Setting up a bank account in the Philippines as a foreigner has become quite an onerous task. It used to be one simply walked it, provided some identification, some money and opened an account. Now, after the world seems to have been taken over by terrorism, tax cheats, and international drug cartels, banks around the world are becoming more careful about due diligence when it comes to a foreigner wanting to open an account.
Requirements are basically the same at any bank, however if you have been introduced previously to the manager or one of his or her assistants, things tend to go smoother. The Philippines is a country where personal relationships are extremely important when it comes to moving through the bureaucracy of business and government organizations. Read more on opening bank account in the Philippines here.