Traveler Information in Manila

Kosher Food in the Philippines

There are no kosher restaurants in the Philippines other than Chabad Houses.

Kosher Fish list in the Philippines

Kosher Certification in Philippines

www.koshereast.org

Kosher East – Kosher Items Found Locally

Kosher items can be found in many stores including:
Rustans, Cash & Carry, SM, Landmark, Healthy Options, Gaisano, S&R

Products:

Mayonnaise, Oil, Olive oil, Pasta, Olives, Lemon juice, Nature Valley granola bars, Oatmeal, Tomato paste, Peanut butter, Nuts, Baking powder, Baking soda, Soy milk, Almond milk, Rice milk, Soy sauce, Ketchup, Mustard, BBQ sauce, Coffee, Tea, Tofu, Tabasco, Apple sauce, Vinegar and Jam.

All need to be with a Kosher symbol.

Transportation within Manila

The easiest, most convenient, and budget-friendly way to get around Manila is by using the Grab app – the local version of Uber.
The app is in English, user-friendly, and highly recommended.
A ride from the airport to the Chabad House usually costs between 300 to 500 pesos, depending on the time of day, traffic, and weather.

Travel to the Rice Terraces

To visit the famous rice terraces in northern Luzon (such as Banaue or Sagada), you can use the Coda Lines bus company.
They offer comfortable overnight rides from Manila, with air conditioning and sometimes even Wi-Fi.
It’s best to book tickets in advance via their website or travel apps.

Language

Communication in the Philippines is easy – almost everyone speaks fluent English, making it simple to get around, shop, and interact with locals.

Local SIM Cards and Internet

There are two main options for getting a SIM card:

1. Buying at a local store
   You can walk into any telecom booth or store and buy a SIM for about 50 pesos, then load a data package – for example, 400 pesos for 30GB valid for 15 days.
   However, registration is required and involves filling out detailed forms – a process that can take 1–2 hours and may be a bit frustrating.
2. Buying at the airport
   As soon as you exit the airport, you’ll find booths offering SIM cards with data packages from the major providers.
   The basic plan costs around 1000 pesos.
   The entire process takes about 3 minutes, including registration – just bring your passport and payment.
   While this option is more expensive, it’s much quicker and hassle-free.
   Once you’re online, you can easily top up more days or data at much lower rates.Note: Smart tends to be slightly more expensive and has weaker reception in some areas.

Personal Recommendation

If you’re looking to save money – go for the local store option.
But if you want to get connected quickly and smoothly after a long flight, it’s worth spending an extra ~30 shekels (~5–6 USD) at the airport for peace of mind.