Good Time to Visit

Weather

The Philippines has a tropical climate tempered by constant sea breezes. There are three distinct seasons:

• the hot and mainly dry season from March to May when temperatures range from 20 to 34°C and average monthly rainfall is less than 5 cm;
• the rainy season from June to September, where temperatures range from 24 to 31°C and monthly rainfall may be greater than 40 cm;
• the cool and dry season from October to February, when average temperatures are about 25°C and rainfall varies from 4-20 cm a month.

Typhoons occasionally occur from June to September.

Visitors are advised to bring linens or lightweight clothing, with rainwear from May to November. Warmer clothes may be required for cooler evenings.

More details on Philippine weather may be found in Climate in the Philippines.

Festivals

Dozens of colourful festivals are celebrated in the Philippines each year. The major Muslim festivals and Catholic feast days in honour of patron saints are particularly important days. Chinese New Year is also a big event. Independence Day, on 12 June, is a national holiday celebrated with military parades. In May, processions take place in honour of the Virgin Mary, with young girls in white dresses decorating the statues of Mary with flowers.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Philippines: