Any Americans here ever go to Maguindanao..

[Jasman0717 9]

Use common sense and do not go to places you should not be you will be fine. I will be going back to the Philippines in around a month hopefully, and most of my time will be spent in Manila, and it makes me very sad. Manila is my least favorite place there. Mindanao was my favorite area, but i knew there places where it was not safe. Hopefully will find a way out of manila for a good portion of the stay there. Place gives me a headache.....

I wouldn't want to go to Manila right now myself. It was clobbered several times by typhoons. Claudeth told me her family saw on TV people living on the roofs of their homes with no relief in sight. ugh!

My sister used explore the northern part of Lazon, maybe that is an answer for getting out of Manila.

[robbie jeannet 5]

Well manila is too big, ozamis is too small, but cebu is just right. my girl is from ozamis and ive been there once, going back for christmas so she can spend time with her family before she flys home with me.{ if she passes interview} but still a little worried about those small towns

[Steve and Nor 0]

Well manila is too big, ozamis is too small, but cebu is just right. my girl is from ozamis and ive been there once, going back for christmas so she can spend time with her family before she flys home with me.{ if she passes interview} but still a little worried about those small towns

Hi Everyone,

I am also from Mindanao. My place is just 55 kilometers away from Davao City. Tagum City ( my place) is a city in the province of Davao del Norte. For me, it is the safest place I could ever be. It is true that there are places which are not safe in Mindanao particularly for foreigners.

My husband likes the mayor of Davao City, needless to say why.hahaha

Though I have lived in Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila ( also safe for me, for I had no experience of untoward events) and now here in Pampanga, I still would love to stay in my hometown.

Metro Manila will give you a headache. hahah. It has full of smoke, actually, smog.

Just arrange for your fiancee to meet you somewhere safe and you will be fine.

[Jasman0717 9]

Well manila is too big, ozamis is too small, but cebu is just right. my girl is from ozamis and ive been there once, going back for christmas so she can spend time with her family before she flys home with me.{ if she passes interview} but still a little worried about those small towns

I like Cebu but the city is more poluted than Cagayan. We had great times there on all our visits.

[tbplayer 0]

My wife lives in Iligan City and I love it there, I also like Cagayan and to be honest I have never felt unsafe there, but at the same time I am very aware of my surroundings. I hope to have a home in Cagayan or Iligan someday.

[Dakine 26]

Nice folks.

Won't be that long before all of Mindanao is "out of bounds" for puti.

To USEM it already is.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-wor...0,7000943.story

Clan scion suspected in massacre in Philippines

As the death toll reaches 57, authorities name Andal Ampatuan Jr. -- son of the provincial governor and a scion of a clan allied with President Arroyo's administration -- as chief suspect.

This unearthed vehicle is believed to be linked to the attack that occurred on the Philippine island of Mindanao, leaving at least 57 people dead. (Rolex Dela Pena / European Pressphoto Agency / November 25, 2009)

Associated Press

November 26, 2009

E-mail Print Share Text Size

Ampatuan, Philippines - Officials found 11 more bodies at the site of an attack on an election caravan in the south, bringing the toll in the massacre to 57, and police said they were investigating a member of a powerful clan allied with the president's administration.

Six of the bodies discovered Wednesday in Maguindanao province on Mindanao island were in a large pit buried beside a sedan and two vans, and five were found in a mass grave a few miles off the main highway.

The vehicles were crushed by a backhoe that ran over and buried them, police said.

The dead from Monday's massacre included the wife and two sisters of gubernatorial candidate Ismael Mangudadatu, as well as 18 Philippine journalists accompanying the caravan. It is the largest number of reporters killed in a single attack anywhere in the world, according to media groups.

Police identified the prime suspect as Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor, son of the provincial governor and a scion of the powerful Ampatuan clan. The clan helped President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her allies win the 2004 presidential and 2007 senatorial elections.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and human rights groups are urging Arroyo to punish the attackers.

Mangudadatu, after receiving death threats, had sent his wife to submit his candidacy to run against Ampatuan, who is in line to succeed his father as Maguindanao governor.

Mangudadatu said he has been told that the convoy was stopped by gunmen loyal to Ampatuan. Police said they were investigating reports that Ampatuan and dozens of policemen were among the gunmen.

Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times

[Señora Bonita 0]

Won't be that long before all of Mindanao is "out of bounds" for puti.

To USEM it already is.

Hey, Haole, what do you mean by that? Do you imply that the American Embassy is off limits to puti?

[George&Hazel 1]

Use common sense and do not go to places you should not be you will be fine. I will be going back to the Philippines in around a month hopefully, and most of my time will be spent in Manila, and it makes me very sad. Manila is my least favorite place there. Mindanao was my favorite area, but i knew there places where it was not safe. Hopefully will find a way out of manila for a good portion of the stay there. Place gives me a headache.....

I wouldn't want to go to Manila right now myself. It was clobbered several times by typhoons. Claudeth told me her family saw on TV people living on the roofs of their homes with no relief in sight. ugh!

My sister used explore the northern part of Lazon, maybe that is an answer for getting out of Manila.

Hazel is in Taguig City. Granted the typhoons damaged her mothers home quite a bit. First water up to the roof, and then another took part of the roof off. By in large at least there things are getting back to normal.

When bought Hazel her engagement ring. It was in metro Manila. Remember the jeweler being concerned where we had parked. I was told that two streets over was filled with thugs that would shoot you on sight if foreigner. Obviously did not test this out to see how true it was, but would bet it was true. Point is there are places that kanos just do not belong.

So far as Ozamis goes. You are safer there than the normal citizens. The mayor makes your safety his number one priority. If someone laid a hand on you there Muslim or Christian. There is a good chance they would be sleeping with the fishes the next day. Literally. Ozamis is one of the safer places to go minus Bohol. Things will be changing in Ozamis after the election, but from what I understand he is grooming his daughter to take over.

Cebu is filled with way too many trying to impose Kano tax for my taste.

Wasn't Northern Lazon hit harder by typhoons? I am looking for an out to be honest, and have been toying with Bohol again. Since we are hoping to fly back together. Have been holding off plans to Bohol. Would prefer something closer to Embassy just in case there are issues.

Edited November 26, 2009 by George&Hazel

[Dakine 26]

Won't be that long before all of Mindanao is "out of bounds" for puti.

To USEM it already is.

Hey, Haole, what do you mean by that? Do you imply that the American Embassy is off limits to puti?

Nope just that the DOS and USEM is making Mindanao off limits to puti.

September 17, 2009

The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago and urges extreme caution if traveling there. This replaces the Travel Warning dated January 29, 2009, to reflect continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities.

Travelers should exercise extreme caution if traveling in the central and western portions of the island of Mindanao, as well as in the islands of the Sulu Archipelago. Regional terrorist groups have carried out bombings resulting in injuries and death. Since August 2008, there have been sporadic clashes between lawless groups and the Philippine Armed Forces in the Mindanao provinces of North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, as well as the Sulu Archipelago. Kidnap-for-ransom gangs are active and have targeted foreigners. U.S. Government employees must seek special permission for travel to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. Travelers to these areas should remain vigilant and avoid congregating in public areas. Some foreigners who reside in or visit Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago hire their own security.

[Jasman0717 9]

Won't be that long before all of Mindanao is "out of bounds" for puti.

To USEM it already is.

Hey, Haole, what do you mean by that? Do you imply that the American Embassy is off limits to puti?

Nope just that the DOS and USEM is making Mindanao off limits to puti.

September 17, 2009

The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago and urges extreme caution if traveling there. This replaces the Travel Warning dated January 29, 2009, to reflect continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities.

Travelers should exercise extreme caution if traveling in the central and western portions of the island of Mindanao, as well as in the islands of the Sulu Archipelago. Regional terrorist groups have carried out bombings resulting in injuries and death. Since August 2008, there have been sporadic clashes between lawless groups and the Philippine Armed Forces in the Mindanao provinces of North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, as well as the Sulu Archipelago. Kidnap-for-ransom gangs are active and have targeted foreigners. U.S. Government employees must seek special permission for travel to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. Travelers to these areas should remain vigilant and avoid congregating in public areas. Some foreigners who reside in or visit Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago hire their own security.

This is nothing new, the State Department has issued this same warning for many, many years now.

[tallcoolone 102]

Won't be that long before all of Mindanao is "out of bounds" for puti.

To USEM it already is.

Hey, Haole, what do you mean by that? Do you imply that the American Embassy is off limits to puti?

Nope just that the DOS and USEM is making Mindanao off limits to puti.

September 17, 2009

The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to the southern Philippine islands of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago and urges extreme caution if traveling there. This replaces the Travel Warning dated January 29, 2009, to reflect continuing threats due to terrorist and insurgent activities.

Travelers should exercise extreme caution if traveling in the central and western portions of the island of Mindanao, as well as in the islands of the Sulu Archipelago. Regional terrorist groups have carried out bombings resulting in injuries and death. Since August 2008, there have been sporadic clashes between lawless groups and the Philippine Armed Forces in the Mindanao provinces of North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, as well as the Sulu Archipelago. Kidnap-for-ransom gangs are active and have targeted foreigners. U.S. Government employees must seek special permission for travel to Mindanao or the Sulu Archipelago. Travelers to these areas should remain vigilant and avoid congregating in public areas. Some foreigners who reside in or visit Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago hire their own security.

This is nothing new, the State Department has issued this same warning for many, many years now.

[Veemer 0]

If it's any indication of the danger level, my wife (who's from southern Negros Oriental) litterally forbids me to travel to Mindanao. It probably doesn't matter, since I'm a U.S. government employee and am thus not allowed to travel there without special permission, and probably wouldn't want to anyway. I won't give you any argument on Manila - it makes Detroit look like a vacation resort. But the thugs in Mindanao make the gangsters over here look like petty criminals.

This being said, kidnappings can and have happened in most parts of the Phils, including Cebu. National Geographic did a "Locked Up Abroad" documentary on an American who was abducted near the docks in Cebu, taken to another island (he never knew where) and held until he was able to escape with the help of one of his captors.

Also, people I've met from Davao seem to think it's a relatively safe place. They do have the occasional bombings, but again, that can happen anywhere in the Phils. The Abus and the NPA have operatives throughout the country.

I went to Maguidanao last April, the place seemed safe but just dont go there around election time, when I went there I told everyone I was Australian just to be on the safe side since I saw many Aussies walking around.

[Lingladyinred19 13]

I'm just curious if any Americans here ever went to Maguindanao to meet their fiance? Since Maguindanao has been really big in the news lately in light of terrorist attacks and kidnappings, I wonder if anyone here actually went there. I personally don't think I'd ever have the balls to go there. Walking around in that place with an American flag shirt would be like swimming in shark infested waters with steaks strapped to your arms and legs. So kudos to anyone who actually went there for their lover!

Hi i am from mindanao from cotabato city, if don't mind where is ur fiance lives in mindanao?? DAVAO is safe.. My hubby visit me there..

since my family is from cotabato city, they meet my hubby at davao city :-)

good luck