in up to 72 hours before your trip. It is recommended that you complete this prior to your flight. Details and application forms can be found at here. Upon completion of the application, you will be provided a QR code. It is recommended that you save this to your phone for ease of access when arriving in the Philippines.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be subject to immigration procedures and inspection of your QR code. You will then pick up your checked-in luggage. You might have to declare specific items such as food. They might search your luggage but generally, most passengers are allowed to go through without any search.
Depending on the terminal that you land, you will have varying options for money changers and buying mobile SIM card.
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Going form airport to accommodation
As you leave the airport, you will have many options. Some individuals may approach you and offer taxi but they often ask for more than P1000 and are not licensed/endorsed by officials. It is best to avoid these. The following are your options.
Taxis
You might see regular (White) taxis. Price are generally negotiatied and many times, the price would be double of what you would normally pay otherwise.
Yellow Taxi is a taxi that uses a meter and can be used at a reasonable price (300-400 pesos to the Malate area). There is usually a line for this. When you take this taxi, it is better to check whether the taxi you are riding is using the meter.
Coupon taxis are a fixed price depending on the destination. If you are going to Malate area, it will be around P500 to P700. It is more expensive than other taxis but it can be used with relative confidence considering safety. To get a coupon taxi, you will need to go to the counter and they will ask you where you will be going
Grab
In the Philippines, the most common rideshare app is Grab. It is both a rideshare app and a taxi dispatch app. It is very convenient, so we recommend that you download it before entering the country. Depending on the option, you can use it to request for a regular Grab car or a taxi.
It can be used for traveling from the airport, but it may be a little difficult to use because indicating the meeting place (origin) can be difficult to understand in the airport and there are lane traffic restrictions. In terminal 2, you can indicate the meeting place using the bay number written on the concrete posts. If you get a call from the driver, you can give them the bay number of where to pick you up.
Upon choosing the origin and destination, you can see the fare for different option (eg. GrabCar or GrabTaxi) and how long your wait time will be. Depending on the time of day, it is about 300-400 pesos to the Malate district. Prices can go up if there is a higher demand. You will also be able to choose your mode of payment.
Once you confirm your choice, the app will for a driver to accept the request. Once it has been accepted, you will be able to seen the type and details of the car, the plate number and the driver. Try to make sure that the details of the car and plate number matches with the car that’s picking you up.
There will be times when your request is not fulfilled and you may end up waiting longer. The app will ask if you want to continue waiting or change your traveling options.
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Accessing currency
The local currency is the Philippine peso. Occasionally, in tourist places or in establishments with frequent foreigners, US dollars are accepted.
Cash
Many places do not take credit cards. You have the option to bring Philippine peso by exchanging before flying into the Philippines. You can also exchange currency in the airport and across the city through private currency exchange offices or in banks. They are often available in major malls. Near your accommodation, money changers are located on the 3rd and 4th floors of Robinson and can be exchanged safely. As of May 2022, the rate is about 0.4 pesos per yen.
You can also withdraw money from ATMs using your bank (debit) card or credit card. Depending on the ATM, some bankcards have ‘Cirrus’ or ‘Interac’ compatibility that allows it to be used. Keep in mind that usually, the ATM as well as your own local bank will usually charge extra fees. If you use credit card to withdraw money, you also get charged for interest right away.
Credit cards
If you have a credit card, you can try using it in many establishments. Keep in mind that many credit cards charge extra amounts of fees. Also, some stores will charge a surcharge when using a credit card.
Mobile wallets
Increasingly used are ‘mobile wallets’ which works similarly as SUICA or PASMO cards in Japan where money is preloaded onto an account. The only difference is that these mobile wallets use an app. The most common are Gcash, GrabPay and Maya.
Communication
Having a phone for which you can access mobile data can help with your travels. Wifi are also generally available in public places but often requires email validation when signing up. You can consider buying a SIM card which is quite easy in the Philippines. Unlike in various countries, buying a SIM card do not require providing ID and other personal information or signing a contract. You can often get them at the airport or various stores. There is an area on the 3rd floor of Robinson Manila where there are many mobile phone shops (near the food court) where you can buy a mobile phone or a prepaid card.
Smart and Globe are the two largest telco companies in the Philippines and each will have various promos, which can include various amount of texting, calling and data options. You can choose either.
Prepare and bring a SIM-free mobile phone. You can potentially use your own phone if you remove your SIM card and assuming your phone can work in the Philippines. Depending on the telco promotion, the seller of the SIM can set up the phone for your purchased SIM. You can do it yourself by adding money (‘load’ or ‘charge’) to your SIM card and select a plan. There are countless new special promos that it is usually helpful to let the SIM salesperson set up the SIM card on your phone. Data plans of 50 GB can be at little as P1000. Some plans will have unlimited texting. Consider how long you are going to be staying and whether you might use your phone as a hotspot for your laptop.
Helpful apps
We listed the following apps which we think will be helping for your time in Manila. Many apps can be installed prior to flying to Manila.
Grab: This is an app for getting rides, ordering and also paying. Some of its function is detailed below.
Sakay.ph: For those who wants to try the local transportation including jeepneys and buses, this app provides suggestions for getting around Metro Manila
Google Translate: If you need help with translation, you can use its voice function to communicate with locals.
Google Maps: Metro Manila has a very confusing layout. Using a map app such as Google Maps will help you find your way around the city in case you are lost.
Moodle app: Learning materials related to the course will be posted using Moodle which most of you should be familiar.
Commuting to San Lazaro Hospital
Many of SLH-Nagasaki office staff use the Light Rail Train (LRT). The closest station to the Hotel Kimberly and Tropicana Suites are Pedro Gil station and Tayuman. You will get off at Bambang station (or Tayuman station). There are 5 stops with a travel time of about 20 minutes. The fare is about 20 pesos one-way. Tickets which are inserted on a slot entering the gate can be purchased at the station window. Make to take the ticket before leaving the gate.
If you are going to use the LRT many times, it is cheaper and more convenient to purchase a tapcard (BeepCard). You prepay an amount of your choice. You can add more amount to it as the value decreases. As you use your BeepCard, the fare is automatically deducted from your load. You only need to tap and hold the card at the ticket gate when entering and leaving the station.
Also note as you go through the station, you will often have temperature checks (on the hand) and the security personnel will often scan your luggage through a luggage machine or inspect your bag visually. Most people beep through the metal detector but they rarely do a thorough check.
Refer to the diagram below. There are four lines, LRT-1 (yellow), LRT-2 (purple), MRT (blue) and PNR (not shown). The closest station to the accommodations in Malate is Pedro Gil station. Coming from Hotel Kimberly, you will have to cross Taft Avenue and take the LRT-1 going towards Roosevelt (or Balintawak). Most LRT and MRT stations have separate entrance/ exits for each direction. Hence, you need to make sure you are entering the correct entrance with the correct direction.
As you take start from Pedro Gil station, you will pass through five station: 1) United Nations → 2) Central → 3) Carriedo→ 4) Doroteo Jose → 5) Bambang. You will get off at Bambang. Once Bambang station, you will need to cross Taft Avenue, turn right and walk along Taft Avenue. You will then turn left onto Quericada Street. SLH entrance will be on the right side of Quericada Street.
As you enter the hospital gates, you might be asked your destination. Inform the security guards that you are going to the Nagasaki-SLH office.
If you have a lot of luggage or a large number of people, it might be more benefit to commute using Grab. There are many taxis around Malate. The journey time is about 20 to 30 minutes, and the fare is around 200-300 pesos, depending on the time of day.
You can also consider using jeepneys but we don’t recommend using if you are not familiar with the routes. Jeepneys follow a route but each is independently and privatley operated and loosely regulated. Each jeep has varying quality in terms of safety and routes are not always followed consistently. The payment scheme is more complicated and getting off your stop requires you to be aware of where you are. If you do stay longer, feel free to ask one of the SLH-Nagasaki staff who can show you some of the most common routes. Riding a jeep is a unique experience in itself.
Visa extension
If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you can apply for a visa at the Immigration office. You can use LRT-1 and get off around Central Station (two stops from Pedro Gil station). You will have to cross from the station to the immigration office. You can also use Grab or Jeepney. See map below.
Left: Main entrance of the Immigration Bureau, Right: Visa application reception
After filling out the documents at the reception, you can submit your passport and pay at the window on the right. You can set up to pick-up your passport in a few days (about 3030 pesos) or pick up on the same day, which would be about 1000 pesos higher.
Since the office is busy and crowded, we recommend going to the Immigration office right when it opens at 8 am on weekdays. The duration of processing your visa is about 2-3 hours.
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Accommodation
You will have many accommodation options, depending on the area of Metro Manila you wish to live in and the facilities you require.
To start, we suggest staying in the Malate district. It is conveniently located near Robinsons Place Manila which is a large shopping malls. This provides you access to groceries, restaurant, banks and other essential services. Malate is also close to various transportation hub, particularly the LRT system which is likely what you will use to go to San Lazaro Hospital
There are many apartments and hotels. Many of past staff and students have stayed in Birch Towers which feature WiFi internet, refrigerator, shower (no bathtub), toilet (with shower, not washlet), microwave, tableware and iron. There is an office on the 4th floor, a pool on the 9th floor and a gym on the 10th floor. Water and electricity bills are paid separately. There is no laundry in the unit but there are various laundry facilities in the area.
Birch Tower One Adriatico Tower 1
Another similar apartment is One Adriatico Tower, which is right beside Robinsons Mall.
Other options are hotels. The most commonly used hotel by visitors from Nagasaki University are Hotel Kimberly and Tropicana Suites. Hotel Kimberly is right on Pedro Gil Avenue and is only about 2 blocks form Taft Avenue. Hotel Kimberly has an attached restaurant, convenient and has reliable staff. Depending on the type of room, there are varying number and sizes of beds. Some have a kitchenette and tubs.
About further 4 minute walk from Hotel Kimberly, after turning left on Guerrero Street is Tropicana Suites. Being a suite, it has a kitchenette and tends to have larger rooms.
Food
There are many restaurants and food stalls in Metro Manila. Food can be bought from a range of source, from street vendors to high-end restaurants. Cuisines range from traditional Filipino cuisines to Western food. There are significant number of Japanese and Korean restaurants in Malate. Food can also be ordered using the Grab app. Being a vegetarian in the Philippines might be challenging. However, you will have access to fresh produce at reasonable prices.
There are many local cuisines worth trying. The key component is rice, kanin. However, unlike in Japan where rice is eaten by itself, you will encounter the concept of ulam, which means side dish. Rice is so integral as a staple food that you might encounter unli rice, which is short for unlimited rice. It is common to see ulam being put on rice. There various ulam such as sisig (sizzling chopped pork), adobo (chicken or pork cooked in soy sauce and vinegar) and sinigang (sour broth with pork, fish or shrimp). Alternatively, noodles are common such as pansit (stir fry noodles).
In aside sit-down restaurant where you order, there are also turo-turo food stalls which translates to ‘point’. Here various dishes are already cooked and you literally point to the food that you want. Here, you can spend as little at 100 pesos for a meal.
There are many reasonably priced fast food restaurants. You will see a lot of Jollibee (burger/ chicken), Mang Inasal (chicken), Greenwich (pizza) and Red Ribbon (pastry) restaurants.
If you are adventurous, consider eating street food but with caution. It would be hard to determine which ones are safe to eat. You can probably tell by the number of people lining up.
When you have the chance, enjoy the local produce, especially the various fruits if they are in season such as mangoes, watermelon, durian, jackfruit and mangosteen.
Laundry
There are various laundry shops in the Malate district, making it very convenient. There is at least one laundry shop on the first floor of Birch Tower, within a 30-second walk and a 3-minute walk. Usually, clothes can be washed for you and is returned after 2 days. You can request for it to be available for the next day with slight increase in price. The price depends on the weight, but it is around 100 pesos.
Clothing
Temperature usually is between 25 to 34 C. If you are planning to travel around the Philippines, consider bringing shorts and sandals as it will help you get comfortable when traveling. Try to bring hats and sunglasses to protect against the sun. Also, keep in mind that towards June and July, rainy season starts and you will have periods of sudden torrential rain.
Toilets
Access and quality of toilet facilities in the Philippines are variable. Public toilets can be as simple as a latrine or can be a Western style. Bidet or spray are not common.
Commonly, there are no toilet paper. Also, many toilet facilities are not able to handle toilet paper, causing clogging. Hence, people will be commonly advised to throw toilet paper onto the trash.
It is also common to have no access to running water and soap in the toilet. We strongly recommend carrying around hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
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This section contains general information (mostly logistics) regarding travel specifically for participants of the 2025 Philippines Tropical Medicine Course (PTMC).
Please also be aware of the following sections, that will be made available to enrolled participants, prior to the start of the course:
- Philippines Tropical Medicine Course (detailed timetables, handouts, feedback, etc.)
- Pre-course procedures (offer, admission letters, payment, etc.)
- Alumni (Appreciation certificates, etc)