Manila too dangerous for my fiancee to stay there...

[lierre 224]

Better if you bring her to Manila with someone with her. Preferably one who has been to Manila.

What is the plan for her accommodations? Rent a unit near the embassy. There are lots for short-term leasing there. How long will she stay there anyway?

[KKJJ 16]

fly her back and forth so she will get used to traveling alone, explore and learn.

[Emmysaur 29]

I was texting with my finacee this morning and she told me that her family is very concerned about her safety if she stays in Manila for several weeks before getting on the plane for the US. We will be chatting about it online tonight my time to discuss it further.

She's never been to Manila and her family is really worried. Our plan is for her to make her permanent move once she leaves Mindanao and to stay in Manila until departure. It could take 3-4 weeks to get the medical, have the interview and wait for deliveries.

I texted her this morning that obviously hundreds, if not thousands of females stay there during this process without issue. But, I do know that these lone females need to be extra careful and to not go out at night.

Being 10,000 miles away makes it tough for me to help. Any suggestions?

It's normal for her family to worry about her safety. I myself, have never been to Manila(well, I've been but only inside the airport) and I don't think I wanna stay there for few weeks alone.

Can you have someone accompany her? Perhaps a family member, a friend, or a relative who isn't working.

[StraightShooter 62]

She may have a tough time in Manila unless she speaks Tagalog without an accent. I bet her family just wants her to spend her remaining time with them, and she does have a despebida party to plan that will include all the relatives and neighbors.

She doesn’t speak Tagalog but understands some of it, I believe. She’s completely fluent in English, better than many Americans. She speaks 3 other languages as well. Her native tongue is Visayan.

This isn’t about her family and a party, it’s about her safety in Manila.

You should probably join her if you want her to stay in Manila.

Not an option.

I'd try to let her spend as much time as possible with family before she leaves. Keep her near the embassy and she should be fine in Manila. Where does she live in Mindanao that you're so worried? Much of it is very safe, other areas I wouldn't let my wife travel to.

Her family and I are concerned about her stay in Manila, that’s the topic. She has to stay there for 3-5 weeks depending on how long deliveries take. She also will have her young son with her.

Depending on how much you want to spend, you can easily put her in a safe place. But hotels in Manila are expensive, like $50 US for a decent place.

In Malate there are several that are fine, City Gardens, Cherry Clossom, Best Western La Corona. That area is poor, but lots of tourist and I never felt unsafe there. Makati is even more safe, but more expensive. The A-Venue Suites is my favorite place there. Nice rooms, and not too expensive $65 a night or so.

But she will be fine. If she can't speak Tagalog, she can speak english some there, right?

Yeah, we've been pricing things and the costs are quite high, relatively speaking and are probitive. We did find several very affordable places on sulit.com but we don't know where they are relative to everything else.

Her English is outstanding.

Quit being so cheap and fly her back and forth. So she can maximize her time with her family before flying to the US.

Insults? Hmmm...

[B_J 2,752]

Is there a reason for having her stay in Manila instead of going back home. Wouldn't she rather spend time with her family instead of being alone in Manila?

[StraightShooter 62]

manila is not dangerous ... I'm living alone here in manila without family . nothing happened to me as long as u don't go out late at night u will be fine.

I’m not concerned about me. I’m in America.

First thing when she arrives in Manila Airport.

- Tell her to take the OFFICIAL YELLOW AIRPORT CAB, watch for transportation and taxi signs and then for a line of the yellow airport taxis. The taxi stand worker will ask where you are going and assign you a taxi. These taxis are in good condition. The flag down rate for these taxis is P70, whereas an ordinary taxi is P40. The rate per kilometer is also higher. In total, you pay about twice as much as you would taking an ordinary taxi. Taking a yellow airport taxi to Ermita will cost 200-400 but will take you to your destination safely and honestly. versus ordinary taxi which can trick you up with meter and the place especially when your new in Manila.

PLACE/HOTELS

http://hotelsoriente.com/at 545 Bocobo Street (corner of Flores) offers spacious rooms for P1,700 (about $40USD). The hotel is well maintained and safe. Just Two Blocks away from U.S. Embassy and a few steps away from SLEC. It’s a short walk to the huge Robinson’s Place mall as well.

- I can help you walk her through directions in Manila but only thru text I'm still in the PI cuz also waiting for my go signal. =)

Thanks! I’ll be sure to point out your reply when she reads this thread.

As others posted, Manila is only as dangerous as one wants to venture off the beaten path. There are dorms near both St. Lukes and the Embassy that she can stay in cheap, like 2000-3000 for a month. Many people going to Manila for Visas stay in the dorms especially ones that had issues with medical and need to have treatments. I suggest looking on Craigslist Manila for the types of rooms available.

Why not have one of her family members accompany her? Or send her on a boat back to her island between Interview and Visa. I actually enjoy Manila as it is just a large city. She will be fine as long as she speak tagalog.

Good luck

We've seen some ads with rates as low as P5,000 for a month in what looks like a safe apartment but neither of us has a clue about where they're located. Having a family member "go with" is not an option, nor is returning her back home.

She doesn't speak Tagalog.

Thanks for the tip about Craigslist... I didn't even know it existed there. Duh.

your fiance has never been to US and the family arent worried. They shouldnt be worried because manila still in the philippines and she can talk to everybody there. Knowing our kababayans, everyone will be accomodating in any questions.

I bet she has friends or other girls from mindanao that can help her in manila.

Rent an apartment for her and the family can also come.

if my friends in Manila dont have work, they are willing to help her.

Goodluck!

Her family isn’t worried about her coming to the US because they know ME and where I live and how absolutely safe it is here. She has no friends who know anyone or anything about Manila. And yes, we’re looking for an apartment but don’t know where the safe areas are located. We see what appear to be great prices and what LOOK like safe places, but we just don’t know.

Better if you bring her to Manila with someone with her. Preferably one who has been to Manila. What is the plan for her accommodations? Rent a unit near the embassy. There are lots for short-term leasing there. How long will she stay there anyway?

Bringing someone with her is not an option. We’re trying to figure out accommodations now. She will probably have to stay anywhere from 3 – 5 weeks, depending on delivery times from SLEC to USEM and for visa delivery. Plus another week or so after that.

fly her back and forth so she will get used to traveling alone, explore and learn.

Not an option. And she’s a grown woman with a young child, not some teeny-bopper who needs her hand held while traveling. It isn’t about exploring, it’s about being safe until she departs for the US.

[Marizhell 11]

I was texting with my finacee this morning and she told me that her family is very concerned about her safety if she stays in Manila for several weeks before getting on the plane for the US. We will be chatting about it online tonight my time to discuss it further.

She's never been to Manila and her family is really worried. Our plan is for her to make her permanent move once she leaves Mindanao and to stay in Manila until departure. It could take 3-4 weeks to get the medical, have the interview and wait for deliveries.

I texted her this morning that obviously hundreds, if not thousands of females stay there during this process without issue. But, I do know that these lone females need to be extra careful and to not go out at night.

Being 10,000 miles away makes it tough for me to help. Any suggestions?

the only thing I could suggest being a filipina as well would be let her be with the ladies of the same situation, I mean there are some group of Filipinas from Mindanao wo are going thru the same process...tell her to email me and I'll try to find ladies from mindanao staying in Manila who is also under going the same process...here is my email mhrzl_mt@yahoo.com

[lierre 224]

Bringing someone with her is not an option. We’re trying to figure out accommodations now. She will probably have to stay anywhere from 3 – 5 weeks, depending on delivery times from SLEC to USEM and for visa delivery. Plus another week or so after that.

A month is a long time. You can get good deals on short-term leasing of condo units/apartments.

Does she know of anyone who is currently in Manila? I suggest she asks that person to check out units for her in Robinsons Place Residences or other units in the vicinity of Robinsons Place Manila. Why am I suggesting this? It's near or on top of a mall (depends on which building) and the US Embassy is just a 3-4 blocks away.

For feedback on hotels, use tripadvisor.com. And for knowing how far places are, I suggest using Google Maps.

I live in Manila City, but I've travelled to many countries... on my own. As long as you all do good research, she won't have much to fear about being alone (well, technically, with a kid).

[Caryh 5,206]

I just wanted to mention there's some groups on facebook where Filipinas help each other through this process. My wife is a member of some of them. If she wants to connect up with them on FB, I'm sure some can give advice on the areas you've found rentals in. She could also likely have new friends to meet while she's there. If you can swing the cost though, I'd seriously recommend she brings someone from her family with while she spends that time in Manila. My wife went back and forth, but still brought her sister and niece with when she was flying to the USA. They spent a few last days together in Manila before my wife came here. Luckily she had a friend who was living in Manila to visit and get tips from on earlier trips in the process. Amazing how fast all those back and forth trips run up the costs.

[thinkerlove0212 158]

I was texting with my finacee this morning and she told me that her family is very concerned about her safety if she stays in Manila for several weeks before getting on the plane for the US. We will be chatting about it online tonight my time to discuss it further.

She's never been to Manila and her family is really worried. Our plan is for her to make her permanent move once she leaves Mindanao and to stay in Manila until departure. It could take 3-4 weeks to get the medical, have the interview and wait for deliveries.

I texted her this morning that obviously hundreds, if not thousands of females stay there during this process without issue. But, I do know that these lone females need to be extra careful and to not go out at night.

Being 10,000 miles away makes it tough for me to help. Any suggestions?

It is not that bad about manila, She just needs to be aware the people she talk and don't trust other people. There is a place in ermita,manila where she can stay so its near to medical, embassy and CFO...

Good-luck....

[Tahoma 2,292]

She'll be fine in Ermita...and close to everything too.

[mrsean 4]

She doesn’t speak Tagalog but understands some of it, I believe. She’s completely fluent in English, better than many Americans. She speaks 3 other languages as well. Her native tongue is Visayan.

This isn’t about her family and a party, it’s about her safety in Manila.

she has to know tagalog that is her national language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!bisaya is her dialect i am from mindanao and have family from all over mindanao,i dont think you understand what she said to you!

Not an option.

Her family and I are concerned about her stay in Manila, that’s the topic. She has to stay there for 3-5 weeks depending on how long deliveries take. She also will have her young son with her.

Yeah, we've been pricing things and the costs are quite high, relatively speaking and are probitive. We did find several very affordable places on sulit.com but we don't know where they are relative to everything else.

Her English is outstanding.

Insults? Hmmm...

[abner137 48]

We have no idea of where a decent residential area is in Manila. That is the point.

We know about Mindanao and your assumption that she is “safe” there is incorrect. It too, is a very dangerous place. She's had some close calls there. But now we have to deal with Manila. Just because she’s survived in Mindanao in areas she knows well, doesn’t mean that she’ll be able to avoid danger in a strange town on another island 600 miles away.

She doesn’t know anyone in Manila. There is no trusted friend to help. There MAY be a young distant cousin who is in the Army and apparently stationed in Manila, but the information is vague and his mother just passed away, so she's trying to gather more data to see if he could actually help.

As far as Manila....it's a big city, common sense goes a long way. If you can't be there and no relative can travel with her, just get a hotel near the embassy and use the cabs through them....Mindanao....that is kind of vague....everyone knows where the problems are in the west, I've never felt threatened anywhere on the island...stop giving the south a bad rap...

Good Luck and Congratulations!!!

[Mogambi 96]

In Manila I almost never found myself in a place where everyone I was dealing with didn't speak enough english to get by. So I wouldn't worry about that.

Without diving in too far, can I ask why she has to 'stay' in Manila? The medical takes two days, she'd have to stay overnight. But couldn't she return home, and then just go to Manila for the interview? Seems weird that she has to stay in Manila for a month. Many people just travel there as they need.

[A and T 82]

I'm an expat living in Manila over a year, what they are telling you is nonsense. Manila is fine, unless you are sending her to stay in a slums . I dont speak tagalog and I get around just fine.

Edited June 6, 2012 by Adam and Thet