Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Thing is, there's so many other countries to go, better most likely

No doubt there's better, but still it would be a fun week. Fly into Clark AF, AC is nearby, Subic area is just a taxi ride away.

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

1. The entire country is like one big Tijuana. It is depressing. Very little landscaping in the homes, even nice homes are ugly, and have barbed wire, and glass topped walls everywhere you look.

2. The security situation is not very good. You always have to keep your eyes open, keep an eye on your back, and beware of robbery, home theft, and violence. It is rampant. I have many friends who live there, and they all say the same thing.

3. If you do get into an altercation with a Philippine man, or are getting robbed or harassed, unless you are a 6th degree sensei, do not fight back. An astonishing number of locals are well trained in the fighting arts. Many are good with sticks, knives, blades or any sort, and their hands, fists and feet. I have a friend who is a world class security consultant. He is a black belt in a few different martial arts. He says he can usually fight his way out of a gang of men, nearly anywhere in the world. Except in the PI. That is the only country he will NOT take an assignment. The average guys there, can take down the average Westerner in five seconds. In Thailand few have those kinds of skills. Very few.

4. The food sucks. The only other country I can think of with worse food, is Cuba. Granted, if you are willing to spend the money, you can find good food. But, it is not the general rule, as it is here. Also, the access to fresh fruits and vegetables is pathetic compared to Thailand. Very low quality, and often not fresh. Thailand is a paradise by comparison, when it comes to all things related to food.

5. Pollution. They use a lower grade of diesel. So, there is alot of soot in the air. The PI has an epidemic of lung diseases and respiratory diseases. Even on many of the populated islands. The hospitals are full of people who are having a very hard time breathing. It is a real issue there. Lung disease is at an epidemic level, though the authorities do not like to talk about it, and publish very little information on it.

6. Aesthetics. The average house you would rent, looks like a slum. Tall walls, with barbed wire, to keep out intruders. And they just do not pay attention to landscaping and gardens like the Thai people do. So, most neighborhoods are fabulously ugly. Alot of slums in the big cities, and just not physically appealing.

7. Renting. There is a vastly lower number of rental units available, few are as nice as what you can find in Thailand, and it is almost always more expensive, with the possible exception of Central Bangkok. You just cannot find the studio apartments like the ones available all over Hua Hin, for 6,000 to 8,000 baht a month. That does not exist there.

8. Infrastructure. The entire country lacks the infrastructure you have here in Thailand. As I am typing now, I am enjoying a 1GB download speed, and a 700MB upload speed, all on fiber optic cable, for 800 baht a month. Unheard of in many countries, including the US! Triple the cost there. No sky train network anywhere near comparable to Bangkok. No MRT network either. They have one under construction, and it will be limited to ten stations.

Shall I go on? I could. As far as I am concerned, the only reason to live there is the women, and a slightly more cooperative, and far less xenophobic and racist government.

5 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Yes I want to go to the Philippines to learn with Masters of Filipino knife fighting

I believe at my age trying to defend myself without weapons is very difficult especially if a gang attacks you

I need to learn !!!!

Oh yes that will help you. I think going to learn from these guys would be better !

That guy got what he deserved with some of the things he was doing trying to get views. There are plenty of good reasons not to go to the PI. Pretending that's one of them is hilarious.

18 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Can you believe it's 3 hours away from Bangkok

Jump on a plane one Sunday morning from BKK and go there for the day !!!

You only need a day ,come back to BKK Sunday night

Absolutely shocking place you will see the difference

So you judged the entire country based on visiting Manila for the day. You went to the worst place in the entire country for the day.

Having said that, there are clean and peaceful places to visit, even in the NCR region. Try visiting Quezon City next time you go for the day. You'll find cleaner and quieter streets than in Bangkok. If you like, I can recommend a good hotel in very quiet streets, close to a shopping mall.

58 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

So you judged the entire country based on visiting Manila for the day. You went to the worst place in the entire country for the day.

Could be, but that's not the way I read it. The OP doesn't say he went for only one day, but rather is merely pointing out that it's a possibility to do so because of the close proximity.

On 1/13/2026 at 5:05 PM, FolkGuitar said:

People were always friendly, prices fine, plenty to see and do, but the food sucks!

Worked as a cafeteria cook for a while, we'd have ethnic days (corned beef for St Patty's, etc) and they had a Filipino day. The regular workers brought in friends to make certain dishes. One thing was basically pig liver and peanut butter ground into a paste, godawful stink to it. Threw it away, immediately sealed in plastic and down the shoot. Next day when I arrived at work they're running up to me when I arrived "where is the sauce?" It turns out they made a lot more of it than was needed so they could take it home, and I squelched the plan. I was afraid I'd end up like Magellan.

9 hours ago, JensenZ said:

So you judged the entire country based on visiting Manila for the day. You went to the worst place in the entire country for the day.

Having said that, there are clean and peaceful places to visit, even in the NCR region. Try visiting Quezon City next time you go for the day. You'll find cleaner and quieter streets than in Bangkok. If you like, I can recommend a good hotel in very quiet streets, close to a shopping mall.

Oh there's no need for racism !

On 1/14/2026 at 5:33 PM, norsurin said:

True.I been working in 43 countries and never had any problems with the locals.

But some people have problems wherever they go.Its all about behavior and how u talk and acting against people.Be friendly with an open mind is a good start.

.

Exactly,yet you bluntly refuse to walk through City parks at night

I have been nearly brutally attacked 3 times in 2025 , actually was attacked in Lopburi in March 2025 where I had to call my local member of parliament back in Australia to get action done where finally I spoke to a detective that night in Lopburi

and once nearly in Pattaya by a ladyboy up near that thappraya Rd and once in a city park at night in Australia when I decided to take a shortcut at 1am only to be stared at by homeless people and rang the Police only to be abused and spoken to in a condescending way asking me over & over "what did they actually do to you other than stare at you ????

I was frightened head down trying not to look at these dirty dangerous people

So please enter the real world !!!!!

On 1/15/2026 at 9:34 PM, georgegeorgia said:

I have been nearly brutally attacked 3 times in 2025 , actually was attacked in Lopburi in March 2025 where I had to call my local member of parliament back in Australia to get action done where finally I spoke to a detective that night in Lopburi

Those monkeys are vicious.