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Below
are questions you may or may not have. Please feel
free in asking me further questions. If need be, I
can add additional QA’s to my page.
Last
Updated: 9 / 3 / 2006
Accessibility
Q:
Can I travel though handicapped?
A:
In one word: yes. You need more patience than the
average traveler, and more flexibility and maybe a
better sense of humor. And it doesn't do any harm
if you have a little more money, but it can be
done.
Q:
Are there facilities for the disabled?
A:
Facilities are not generally up to the standards
taken for granted in the west. However, with a
little planning before your visit most special
needs can be accommodated one way or another.
Q. Can I rent a wheelchair accessible van?
A. Fortunately, I we have a very good friend who
can assist you. He has a mini-van that he uses. It
is not up to the US standards but it works. If you
are able and willing to transfer to car, the sky
is the limit. Rates vary depending on dates,
vehicle size, etc.
Be sure to negotiate before you go.
Q. Should I take my electric wheelchair to Philippines?
A. Sure, why not! I did… There is however a
great risk that it could be broken on the way. My
chair, A Quickie P300, is a very sturdy chair. My
issue was that I can only use one arm and could
loose my independence. Unless there is absolutely
no other alternative, I would not recommend taking
a power chair to Philippines or any other
third-world nation for that matter. I have
not seen any accessible transportation in Cebu.
On the other hand, I did have good luck with
airport personnel in Cebu and the people we ran
across have always been willing to lend a helping
(and lifting) hand.
Q. Going to Cebu really looks great. Can you book help me book a
trip this summer?
A. Sure! Anytime! The summer here is supper hot
there. We would suggest traveling from October
through March. We can help you make your flight,
hotel and transportation arrangements. At least we
can point you in a good direction with you making
the final call. We primarily provide trip
information and ideas on this site as a service so
you can use them as a guide to plan your own
travel. We are not travel agents and we are
not trying to sell anything to you.
Q. Can you set me up on a Tour?
A.
Yes and no. We can help you with ideas and things
to do and see. But we don’t supply a daily or
weekly “Tour”. We do have qualified guides
that for a nominal fee can help you have a trip
that you will never forget.
Q:
Can you help me find a pen pal/bride? Can you
place an ad for me?
A:
No. Under Philippine law it is now illegal to
place ads of this nature. We can gather your info
and hand it out to some of our friends and
relations. We hope at a later date to add a
web-page, or two, of young ladies/men interested
in meeting men/ladies from outside Cebu.
Q:
I would like to travel to different islands. How
much time should I allow?
A:
Depends on how much you want to see. Traveling
always takes longer than you think as transport
often runs late, gets delayed etc. Suggest a
minimum of 2 weeks if you want to see a reasonable
amount. Don’t expect easy wheelchair access.
Don’t expect them to lift you if you are in an
electric wheelchair.
Q:
Are there many accessible hotels and resorts to
chose from?
A:
Yes! In Cebu, and the rest of the Philippines,
there are many state of the art hotels and
resorts. Many of the hotels and resorts that I
have listed are accessible. It also depends on
your definition of accessible. The newer hotels
and resorts will more closely follow our ADA laws,
IF they are American based companies. Even though,
most hotels that you contact will have access to a
point. Even the small hotels can be very cozy,
accessible and cheap.
Q:
Is accessible public transportation available?
A:
No, not likely. Depending on your level of
disability, you could get around. But if you are
looking for a bus with a lift, for get it.
Q:
How accessible is Cebu?
A:
Slowly, the Philippines are getting more
accessible with ramps and curb cuts sprouting up
all over. The best way is to take a manual
chair...even though this means losing some
independence...and a companion who can push and
lift. Remember, the ADA only extends
as far as the U.S. borders. You do not have
its protections in another country.
Q:
Are medical services available?
A: Yes! How good they are I don’t know.
The nurses trained in the Philippines are highly
trained and are presently brought to the US to
fill in our large demand for qualified nurses.
Hospitals can, and cannot be, very good. It could
depend on the doctor who serves you and how big
your pocket book is. Medicines can be very
expensive but doctors and dentist visits are far
cheaper. Some people travel to the Philippines for
eyeglasses and dentists visits. The amount saved
could help offset your trip’s cost.
Q: Can I get assistance at the airport?
A:
Mactan International Airport is accessible for
wheelchair bound persons. Assistance may be
required at other airports. It is advisable to
inform your airline of your needs when booking
your flight. Should any special facilities be
required, you should communicate with the
appropriate Airport. Address your requests. This
will enable airline and airport staff to make
advance arrangements and so cater for your
individual requirements.
Q: Where do I get information for disabled travelers?
A:
For information on barrier-free vacations,
accessible air travel, transportation and
destinations start with the Disability Travel and Recreation Resources
on the Internet.
Cebu, Philippines
Q:
I`ve heard about kidnappings, shootings and
general safety related issues in the media. Is
Cebu safe?
A:
Yes! Much of what you read or hear has been
exaggerated by the media. Visitors will have no
security problems provided they use a little
common sense and avoid leaving valuables around
etc.
Q:
Do I need a valid VISA/Passport?
A: For most foreigners staying up to 21 days,
entry visas are not required upon entering the
country, provided visitors have valid passports
and tickets to leave the Philippines. Visas are
required only for stateless persons and citizens
of countries with which the Philippines has no
diplomatic relations. For visitors who are
planning to stay more than 21 days, for up to 59
days, a temporary visitors visa is required, and
registration with the Commission on Immigration
and Deportation is necessary. Foreigners arriving
from an area infected by plague, typhus or yellow
fever are required to have valid vaccination and
immunization certificates. Holders of Hong Kong
and Taiwan passports need special entry permits.
Visas and permits may be obtained from Philippine
embassies and consulates.
Q:
How much does the average Filipino earn?
A:
The official minimum daily wage rate is 150 Pesos(
US$ 6 ) per day although many workers receive
less, particularly if they lack skills. Skilled
workers can earn a lot more. At the other end of
the scale, there are a number of Filipino
businessmen who are wealthy by International
standards.
Q:
How much will a beer typically cost me?
A:
In Cebu city the price varies according to the
establishment. Most of the Western style bars
charge 25 to 30 Pesos for a 320 ml bottle. In
Moalboal for example a beer typically costs 20
Pesos....this is less than
US$ 1
Q:
Will I have language problems?
A:
No. This is one of the most attractive features.
The Philippines is an English speaking country (in
addition to local dialects). You should have
little difficulty making yourself understood in
English.
Q:
Is the sea warm?
A:
Yes. Average temperature is 79 degrees F ( 26
degrees C).
Q:
I would like to learn how to dive but am not a
particularly strong swimmer. Does this matter?
A:
No. Tthere are places that have helped paras/quads
and others dive. There is no reason why you should
not be able to complete an Open Water diving
course.
Q:
What is a "go-go" or girlie bar?
A: An
establishment where bikini clad girls dance in a
"suggestive" manner to pop/rock music,
usually on a small stage. Customers (invariably
male for obvious reasons) are encouraged to buy
"ladies drinks" for the girls in
exchange for conversation. Ladies drinks can be
expensive...the girl will receive a commission on
each drink she consumes. Many (but not all) of the
girls can be "bar fined" meaning that
the customer pays the bar; in exchange the girl
departs with him before closing time. Additional
services, usually of an intimate nature, are
negotiated directly with the girl.
Q:
Is the water safe to drink?
A:
Best to drink mineral or spring water. I would
stick to bottled water, soda and juice. Beer as
needed.
Q:
Are there undiscovered tribes running around in
the mountains?
A:
No! In fact many visitors are surprised at the
level of sophistication in the Metropolitan Cebu
area, although the rural areas are still fairly
traditional. No "undiscovered" tribes
however.
Q:
What is the predominant religion in the
Philippines?
A:
85% of the population is Roman Catholic.
Q:
What is Filipino food like?
A:
Compared to other South East Asian countries, not
so spicy. Rice and fish are staples for rural
folk. A wide variety of tropical fruits are
available. Mango is a particularly delicious fruit
for which Cebu is famous
Q:
What time does it get dark?
A:
As the Philippines are near the equator, the days
are split evenly; 12 hours of light, 12 hours of
darkness. It gets dark at 6 pm.
Q:
Do I need to take any special precautions against
the sun?
A:
Yes! The sun will burn you quickly.....use liberal
amounts of sun tan lotion and limit your exposure
to direct sunlight, particularly during the first
couple of days. Drinking large amounts of alcohol
at lunchtime does not always mix well with the hot
climate.
Q:
Any tips for communicating with the locals?
A:
Filipinos are very friendly and hospitable by
nature and seek to minimize direct confrontation
where possible. It is considered very bad manners
to shout. If some form of conflict or difficulty
should arise, a smile and patient attitude are
much more effective than a hot temper.
Communication with locally based foreigners can
easily be established via an offer of a free beer.
Q:
Is there an AIDS problem?
A:
Occasional cases have arisen but to date there
does not appear to be an epidemic unlike other
Asian countries such as Thailand. Obviously the
appropriate precautions should be taken if your
sexual activities are "risky".
Q: What is the
largest marine animal which I`m likely to see
while scuba diving in the Cebu area?
A: A whale
shark. A fully grown adult can reach 30 to 45 feet
in length. These magnificent creatures eat
plankton and small fish although the mouth is very
large. Whale sharks have been sighted off Mactan
and several dive sites in the Moalboal area. A few
courageous divers have even hitched a ride on the
back of a whale shark....an experience of a
lifetime.
Q:
What are the toilets/Restrooms like?
A:
In most of the more tourist-oriented
establishments these are OK. The better hotels
have very good toilets. Don`t expect to find any
public toilets however. Some of the toilets in
"native" establishments are pretty
basic. Locally, toilets or rest-rooms are referred
to as "Comfort Rooms", usually
abbreviated to "CR." For males,
answering the call of nature against the nearest
tree or wall is usually OK! Forget looking for
wheelchair accessible CR’s.
Q:
I plan to visit with my husband/boyfriend....need
I worry about all the prostitutes trying to hit on
my partner?
A:
No. Although Cebu has its fair share of
"commercial sex workers" (locally known
as CSW`S), it is very unlikely that a visiting
couple will be hassled. In fact, many couples find
it entertaining to visit a girlie bar purely out
of curiosity.....ignore the signs outside saying
unescorted women not allowed inside; this refers
to local street girls who sometimes try to sneak
inside a bar in the hope of finding
"customers".
Q:
Is there much corruption?
A:
This is a difficult question to answer
objectively. Yes, there is corruption (as there is
in many other South East Asian countries) but it
is not as bad as some reports might suggest. A few
pesos are often useful to grease the wheels,
particularly when dealing with government offices
and departments. If you commit some form of crime
then "opportunities" to buy your way out
of trouble often arise. However, for most visitors
corruption is not highly visible and Cebu is
certainly less corrupt than Manila.
Q:
We are thinking about bringing our young children
with us. Are we likely to encounter difficulties?
A:
No. Filipinos are very fond of children and nearly
all establishments’ welcome families. Powdered
milk, diapers etc. are readily available in most
supermarkets. You could even rent a nanny to help
look after the children during your visit if you
need some extra assistance.
Q:
What is a karaoke bar?
A:
An establishment where the customers sing
songs with a specially produced backing track. In
the more up market establishments there is a video
display to assist with the song lyrics. New
innovations include devices that electronically
rate the vocal performance. Many karaoke bars have
legions of young ladies to assist and entertain
customers; the ladies receive a commission on
drinks which customers are usually obliged to buy
for them. Asians are particularly enthusiastic
about karaoke bars....westerners less so. Warning:
some karaoke bars in Cebu are very expensive; always
check prices first, including
"add-ons" such as table charges etc.
Prolonged exposure to amateur crooners can also
take its toll on the ears after a few hours....
Lastly,
Q. Can you put a link to my page?
A. Sure, as long as it has something of interest
to the disabled community or travelers in general.
I'm not really interested in adding extremely
commercial links such as timeshares and the like.
However, if you have a legitimate commercial page
of interest, such as a hotel with exceptional
access, I would gladly add a link to you. It
does take me awhile to get to this though, so
don't expect it overnight. For those links I
do put in, I would appreciate a link back here
just as a matter of fairness. On the other
hand, if you already have a link to my page that I
don't know about, I would appreciate you letting
me know so I can thank you with a link back.
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