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Don’t Travel To The Philippines! Ever!

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Topics: Uncategorized

I want to warn everyone who is even thinking about traveling to the Philippines.  Don’t go!
Posing with our guard...

Haven’t you heard about all the kidnappings there?

 

The U.S. State Department has issued warnings to U.S. citizens about traveling to the Philippines.

 

The Philippines has had at least five terrorist related incidents this year!

 

Let’s take a step back for a minute and examine something.  How do we define dangerous?  Could it be maybe how many murders are carried out in a country?  That would be a fair barometer as long as we are spouting stats and scaring the hell out of people. 

Let’s compare the murder rates of say.. I don’t know.. the U.S. and the Philippines.    Oh, wait, this can’t be true!  Did you know that this year there have been almost 10,000 more murders in the U.S. than in the Philippines?   Oh, well then, there must be more people in the U.S. than in the Philippines so that’s why the number looks like that.  Ok, well, 310 million in the U.S. and the Philippines?  94 million. 

  

Wait, that means the murder rate in the U.S. is about .04 per 1000 people.  So I looked at countries listed from top to bottom and found that we (U.S.) were listed 24th of 62 countries on the list.  Guess what?  The Philippines is not even on the list?  How could this be true?

 

I learned a long time ago not to believe everything I hear.  Do you know that there are people travelling all over the world right now and they are releativly safe?  One blog I read almost every week is one called “Wandering Earl” . This guy is amazing.  He lives from the income he derives from his laptop and globetrots all over the world.  He is right now in Syria.  He has found it to be one of the most welcoming places (and pro American by the way) of all the countries he has been too!

  

I know of several Americans living in the Philippines full time such as Dave Dewall.  He lives on an island calle “Guimaras” with his wife and enjoying life to the fulles and writes about it often.  Dave has a funny, practical view of life in the Philippines as an American.

 

I have found Filipino’s to be the most warm, friendly people in the world.  I love to go and visit!  The economy is getting better, and the U.S. dollar goes very far.  Right now the exchange rate is about 43 pesos per one U.S. dollar.$40.00, a meal can be had for one dollar on the street.   I took my whole family to the movie in Iloilo for about $12.00.  That was about 12 of us!

  

You can always find reasons for not doing something.  Fear should not always be your guide.  Remember we had over 3,000 people killed in a terrorist attack in Manhatton and we still go to see the place.  I’ve been there twice! 

  

Dare to live your life and get outside of your comfort zone. 

  

If you liked this post, please subcribe via e-mail and you will get regular updates!  If you are looking for a little adventour in your life maybe we can travel to the Philippines sometime soon! 

 

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Posted on 5 November 2010

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  • Earl

    This is exactly the kind of post that needs to be read and re-read over and over again. Or else we sink right back into that misguided fear and allow it to dictate our lives. Hardly is there a country in the world (ok, there are a few) that has as much as violence as in the US, yet somehow, it is hard for many people to acknowledge that fact!

    Great post Randall. And I certainly appreciate the mention!

  • http://www.thephilippinesproject.com Randall

    One of my favorite statements is this “Conventional Wisdom is an oxymoron”

    We let ourselves slip into this trap without really thinking or researching our own belief system.

    I sure do appreciate the comment, it means a lot coming from you.

  • http://twitter.com/quiet_thoughts Melissa Goldsmith

    Great post and so true! Thanks for sharing this perspective.

  • http://www.thephilippinesproject.com Randall

    Thanks for the comment Mellisa. It’s funny how we believe so much of what we hear without even questioning at al.

  • Pingback: As They Say In Syria, Shukran! | Wandering Earl

  • Pingback: As They Say In Syria, Shukran! | Wandering Earl

  • http://philippinesplus.com Davedewall

    Great post, Randall! Thanks for the plug! Be sure to come over to Guimaras so we can share a few bottles of Red Horse. I do feel safe in the Philippines, and I love the comparisons you make between the United States and the Philippines murder rate.

  • http://www.thephilippinesproject.com Randall

    Yeah, those damn smiling Filipinos are a dangerous lot!
    I know anywhere you go you have to watch yourself. I felt a little cautious the first time I went to the Philippines but that was because it was the unknown.

    Now when I go, I am still cautious but not afraid. Common sense will go a long way in the Philippines. Thanks for the comment!

  • Salome Riingen

    Thank you. I was born in the Philippines and I recruited my students from the frontier mountains. Peace Corps and UNESCO experts were my escorts. One of the communities is now called “Chris-Lam”, because, there’s a pledge to be united..the Christians and Muslims are all Filipinos. Proud to be Filipino-American. It’s always known…Philippines,.. the pearl of the orient seas…the pride of Asia. Thanks to U.S. President for ousting that worst dictator we had on the late 80′s. Peace reign those islands. Welcome to the lovely Philippines Islands!!!!

  • http://www.thephilippinesproject.com Randall

    Salamat for your comment Po! I am interested to know where you live now? I think it is a great thing you did for the students by bringing them together.

    I do believe that the Philippines is the Pearl of the Orient.

    Hope you decide to visit this blog often, would love your perspective.

  • http://philippinesplus.com Dave Dewall

    I’m back again, Randall. The Philippines has brought before the United Nations Security Council its complaint against travel advisories that warned of “imminent” terrorist attacks in the country early this month. President Aquino is trying to get countries which recently issued travel advisories about the Philippines to be more fair and balanced in issuing such reports which of course hurts tourism in any country in which such advisories are issued. I feel quite safe in the Philippines, and would urge anyone planning to visit this beautiful country to go ahead with any travel plans they may have for here.

  • http://www.thephilippinesproject.com Randall

    One of my favorite quotes “When considering a long journey, never ask advice from someone who has never left home”.

    If you are afraid to travel to the Philippines, just stay in your house in America. There are dangers anywhere you go.

    I don’t know why the U.S. has to issue such warnings. I would rather be in Manila than to be walking the neighborhoods of Washington D.C.

    What nerve the U.S. has to issue this. My suggestion to them would be to “Sweep off your own porch before you complain about someone else’s”

    I wonder what the true motivation is?

    Thanks for the comment

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000605265422 Salome Riingen

    Hi, Randall, Thanks for your comment. I’m so proud of our country and our countrymen. I was born and raised in Kabacan,North Cotabato. Philippines. I began teaching when I was 19 years old. I recruited most of my muslim students in order to expand our primary school to elementary school. Unesco , Peace Corp and community team helped me build school buildings. It was a very nice experience for me. My students there were now leaders in that Chrislam community. Some were even teachers/professors in nearby universities. When I migrated here in U.S., to teach here, I trusted all our land and house to our muslim students and other community members there. They’re communicating with me in FB. Those Muslim Filipinos are peace loving people. Their love to us is down to earth.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000605265422 Salome Riingen

    Hi, Dave, Thanks for your nice comment about the Philippines. Have you been to Davao or Cotabato?
    These are the big cities in Mindanao. We have many retired Americans living there too. Sometimes it’s better to see it for themselves whoever want to know the place and people.
    It is really unfair when media says negative about peace and order in the Philippines in general.

  • Ricky

    hey was looking for someone to contact you directly on your site.. you have no contact info as i can see can you add me to your facebook and send me msg- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=500362587

  • http://www.thephilippinesproject.com Randall

    Hey Ricky, I sent a friend request from my facebook page. Thanks for the offer!

  • http://byahena.com/ May

    Hi Dave, This is really nice post i have been read so far about Philippines. There’s a lot of bad news about my country, some of my caucasian friend are hesitant to visit but the good thing is my boyfriend he is a Danish guy, he choose to live in Philippines next year and we live there in nomadic lifestyle. Keep on writing i will be your loyal reader from now on :)  

  • Ken_lineberry

    if they think you have something they want they will do  ANY THING  to get it

  • Ken_lineberry

    if you want the truth  call the u s embassy in manila ask to speak to an american  ask him

  • Jhurem

    nothing…. just nothing,,, such a waste

  • roem

    pjilipines is a nice country…people are hospitable and always in the positive side of their life…..they always smile no matter what happen…so i dont think anything that could be against this lovely vountry…

  • sheila

    my daughter is leaving for the philipines in August with a young man who has familt there… She is american he is to .. is it safe to go… Mom.. is worried about her beautiful daughter…