Is the Philippines a scary and dangerous place?
There seems to be a bit of a new phenomena at the moment with people considering the
Philippines to be a scary place that should be avoided.
Down Under Visa have had a few cases recently of Filipina ladies with Australian sponsors
trying to get tourist visas when they havent met in person, which is basically a guarantee
of getting a refusal.
When I ask why they havent met?
Its because the Australian boyfriend feels the Philippines is far too dangerous to visit!
We havent had many like this, and maybe we wont get any more.
However, I thought it was time for a bit of clarification.
I live here, and Ive been here for over 6 years and I feel perfectly safe.
You need to exercise reasonable caution, for the simple fact of being a have in a country
with lots of have-nots.
There is a high disparity of income and opportunities, far more than you will ever see in Australia.
Where I lived in Australia before (semi-rural area), I left doors open.
Obviously I wouldnt do that here.
But we dont live in terror.
The issue with tourist visas when you havent met?
If you havent met in person, they wont grant a tourist visa.
Full stop!
Years ago, yes they used to.
Then they stopped.
Saying too busy, or having medical conditions making travel difficult, and definitely saying
scared of terrorists wont persuade them otherwise.
They need to ensure that only genuine visitors enter Australia, and they feel that having
the sponsor make the effort to travel here to visit her is a minimum that they should
expect.
Prior to that?
Yes, there were low-life characters in Australia who would get a tourist visa for a girl theyd
never met.have free sex for three months.then send her back, and do it all over again with
a different girl.
Australia wants high standards, and they have a job to do.
Perceived risk factors in the Philippines Kidnapping and Terrorism
Its a risk.
Yes, there are terrorist groups here.
There are Islamic separatists who want to establish an independent state in Mindanao,
ie.
Abu Sayyaf, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MNLF), Jemaah
Islamiyah and possibly ISIS are active in areas of Mindanao.
Primarily they have a few battles with the Government, and they are not adverse to kidnapping
for ransom.
And they do some bombing on occasions, such as the recent bombing in Davao City.
Scary stuff, no doubt.
But to get things into proportion, there were something like 51 kidnappings for ransom in
Philippines in 2014.
Mexico had about 12,000 and even the US city of Phoenix (Arizona) has a reported 200 kidnappings
for ransom per year.
No one issues travel warnings about the US!
Most of these terrorist and kidnapping activities are confined to the trouble-spots.
Central and western Mindanao, including the Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu Archipelago are
best avoided.
I wouldnt go there myself!
Otherwise?
Just exercise some caution.
Remember you are not in Australia, and you are perceived as a rich man.
And you will stand out in a crowd, especially in the rural areas.
Try not to advertise your travel plans to all and sundry.
Arrive and leave without anyone knowing when or where.
And ask your girl to keep all of this under wraps too.
And in the cities, especially places like Ermita, Malate and any of the bar areas, watch
out for pickpockets, things being slipped into drinks, and various scams with underage
girls in hotel rooms, etc.
But outside of the trouble spots you have very little to worry about from terrorists
and kidnappings.
Is the Philippines dangerous because of President Duterte?
Theres an expression of exasperation here, which goes Hayyyyyy naku!
Im thinking it to myself right now.
Rodrigo Duterte reminds me a little of myself.
A man who wears polo shirts and swears readily, I find hard not to like.
Remember the old days of the blunt in-your-face Aussie politicians like Joh Bjelke-Petersen?
No, he didnt swear, but he would tell journalists that they could go jump in the lake.
Well, Pres Duterte says Putang ina!
when journalists ask him what Barack Obama would think of his crime-reduction measures.
Joh didnt swear, nor did he tell the press details about his visits to his mistresses,
but as Aussies loved and responded to his down-to-earth approach, they do the same here
to a man who serves pandesal, monggo and fried banana at his inauguration feast instead of
lobster and champagne!
Rody Duterte is blunt.
He has a big mouth.
A huge change from the elitists whove run this country since independence.
The fact that hes challenged the powers-that-be..the same people who run the media..may well have
some bearing on the way that the news is reported.
And foreign media seem to feel the right to make audacious reports like the Licensed to
Kill nonsense on Australias 60 Minutes.
He says Putang ina at some journalistswhich is an expression that 99% of the population
will use if they stub their toe..and the newspapers say hes calling Obamas mother a prostitute!
Again, Hay naku!
The rule-of-law still exists here.
There are no running gun battles in the streets.
Hes offered legal protection to police who are forced to defend themselves when arresting
low-life scum drug dealers, which has led to some deaths.
Its also lead to a massive number of arrests.
There is no dead or alive vigilante program going on.
Youd be far more likely to get caught in crossfire in Obamas hometown of Chicago!
So please relax!
Come visit.
Dont go camping in Sulu wearing a US flag shirt.
Dont count your money at an ATM in Ermita whilst facing the street.
Exercise some sense
and be aware that you are not in Hobart.
Do that, and you will be fine!