Most Filipinos would love to hear from their relatives or friends from the US. Who won’t? There’s just so much to tell and burning the lines would be one helluvah understatement if you are to make an international call to the Philippines. This is because the Philippines is one of the most eventful places in the world right now. See the news to prove this.

Placing an international call could be a very wallet-pinching endeavor. But this should not always be the case. There are numerous ways to make a long distance call, especially if the destination of your call is the Pearl of the Orient, the Philippines.

Here is a rundown of suggestions on how to make that international call to the Philippines without shelling out much of your hard-earned dollars.

1. Be careful when buying call cards.

Several prepaid phone cards have hidden charges. There could be a connection fee that could be almost tantamount to getting ripped off especially when the card buyer makes a call and either the call is routed to a voice mailbox or to an answering machine. Connection fee deduction is automatically done even when the caller did not say anything yet.

Other phone card hidden charges include service fee, maintenance fee, access number and long talking fee. The expiration date should also be checked.

2. Know what type of phone will receive your call.

It won’t be advisable to make a long distance call to any mobile device. This is because most of overseas carriers implement the “calling party pays” system. The tariff rate of an international wireless phone could be a lot higher compared to a call made to a land-line in the same country.

3. Say no to a telephone operator.

When you choose to be assisted by a telephone operator when placing an international call, you choose to pay considerably more. Whenever possible opt to use a dial-around service or dial direct.

4. Sign up to a prepaid long distance plan.

Various carriers offer this kind of service to those who frequently place long distance calls. Opt for those with flexible programs. These plans work like phone cards but do not have fees and charges associated with prepaid phone cards. They usually have very low domestic and international rates 24/7 and call quality is usually excellent. One more thing about these prepaid plans is the convenience of being able to use them when placing calls from any telephones be it cell phones or public phones.

5. Calling during non-business days or off-peak time will help you save.

Make the most out of these privileges by checking on what your carrier offers. Just make sure that it won’t be too much of an inconvenience to the recipient of your call.

6. Bad connections should be noted.

Bad connections happen and the Philippines is not an exception to this nuisance. When this happens, take note of the time and the number you called. Prepaid calling cards rarely gives you credit for bad connections. But if you made an international call using a standard long distance carrier, or prepaid long distance plans, better check if you could be given credit for that call. They always do.

It would help if you print this info to be always reminded of the Do’s and Don’t's when it comes to making an international call.

With these simple tips, you don’t have to worry when your phone bill arrives.

Finally, here’s the step-by-step process in calling the Philippines.

a. Dial 011, which is the international code

b. Then, key in the Philippines’ country code, which is 63.

c. Now, dial the city area code where your your wife and kids are.

Here are the major cities in the Philippines with their respective city area codes:

Angeles Luzon – 455

Bacolod – 34

Baguio – 74

Cebu – 32

Clarkfield, Pampanga – 45

Dagupan, Pangasinan – 75

Davao – 82

Iloilo – 33

Laguna Province – 49562

Lucena, Luzon – 42

Makati, Luzon – 2

Manila – 2

Ozamiz City – 88

San Fernando, Pampanga – 45

San Fernando, La Union – 72

San Pablo – 49

Subic, Zambales – 47

Tarlac – 452

Tarlac Province – 45

Zamboanga – 62

d. Finally, dial the remaining digits.

Also, don’t forget to greet your Filipino friend using her native lingo. “Kumusta”, pronounced as “cooh-moose-TAH” surely will never fail to make her smile.

The award-winning TV host, journalist, now top legislator, international environmental advocate and vice-presidential candidate said in Tagalog: “This special day of my life I share with you my kababayan of San Pablo City and Laguna province, not only as a celebration but more as a day of public service. My whole life I have dedicated to public service and to hopes of helping change our nation with dynamic socio-economic reforms. Thank you for sharing my dream of a better, more green and progressive Philippine society.”

This special day of my life I share with you my kababayan of San Pablo City and Laguna province, not only as a celebration but more as a day of public service. My whole life I have dedicated to public service and to hopes of helping change our nation with dynamic socio-economic reforms. Thank you for sharing my dream of a better, more green and progressive Philippine society.

The senator also announced that her bill on additional benefits for senior citizens was recently passed. It shall exempt senior citizens from VAT. Loren is the principal author along with Sen. Pia Cayetano. Old residents of San Pablo fondly remember Loren’s late great-grandfather Potenciano Cabrera who once served as mayor of this city famous for its beautiful seven lakes and buko pie.

Apart from the endless stream of many thousand ordinary people from students, housewives, farmers, teachers, tricycle and jeepney drivers, workers, OFW relatives and even senior citizens shaking her hand or kissing her like a movie star, Loren was greeted by many governors, mayors, barangay captains and other leaders of southern Luzon and other regions. Among the leaders who joined Loren’s People’s Day birthday included Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Manny Villar, her Nationalist People’s Coalition president, the 87-year-old Frisco San Juan and former TV host and now Nacionalista senatorial bet Gilbert Remulla.

If we continue working together after June this year, I think we’ll see further advances for the country

He also said it will be to the country’s advantage if the next administration continues implementing policies President Arroyo instituted and which proved useful in boosting development nationwide. These policies include fiscal reforms that enabled the Philippines to register positive economic growth despite the international financial crisis to create jobs and to generate record-level international reserves of about USD45 billion, he noted. President Arroyo will end her term in June with a legacy of sustained economic growth during the past nine years. Saludo pointed out she achieved this record feat despite onslaught of the international financial crisis, threats to her administration, terrorist attacks, natural calamities and other problems. No Philippine president was able to achieve this feat yet, he noted. “It’s not a small achievement,” he said.

It’s not a small achievement

Malacañang also credits such achievement to cooperation of people who helped the Arroyo administration move the country forward. “The President isn’t claiming sole credit for the achievements made,” Saludo clarified.

The President isn’t claiming sole credit for the achievements made

He said Mrs. Arroyo provided the needed leadership while other people extended their help to her so the country was able to post socio-economic gains. Earlier, Saludo said government projects the country’s economy to grow between 2.6 percent and 3.6 percent in 2010. He noted the former projection is even conservative as international rating agencies see the economy as growing by over three percent this year. (PNA)

SOURCE: gov.ph