Traveling abroad to any country can be a wonderful and life changing adventure. The chance to experience a country and culture your unfamiliar with is something that will stay with you forever. The same is true of the Philippines a country with 7,107 islands, 171 different spoken languages. The Philippines is a beautiful country with so many things to see and do that you are sure to enjoy your time here.
The Philippines is a desirable destination for US citizens and one reason for this is that English is an official language here the Philippines is the third largest English speaking country on earth. In other Asian countries English is not widely understood this fact alone makes visiting the Philippines a less complicated and pleasant experience. The Filipino people are very family oriented they hold family bonds above all else they are also very hospitable to visitors it is not uncommon to be invited into the home of a stranger and have dinner cooked and served to you. Americans are well liked here an American tourist walking down the street will likely be greeted with “hey Joe” or “hello my friend” from complete strangers the locals are also very helpful to foreigners they do not mind answering questions or being asked advice about their country. It’s important to remember the beauty that exist in the Philippines some of the most beautiful beaches on earth are here and for the cost of a one week stay in 3 star hotel in Hawaii you could spend a month in the Philippines and do and experience everything this vibrant country has to offer.
While there is much beauty here you must remember this is a developing third world country and foreigners are routinely targeted by the by the criminal element here. In order to navigate the Philippines unscathed and avoid becoming a victim you need keep a few things in mind at all times. First you are a visitor here and you will see things here that are unlike anything you’ve seen in the US so it’s important to be respectful of local customs and people and to observe and learn from them. Second in order to keep yourself from being targeted for a crime it’s important to be humble do not boast about your financial status or flaunt cash or expensive jewelry reckless behavior such as this will only draw the attention of the wrong people. The best defense is to always be aware of where you are at and the people you’re around and listen to locals when they advise you not to venture to a particular area of the city you’re in.
In conclusion the best way to experience the Philippines and all it has to offer is to conduct yourself as a respectful and humble person because those qualities will earn you the respect of the people and give you the best chance for a wonderful stay here in the Philippines.