What are the Philippine Islands like?
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The Philippines is the second largest archipelago on the planet, with over 7,100 individual islands within its borders.
The main island groups are Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. There are over 100 ethnic groups and hundreds of language dialects.
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.
Do not expect to be rushed in the Philippines, everyone and everything runs by 'Filipino time'...
CLIMATE - Tropical
Average temperatures: 78°F / 25°C to 90°F / 32°C; humidity is around 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. The other 8 major dialects spoken by the majority of Filipinos are: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinense.
RELIGIONS
Some 83% of Filipinos are Catholic. About 5% are Muslim. 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 is 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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What are the Filipino people like?
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Hospitality, a trait displayed by almost every Filipino you meet, 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 Filipino character is actually a little bit of all its historical 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 piety comes from the Spaniards who introduced Christianity in the 16th century. You will feel very welcome in the Philippines.
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Is the Philippines Safe?
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The Philippines is one of the most beautiful and friendliest countries you will ever visit and has a very low rate of crime. There have been isolated incidents in some parts of the country, but it is generally safe for travellers. And as with any other country, tourists and visitors must always take precautions when travelling abroad.
We do not operate any projects in the regions of Southern Mindanao, the Sulu archipelago including Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Jolo, these are areas where there are ongoing police operations against small localised insurgent groups.
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What kind of volunteering is available?
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The Programs we get involved in are dependant on the specific needs and requests of the communities we aim to help. We specialise in Environmental & Reforestation Projects, but sometimes we will extend our involvement into the areas of, Teaching, Health, Cultural Exchange, School Building and Maintenance. Placements are tailored according to individual requirements of the project.
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Why is there a Program Fee?
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In an ideal world, we would not charge a fee. Unfortunately, there are costs associated with running the projects, such as - Materials, Lodgings, Food, Full-time staff, Researching/visiting/setting-up new projects, Phone, and Web communications, Transport, Producing info/literature etc.
We are a non-government organisation, so we are reliant on funding. We use volunteer contributions or any sponsorship we receive to invest in Research, developing new projects and building program infrastructure.
The work of volunteers is invaluable. If you need help with raising finance, we recommend to volunteers, that the best way in which to raise money is via fund raising - Starting with Family, Friends, Workmates and Neighbours. When most people hear that you are volunteering for a good cause, they are usually willing to help and make a financial contribution.
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What hours am I expected to take part in the program?
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Generally volunteers will work Monday to Friday (weather dependant). The number of hours worked each day varies depending on the program but, on average, you can expect to work between 20 to 30 hours per week.
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When does each program start?
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It depends on the specific project. Some projects start and finish on a specific date, other programs will be on-going.
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Is there a Island Volunteer member of staff, in-country with me whilst I'm Volunteering?
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Yes, we have project coordinators in the Philippines who will be your immediate source of contact. ISLAND VOLUNTEERS will provide the airport transfer on arrival. A member of the project will be on-hand to accompany volunteers to their program location. The project coordinator is available 24/7 in case of emergency, health-related or otherwise. The Program coordinators direct phone number will be issued to each Volunteer on arrival. They can also assist in arranging sightseeing excursion before, during or after the volunteer program.
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How long can I Volunteer for?
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It depends on the Project. The Minimum amount of time is two weeks, the Maximum is 1 year.
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Can I Volunteer with a friend?
How do I pay my fees?
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Applying to be a Volunteer is FREE. Once your application has been assessed and approved, we will send you instructions on how to pay your fees.
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Do you have any ideas on how I can raise funds to Volunteer?
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We have many ideas to give you on how to raise the funds needed to enable you to volunteer. Once you have been accepted onto our program, we can send you guidance notes and advice via email in order to help you with fundraising ideas along with any other queries you may have.
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Do I need a visa?
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If you are from Europe, US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, and your stay in the Philippines is for 21 days or less, you do not need to acquire a visa for your time in the country.
If your stay is for more than 21 days, you can either obtain a Foreign Tourist Visa prior to your arrival (From the Philippine Embassy in your home country. Visas Available: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months). Or extend your visa whilst you're in the Philippines. An additional 59 day visa extension costs about £35 and can usually be issued the same day. Volunteers may obtain visas from any one of the immigration offices, located in most of the larger cities.
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