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Shopping is best done at home, so please come prepared.
Be prepared for any clothing you wear on the work site to get ruined and dirty. Proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is a requirement for volunteers to wear.
Please pack light - think about what is needed vs. wanted; space on base is tight, and the environmental impact of items left behind after programs is a serious issue in rural communities.
See the following lists for required and recommended items:
Check out the Local Area section, where you will find recommendations on where to shop in Tacloban for certain items.
REQUIRED
REQUIRED
Passport (and/or Photo ID if you are Filipino)
Work Boots - mandatory when working on-site. These should be sturdy work boots or hiking boots. They must be closed-toe. Puncture-proof soles and steel-toe boots are recommended (no Converse or running shoes allowed on site)
Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) - mandatory when working on-site and will be provided if you don't bring your own.
We Highly recommend bringing work gloves especially if you have small hands since it's very hard to find gloves that size in the area.
Dark-lensed safety glasses or goggles. Your eyes can feel a little strained when working in the sun all day.
Earplugs. We will provide the normal orange squishy earplugs for the site, but we recommend bringing either your preferred type or a good quality pair such as those by Howard Leight
Additionally, when departing from your location, your airline may ask you to show the following in order to travel to the Philippines:
Proof of vaccination; this includes a booster shot.
If you don’t have a booster, you must show proof of a negative RT-PCR in order to enter the Philippines, which shouldn't be taken more than two days before your departure date. (Make sure you save your original location departing ticket, some places may ask to see it in order to verify your PCR)
Return ticket to the US or other destination (This is usually asked at the immigration after landing. If you don’t have one, you might be forced to book it ad-hoc. If you’re planning to stay in the Philippines for longer than 30 days, it’s worth purchasing a flexible ticket so that you can change the departure date after the arrival or cancel the ticket).
We recommend checking these requirements regularly since they are being updated frequently. Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have all the correct documentation for travel.
REcommended
REcommended
Mattress and sleeping bag/sheets. We DO NOT provide mattresses, sheets, pillows, etc. We do not provide bedding so you should bring what you need to be comfortable. Sometimes previous volunteers leave items behind, but we can not guarantee it.
Work clothes. We provide short-sleeved work shirts, but you should bring durable and comfy long shorts (knee-length or longer), light pants or leggings.
Long-sleeved shirt for pouring concrete + as protection from mosquitoes
Normal clothes for after work, days off and community events.
Bring light, breathable clothing
No short shorts; the locals have an inappropriate name for them.
Credit/debit card - it might be dangerous to travel around the country with a large amount of money.
But you will still need to withdraw some personal CASH as some places don't take cards. There are not many ATMs in the area around the base, so you will have to withdraw cash when you visit a city. Before your departure, confirm with your bank that you will be traveling so that your transactions are not flagged up as fraudulent.
Personal first aid kit, including any medication, e.g. paracetamol, oral rehydration salts, antidiarrheals, etc.
Power adapter - if needed. Power sockets in the Philippines are type A and B
Small fan - or clip-on for your bed
Lock for luggage - robbery is not an uncommon threat in the Philippines and this can help you stay safe
Water bottle - we provide safe drinking water but for easier accessibility reusable water bottle is preferred.
Mosquito net - This is highly recommended due to the risk of dengue fever in Leyte.
Mosquito repellent - very important!
There are lots of mosquitos and insects but limited supplies in the area, so we encourage everyone to bring their own.
The airport sometimes doesn't allow aerosol cans in checked bags, so you should consider bringing a different form of bug spray.
Personal medication: it can be hard to access in Maasin. Please bring enough for the duration of your stay on the program. Note that shipping to the Philippines may be unreliable.
Due to the threat of Dengue, we recommend the use of acetaminophen over paracetamol.
Vitamins, food supplements, comfort food. - Highly advisable to bring any supplements that you regularly take at home, or any food that will make you feel more at home.
good to have
good to have
Gatorade, Powerade, electrolyte-replacement powder - it is very hot, and the work is intense, so this is very important
Sunscreen/ Small personal Aloe gel/lotion/etc. - SPF 50! This is absolutely necessary to protect yourself from the Filipino sun! It's also how the locals look so young! Protect your skin!
Please be mindful that you will likely spend a lot of time in the ocean, so we recommend bringing reef-safe sunscreen. Some sunscreens are falsely marketed as “reef-friendly” so check the ingredient list! Ingredients to avoid are oxybenzone, octinoxate, oxctocrylene and homosalate but you can learn more here.
Lots of socks (these tend to disappear in a communal living environment)
Personal coffee
It can sometimes be hard to find coffee in the area. There is mainly instant coffee that is very sweet.
A french press for those of you who like a nice cup of coffee in the morning
A travel mug - if you want to drink out of a non plastic vessel we recommend bringing your own mug
Lightweight waterproof rain jacket or sweater for the rare chilly nights
Personal items, toiletries, towel - we don't provide towels
Fan for your bed - battery-powered. It gets really hot in the Philippines.
Sharpie (for marking your belongings) - Sometimes people get items confused with their own or borrow things without asking (if you grew up with siblings, you understand!). It's a good practice to label your items. You can also label it before you leave home.
Personal snacks and drinks such as tea and coffee - It can sometimes be hard to find coffee in the area. There is mainly instant coffee that is very sweet.=
Personal speaker - it always comes in handy, especially on the working site. It's not compulsory, but volunteers are usually happy if they bring it
Tetanus shot + all the necessary vaccinations
You must have Both Covid Vaccines and a Booster in order to enter the Philippines without an RT-PCR
Eye drops and eye wash - we will have basic wye drops and eye wash but you can bring some if you have sensitive eyes or use a lot
Earplugs and a sleep mask
Sunrise will be around 5:00 am when the program starts. If you struggle to sleep with light, we recommend you bring a sleep mask.
If you didn't know, the Karaoke Machine was invented in Japan BUT the Karaoke Sing Along System was invented by a Filipino. That being said, Karaoke is very popular in the area, and sometimes the neighbours will sing late into the night. If you are a sensitive sleeper, we recommend bringing earplugs.
The local roosters also love a good karaoke jam early in the morning.
Backup battery charging pack or Portable solar power charger.
This is recommended, but only bring if you would like. There are constant power outages; they don't last long. The time ranges from 2 minutes to the longest we’ve experienced was almost 3 hours.
Headlamp or flashlight - handy when the lights go off but you can also rely on your phone if you choose to
Sanitary products: Tampons are not widely available in the area. Make sure to bring enough for the duration of your stay if not use a reusable alternative like menstrual cups or period underwear.
Sunhat or umbrella OR umbrella hat if you want to be fancy since it will be the rainy season.
Your face will thank you when you sweat the sunscreen off.
You can also find many sun hats in Maasin if it's something you wish to buy in the country
Sunglasses - It can get pretty bright on hot sunny days.
Swimwear: TACLOBAN is near to some tourist spots like SOHOTON CAVE in Basey Samar, Kandiwata Rock Formation, Kalanggaman Island near Ormoc. Check this link for your Philippine Travel Guide tour highly recommended to check and visit this places Blogs, Travel Guides, Things to Do, Tourist Spots, DIY Itinerary, Hotel Reviews - Pinoy Adventurista: DESTINATIONS.
Sense of humour!
For inspiration on what other volunteers pack for different programs - check out this video!
( Note that program-specific requirements are listed above ).
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