The Philippines has great health and dental care so if you run into problems you will be well taken care of.
Most travelers will buy bottled water to drink and it is widely available. I don't seem to have a problem with the tap water but why take chances.
The food is usually well cooked and rarely have I met anyone that has a problem with it. One big complaint from westerners is that they miss steak and potatoes and can't fill up just eating rice.
There are many dental clinics in any city and they are quite good. It might be best to get a recommendation from a friend but I have done walk ins and have not been disappointed.
Crowns and implants can be done at low cost as well.
One of my friends had a heat stroke and spent several wonderful days in the hospital attended to by a staff of beautiful young nurses that really do care about the patient.
In most cases however the family members will go along and stay in the room to take care of the feeding and bathing and stuff like that. There is an extra bed in the rooms for the relatives.
My neighbor spent a few days in the hospital last week in Cebu with a leg problem and had to take his girlfriend along to provide the daily care while the hospital provided for the medical needs. It's the way it is done here especially in the provinces (away from the city).
Martin did mention that there were a number of dengue patients in the ward that he was in. That's a fever that you can pick up from mosquitos. For adults it usually leaves you feeling very poorly for a week but for kids and the elderly it can be fatal.
The dengue bearing mosquito is said to be most active at dusk so if it is a concern to you just take precautions such as using bug spray or mosquito coils and wear long pants in the evenings.
Malaria can be an issue but it is rarely a problem in places that tourists frequent. My personal feeling is that loading upon anti-malarials does a lot of harm to your body and might be unnecessary for most. Those medications can make you very sensitive to the sun and can cause nervous problems in others. Use caution.
Western doctors might recommend taking them but most western medical people have no local knowledge about what they are talking about and just covering their behinds after reading a manual.
There are places in southern Mindanao and southern Palawan where it would be a very good idea to use a mosquito net and being careful to avoid bites. Rarely do casual tourists venture into these areas. If you did come down with it, get to the hospital straight away where doctors familiar with this disease will be on it right immediatly.
One common ailment that tourists often get funnily enough is to catch cold from the air conditioning. Many places buses, boats, hotel rooms etc let the ac blast with no way to turn it off and it can make you sick. If taking night buses be sure to take a hat and a jacket because it will get very cold.
Laugh if you will but when you see the Filipinos break out the warm weather gear on those buses you will realize what I am talking about.
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