There are only two seasons in the Philippines, wet and dry. The dry season generally begins from March up to May, with temperatures from 22-32 degrees Centigrade. The rainy season (wet) begins from June and lasts up to October. From the months of November to February, the country generally has cool temperatures ranging from 22-28 degrees Centigrade. The Philippines average humidity throughout the year is 77%.

The Philippines’ national language is Filipino, however, English is also an official language and widely spoken and is extensively used in business and government. Major dialects are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

The archipelago is famous for the contrast between huge and modern metropolis like Manila or Cebu, the primitive tribal territories, the deserted islands, the clear sea waters and the smooth white coral sand.

The Philippines is a nice and friendly place to visit. The people speak English, as it is an official language.The Republic of the Philippines has two international gateway cities – Manila and Cebu. Manila is served by the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which handles more than 30 foreign airlines flying to different destinations in the world whereas Cebu, the Queen City of the South, handles regular flights from Japan, Australia, Singapore and Guam including charter flights to Hong Kong, the United States and other major travel destinations at the Mactan International Airport.

The capital city Manila is noisy, gritty, and tough--yet very charming, cosmopolitan, vibrant and exciting (very New York City). Malling is a favorite Philippine pastime as many shopping centers dot the metropolis. The old seedy image of Manila nightlife has been replaced with classy restaurants, quaint hole-in-the-wall yet must-see spots, "it" bars, and cozy cafes (very strong cafe culture in the past few years, a night out or "gimmick" usually ends with a coffee nightcap at Coffee Bean, Segafredo or the ubiquitous Starbucks).

Be sure to visit Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. A long yet smooth 6-7 hour drive from Manila, Baguio boasts of a cool climate (peculiar in the Philippines as its a tropical country), a lot of sights to visit (Mines View Park, Baguio Botanical Gardens, just to name a few) and a lot of stuff to buy (silver, plants -- that don't live beyond Baguio's cool confines -- vintage clothes, handicrafts, etc.)