Living Conditions in the Philippines

Communications

Mail

Letters sent by post usually take one to two weeks to arrive. They should be sent to the following:

"Your Name,” PCT
Peace Corps Philippines
PNB Financial Center 6th Floor
Diosdado Macapagal Avenue
Pasay City, Philippines 1308

Telephones

Cell phone use is ubiquitous in the Philippines and is the standard form of communication for staff and Volunteers. Many Volunteers use cell phones for calls to and from the United States. While the Peace Corps will issue every Volunteer a cell phone upon arrival in-country, Volunteers will ideally bring their smartphones, given a growing trend of virtual trainings by/for host country agencies. If you bring a smartphone, make sure it is unlocked and can be used with prepaid SIM cards and that you are comfortable knowing it may not survive service. Most Volunteers communicate with friends and family in the U.S. through WhatsApp or other social networking media in addition to cellphones.

Internet

Most Philippine cities and towns have internet cafes, and you will have access to some type of email, if not at your site, at least in a neighboring city. Connections can be slow, and Volunteers typically will only be able to conduct rudimentary online business. It is essential that Volunteers bring laptops or tablets. Any expensive electronic equipment should be insured before arrival in the Philippines.

Housing and site location

Housing conditions for Volunteers vary widely depending upon their sites and can range from heavily urban to very rural.

For Volunteers assigned to underdeveloped areas, housing typically is a hollow concrete block, wood, or bamboo structure. In more developed areas, housing can be similar or more substantial. Most houses have running water and electricity. Trainees live with fully vaccinated host families during pre-service training and during the first three months at their assigned sites. Married Volunteers stay with separate host families during pre-service training. After this period, Volunteers may choose to continue living with a host family or to move into their own rented accommodations. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to continue living with host families. Usually Volunteers who continue living with host families develop the best Philippine language fluency and deepest understanding of Filipino culture.

Living allowance and money management

Volunteers receive a monthly allowance in local currency that is sufficient to live at the level of the local people. The allowance covers food, household supplies, clothing, transportation to and from work, utilities, recreation and entertainment, and incidental expenses. Peace Corps Volunteers are expected to live at a level that is comparable with that of their host country counterparts. The Peace Corps discourages Volunteers from supplementing their living allowance with funds from home. However, Volunteers often wish to bring additional money for vacation travel to other countries. For this, credit cards and traveler’s checks are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans and needs.

Food and diet

Rice is the staple food for most Filipinos who live in the lowlands, while corn, potatoes, and tubers are the staples for people who live at higher altitudes. Fish, pork, chicken, bread, noodles, various vegetables, bananas, and some other fruits are widely available. Food is often cooked in lard or coconut oil. Many Filipinos prefer rice, fish, meat, and sweets over vegetables and fruits. Every region of the Philippines has its own specialty dishes and staple foods, depending on the availability of local fruits and vegetables. Maintaining a strict vegetarian diet can be difficult, and vegetarians expend considerable time and energy to maintain a healthy diet.

Professionalism, appearance, dress, and behavior

Professionalism in the Peace Corps requires an awareness of the host community workplace culture, community values, and your self-presentation. To maintain a positive, culturally appropriate professional standing within a host community or workplace, Volunteers may need to adjust their style of dress, hair style, facial hair, make-up, piercings, manner of greeting others, etc., to demonstrate respect for local culture and customs. How you present yourself, in both informal and professional settings, is a reflection of you as an individual and of you as a representative of Peace Corps and the United States. In the U.S., dress (and other elements of personal appearance) may be seen as an expression of personal freedom and identity. In many host countries where Peace Corps Volunteers serve, the way you dress and present yourself may be interpreted as an expression of regard—or disregard—for those host community members around you.

Volunteers are encouraged to spend time in their communities, to develop their language skills, and to get to know the individual members of their community to better understand their traditions, culture, and local norms. As mutual trust is established over time, there may be opportunities for Volunteers to adjust their personal appearance and dress outside of the more rigid local standards. Volunteers are encouraged to discuss these potential adjustments with staff and other cultural mentors.

Despite the considerable level of Western influence that Volunteers experience throughout the Philippines, Filipino culture generally is quite conservative. This is especially the case outside large cities. One aspect of this conservatism is the high priority that Filipinos place on a neat personal appearance. Volunteers, whether in urban or rural areas, should always wear neat and clean clothing when they are in public, and especially when they are at their worksites. Sloppiness, poor hygiene, and bad grooming can cause Filipinos to avoid a person and reduce a Volunteer’s ability to cooperate successfully at the workplace and interact effectively with people in the community. Volunteers should bear in mind that they are in the Philippines as professional development workers, not as backpacking world travelers. Appropriate dress will be discussed regularly during pre-service training and often includes discussions about expressions of independence through clothing and appearance.

In Filipino culture, tattoos and multiple piercings seen as unprofessional, so concealing them during initial introductions is necessary until Volunteers better integrate with their community. Once integrated, Volunteers may reveal tattoos and multiple piercings when comfortable and during casual settings. Maintain caution about showing tattoos and multiple piercings in professional settings.

Transportation

In cities or municipalities, the most common means of transportation are buses and minibuses, including small trucks called “jeepneys” that usually are decorated in bright colors. Other transportation includes motorized tricycles and bicycle-powered carts called pedicabs. Travel between islands is via airplane, ship, or small motorboat. Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to own or operate any vehicle, and driving or riding on a motorcycle is strictly prohibited.

Social activities

Many Filipinos are wonderfully gregarious and adept at pleasant chats. Volunteers should be prepared for frequent and fascinating impromptu conversations in all manner of places. It is quite common to be asked to drink on occasion during social interactions; this might require flexible approaches to community bonding for Volunteers who do not consume alcohol.

Volunteers may often get invited to weddings, birthday parties, baptisms, etc., as a way of deepening relationships with counterparts and community members. When eating, it is common to be invited to the table to eat alongside with Filipinos, even if minimal food is present, with the phrase “kain tayo!”

For some social activities, such as the very popular videoke (a social singing activity like karaoke with scoring system), Volunteers may feel pressure to perform but are free to decline; however, being open to trying new activities with the community may help foster relationships.