Author: Reekay V.
Since 2012 I’ve been traveling through various islands of the Philippines as a full-time Expat and spent 1999 living in Vietnam.
Share with me my ongoing adventures of life in the Philippines. Hopefully you find my observations helpful in your own adventures.
— Reekay
What is the city you are shooting right now
I never had a problem and I been in some rough places in Manila
I never had a problem and I been in some rough places in Manila
How about sharing your experiences;;have you ever been robbed;conned ;been the direct subject of crime
I grew up in Brazil. Spend some time in Europe. One academic year as a student in the US. And, no matter where I go, I am always alert. I could be in a village in the middle of nowhere in Sweden. I never leave my things unnatended. Never show a lot of money in public. Better people believe that you have only limited resources and you are not a threat. Just an average person going around. I am 46. The worst thing that happened to me, so far, happened when I was 24 and my brazilian passport disappeared while I was in NYC. Maybe I just lost. Folks at the brazilian consulate got me a new passport against all bureaucratic rules and came back to GA to finish my college year.
I live in Sibulan, Negros Oriental. And, I don’t live in an enclosed and guarded area. I live in an opened area. I live alone. Unfortunately, after seven years of living alone, with my very friendly dog, my house was finally robbed while I was away at a party. They took my nine – year old notebook (operating under Windows7), my CCTV Cam, and my 3310 Nokia cp. But the thing is is that the house and its immediate area within the garden premises were pitched black that night. And, I accidentally left a window unlocked. So, it’s my fault. In the end, always leave some lights on, get a more aggressive dog (mine was untouched, thank God), and lock EVERYTHING. Just some common sense I had lacked that night, heheh! It could happen anywhere.
The guy in that vid surprised me as you would think in a gated guarded complex you should be fine but sometimes the guard is involved, or staff so its an inside job, or its a trusting girl that is secretly scoping out your place. However he is also inviting it as he is living in a real nice place with nice stuff so it makes him a bigger target. He is right to rent a place like an apartment in a building that restricts entry a lot more.
When I hear of foreigners getting assaulted, robbed or even killed its because they pissed off the locals by either dealing drugs, gambling debt or just borrowing money and not paying it back so its targeted. Shabu is getting to be a big problem just like in the West. Whackos on crystal meth, heroin, fentanyl or whatever don’t care how they get money and will rob or steal without batting an eye unfortunately.
What happened to your volume
Sure, I could tell you that nothing’s happened to me and mine in years, but after having to visit our local cop shop, now and then, for like background checks, etc. Their holding cells are in plain sight, and they are NEVER empty. So, you may feel comfortable enough to say it’s safe, but let’s be real.
Crime is in every city?? I suppose you’ve never been to Central Europe and Northern Europe. Or Japan, S. Korea, Taiwan etc. There’s a huge difference between walking down many neighborhoods in the USA or Latin America and live in fear of getting robbed at a gun point or shot, and a risk of getting pick pocketed like in many other countries. But in many European and northeast Asian cities, you don’t even have to fear getting pick pocketed. Philippines is probably somewhere right in the middle. Not a lot of violent crime, but some pick pocketing in the cities, which is kind of understandable, because of poverty. But most ex-pats claim that they feel perfectly safe in the Philippines.
But if you think that the crime is everywhere in every country and city, I’m sorry but you’ve lived in wrong countries. You should travel more to Europe and northeastern Asia, and you’ll see that you are wrong. Anyways, no offense, I just think that you are somewhat misinformed.
Safety is in all how you play the game .. don’t be stupid in the Phils…,if you are a foreigner … be careful in South Mindanao … just saying
Quick statistics there is more violent crime in Chicago population 22 million, than all of the Philippines population 120 million +, that includes Manila with a population of 22 million…
I would say generally no, why do you think all the houses have bars on their windows and at banks two armed guards at the entrance with big shot guns, and at a big shopping center have guards at the entrance who scan your body with a metal detector, my experience was in Cebu, in Bohol I felt much more relaxed, although even there I was told there are certain areas of the island you should not travel to and I felt very uncomfortable walking in a busy city street and being advised to guard your wallet at all times
Everywhere I’ve been in the Philippines I’ve felt safe. But it could be because I’ve been lucky, or maybe because I blend in better than most foreigners (been mistaken for Filipino many times). But in reality, there are many desperate Filipino’s out there, and since foreigners are known to cash cows – so if you’re obviously tourist – be extra careful
The weather is looking really nice there.
Henry, I like your walk and talk videos
Deca Homes Cortes Mandaue City
I agree Reekay, so far, I’ve been safe here in Baclayon, but then again, I don’t go around making myself a target for opportunists to take advantage. Let me tell you though, I was shopping at the market in Panglao, a minute after getting on my motorbike, I realized that I had dropped my wallet with 5k pesos and ID’s somewhere there, I started riding around the block looking on the ground, then out of nowhere I hear a tuk tuk with 4 passangers blowing its horn, one passenger asked me if I had lost my wallet, with a breath of relief I said yes, they asked for my name to match my ID, they returned my wallet with contents untouched. Out greatfulness, I handed out some money to them for their honesty. I was amazed that they went riding around the area looking for me to return my wallet.
Thanks for putting a link to my video! hope it helps people.
Coming from Oakland, it’s deeply engrained how to take care of myself. Living in Oakland is great training for living anywhere. Moving to Baguio
I have never felt threatened in the 4 years I have been in the PH I have lived in Cebu, Bohol and then Davao the longest. Davao is the safest city IMO that I have ever lived in anywhere. It is a whole lot safer than Columbus. Ohio, which is considered a low crime city for the 14 the largest in the US Davao has a huge police presence plus the military here, Being from Columbus I am by nature aware of my surroundings.
I’ve never had a problem in Manila.
I haven’t toured most of the remote areas.
I certainly wouldn’t go to any area with pronounced warning for tourists.
Of course it’s safe, just as safe as anywhere else, if your not stupid.
Everyone deserves and should feel safe especially in their own home, but Angeles City can’t be compared to anywhere else in Phils, it’s a special basketcase city of its own.
Right on target. Feeling safe is not the same as BEing safe. Victims of terrorist attacks presumably feel safe right up to the moment the bomb goes off. Don’t need to panic, just use your eyes and your brain.
The Philippines is safe until the chinese come
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Home Burglary in Angeles.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBPRtLZbkVY
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