Is it easy to communicate with locals in the Philippines?

[virgincola]

If you're an English-speaker, yes.  Most Filipinos will understand English, although not all can speak it fluently.  The Tagalog, Cebuano and Chavacano dialects have Spanish words in them, so if you're a Spanish speaker, u will catch some familiar phrases.

English: How are you?
Spanish: Como esta?
Tagalog: Kumusta?
Cebuano: Kumusta?
Chavacano: Quetal uste?

If you can speak Filipino phrases, locals will be really really impressed.  If locals call out to you with "Hey Joe!", that's a friendly greeting and there is no need to run!