The Remarkable Rise of the Philippines’ Economy

Sustainable Development Goals in Action

Program Overview

The Philippines, aka the “Pearl of the Orient,” is one of the fastest-growing emerging markets in the world and is projected to have a trillion-dollar economy by 2033. The Philippine economy had one of the highest growth rates among emerging economies in 2022, and according to the IMF, it achieved one of the strongest recoveries in emerging markets following the slowdown due to the pandemic. The country doubled its output from 2010 to 2020, and the World Bank has recognized the Philippines as one of the top growth performers in Southeast Asia, driven by strong exports, robust domestic consumption, and infrastructure expenditures. The country’s growth has been fueled by several factors, including a growing middle class, favorable demographics, and large investments in infrastructure projects. Strong domestic consumption, the rise of outsourced call centers, and remittances (money sent home by overseas workers, which account for 10% of the GDP) are other contributors to the country’s performance. This program focuses on understanding the factors that led to the Philippines’ growth through visits to companies and interactions with business leaders and experts. Students will get an opportunity to learn about the country’s history and economy while also enjoying immersive and fun cultural experiences.

Key Program Elements

  • Engage with companies and business leaders from sectors that play a pivotal role in driving economic growth in the Philippines.

  • Meet and interact with experts, faculty, and students from educational institutions to understand the factors enabling the Philippines’ accelerated economic growth.
  • Visit innovative social enterprises and organizations to gain insight into the social entrepreneurship landscape in the Philippines.

  • Learn about the history and culture of the Philippines through visits to distinctive cultural landmarks and sites.  

Suitable Disciplines

Business

Economics

Industrial & Labor Relations

Entrepreneurship

Leadership

Featured Cultural Experiences

Villa Escudero Philippines

Villa Escudero (Tiaong) Day Tour

Manila City Tour on Bamboo Bikes Philippines

Manila City Tour on Bamboo Bikes

Pagsanjan Falls Tour in Cavinti Philippines

Pagsanjan Falls Tour in Cavinti (Optional)

Barbara’s Heritage Philippines

Welcome Dinner at Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant or similar in Manila

Bayleaf Roofdeck Philippines

Farewell Dinner at Bayleaf Roofdeck or similar in Manila

Active Learning Models

Collaborative Learning

Students are grouped into 3-6 per team; teams are assigned a topic to research, which they present to the rest of the group. Some recommended topics include:

  • About the country: present before departure.
  • About the city: present upon arrival, right after orientation & safety briefing.
  • About individual visits: present before visiting the person/organization.

Problem-Based Learning

Students are grouped into 3-6 per team; each team is presented with a challenge question, identified either by the faculty or by the organizations visited; teams do research and present findings to an audience (including organization if the question was from them).

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Manila

Arrival in Manila and check-in at hotel (on own). Free time to acclimatize to city.

Day 2: Company Visits + Welcome Dinner

Company visits in the morning; Welcome dinner in the evening

Day 3: Company Visits + Free Evening

Company visits followed by free evening.

Day 4: Manila- Tiaong- Manila

Villa Escudero Day Tour (Includes Lunch)

Day 5: Free Day (Manila)

Explore the city on own

Days 6 to 8: Company Visits + Free Evening

Company Visits; Free evenings

Day 9: Manila Cultural Immersion + Farewell Dinner

City cultural immersion followed by farewell dinner in the evening

Day 10: Departure from Manila

Hotel check-out; transfer to airport (on own)

Pricing & Inclusions

*COST: $2520/PERSON

(Twin-sharing for students and single-occupancy for faculty and staff; based on a group size of 20+2)

*Please note that the cost of our programs may vary depending upon several factors, including but not limited to the size of the group, program inclusions, the number of program days and more. Kindly contact us for a customized quote that suits your specific requirements.

Ready To Take Action?

If you are ready to take your study experience to new heights, kindly fill out the “Apply Now” form or submit your enquiry through the “Enquire Now” form. Rest assured, we will promptly reach out to you.