The Philippines missions are VERY hot, humid, rainy, and involve LOTS of walking. Expect to sweat a lot.
Wear, lightweight, thin, quick-drying, moisture wicking clothing. Many areas require hand washing and line drying, so durable, fast drying clothing is best. There are local vendors that can make clothing for both Elders and Sisters for cheap in fabrics that fit the area. For Sisters: Loose flowy dresses work better to keep cool.
You take off shoes when entering homes in the Philippines, so shoes that allow easy transition of on-off are best. There are shoes sold in the Philippines called "Easy Softs" that are completely waterproof and work really well for the climate there. Other missionaries like KEEN sandals or crocs- things made of rubber do well in the rain and mud. They wear a nicer pair for church and meetings. You do wear out shoes in the Philippines, they are walking missions.
Bring a waterproof bag.
A rechargeable fan is wonderful for hot nights and to keep mosquitos away.
Hard shell suitcases work better here because of the rain.
While apartments have filtered water, a good filtration water bottle is helpful too.
Bring good mosquito repellant.
While they do have toilet paper in the Philippines, they do not have them in public restrooms. They have a hand held spray they call a "bum gun" or a small bucket and dipper called "tabo" for washing yourself. They do not flush toilet paper if it is used, but throw it away in the garbage. It is very handy to carry tissues or wet wipes for bathroom use.
Because of the humidity, there isn't really a need for hair dryers, straighteners or very much, if any, makeup. Your hair will be frizzy and makeup just melts off in the heat.
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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.