A few weeks ago somebody asked me to write about how to dress up here in the Philippines.
For me for my everyday wear when I go out I usually wear jeans and shirt and a decent shoes. To go to the beach of course I would wear shorts and a shirt and sandals. If you go for a nice dinner to a nice place here you have to wear semi-formal clothing and nice shoes. Some places here won’t allow people inside the premises if their wearing shorts and sandals. They even have a big sign outside the door. I know some people got offended if you wear shorts to hang out in a nice place, they feel you are insulting the place and most of all the people. All of you ladies know that here in the Philippines in every city we wear clothes differently. In Manila its more liberated than in the provinces, nothing wrong with that. It’s just different to the eyes of other people in other provinces. In the provinces we wear clothes more conservatively than other big cities, nothing wrong with that too.
Like last week we went to Tugaya, Lanao del Sur, our guide asked us to wear a kumbong over our head. Don’t wear a sleeveless shirt. I simply obeyed and followed because in that side of the country it’s 99% Muslim. I respect their culture. I’m a tourist there too. To that lady that ask me what would she wear in going to Lake Sebu? You can wear shorts, jeans or the other native skirt that looks like malong.
For me you can wear anything you want that you feel you’re comfortable of wearing. Especially because the temperature is hot here.
Hi Feyma. Simplicity is the key to dressing up in the Philippines. It serves many purposes. It's easy pick what to wear (usually jeans and t-shirt), comfortable, cheaper, and it doesn't attract too much attention to oneself. Afterall, there are more financially strapped than well-to-do people in the Philippines. One certainly don't want to attract too much attention. If the person is in Makati or in Boracay, it's o.k. to be lavish in fashion. Otherwise, it's always safe to downplay one's outfit. Till next time….
Thanks Feyma! That's pretty much what I thought, but I know I got some strange looks (and comments, from what my Filipina friends told me) because I dressed for comfort when I was in Los Banos and usually looked pretty sloppy!
Hi Juliius- I agree with you.
Hi Elisa- Some people here thinks differently than we do. For myself I like to wear jeans and shirt. I like simple clothes and comfortable.
Thanks for the info: Well, I tell you my story,it is stupid and embarrassing: I bought a piece of land in Davao City, I went to there office to pay it, the security guard stop me because I am wearing t-shirt & short,boy I did not realize that they have dress code ( Well I look stupid) but hey I want to be comfortable and besides it was hot then that was march of this year. Oh well, they let me in. But I said sorry to them.
Hello, there Feyma,
My story, I've lived in the US 37 years. I was a young teenager, when I left the Phil. I have been wanting to come back to visit, but I have been told, that $5,000.00 to spend in the Phil was nothing, I need to save at least $10,000.00 (I just could not save that much money) So visiting the Philippines, was no longer a priority. Until, the year 2000, I became
more computer savvy, and the internet help a lot. So in the 2006, I visited the Philippines, I went to Laoag, Manila, Bohol and Cebu.
After the Phil tour, I visited my relatives and friends, some of them wanted me to buy their dilapidated houses for 4 million pesos, I just said NO, I am sorry, but I do not have that kind of money, they didnt believe me of course. The lesson to this is, once you have been in the states that long, some people just think, you have a lot of money to burn and
waste. I still love the Philippines and wish I can go back and eventually
retire there. Sincerely Angela
PS. Enjoyed reading your articles!!