El Ni o, the climatic system which has wrought periodic havoc upon the Philippines, then worsened the situation still further. Although the Philippines was one of the countries most affected by the 1997 Asian financial crisis, it has since recovered well - a reflection of the increasingly robust nature of the economy. Although there remains the threat of political instability, the economy is in reasonably good shape. The country has a trade surplus with most of its major trading partners, including the USA, the UK and The Netherlands. The weather is almost uniformly warm and humid and so short-sleeved shirts, preferably with a tie, can be worn for business visits.
Prior appointments are necessary and it is customary to exchange business cards.
Filipinos have an American business style and English is widely spoken. May. Unless one has urgent business matters to attend to, business visits around Christmas and Easter are not recommended as delays tend to be unavoidable. Some private sector offices are open 0800-1200 Saturday. It has offices in New York, Sydney and Tokyo.