Dumaguete Info Search


Travel Warnings and safety

Discussion in '☋ General Chat ☋' started by tfa1957, Mar 19, 2008.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. tfa1957

    tfa1957 DI Forum Adept

    Messages:
    283
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Ratings:
    +4 / 0
    I see the United States issued another travel warning for the Philippines. It was issued Feb. 13th as a replacement for last years continued travel warning. The U.S. apparently felt the need to issue an update due to a kidnapping of a U.S. citizen last October. I actually hadn't heard about the kidnapping at all until i read the warning. It's been awhile since we've talked about safety issues. I was wondering if the U.S. citizens that are part of this forum and living in Dumaguete, or elsewhere in the Philippines would like to share their real life experiences and/or concerns. Actually, it would be interesting to hear anyones thoughts on this real issue. I'm sure there are reasons for these continuous warnings, but how real are they, or do people just ignore them and hope for the best? From what I've read, there are small factions on all the islands in the Philippines, but most often, the only ones who put westerners in danger are the factions around Davao , is this correct, or are there real concerns in other places, such as the Negros? I look forward to hearing some good details and thoughts from some of you.
     
  2. grandpainak

    grandpainak DI Forum Patron Showcase Reviewer

    Messages:
    1,046
    Trophy Points:
    291
    Ratings:
    +700 / 163
    Still?

    I first went to Dumaguete in Sept. 1987. That same travel warning was up then. It didn't take my long to figure that it had little to nothing to do with me. I once was ask what I would do if I was Kidnapped. I replied first I was not a kid and second that my wife had strict instructions to spend my none existent life insurance on herself. And I would tell my captors that they would have to pay my wife a lot of peso in order for her to take my back.

    Jim
     
  3. RHB

    RHB DI Senior Member

    Messages:
    744
    Trophy Points:
    168
    Ratings:
    +19 / 2
    The warning speaks to a government intent on covering their rear end, and possibly trying to keep their citizens from traveling to the Philippines, been here three years, safer than any small city inthe U.s. remembering that you are the guest here.
     
  4. muddyfeet

    muddyfeet DI Member

    Messages:
    216
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0
    I have talked to people that will not go to PI because of those warnings. Those warnings have been out for more than 40 years. Like the rest of you that live in PI or travel there you simply must pay attention to what is going on around you and do not go into places that your shouldn't. Common sense helps a lot.

    When I tell people I'm going to PI, many times they ask me if it is safe because they know of the travel warnings.
     
  5. up2u

    up2u DI Junior Member

    Messages:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0
    I think it would save western governments a lot of time and money if they issued a list of places that it is safe to visit. The list would be fairly short, I have never worried about my personal security in PH or anywhere else I have lived. I am not foolhardy, but I always have the thought that these warnings are a mixture of @ss/arse covering and political favortism.

    I found this in a few seconds

    This is from the US State department page
    CRIME: The United Kingdom and Gibraltar benefit from generally low crime rates;

    Yes, apart from it being the most violent country in Europe with the highest murder rate, and a level of 'casual' violence that most American's would find intolerable, even those from big city's.

    That is the kind of reason that these warnings are not reliable
     
  6. ronin

    ronin DI Member

    Messages:
    92
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0
    I currently live and reside within sight of Juarez Mexico where they had 294 murders last year and are on track to break that record for 2008. The drug cartels have an all out war declared on law enforcement, military and authorities resulting in bounties being placed on individuals heads (mine included). I feel safer in PI than i do here....never been in a position to be worried cus i just use common sense. i think the department of state is in CYA mode; i don't put alot of stock in their warnings. I'll be back soon.
     
  7. Kuya

    Kuya DI Member

    Messages:
    135
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Ratings:
    +2 / 0
    Good evening...

    When I visited Dumaguete in 2005 a fresh travel warning had just been issued. I arrived only a few weeks after a couple of bombs were detonated on a bus in Manila. Sure, there is a reality to contend with, but it's important to keep things in the proper perspective. I would NOT advise reading a lot of news articles before you visit, because then you have this idea that bad guys are just waiting around every corner to snatch you up. I figured they'd have no trouble finding me because I would be one of only a handful of white guys. Unfortunately, there are many ways to feed your fears, so you'll just have to find ways to starve them :smile:
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Loading...