Greetings Government officials are addressed by their titles such as Senator, Congressman or Director. Otherwise, usual modes of address and levels of politeness are expected. Generally speaking, the Filipinos are more westernized than their other Asian counterparts in most respects, but there is a nice underlay of Malay culture. Unlike a lot of Asian cooking, Filipino cuisine is distinguished by its moderate use of spices. Chinese, Malay, Spanish, Japanese and American influences have all left their mark in a subtle blending of cultures and flavors.
Rice is a staple substance of the Filipino cuisine.
For the less adventurous, there are also European-style restaurants and American fast food. Alcoholic drinks include locally brewed beer and the delicious Philippine rum. The local San Miguel beer is considered one of the best in the world. It is best to attempt to accomplish business objectives in mid-morning or late afternoon. Offices are generally closed on Saturdays and Sundays.