It is super HOT and HUMID. There is a lot of rain, with the rainy season producing even more. Bring a good rain jacket and make sure bags are waterproof. They wear closed toed sandals such as KEEN or Jambu. There are markets called Sari-sari shops that have a wide variety of local dresses and shoes for really cheap. They only carry smaller sizes, though.
They do their washing outdoors and hang dry, so clothing that is durable and quick drying is preferred.
There are a lot of bugs. Some recommend tree oil to help prevent bug bites.
There is not a lot of toilet paper used in the Philippines. They use bidets. Or they throw away used toilet paper, and do not flush it. Some have said a portable bidet can be helpful.
A portable rechargeable fan is nice for the hot nights.
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Vaccinations for Typhoid and Japanese Encephalitis are recommended. The Typhoid shot lasts only 2 years while the pill form lasts 5 years. The cheapest options mentioned are Costco, GoodRX (request coupon), Walgreens, and County Health Department. You often have to request these vaccines and may have to pay for a travel consult. Ask your doctor to send in a prescription for the vaccinations — some have had insurance cover the cost that way. The MTC covers the cost of the rabies shot.
7 inch Rechargeable Fan. These have been recommended for missionaries serving in Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. They help keep you cooler at night, but also help keep bugs like mosquitos off at night too.
The power goes out frequently, so it is nice to have a solar power fan.
These cedar shoe trees are recommend for wet climates. The cedar pulls moisture out, neutralizes odors, and is a natural bug repellant. It also helps leather shoes keep their form and not wrinkle.
These little soap sheets are so handy to carry around for a quick hand cleaning!
Serve shirts have a ventilation panel in the side of the shirt making them noticeably more breathable. Missionaries serving in hot or humid places absolutely RAVE about this feature. The most popular shirt for hot-climate missions, for sure.