Friday, October 31, 2008

Discover Philippines: Culture: Churches

MANILA CATHEDRAL
Plaza Roma, Intramuros, Manila
The seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Manila is presently the 6th cathedral to rise on the site since 1581. Previous structures were destroyed by typhoons, earthquakes, fire, and the last war. It was rebuilt on the second half of the 1950s through the efforts of Architect Fernando Ocampo and Archbishop Rufino J. Santos. The cathedral incorporated the stone carvings and rosette windows celebrating the Christianization of the Philippines. Light up with its clerestory. Mosaic artwork decorate three of its side chapels.

SAN AGUSTIN CHURCH
Gen. Luna cor. Real Street, Intramuros, Manila
The oldest stone church in Metro Manila dates back to 1571. An intricately carved door opens to the church. Of great interest are the Baroque pulpit, molave choir stalls, and an 18th century pipe organ. Like an impregnable fortress, San Agustin has withstood the ravages of time wrought by both nature and by man.



SAN SEBASTIAN CHURCH
Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila
This small jewel-box church is the first all-steel church in the Philippines and in Asia; and the second in the world. Design for the church was finished in 1883 and was prefabricated in Belgium. The completely knocked-down church was shipped backed to the Philippines in 6 ships. It weighed close to 50,000 tons while its stained-glass windows which are intact until now were, according to Father Ceniza, done in France.



OUR LADY OF PEACE AND GOOD VOYAGE
Antilopo, Rizal
Antipolo is known to be the home of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. History says that this miraculous icon has traveled back and forth between Manila and Acapulco eight times and on several occasions was credited with saving her galleon from destruction by warning the people about an impending disaster.

BACLAYON CHURCH
Baclayon town, Bohol
Located 6 kilometers from the city proper. The church is the oldest stone church in the country, built by the Jesuits in 1595.

DAUIS CHURCH
Dauis town, Bohol
Located 3 kilometers from the city proper. This is one of Bohol’s beautiful churches, which has retained its Spanish architecture although it has a semi-modern façade.

LOBOC CHURCH
Loboc town
Located 24 kilometers from Tagbilaran City. The second oldest church in Bohol, built in 1608, with a three-storey convent.

LOON CHURCH
Loon town
Located 25 kilometers from the city proper. The crowning glory of the Recollect churches in Bohol.

MARIBOJOC CHURCH
Maribojoc town
Located 14 kilometers from the city proper. This parish was founded in 1768, built in 1798, and fully constructed after 18 years.

PAOAY CHURCH
Laoag, Ilocos Norte
This fortress-like church is probably the most popular in this area. Styled in “earthquake Baroque”, its walls are strongly fortified by sturdy posts.

BASILICA MINORE DEL STO. NIÑO
Cebu City
Shrine of the oldest religious relic in the Philippines, the statue of the Child Jesus. A token of friendship by Magellan to Queen Juana in 1521, the Santo Niño de Cebu has survived fires and other catastrophes throughout the years.

MIAG-AO CHURCH
Iloilo
Located 40 km. southwest of Iloilo City; built in 1768, native façade; a unique explosion of botanical motif reminiscent of Aztec Art. It was declared a national landmark in 1973 and is listed in the UNESCO world heritage list.

SAN JOAQUIN
Iloilo
This is the only church in the Philippines with bas-reliefs of historic battles set in Tetuan, Morocco, between the Spanish Christians and the Moroccan Moors.

VALLADOLID CHURCH
Valladolid, Negros Occidental
The size of the church and the convent, which was built by the Recollect missionaries in 1851, support some views that the church authorities during those days were the most powerful in running the affairs of the government all throughout the country.

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PEACE
La Carlota City, Negros Occidental
In the heart of downtown La Carlota, this century-old church is a living witness to the devotion of the predominantly Catholic La Carlotenos. The church has the distinction of one of the very few churches of romanesque architectural design in the province.

BAGUIO CATHEDRAL
Baguio City
Rising above the city skyline are the pinkish hues of the Baguio Cathedral. The cathedral is but one of religious landmarks which dot the city. There is the Bell Temple, north of the city the Maryhurst Seminary with its brilliant gardens, and Lourdes Grotto with its 252 steps to heaven.

SHRINE OF THE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE MANAOAG
Pangasinan
The shrine of Nuestra Senora of "Apo Baket" is situated atop the hill. The shrine is known all over the Philippines. Devotees frequent the church especially on Saturdays and Sundays.

CHURCH OF ST. JAMES
Pangasinan
The church was built by the Augustinians in Bolinao in 1609. It houses wooden "santos," nowadays a rarity, with the toll of time and the elements blurring their finely sculptured features. The antique size altar is flanked by two grinning, tongue-protruding aztec visages presumably of Mexican influence and brought over by the galleons trade.

ST. MARTIN DE TOURS
Taal, Batangas
Once the biggest church in all Southeast Asia, it was designed by a Spanish architect-priest and built in the mid-1800s. Taal also possesses a number of other sacred shrines, including the Wells of Santa Lucia, the water of which is reputed to have miraculous healing powers.

SANTUARIO OF OUR LADY OF CAYSASAY
Taal, Batangas
The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is said to be miraculously disappearing from any site where it is brought and appearing at the sanctuary.

BORASOAIN CHURCH
Malolos, Bulacan
The seat of the Revolutionary Congress where the First Filipino Constitution was drafted and ratified.

DARAGA CATHOLIC CHURCH
Albay
Built in 1773 by Franciscan missionaries. This is highly prized by art enthusiasts because of its rich baroque architecture. Its very huge structure is considered above-standard. At closer look, it contains archeological relics such as “santos” and religious seals carved articulately on volcanic rocks. These relics are considered priceless and collector’s items.

Source: Department of Tourism

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Discover Philippines: Culture: Religion

Predominantly Christian.
Catholics - 82.9%
Protestants - 5.4%
Islam - 4.6%
Philippine Independent Church - 2.6%
Iglesia ni Cristo - 2.3%

Historically, the Filipinos have embraced two of the great religions of the world - Islam and Christianity. Islam was introduced during the 14th century shortly after the expansion of Arab commercial ventures in Southeast Asia. Today, it is limited to the southern region of the country.

Christianity was introduced as early as the 16th century with the coming of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.

Protestantism was introduced by the first Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries who arrived with the American soldiers in 1899.

Two Filipino independent churches were organized at the turn of the century and are prominent today. These are the Aglipay (Philippine Independent Church) and the Iglesia Ni Kristo (Church of Christ) founded in 1902 and 1914, respectively. Recently the Aglipay signed a covenant with the Anglican Church. The Iglesia ni Kristo has expanded its membership considerably. Its churches, with their unique towering architecture, are landmarks in almost all important towns, provincial capitals, and major cities.

Source: Department of Tourism

Monday, October 27, 2008

Discover Philippines: Culture: Useful Words and Phrases

EVERYDAY GREETINGS
Tagalog speakers in the Philippines have many ways of greeting other people. It is common also to hear them say "Hi" or "Hello" as a form of greeting, especially among close friends. There are no Tagalog translations for these English greetings because they are basically borrowed terms, and any English-speaking person will be readily understood by Filipinos in general (Yes, Virginia and Joe, English is widely spoken in the Philippines, a former colony of the US of A for nearly 50 years!). Below are a few Tagalog greetings that are importart to learn if one wants to endear himself/herself to Filipinos.

Magandang umaga po. (formal/polite) - Good morning
Magandang umaga. (informal) - Good morning

Magandang tanghali po. (formal/polite) - Good noon
Magandang tanghali. (informal) - Good noon

Magandang hapon po. (formal/polite) - Good afternoon
Magandang hapon. (informal) - Good afternoon

Magandang gabi po. (formal/polite) - Good evening
Magandang gabi. (informal) - Good evening

Kumusta po kayo? (formal/polite) - How are you?
Kumusta ka? (informal) - How are you?

Mabuti po naman. (formal/polite) - I'm fine
Mabuti naman. (informal) - I'm fine

Tuloy po kayo. (formal/polite) - Please, come in
Tuloy. (informal) - Please, come in

Salamat po. (formal/polite) - Thank you
Salamat. (informal) - Thank you

Maraming salamat po. (formal/polite) - Thank you very much
Maraming salamat. (informal) - Thank you very much

Wala pong anuman. (formal/polite) - You are welcome
Walang anuman. (informal) - You are welcome

Opo/ oho. (formal/polite) - Yes
Oo (informal) - Yes

Hindi po/ho (formal/polite) - No
Hindi (informal) - No

Hindi ko po/ho alam. (formal/polite) - I don't know
Hindi ko alam. (informal) - I don't know

Anong oras na po? (formal/polite) - What time is it?
Anong oras na? (informal) - What time is it?

Saan po kayo papunta? (formal/polite) - Where are you going?
Saan ka papunta? (informal) - Where are you going?

Saan po kayo galing? (formal/polite) - Where did you come from?
Saan ka galing? (informal) - Where did you come from?

Ano po ang pangalan nila? (formal/polite) - What is your name?
Anong pangalan mo? (informal) - What is your name?

Ako po si ________ (formal/polite) - I am ______ (name).
Ako si _________ (informal) - I am ______ (name).

Ilang taon na po kayo? (formal/polite) - How old are you?
Ilang taon ka na? (informal) - How old are you?

Ako po ay _______ gulang na. (formal/polite) - I am _______ years old.
Ako ay _______ gulang na. (informal) - I am _______ years old.

Saan po kayo nakatira? (formal/polite) - Where do you live?
Saan ka nakatira? (informal) - Where do you live?

Taga saan po sila? (formal/polite) - Where are you from?
Taga saan ka? (informal) - Where are you from?

Kumain na po ba sila? (formal/polite) - Have you eaten yet?
Kumain ka na ba? (informal) - Have you eaten yet?

DIRECTIONS
spacerBelow is a list of Tagalog words and phrases used in giving or asking for directions.

deretso - straight ahead
(sa) kanan - on the right
(sa) kaliwa - on the left
umikot - turn around
(sa) harap - in front
(sa) likod/likuran - at the back/behind
hilaga - north
silangan - east
kanluran - west
timog - south
(sa) itaas - on top
(sa) ibaba - below/at the bottom
(sa) ilalim - at the bottom
(sa) loob - inside
(sa) labas - outside

There are a number of Tagalog words and phrases which are rather vague in terms of specific distance but signify "nearness" or "farness" of a particular object, thing, or place from the speaker. These are:

doon - yonder (over there)
diyan lang po sa tabi - there, on that side
sa banda po doon - over on that side

QUESTION WORDS

Below is a list of Tagalog question words with their corresponding meanings and examples in English.

Ano? - What?
Alin? - Which?
Sino? - Who?
Saan? - Where?
Bakit? - Why?
Kailan? - When?
Paano?/Papaano? - How?
Magkano? - How much? (money)
Nasaan? - Where? (to look for something/somebody)


Source: Department of Tourism

Friday, October 24, 2008

Discover Philippines: Culture: People

The Filipino is basically of Malay stock with a sprinkling of Chinese, American, Spanish, and Arab blood. The Philippines has a population of 76.5 million as of May 2000, and it is hard to distinguish accurately the lines between stocks. From a long history of Western colonial rule, interspersed with the visits of merchants and traders, evolved a people of a unique blend of east and west, both in appearance and culture.

The Filipino character is actually a little bit of all the cultures put together. The bayanihan or spirit of kinship and camaraderie that Filipinos are famous for is said to be taken from Malay forefathers. The close family relations are said to have been inherited from the Chinese. The piousness comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century. Hospitality is a common denominator in the Filipino character and this is what distinguishes the Filipino. Filipinos are probably one of the few, if not the only, English-proficient Oriental people today. Pilipino is the official national language, with English considered as the country's unofficial one.

The Filipinos are divided geographically and culturally into regions, and each regional group is recognizable by distinct traits and dialects - the sturdy and frugal llocanos of the north, the industrious Tagalogs of the central plains, the carefree Visayans from the central islands, and the colorful tribesmen and religious Moslems of Mindanao. Tribal communities can be found scattered across the archipelago. The Philippines has more than 111 dialects spoken, owing to the subdivisions of these basic regional and cultural groups.

The country is marked by a true blend of cultures; truly in the Philippines, East meets West. The background of the people is Indonesian and Malay. There are Chinese and Spanish elements as well. The history of American rule and contact with merchants and traders culminated in a unique blend of East and West, both in the appearance and culture of the Filipinos, or people of the Philippines.

Hospitality, a trait displayed by every Filipino, makes these people legendary in Southeast Asia. Seldom can you find such hospitable people who enjoy the company of their Western visitors. Perhaps due to their long association with Spain, Filipinos are emotional and passionate about life in a way that seems more Latin than Asian.

The Spaniards introduced Christianity (the Roman Catholic faith) and succeeded in converting the overwhelming majority of Filipinos. At least 83% of the total population belongs to the Roman Catholic faith.

The American occupation was responsible for teaching the Filipino people the English language. The Philippines is currently the third-largest English speaking country in the world.

Source: Department of Tourism

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Medical Tourism in the Philippines: An answer to financial crisis?

At first, it seems strange how fouled up mortgage deals in the United States have set in motion what some experts are calling “the worst financial crisis in the US since the Depression of the 1930s.” Considering our globally interconnected economies, however, that’s also bad news for the Philippines. One big local insurance company has already been affected, and the media has already reported on possible effects on our call centers.

On the level of our households and personal finances, we’re all starting to feel the financial pinch: prices of basic commodities are going up and our purchasing power seems to shrink by the day. One news website report estimates that as many as 50, 000 OFWs could be affected as the world economy slows down.

What can we and the government do about this?

On October 22-25, 2008, however, a ray of hope present itself in “Embracing Health and Wellness in the Heart of Asia,” touted as the biggest medical tourism and wellness summit in Asia, to be held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. The summit is hosted by Department of Tourism and supported by key government and industry players.

“Embracing Health and Wellness in the Heart of Asia” brings together government policy and major players in the medical, health and wellness sectors. They will present how the Philippines can reap the economic and social benefits of being a major player in the globalization of health care in the 21st century.

So what’s the connection between the medical tourism and the Philippines economic salvation? In the same way that bad housing loans in the US can affect our finances here, the rising cost of health care in the United States, Europe and other Asian countries just might actually spell good news for the Philippines.

Optimism

The Department of Tourism is very optimistic over the prospects of the Philippines as the next hub of medical tourism and wellness in Asia. DOT Undersecretary for Sports and Wellness Cynthia Carrion said that the upcoming DOT-sponsored medical tourism and wellness summit, dubbed as “Embracing Health and Wellness in the Heart of Asia,” will showcase the qualities that makes the Philippines the ideal destination for medical tourism, health and wellness.

“Embracing Health and Wellness in the Heart of Asia” gathers together leaders, experts and policy-makers in the international and local health care and wellness sectors who will give crucial information on how to reduce risk and maximize gains in the globalized 21st health care arena.

Carrion said that a report titled “Medical Tourism Economic Report” by the Medical Tourism Association Magazine cited the Philippines for having all the ingredients for building a sustainable international medical tourism industry and culture.

“The authors of the report, experts David G. Vequist, IV and Erika Valdez, wrote, ‘the Philippines has many opportunities to take advantage of the estimated $40 billion medical tourism industry. For this country, 700, 000 medical tourist and the $2 billion annually seems very achievable in the near future.’ That alone already shows us that industry experts are looking seriously at the Philippines as a major player in global medical tourism. In the summit, the DOT has gathered together, 16 international speakers, all leaders in their fields, to share with summit delegates their insights about how to achieve true health and wellness. Furthermore, these experts will present how truly excellent, modern and world class the Philippine health care system is; and how we can be a mecca of well-being and healing for the world,” said Carrion.

Billion-dollar Industry

Why is the Philippine government backing a national campaign to turn the country into a hub of medical and wellness tourism? First of all, let’s get an overview.

According to the report “2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers” by top research firm Deloitte (through their Deloitte Center for Health Solutions) some 750, 000 US citizens traveled abroad to get medical care. That number is expected to reach a whopping 6 million by 2010.

Now how does that translate in revenues? The Deloitte report states that Americans spent $2.1 billion for medical care overseas in 2007. By 2010, that amount is projected to balloon to as much as $79.5 billion in 2010.

Why are the Americans spending these amounts to get medical and / or wellness treatments abroad? Simply because it would cost them so much more if they avail of such treatments in the United States.

Office for Special Concerns – DOH

Note that the price difference between a medical treatment in the US and the same treatment as offered here in the Philippines is at 50% or more. This means huge savings for foreign patients and corporations who opt to go to the Philippines for medical procedures.

Also, take note that the nearly $80 billion projected revenues from medical tourism is generated only by the US market, still excluding potential revenues from Europe and Asia.

So the question now is this: Will the Philippines be able to get its share of this very lucrative trend in global health care?

Meeting Challenges

What would give a medical tourist enough incentive and confidence to leave his well-being in the hands of foreigners? The answer seem obvious but let’s have Deloitte report tell us:

“Outbound [from the US] medical tourism is expected to experience explosive growth over the next three to five years. Consider the following:

Health care costs are increasing at eight percent per year – well above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) thus eating into corporate profits and household disposable income.

The safety and quality of care available in many offshore settings is no longer an issue: Organizations including the Joint Commission International (JCI) and others are accrediting these facilities.

Consumers are willing to travel to obtain care that is both safe and less costly. In fact, two in five respondents [Deloitte’s 2008 Survey of Health Consumers included more than 3, 000 Americans in the study] said they would be interested in pursuing treatments abroad if quality was comparable and the savings were 50% or more.

From the Deloitte Study, we can see the factors like lower cost, patient safety and health care of “comparable” quality to their home countries are the top considerations for medical tourists when choosing where to get treatments abroad.

According to Calibo, the Philippines today meets all those criteria., He cited the so called Centers of Excellence, which include the country’s top hospitals that have been approved for medical tourism by the government. Of these hospitals, two are already accredited by the Joint Commission International: St. Luke’s Medical Center and the Medical City.

Other Centers of Excellence include the Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital and Medical Center; Capitol Medical Center; Manila Doctors Hospital; University of Santo Tomas Hospital; Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Then there are the world-class specialized medical centers including the Philippine Heart Center; Lung Center of the Philippines and National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

Calibo said that these hospitals are more than capable of giving more than comparable care to overseas patients. In fact these hospitals already have International Patient Centers and are routinely admitting patients from overseas all of whom receive safe, modern, high-tech, world-class quality treatments and care.

Calibo also pointed out that Filipino health and wellness professionals themselves make all the difference for the success of medical tourism in the Philippines.

“Filipino health and wellness professionals are extremely competent, highly-skilled, well-trained, fluent in English and have received postgraduate training in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan. Furthermore, Filipinos are the most compassionate, caring professionals in Asia,” said Calibo.

Competitive Advantage

DOT Secretary Joseph Ace Durano cited the Philippines competitive advantage over other countries in Asia who are already into medical and wellness tourism (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.).

Durano said that compared to other countries in Asia or Latin America who are now engaged in medical tourism, the Philippines is the only one that can offer a complete health, wellness and retirement experience.

“We must look at the three different health and wellness clusters that the Philippines has today. First, there’s the Medical Tourism Cluster. These are composed of our modern, high-tech and world-class hospitals and medical centers, which are staffed by the most competent doctors and medical professionals. Second, there’s the Retirement Cluster. This cluster includes retirement villages, nursing homes, and hospitals. Third, there’s the Wellness Cluster which includes spas, holistic therapies, traditional Filipino massage and complimentary medicine. The Philippines is the only country that covers all three clusters of health and wellness,” said Durano.

Philippine Retirement Authority Chairman General Aglipay also expressed his full support for the Philippines medical tourism campaign, and emphasized the importance of the health and wellness components for the success of the PRA.

Aglipay said that three factors converging and fuelling an inevitable demand for retirement destinations: 1) A more positive attitude towards aging; 2) A “broken” structure of traditional care of the elderly; and 3) The lack of readiness in many countries for an increasingly elderly population.

Citing findings from an HSBC study, Aglipay said that in near future, there will be a bigger population of people who are 65 years old and above. Strikingly, there will be a lesser population of young people.

“Pension payments retirees in developed countries have become unsustainable. Retirees getting an average pension of $1, 000 - $1, 500 can no longer afford the cost of living in their own countries. That’s why retiring and retired nationals of these countries are seeking alternative & affordable retirement places,” Aglipay explained.

Complete Care – from the heart

Durano continued that the Philippines, with its relaxing and peaceful tropical paradise settings, its world class health care facilities; its wellness providers; and its cheerful, optimistic, kind and compassionate people make the Philippines the ideal wellness destination.

DOT Undersecretary Carrion concurred, explaining that the greatest and most distinctive offering the Philippines can give to the world in terms of health and wellness are the wonderful attributes of the Filipino themselves.

“The Philippines is home to the most competent, most compassionate, friendly, kind and caring people in the world. In other words, we do not take care of physical needs but emotional needs as well. And if you are recovering from illness or trying to escape the stresses of this world, what could be more helpful, more healing than the genuine love, care and concern extended to you by another human being?” Carrion said.

To register or learn more about ”Embracing Health and Wellness in the Heart of Asia,” call 437-7090 or 440-3354 or log on to www.philippinehealthandwellnesstourism.com.

Source: The Philippine Star

Brief History of the Philippines

The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. It has a rich history combining Asian, European, and American influences. Prior to Spanish colonization in 1521, the Filipinos had a rich culture and were trading with the Chinese and the Japanese. Spain's colonization brought about the construction of Intramuros in 1571, a "Walled City" comprised of European buildings and churches, replicated in different parts of the archipelago. In 1898, after 350 years and 300 rebellions, the Filipinos, with leaders like Jose Rizal and Emilio Aguinaldo, succeeded in winning their independence.

In 1898, the Philippines became the first and only colony of the United States. Following the Philippine-American War, the United States brought widespread education to the islands. Filipinos fought alongside Americans during World War II, particularly at the famous battle of Bataan and Corregidor which delayed Japanese advance and saved Australia. They then waged a guerilla war against the Japanese from 1941 to 1945. The Philippines regained its independence in 1946.

Filipinos are a freedom-loving people, having waged two peaceful, bloodless revolutions against what were perceived as corrupt regimes. The Philippines is a vibrant democracy, as evidenced by 12 English national newspapers, 7 national television stations, hundreds of cable TV stations, and 2,000 radio stations.

Filipinos are a fun-loving people. Throughout the islands, there are fiestas celebrated everyday and foreign guests are always welcome to their homes.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Facts about the Philippines.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands covering a land area of 115,739 sq. m. (299,764 sq. km.). Main island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Capital is Manila. Time Zone is GMT + 8 hours.

CLIMATE
March to May is hot and dry. June to October is rainy, November to February is cool. Average temperatures: 78°F / 25°C to 90°F / 32°C; humidity is 77%.

POPULATION
There are a total of 76.5 million Filipinos as of the latest national census in May, 2000. Population growth is estimated at 2.36 percent annually. Luzon, the largest island group, accounts for more than half of the entire population.

LANGUAGES
Two official languages --- Filipino and English. Filipino which is based on Tagalog, is the national language. English is also widely used and is the medium of instruction in higher education.

Eight (8) major dialects spoken by majority of the Filipinos: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.

Filipino is that native language which is used nationally as the language of communication among ethnic groups. Like any living language, Filipino is in a process of development through loans from Philippine languages and non-native languages for various situations, among speakers of different social backgrounds, and for topics for conversation and scholarly discourse. There are about 76 to 78 major language groups, with more than 500 dialects.

RELIGIONS
Some 83% of Filipinos are Catholic. About 5% are Moslem. The rest are made up of smaller Christian denominations and Buddhist.

UNIT OF MEASURE
The Metric System is used in most trade and legal transactions.

ELECTRICITY
220 volts a/c is the common standard. 110 volts a/c is also used, especially in major hotels.

CURRENCY
The Philippines' monetary unit is the peso, divided into 100 centavos. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any hotels, most large department stores, banks, and authorized money changing shops accredited by the Central Bank of the Philippines. International credit cards such as Visa, Diners Club, Bank Americard, Master Card, and American Express are accepted in major establishments.

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