Manilaculture & etiquette

The Philippines uses American flat-pin plugs at 220 volts. A US or Japanese appliance will physically fit the socket and then be destroyed by double the voltage it expects. Check every device's rating before plugging anything in — this catches Americans in particular, constantly.

Filipino encodes respect grammatically. Adding 'po' when addressing anyone older or in a service role is not optional politeness — leaving it out marks you as rude in a way that's hard to recover from socially. It costs nothing to adopt.

Metro Manila's congestion is among the worst on earth. Eight kilometres across EDSA at rush hour can take two hours. Where you live relative to your office is the single biggest determinant of your quality of life here — more than the flat itself.

Expect several significant storms a year, with flooding in low-lying areas and work-from-home or suspension announcements. Check the flood history of any neighbourhood before signing a lease — it varies enormously street by street.

English is an official language and the medium of business, government and higher education. You can live and work here without Tagalog. Learning courtesy phrases still transforms how you're received, but you won't be locked out.

The 'ber months' bring decorations and carols from 1 September. It's the longest Christmas season in the world and it is not a joke — plan around a very long festive period and heavy December traffic.