how safe is it to travel to manila?

[Guitarlo 2]

I just came back from Butuan City last week and I can't say I was any more nervous than I would be in downtown L.A. Most of my friends were nervous about me going to Mindanao but honestly the people were very nice. Just use common sense and don't make yourself look like a target.

OK this is off topic - You were in Butuan! Hey! send me an email and tell me what's going on. I owned a Dental Clinic there. Been there numerous times. Not many Kano there. email me manager@shawnphillips.com

Happy New Year from Minnesota

[Lancelotte25 1]

Manila is not safe even for the locals, what more for the tourists they become the target for some groups whose living their lives from being swindlers and thieves. To stay safe don't roam around the city if you are not accompany by someone from her family or herself.

DO NOT TRUST ANYONE!! DO NOT TALK TO STRANGERS!! Some individuals are helpful but beware for they might ask for something in return.

Poverty is the main problem in the Philippines and the reason why many people are engaged to perform some activities that they can earn money in easy way.

[gary9891 10]

i want to go visit my girl in mania and her family. how safe is it for americans to visit the philippines? has anyone here recently traveled to the philippines and had any saftey problems? every since she went back home i miss her so much and want to go see her.. but i hear bad things about the philippines.. if u guys have been there can u give me advice. is it ok to travel there will i be ok to travel there?

I have been 4 times (3 to Mindanao and 1 to Manila). Everyone's advice here is SPOT ON. My only addition is to listen to your girl, if she believes an area is unsafe GUESS WHAT.....it probably is! If she says something is wrong GUESS WHAT....it probably is! Your girl has a kind of ESP, she just "knows" if something is wrong.

I will never forget my experience with this. We left the mall and approached a taxi to go back to the hotel. My fiancee (now wife!) quickly jerked me aside as I was reaching for the door handle of the cab. We circled back around and got inside a different taxi. Confused a bit, I went along and later asked her why? She really did not have a reason, there was something just "wrong" with the cab driver; something she did not like.

Just follow her instincts............no John Wayne stuff.

[George and Movi 1]

i want to go visit my girl in mania and her family. how safe is it for americans to visit the philippines? has anyone here recently traveled to the philippines and had any saftey problems? every since she went back home i miss her so much and want to go see her.. but i hear bad things about the philippines.. if u guys have been there can u give me advice. is it ok to travel there will i be ok to travel there?

So you want to visit your girl in "mania." You may get your wish. Just check out the definition of 'mania." [An abnormally elevated mood state characterized by such symptoms as inappropriate elation, increased irritability, severe insomnia, grandiose notions.]

Firstly, your 'inappropriate elation', may be your thoughts just before arriving in Manila. You are entering the fifth most polluted city in the world. The air you breathe may be more deadly than anyone who might have their eye on your wallet.

Secondly, the 'increased irritability' will not take long to set in. This comes after you've become acclimated to the 'elation' of seeing your woman. You now have a chance to get fed up with the various annoyances that come your way. That will pass. Many NEW things to get fed up with will force out becoming focused on the original ones.

The "sever insomnia", in your trip to 'mania', that being all sectors of Manila will find you in need of either a set of foam ear plugs or some real good drugs designed to put-down a bull elephant. (I swear to you, bring those foam ear plugs.)

Cab drivers and jeepney drivers would honk their horn if there was not another existing soul on earth. This blast occurs at intervals of about 10 seconds. Multiply that by the number of Jeepney's within earshot of your hotel room window; well, you get the idea. Add to that, the buzz of thousands of air conditioners, barking dogs and the scourge of the earth, videoke machines with a self-deluded singer at the working end of a microphone, will find you in need of the aforementioned plugs or elephant tranquilizer.

The final part of your visit to 'mania', is your "Grandiose notions."

Regardless of the all consequences, insecurities, threats, cost, bouts with uncontrolled intestinal release, culture shock and language barriers your "Grandiose notions" will still find you wanting to marry your 'Pearl of the Pacific."

Take heed to the others suggestions for staying safe and staying next to those in the know. I don't care if I was visiting a monastery. I do not want to look like a tourist. So, if for no other reason, don't look like a tourist. Though off subject, don't show up looking like a BIG LOSER. Get a haircut. Wear decent clothes.

I live in General Santos City, Mindanao. Movi, the member of this forum, asked me to contribute my thoughts. I can tell you, on Bohol and Panglao, Movi and I have took a motorcycle trip on a Honda 250 Enduro, into the interior of the island of Bohol and the entire circumference of the island of Panglao.

On the island of Mindanao, Movi and I have 4-wheeled up into the mountain villages, where almost none here have gone and only a few have ever heard of. I've ridden my mountain bike a total of about 400 miles; up into the mountains and in places the locals think even they might be kidnapped.

All-in-all, I've made 11 trips to the Philippines. No problems.

I say, if the State Departments of the various nations want to issue alerts for their people to not venture into Mindanao, then issue alerts for their people to not go the cities in the U.S.A. where the murder rate far outstretches ANYTHING you would find here.

If you are killed in Mindanao because you are a U.S. citizen. You are dead. If you are killed in Detroit, U.S.A., because some ghetto fool wants the $5.00 you have in your wallet ... you are dead. Detroit is a hell of a lot more dangerous than here.

Enjoy your stay with your "Pearl of the Pacific."

George

Visit our web site at: www.gracegeneralsantos.org

[Jasman0717 9]

I just came back from Butuan City last week and I can't say I was any more nervous than I would be in downtown L.A. Most of my friends were nervous about me going to Mindanao but honestly the people were very nice. Just use common sense and don't make yourself look like a target.

I never had any problems while on Mindanao even though it seemed the Muslims in Iligan stared at me a lot. All my Filipnio friends from work told me not to go to Mindanao but I found it very comfortable and the people were very friendly and helpful.

[fox fox 5]

don't flash your money around. get yourself a belt that has a hidden zipper compartment and stash some emergency money in there...just in case the worst happens. travel with her or one of her brothers. stay out of luneta park at night. don't over drink and become a victim of assult and robbery. use good judgement

I love manila and I miss it so much since I moved away when i was 12.

oh........if you go into a market area you will not always see prices marked for fruits/veggies or seafoods. i always give my money to my relatives or fiance for them to make the purchases and i physically stay away from them. when it's known that i'm with them, the price goes up.

have fun. if you've got some time..definately plan for a trip to corregidor island. it's sooooo worth it...plan for an overnight trip for the best experience. it's also a nice getaway from manila to spend some one on one time with your fiance without the distractions and noises of the city.

google it. you'll love corregidor especially if you're a military buff.

i know that "I shall return" one day.

[F & J 21]

My husband is in the military and before he first came to visit me in the Philippines, he and other people who were also planning to visit the Philippines during their leave had to go to a briefing regarding the situation in the south. I lived in Pasig City (Metro Manila) so it wasn't a problem - I was born and raised in the Philippines and have never even been anywhere south (Visayas OR Mindanao). The only bad experience my husband had was when we were walking down a sidewalk (from the Shangri-La Plaza mall) - a couple of kids who were probably part of a syndicate were begging for money wouldn't leave us alone. Shangri-La (Mandaluyong) is actually a pretty safe area (it's part of the business district - a lot of big companies are in Ortigas) but there are some poorly lit areas so you have to be aware of your surroundings no matter where you are. Filipinos are generally nice to Americans but there are people who will try to swindle you. My husband can't wait to go back to the Philippines and visit my family again because he had such a great experience everywhere we went. We also told him what to watch out for (what to expect, how much to pay, etc.).

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I agree that Manila is as safe as any city in the world, but I disagree with all the posts saying "don't flash your money around"

First off, no one does that, and second, it wouldn't matter. If you're white or American, they will all think you are rich. And technically compared to them, you are. To them, White means Rich.

[DainandVicky 4]

When I left for Manila in September I had money in a money belt, inconspicous clothes, and a wary look at anyone passing by. I had read too much like what's in this thread OOOH LOOK OUT!

By the days before I left I was wearing whatever I felt like, my money belt was in the hotel safe and my wallet in my back pocket, and I felt extremely comfortable no matter what barangay we entered.

Yes, Manila is a huge city. Bigger than Chicago. Huge. And like any other big city you have to use your head a little bit and not make yourself a target. But I honestly felt safer in Manila than I would in Chicago/ New York/ L.A.

Yes there are people who pickpocket and cell phone theft is fairly common. Never saw any of these issues in my stay but have heard from friends. Just like any big city.

People all around helpful and friendly in my experience.

Yes, it is frustrating when they try to rip you off, especially the taxi drivers. So don't let them. If you get in the cab and you can't see that the meter is running from zero, I feel pity for you. If the driver refuses to start the meter and wants to barter a price that's too high, get out of the cab and take the next one. It's not that difficult. Sometimes it's cheap enough at the bartered price that you'll stay in the cab. Sometimes it's not. Your call. I disagree with letting your honey barter for you, in Manila mostly everyone speaks at least a functional English and you look weak if you let her handle everything. If you get to a point where you're giving up and about to leave the cab let her rattle something at him in Tagalog/ Filipino but otherwise I found I got better deals being the barterer sometimes (a bit more respect than letting your woman do it maybe). Plus it's frustrating the whole "what did he say, what did you say?" when everyone there can speak english anyway. Then it's likely the whole ride in the taxi is going to be them talking in Tagalog and you feeling like an idiot, where if you were the one discussing the fare at least the driver will try to make an effort to speak to you in English and include you in the conversation. Be a man, don't let her handle everything. You'll have a better experience. But yes, definitely listen to her if she says let's not go in this area.

Yes, they will charge a bit more knowing you are the one buying something. So what. It's still 1/4 the cost in the states and you're contributing to helping their economy grow with your tourism. Don't be such a cheapskate. If it's too expensive, go to the next sari-sari there's 100 of them on every block.

Ride a Jeepney. Take a trike. Walk through the wet market in a slum. Experience it.

Bring back a carton of cigarettes, even if you don't smoke. Your friend who is a smoker will love a $6 carton of smokes when they're + $50 here. And bring back a bottle of Lambanog, tastes awful unless it's ice cold but you don't get much of a hangover from it and it's really strong booze.