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[Talako 785]

23 hours ago, Mike V said:

I spent most of my last visit there (Cebu) hunkered down in our hotel room...

I find that ridiculous.  Life is tough and unenjoyable being that timid and afraid. 

[Mike V 56]

Just now, Talako said:

I find that ridiculous.  Life is tough and unenjoyable being that timid and afraid. 

I consider it prudent.  Philippine society is sinking into a murderous abyss with no end in sight.  In the news the last couple days:

• "War on drugs" makes Philippines fourth most dangerous country -- report
• Think tank:  Philippines one most dangeous places for civilians

[Falcon Cara 378]

11 hours ago, Mike V said:

 

Last time I checked, murder was still illegal in the Philippines.  Having someone executed, whether one person or thousands,  without due process is a crime in the Philippines and a crime against humanity internationally.  Period.

 

The argument that "it was actually a great crime deterrent" is irrelevant.  You cannot do good by doing evil.  Better known as "consequentialism", that is considered a moral fallacy by the Catholic Church (80% of the Philippines) and by most -- if not all -- other churches as well.

 

https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2013/06/19/the-most-popular-moral-heresy-in-the-world/

It's their country not mine, I don't get too involved in their politics and pretty much stay out discussion about Philippines especially when I am there.

 

I just sit back and pretty much observe what goes on and listen

[Falcon Cara 378]

9 hours ago, Talako said:

I find that ridiculous.  Life is tough and unenjoyable being that timid and afraid. 

Seems to take all the fun out of going to Philippines.

 

I have always had a great time in Cebu.  The place has so many expats living in the area.  So many cool beaches and resort to visit near Cebu.

 

The way Cebu is situated sorted in the middle of the country, it is so easy to go to so many cool places by boat.  Back when I used to be frequent visitor to Cebu we would spend the weekend on Mango street, it is full of night life.

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

10 hours ago, Talako said:

I find that ridiculous.  Life is tough and unenjoyable being that timid and afraid. 

I have to agree. My wife is from Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao. I travel there with no issues. You just have to be prudent. The only bad thing about Cebu is the traffic. I am afraid I'm going to get whacked by a stray moped)))) I can't see making that 16+ hour flight and then stay hunkered down in my hotel or condo. I told my adult sons that if something does happen to me there at least they will know I went out doing what I enjoyed doing)))

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

1 hour ago, Falcon Cara said:

It's their country not mine, I don't get too involved in their politics and pretty much stay out discussion about Philippines especially when I am there.

 

I just sit back and pretty much observe what goes on and listen

Bingo....

[John & Rose 7,239]

I love it there.  I am very comfortable in Manila but my spider senses tingle in Davao.  I always feel like someone is following me.  That never kept me in the room though.  I think all of Mindanao has a bit of a reputation.

 

Life is cheap there so I don't get into political discussion while there.  I prefer to eat my balut and drink my San Mig Pale Pilsener.  It is dangerous but I live in Chicago.  Both places are beautiful if you know where to avoid.  My comments were more about the political killings that are taking place while being called drug enforcement.  A few months ago three mayors were killed publicly.  They tried to call it drugs but it was the police being paid by the "drug enforcement" group that killed them.  All were critical of Duterte and none were involved in drugs.  

 

I've never feared for my life but I do pay attention to my surroundings.  It was just a personal feeling that made Davao feel less comfortable for me.  

Edited July 11, 2019 by John & Rose

[jskibo 588]

Can't wait to retire part time in Palawan

[Talako 785]

I just returned two weeks ago from Bacolod with a side trip to Boracay.  The only real danger I felt was the fear of getting run over by traffic in the street.  Down the road from my SIL, there were a couple of turkeys (butterball, not people) giving me the stink eye and looking dangerous, but I powered through and ignored them.

 

The same rules apply there that you follow in any big US city.

[Mike V 56]

To each his own.  I owe it to my family to stay alive and help them.  Without my job & income, their quality of life here would nosedive.

 

After eight visits over three years and reading the Philippine news daily, I'm quite capable of making my own informed decision about traveling there.

 

I never discuss Philippine issues there with anyone except close family, but I do read about them every day in Philippine media.  It's ugly and getting a lot uglier.  Their downward spiral isn't going to end anytime soon.  Depending on the estimates, the current regime has killed 2-4 times as many as the Marcos dictatorship, and they have "achieved" that in only 3 years.

 

On my first visit to PH, my wife (then fiance) had us (6 total) riding in a jeepney from the airport to the hotel.  At first she was always insisting I sit up front and steered me to the seat next to the driver.  After a few minutes we all bailed out.  It seems a guy in the back just behind the cab had a knife out and was acting as though to rob me.   Welcome to Lapu Lapu.

 

The situation in/on Cebu is changing for the worse.  The new head of CIDG-7 (headquartered in Cebu) is Lito Patay (named means "death" in both Tagalog & Cebuano ), who brought his so-called "Davao boys" up to Quezon City where his precinct racked up the highest kill count of all Quezon City police precincts.  Since his transfer to Cebu, the number of targeted hits has increased noticeably.

 

Just last March in Mandaue:

 

 Couple shot dead; 7 children orphaned

 

In Consolacion: 

 

In one case documented by Amnesty International, San Nino Batucan, eight, was shot in the stomach during a botched murder of a suspected drugs dealer in Consolacion city. His father, Wilson, 50, was later killed after he alleged that the police had killed his son.

 

Also in Consolacion a boy, age 7, was killed by 4 cops "riding in tandem"; the intended target got away (original link is broken).

 

 

 

Not too long ago a contingent of Abu Sayeff terrorsts, including their chief headman, tried to locate to Bohol, which would have given them a foothold within reach of Cebu.  Fortunately they were all wiped out after a few weeks.

 

Nearly a year since Abu Sayyaf raid, fear still hangs over Bohol town

 

NPA (communist insurgents) are operating on Negros to the west, about 20 miles off Cebu at the closest point.  The murders of labor activists, farmers, lawyers and human rights supporters have become a routine,occurrence.  If a Filipino demands a beer in a Negros bar, you should probably comply:

 

          American shot dead in Silay City bar after refusing to buy two men beer

 

Anyone who claims these places are "safe" is misrepresenting the situation.

[John & Rose 7,239]

A jeepney?  Really?  I only use Grab and they are awesome.  Those are some of the nicest people I've met there.  There is no way I or my family there would use a jeepney.  They are dirty and dangerous and cheap.  Comfort is important to us.  I tell her never to use a jeepney but she says it is so cheap.  I'm not though.  My family means more to me than that.  Snatchers are all over those.

[jskibo 588]

Never felt unsafe anywhere in Cavite or Palawan.  Maybe likely to die from exhaust fumes, but never unsafe.

 

Of course my wife won't let me go to stores or mall alone, so she keeps me away from those "unsafe chicks" that may talk to me....

Edited July 11, 2019 by jskibo

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

I ride Jeepneys and trikes often. Never comfortable. I prefer a taxi but sometimes it is not an option. In Dipolog there are no Jeepneys or taxis so you  are stuck with trikes or hubble hubbles.  Same in the province where she lives.  I live in an inner belt suburb of St. Louis and people are getting wacked left and right here. You just have to know where to go and when. Just like the Philippines. I can't imagine living with that much fear and apprehension...But like a previous poster said....To each their own.....

Edited July 11, 2019 by boris64

[John & Rose 7,239]

I don't mind the tricycles!  I will never set foot on a Jeepney.  I guess we are lucky where she lives as there are lots of tricycles for short trips and plenty of taxis and grabs available.

[Hank_ 9,174]