This paper describes the clinical profile and aetiology of bacterial meningitis in infants and children less than 5 y old admitted to a rural general hospital in the Philippines. A total of 989 infants and children 0-59 months old with suspected meningitis using a standardized guideline based on clinical signs and symptoms were prospectively enrolled from April 1994 to May 2000. Blood and CSF were drawn on admission for culture, antigen testing and cell count. All had blood cultures and 623 (63%) had CSF samples. Bacterial aetiology was found in 54 (5%). The most common bacterial pathogens were H. influenzae type b (Hib) (20, 37%) and S. pneumoniae (Pnc) (10, 18%). All of the Hib infections and 8 (80%) Pnc infections were in infants less than 1 y old. 12 (22%) of the subjects with bacterial meningitis died. All strains of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae were sensitive to chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole and ampicillin. In conclusion, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae type b are the most common aetiological agents of bacterial meningitis in a rural area in the Philippines, and occur especially in infants less than 1 y old. Aetiological agents were susceptible to the currently recommended antimicrobial agents.