Should I wear a jacket on my trip to the Philippines? [closed]

Shopping malls and offices in the Philippines often have the aircon set to "arctic blast", so it's particularly common to see people wear jackets at work.

You're unlikely to need a jacket otherwise unless you're going mountain climbing.

Depending on your personal physiology and where you are coming from, maybe, maybe not. Take one along in checked baggage at least.

It's all about personal acclimatization. Military personnel have to do it all the time. If you are coming from about the 45th parallel, maybe Michigan in the US, or the UK, or Scandinavia, especially in the fall, winter or early spring, then 24°C will seem warm to you, perhaps even hot. No jacket would be necessary.

On the other hand, if you are coming from below the 45th parallel, or somewhere in the warmer climes, during the summer, or even an equatorial locale anytime, then that same temperature will seem cool, or worse.

The first thing you need to ask yourself is, are you "thin-skinned" or "thin-blooded"? Do you need a light sweater around the house when your flat-mates are all in t-shirts? or are you the one who is sweating while others shiver?

The next, even more important thing to consider is how long you will be there. Please realize, no matter where you are coming from, or what general body type or metabolism you have, if you are staying in the Philippines for many days or a few weeks, then sometime during that time you will acclimatize with that weather. You won't notice the humidity as much, and whatever the average temperature is, that will become "normal".

Now you have to return home. I come from Northern Michigan, in the US. I went to Phoenix, Arizona for my honeymoon for three weeks years ago. We left in September. Packed (and wore) light shirts and cotton pants. Had lots of T-shirts and shorts, etc. Perfect for the area and weather. Returned home in early October, and almost had frostbite by the time we got home from the airport. That was a memorable trip (for more reasons than that, but still.)

You are asking whether or not to pack and/or wear a light coat or jacket. Take it. Pack it in your carry on. If you need it, it's there, if not, oh well.

The Philippines have mountains too and in the evening they certainly get chilly. A popular example of this is Baguio, a city 1,400 meters above sea level both of Manila. Wikipedia reports an average low in December of 13°c, which might not be comfortable with shorts in the humid evening.

Most of the country however rarely drops below 20°c, which is a little cold for a local but an European might very well endure.