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 region/community we aim to help. We specialise in Environmental & Reforestation Projects. Placements are tailored according to the requirements of the project.
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Is there any cost involved in Volunteering?
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If you wish for us to provide you with accommodation, food and transport, then yes, there will have to be a charge for this.
If you wish to source you own accommodation and provide your own food and transport then no, there will be no cost involved in volunteering.
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How many hours a day will I contribute as a volunteer?
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It's really up to you. Typically, volunteers will work Monday to Friday (weather dependant). The number of hours worked each day varies depending on you and the type of 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 projects are on-going.
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Is there an 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. A member of ISLAND VOLUNTEERS will be available 24/7 in case of an emergency - health-related or otherwise. The Program coordinators direct phone number will be issued to each Volunteer on arrival.
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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 usually two weeks, the Maximum - 1 year.
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Can I Volunteer with a friend?
Can I make a financial contribution towards a project?
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Yes. There are a number of ways you can make a financial contribution. Please enquire by contacting us at enquire@islandvolunteers.com
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Do you have any ideas on how I can raise funds for one of your projects?
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We have many ideas to give you on how to raise funds or to raise the money needed to enable you to make your way to the Philippines in order 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 to visit the Philippines?
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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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What are the living arrangements like in the Philippines?
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Depending on the Project - Volunteers will be placed in either, 1) A Filipino family house that we have carefully selected to host our international volunteers. 2) Live in communal accommodation with other volunteers, 3) A room in a guest house, close to the program location, or 4) A beach hut or chalet.
Living arrangements are usually simple, basic and comfortable.
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Can you cater for Vegetarians?
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Yes. Although Filipinos tend to eat a lot of Meat and Fish, there are also many tasty vegetarian dishes that can be cooked also. Filipino's are very accommodating and will always want you to enjoy your food.
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Can I arrange my own accommodation and meals?
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Yes -- You are free to do so.
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How will I know what vacancies are available?
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Once you have filled in our simple application form we will reply with a list of available vacancies. You will then be able to consult with the program co-ordinator directly via email in order to arrange a volunteer placement.
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Where will I be located?
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Depending on the program, you could be located in either The Visayas region or Palawan. We will notify you as to which airport to arrive and the most cost effective airlines to use.
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How many volunteers are on each program?
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This is totally dependant on the Project and how many people volunteer at any one time. Reforestation Projects can have between 1-30 volunteers at any one time.
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Am I able to do any sight seeing whilst volunteering?
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Of course, and there is so much to see and enjoy amongst these tropical islands. Volunteers are welcome to take short breaks during their volunteer time. There are often other volunteers that want to do some sight seeing also. You may like to travel around with other volunteers and join in local festivities and explore your local surroundings together. Visiting neighbouring islands are popular destinations for many volunteers.
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Can I make project donations?
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Yes and they will be much appreciated as there are many costs associated with running a project, such as - Materials, Full-time staff, Researching, visiting sites, setting-up infrastructure, Phone and Web communications, Transportation, Producing info/literature etc.
We are a non-stock, non-profit, non-government organisation, so we are reliant on funding. We will use any donation/contribution or sponsorship to invest in Research and developing projects and building program infrastructure.
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