Is Philippines Safe?

[Neeranam]

Last time I went to there, I was nearly shot. This was in 1993 and we were advised not to take a taxi from the airport as they robbed you.

The went to a hotel in Ermitta and young ladies assaulted me in the street! 

Took the public bus to White Beach, and the first night went to a disco where a German guy was shot in the head for refusing to give a fag to a local.

Nice beaches, more beautiful women than Thailand but is it safe now?

[MajorTom]

I was there first time in 2009 and have probably been 20 times since. Never experienced anything close to that.

Its hard to measure how dangerous a country is but my overall impression is Phillippines is "fairly" safe. Probably a bit more risky than Thailand but not by very much. I have been to certain places in Europe i felt more threatened. And its nothing close to South America.

[BritManToo]

17 hours ago, Neeranam said:

we were advised not to take a taxi from the airport as they robbed you.

Nice beaches, more beautiful women than Thailand but is it safe now?

I always walked from the airport to the bus station.

About 3Km, never any problems.

 

As for the women, same all over Asia, available and reasonably priced.

I found there were a lot of smaller women in PI, had to set a lower weight limit at 38Kg.

[Tanomazu]

I walked in an expensive suit through a major city in Phil, felt odd got a a lot of looks, but no attacks. I would say generally safe. This was in 2016 though.

 

I would agree the women are more beautiful than in Thailand, and an added benefit is that they can speak English, so you can communicate with them easier.

[EVENKEEL]

A few years back at the Blue Rock Resort, Baloy Beach near Subic the foreigner who owned the place was executed by a local while drinking. Guy walks in wearing a MC helmet, shoots and leaves.

[olfu]

Word safe is not applicable anywhere--reasonably safe maybe and sometimes your luck.

[TheFishman1]

I think the food there sucks

[Dazinoz]

I was there a few years back staying in a poorer area of Manila. My friends told me NOT to leave hotel alone and to call one of them if I wanted to go out. One night walking to the local 711 type store I took my phone out of my pocket. My friend quickly said put it away, don't let people see.

 

Also gets a bit concerning when you come back to your hotel on first night and the security guard has a shotgun strapped across his chest and each floor have armed guards at the local mall.

 

But as I said it was a poorer part if Manila.

[EVENKEEL]

4 minutes ago, Dazinoz said:

I was there a few years back staying in a poorer area of Manila. My friends told me NOT to leave hotel alone and to call one of them if I wanted to go out. One night walking to the local 711 type store I took my phone out of my pocket. My friend quickly said put it away, don't let people see.

 

Also gets a bit concerning when you come back to your hotel on first night and the security guard has a shotgun strapped across his chest and each floor have armed guards at the local mall.

 

But as I said it was a poorer part if Manila.

Armed guards is common, not just poor areas.

[Dazinoz]

2 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Armed guards is common, not just poor areas.

Ok. I had only been to the poorer area.

[Meat Pie 47]

18 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I always walked from the airport to the bus station.

About 3Km, never any problems.

 

As for the women, same all over Asia, available and reasonably priced.

I found there were a lot of smaller women in PI, had to set a lower weight limit at 38Kg.

So you class women as goods now, disgusting.

[nickmondo]

the Philippines is a toilet!

Its expensive

The food is disgusting

The women are NOT more beautiful than Thais, and are extremely small generally

Yes, they speak English.

Its much more dangerous than Thailand, just look at the armed guards in the Malls there.

Internet is years behind there also

Power cuts every day, and dont get me started about the Roosters and the Karaoke.

I researched it there thoroughly, visited there also........I will be staying in Thailand.

Not even close to wanting to go there.

And if you think the Thai girls want looking after, its nothing compared to the Fil girl......you inherit the whole family there

 

[nickmondo]

1 hour ago, TheFishman1 said:

I think the food there sucks

saying the food sucks is a compliment.

It is absolutely disgusting

[KarenBravo]

19 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I always walked from the airport to the bus station.

About 3Km, never any problems.

 

As for the women, same all over Asia, available and reasonably priced.

I found there were a lot of smaller women in PI, had to set a lower weight limit at 38Kg.

 

.........and get used to the idea of no divorce.

[bojo]

Just now, nickmondo said:

saying the food sucks is a compliment.

It is absolutely disgusting

I have never tried it, would love to try it, have heard it's awful, there certainly aren't many Filipino restaurants outside of the country worldwide and that speaks volumes.....i find it really hard to imagine that it is sooooh bad, so why is that from an outsiders perspective? What do the Filipinos think of their own food?

[tifino]

3 minutes ago, KarenBravo said:

 

.........and get used to the idea of no divorce.

 not necessarily...   

 - it is She who can never Divorce.

 

Been there done that

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, Dazinoz said:

Also gets a bit concerning when you come back to your hotel on first night and the security guard has a shotgun strapped across his chest and each floor have armed guards at the local mall.

This has always been what prevented me from going... I may or may not be safe in the store, but when I am outside??

[BritManToo]

14 hours ago, nickmondo said:

Its much more dangerous than Thailand, just look at the armed guards in the Malls there.

I even encountered armed guards at breakfast ...........

I always had a great time in The Philippines (and Thailand, China, Vietnam, Cambodia).

50 Peso for a pot of tea at the Blue Rock Beach Resort right on the beach!

 

[whaleboneman]

I've traveled extensively in the Philippines - Cebu, Negros, Bohol, Palawan, Romblon, Mindanao and many smaller islands over the last several years. I never felt unsafe anywhere I went and never had any problems. I'm a beach guy and rarely frequent bars so maybe that's why. Gun-toting security everywhere and most of them are friendly and smiling. The food sucks.

[Skypirate]

Philo gals can answer any immigration questions you have concerning bringing them to your country.  They know more about it than your countries IO's.

 

Was working for an LLC carrier in the Philo's.  Around sunset I was walking with another expat near the Asian Mall in Manila. Armed local police stopped us and told us, "give us what we want, or you come with us".

 

No desire to go back there.  When I hear an expat brag about his life in Philo-land and how hot of a wife he has, I feel great remorse for him.

[MajorTom]

Local cuisine is not very impressive. Street food is horrible. However, no silly taxes on imported foods or wine, so the selection there is far better/more affordable compared to Thailand.

[PeachCH]

45 minutes ago, Skypirate said:

Philo gals can answer any immigration questions you have concerning bringing them to your country.  They know more about it than your countries IO's.

 

Was working for an LLC carrier in the Philo's.  Around sunset I was walking with another expat near the Asian Mall in Manila. Armed local police stopped us and told us, "give us what we want, or you come with us".

 

No desire to go back there.  When I hear an expat brag about his life in Philo-land and how hot of a wife he has, I feel great remorse for him.

 

[PeachCH]

Was living and working in Bangkok from 1992 until 2012. Since then I live in Manila. Is it save? Yes, since Rody took over, no problems at all. People are more friendly than Thais. Immigration absolutely no problems. Covid-19 has also changed life since April 2020. Since then Manila still under Quarantine Modus, night curfew, bars closed. Cases are going down, but not enough vaccines available. Tourist industry is dead. 

[Presnock]

I lived for 8 years in the PI and I personally never experienced any problems.  Though we had numerous warnings as they do have a radical group there that occasionally targets westerners.   Also depending on

where you "hang" out could also be considered dangerous.  I spent most of my free time either playing 

golf or scuba diving - some of the best in the world for both sports.  When we would go scuba diving, the boat owner should us his armory saying that there were pirates occasionally but we never saw any.  Also certain areas, especially in the deep south are considered dangerous for westerners too but I went to Zamboanga and

had no problems playing golf or relaxing on the beach where there were no tourists at all.  Only thing negative about the PI is the local cuisine.  Stick to the fresh seafood and avoid the "special" eggs.  Gorgeous women that speak English well.  Most local people I met were really nice.

[rupert the bear]

ive spent a lotta time in the PI ,poverty aghh the great leveller,i was drugged/robbed there yrs ago but i received the most kindness and hospitality from the people of the philippines,far more than here.in response to being left without a penny to my name a girl took me into her house fed me gave me money and looked after me till i got money sent in,she wouldnt take a penny off me.in the north i have many pilipino friends and they receive me with great hospitality and friendliness its hard to buy a beer and i must insist.it poorer and people have a rough time,the slums of manila where i stayed with that girl....tondo.well enough said but i was as safe as houses,i was worried she says dont worry they know who u r and all i got was smiles and laughs.i feel sorry for the people of the philippines as poverty is grinding there as bad as india but knock em down and they bounce right back up.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

I think the food there sucks

So do the locals... depends what you go for.

[connda]

21 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I always walked from the airport to the bus station.

About 3Km, never any problems.

 

As for the women, same all over Asia, available and reasonably priced.

I found there were a lot of smaller women in PI, had to set a lower weight limit at 38Kg.

Any below that 38Kg limit would probably bust my age limit as well.  If it looks like a 16 year old, it's probably a 13 year old.  So I always gravitated to 40Kg+ and 30 years old +-5 years.  Most 30 year olds have sex drives kicked into high gear and are old enough to know what they are doing.  Olongapo and Subic City (and Barrio Barreta) rocked back in the day.

[connda]

59 minutes ago, Presnock said:

I lived for 8 years in the PI and I personally never experienced any problems.  Though we had numerous warnings as they do have a radical group there that occasionally targets westerners.   Also depending on

where you "hang" out could also be considered dangerous.  I spent most of my free time either playing 

golf or scuba diving - some of the best in the world for both sports.  When we would go scuba diving, the boat owner should us his armory saying that there were pirates occasionally but we never saw any.  Also certain areas, especially in the deep south are considered dangerous for westerners too but I went to Zamboanga and

had no problems playing golf or relaxing on the beach where there were no tourists at all.  Only thing negative about the PI is the local cuisine.  Stick to the fresh seafood and avoid the "special" eggs.  Gorgeous women that speak English well.  Most local people I met were really nice.

Balut (gag).  Kilawin (raw spicy lemon/lime fish) not bad with a few San Miguals.  I like PI food.

[Mac Mickmanus]

9 minutes ago, connda said:

Any below that 38Kg limit would probably bust my age limit as well.  If it looks like a 16 year old, it's probably a 13 year old.  So I always gravitated to 40Kg+ and 30 years old +-5 years.  Most 30 year olds have sex drives kicked into high gear and are old enough to know what they are doing.  Olongapo and Subic City (and Barrio Barreta) rocked back in the day.

 

38 Kilo is the average weight of a 12 year old 

 

[Dazinoz]

10 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

 

38 Kilo is the average weight of a 12 year old 

 

And what ethnic group does that chart apply to?