Review Getting killed in Dumaguete

Having lived here three years, you can say crime in the Philippines is like crime anywhere, more or less. More shootings of high profile people (stay low), many fewer car-jackings. But one thing is right, never get drunk or argue with strangers, or get into a land dispute with your wife's relatives. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT scares the crap outta you. If you are paranoid about kidnappings or shootings, don't live here. If you can deal with it, live here (just stay alert). If the possibility of terrorists scares you, don't live in Mindanao or work in the World Trade Center (with all due respect). If having your car broken into bothers you, don't live in San Francisco, it happens 100 times a day (really, 35,000 times a year every year, every day, in a city of less than a million)....

I'd be curious how one lives in manila on $600 with rent; not possible....

 

I am a full blooded Dumaguetena, a Pinay. I know that we Pinoys respect and welcome visitors, tourists, expats, foreigners who have chosen to settle in this small city.We are generally nice especially to foreigners.

 

This must be the squatters' or the slums' area in Tondo. No reason to be homeless if you know how to make a bit of sacrifice thru simple living.

 

I'm a 75 year old expat from the US, been here 3 years, I treat EVERYONE with respect, whether friend, staff, professional, clerk, or city official, whether pinoy or foreigner, or even an official trying to extort from me (I can think of two). I have NEVER been yelled at by ANYONE, particularly parking officers (and I park in a LOT of "no parking" areas for short periods). Oops, forgot the foreigner that I drove close to in the crosswalk because I was trying to avoid the trike careening into my lane. I almost always get a big smile when I try my limited Bisayan vocabulary, which admittedly needs more work for residing here this long.

The only time I've raised my voice was to the foreigner berating a young desk clerk who was only following office procedure of asking everyone, no matter what their position in the queue, to show up at 9:00 (no matter how dumb the idea, NEVER yell at anyone). Another time I raised my voice at another foreigner berating a Handyman clerk about the makeup of motorcycle oil, totally inappropriate. Remember, the culture is not to admit "we don't carry that," (the corollary to the infamous "out of stock") and "I don't know," always in the idea of not offending. It's the culture, DEAL with it...

 

Few months ago, I saw a house for rent for 4k php per month in Manila. Is was a small two floor house but decent enough for a living. 80 US$ per month for the rental is low enough to sustain a living on US$ 600 per month.

 

well he of all people should know what tyep of hell he will go through in order to prove his 'innocence".

 

And the "unnamed" politician, official, or crime lord that ordered the hit is still free and might never be brought to justice.