Lived in Zamboanga Del Norte for 5 years as a foreigner and met many others who have lived there for 10 years or more. Never once felt unsafe in the area but that said, there were certain parts of ZDN that I was not welcome. I feel that is the same no matter where in the world you go.
I would add this to the talk about safety. I feel safer in the most dangerous part of any city that I have been in in the Philippines or the darkest forest in rebel territory… than I do in many of the dangerous inner-city sections in the United States. Quite honestly I feel most of the time when I'm on my bike riding around, that if anything happens to me, like when I crashed on my bicycle in Mandaue, I will have many Filipinos immediately come to my aid. I will admit that I have not been robbed yet and I have not experienced a typhoon yet. Once those things happen, I'm sure I would have a different view. But for now, I feel like I have an army of Filipinos that has my back most of the time. And I think that's true. 99% plus of all Filipinos are incredibly good people.
Other than cracking my coconut by falling off the back of a motorbike, the only time I felt in "danger", was when a teen approached me in a mall after I had exchanged some U$D for pesos. I think he was attempting to impress his slightly younger companion, because he didn't have anything planned after asking me where I was going. I think he was trying to scare me, but within a busy mall, he did not select a very intimidating location for his shakedown. More of a wannabe thug than an actual threat from what I could gather.
I would also add my confirmation of what John has said about your attitude and how you show up in the Philippines. The struggle in American ego will get you in trouble. Of course I think a struggling American ego will get you in trouble anywhere in the world. Defending your honor in the Philippines with a fistfight will never be worth it. I usually don't use the word never but I mean it now.
I bet you’d get more views/longer retention if you switched the sheets in the background to a red or a blue set. Who am I though really 🤷♂️ but people’s attention is usually focused on color, especially red. Maybe try it out for a dozen videos and see if there’s any difference. Just my thoughts. I like your videos regardless just something I notice. Look at Jay Leno and David letterman. Always much warmer feel when watching Leno cause of his warmer colors on set compared to Letterman that seemed more of a basement nyc vibe with the blue
You forgot traffic. Foreigners are mostly surprised to see most drivers don't wear seat belts. Riders on motorbikes don't wear helmets most of the time. The attitude to safety in traffic is radically different to other countries. Remember you are at risk when you head into traffic. Cities are safe cause a traffic jam is one of the safest place to be😂. If you rent a motor bike in the province take your time to adjust and remember that the Philippines had 11.000 fatal casualties in 2023. When taking a black taxi long distance remember that this driver trusts in God too much. He will over take on blind curves and uphill if you are unlucky. Better take a bus, its slower but if you take a hit the chances are smaller for severe injury or death.
It’s kind of funny that you’re doing this video just yesterday. I was talking to a Facebook friend of mine from the Philippines and we were kind of bullshitting about my RUclips channel and I wanna start when I get over there. Basically I wanna do a travel and historical channel And I want to try and focus on the Philippine culture before the colonization and what led up to it being the way it is today and he was like oh you’re gonna need bodyguards and that’s gonna be something that can get you hurt really bad. You need to watch out you need to be careful. It’ll be dangerousand I was like what is he talking about? Am I wrong? I can’t see we’re doing historical informational videos about the Philippines would be dangerous.
I think it depends how you approach it talking about historical things here and if they are political would be a topic that I would encourage you to avoid.
@ it’s just that I see so many RUclipsrs that talk about relationships and budgets and expenses, and the good side and the bad side of the Philippines. I wanna show the culture in the historical significance of certain things that happened in the Philippines and the natural beauty like underground river in Port Princeand I don’t wanna get into anything political
Just be cautious. They dont like to be judged nor criticised. They will feel offended and insulted. Even constructive criticism is almost impossible to do.
What are you thoughts on Mindanao? I am relocating there as a Christian missionary for my church and I met a wonderful Province Woman. Just want to have a heads up as to what to expect.
Watch your back when traveling snd keep a low profile / and I do hear things every day about mindanao - but I know lots of locals since I’ve been in Phil 10 years
I personally never felt relly safe there. They watch you constantly everywhere you go and everything you do. Its an unsettling feeling after 13 months or 13 days for me. I couldnt take it anymore after a year and had to leave. The noise as well was too much.
@ I really did my best to acclimate and wanted to make it work there. For whatever reason it didn’t. I have been to over 80 countries and many poor countries to include two active war zones. I net about 10k a month and don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. I was 43 at the time and was with a woman that was 35 the whole time there. I stayed at some of the nicest hotels and condominiums you could stay at In the country. I am always polite respectful to anyone I meet and I am fit and wear clean clothes and shave/ shower every day. It didn’t matter. I got treated like straight crap everywhere I went.
@@jerryG-p3w could it just be perception? Or the area that you were in just have straight faced people? And what do you mean by "treated like crap"? What was the experience as opposed to the expectation?
some areas even local wont go there not enough police or military presence even if you have a local wife from there just dont its better not to live their
Every country has its good and bad places to live or visit. Common sense dictates that if a particular place is unsafe, regardless of your race, why venture out there, right?
I noticed the expats who last there are very toxic like the locals. Theyre the most similar to the locals and thats why they last longer than 99 percent of the expats.
@WatchCaliforniaExpat My sincere apologies but I dont know your name. I do have a question however that I cant find an answer to in watching your and other RUclips channels. Based on my own experiences in the Philippines, I noticed that even brothers and sisters do NOT address each other by their first name. I also observed this when - lets say - a Filipina is talking with another Filipina (both having the same age). In short: why doesnt a Filipina sister calls her Filipino brother and say: "Hey Juan, lets go grab a beer in town"? I do know about the Ate and Kuya stuff but for me hearing that sounds so very strange, weird, distant (as if we are not family members or friends). And what is the purpose of giving a person a first name anyway when nobody uses that first name?
You just can't adjust to the way we Filipinos do things. It's best that you leave the country because you don't belong here And in case you have already left, don't bother coming back here!
Typhoon odette oh my god my glass blew in on the 4th floor. I was renting then. A lot of people went to the basement in the condo building. It was scary. Our patio furniture went flying off the patio. But safety I feel safe. No problem. I’m also not out at midnight. When I was single that was a different story.
I was traveling solo in Cebu city , didn’t feel that safe . Only talking about petty crime stuff . Didn’t experience that feeling in Thailand or Vietnam . Will not go out by myself there late at night next time . I think the Filipino tourist bureau could do more to help protect foreigners from scammers . For example the taxi scam of turning off the meters. Word of mouth is the most powerful export ….if people hear their friends say they didn’t feel safe there then they might just choose Thailand or Vietnam over the Philippines.
It's not only foreigners who need to keep their phones inside. Even Filipinas cannot use their made-in-China phone outside not even in the bus. If this would happen in a certain area no problem, but this is almost everywhere in the PH. Doesn't sound like save and lot of fun to me. I understand fully why Duterte was very strict and thus why Davao - his city - is way more saver than other cities. Without savety you have nothing.
@@chocolatecookie8571, The only thing I know is that pet dogs are not kept inside the house/home. At least, that is what I saw when visiting my Filipina girlfiend's parents. They had dogs but never were inside the house.
@@haighton I know one Filipino family. Their daughter got bitten by the dog of the neighbours. Had to take rabies shots afterwards. Too many dogs in the PH. But I heard that Davao has very little which shoudl be the standard if you want to call a country civilised. Or else it is a zoo.
@@chocolatecookie8571, I dont know what the definition of civilised is when we talk about a poor 3rd world country (or a developing country). Let me be rude or direct or both: The Philippines today lives and breathes the same way my country did 70 years ago. (And I myself am younger than 70).
Lived in Zamboanga Del Norte for 5 years as a foreigner and met many others who have lived there for 10 years or more. Never once felt unsafe in the area but that said, there were certain parts of ZDN that I was not welcome. I feel that is the same no matter where in the world you go.
LOVE THIS CHANNEL
I would add this to the talk about safety. I feel safer in the most dangerous part of any city that I have been in in the Philippines or the darkest forest in rebel territory… than I do in many of the dangerous inner-city sections in the United States. Quite honestly I feel most of the time when I'm on my bike riding around, that if anything happens to me, like when I crashed on my bicycle in Mandaue, I will have many Filipinos immediately come to my aid. I will admit that I have not been robbed yet and I have not experienced a typhoon yet. Once those things happen, I'm sure I would have a different view. But for now, I feel like I have an army of Filipinos that has my back most of the time. And I think that's true. 99% plus of all Filipinos are incredibly good people.
Helpful video. Thank you.
thats a well balanced view. thanks!
Cities are very safe, there are security guards everywhere!
Other than cracking my coconut by falling off the back of a motorbike, the only time I felt in "danger", was when a teen approached me in a mall after I had exchanged some U$D for pesos. I think he was attempting to impress his slightly younger companion, because he didn't have anything planned after asking me where I was going. I think he was trying to scare me, but within a busy mall, he did not select a very intimidating location for his shakedown. More of a wannabe thug than an actual threat from what I could gather.
I would also add my confirmation of what John has said about your attitude and how you show up in the Philippines. The struggle in American ego will get you in trouble. Of course I think a struggling American ego will get you in trouble anywhere in the world. Defending your honor in the Philippines with a fistfight will never be worth it. I usually don't use the word never but I mean it now.
Thanks😇
1st to comment. Hello everyone. Happy Sunday. Kumusta kayo lahat?
what's with some people and being the first to comment? do you want a start or a medal for that?
I bet you’d get more views/longer retention if you switched the sheets in the background to a red or a blue set. Who am I though really 🤷♂️ but people’s attention is usually focused on color, especially red. Maybe try it out for a dozen videos and see if there’s any difference. Just my thoughts. I like your videos regardless just something I notice.
Look at Jay Leno and David letterman. Always much warmer feel when watching Leno cause of his warmer colors on set compared to Letterman that seemed more of a basement nyc vibe with the blue
You forgot traffic. Foreigners are mostly surprised to see most drivers don't wear seat belts. Riders on motorbikes don't wear helmets most of the time. The attitude to safety in traffic is radically different to other countries. Remember you are at risk when you head into traffic. Cities are safe cause a traffic jam is one of the safest place to be😂. If you rent a motor bike in the province take your time to adjust and remember that the Philippines had 11.000 fatal casualties in 2023. When taking a black taxi long distance remember that this driver trusts in God too much. He will over take on blind curves and uphill if you are unlucky. Better take a bus, its slower but if you take a hit the chances are smaller for severe injury or death.
Butter bean your in the Philippines now? 🤔🤔😂🤣
It’s kind of funny that you’re doing this video just yesterday. I was talking to a Facebook friend of mine from the Philippines and we were kind of bullshitting about my RUclips channel and I wanna start when I get over there. Basically I wanna do a travel and historical channel And I want to try and focus on the Philippine culture before the colonization and what led up to it being the way it is today and he was like oh you’re gonna need bodyguards and that’s gonna be something that can get you hurt really bad. You need to watch out you need to be careful. It’ll be dangerousand I was like what is he talking about? Am I wrong? I can’t see we’re doing historical informational videos about the Philippines would be dangerous.
I think it depends how you approach it talking about historical things here and if they are political would be a topic that I would encourage you to avoid.
@ it’s just that I see so many RUclipsrs that talk about relationships and budgets and expenses, and the good side and the bad side of the Philippines. I wanna show the culture in the historical significance of certain things that happened in the Philippines and the natural beauty like underground river in Port Princeand I don’t wanna get into anything political
sounds like a great channel
Just be cautious. They dont like to be judged nor criticised. They will feel offended and insulted. Even constructive criticism is almost impossible to do.
@@haighton Very true. Good advice
What are you thoughts on Mindanao? I am relocating there as a Christian missionary for my church and I met a wonderful Province Woman. Just want to have a heads up as to what to expect.
Watch your back when traveling snd keep a low profile / and I do hear things every day about mindanao - but I know lots of locals since I’ve been in Phil 10 years
Can you be more specific?
😅😅@@rayintoledocebuphilippines5517
How do I get a job and AEP to work there?
I personally never felt relly safe there. They watch you constantly everywhere you go and everything you do. Its an unsettling feeling after 13 months or 13 days for me. I couldnt take it anymore after a year and had to leave. The noise as well was too much.
13 months and you weren't able to adjust yourself and adjust to your environment? You'd prolly won't last anywhere in SE Asia
@ I really did my best to acclimate and wanted to make it work there. For whatever reason it didn’t. I have been to over 80 countries and many poor countries to include two active war zones. I net about 10k a month and don’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. I was 43 at the time and was with a woman that was 35 the whole time there. I stayed at some of the nicest hotels and condominiums you could stay at In the country. I am always polite respectful to anyone I meet and I am fit and wear clean clothes and shave/ shower every day. It didn’t matter. I got treated like straight crap everywhere I went.
@@BaldAndCurious you dare to say that PH equals other Asian countries? You must be foolish
@@jerryG-p3w could it just be perception? Or the area that you were in just have straight faced people? And what do you mean by "treated like crap"? What was the experience as opposed to the expectation?
some areas even local wont go there not enough police or military presence even if you have a local wife from there just dont its better not to live their
Every country has its good and bad places to live or visit. Common sense dictates that if a particular place is unsafe, regardless of your race, why venture out there, right?
Is the expat community in Davao just as toxic as it is in Dramaguette?
I noticed the expats who last there are very toxic like the locals. Theyre the most similar to the locals and thats why they last longer than 99 percent of the expats.
God no.
@WatchCaliforniaExpat
My sincere apologies but I dont know your name. I do have a question however that I cant find an answer to in watching your and other RUclips channels. Based on my own experiences in the Philippines, I noticed that even brothers and sisters do NOT address each other by their first name. I also observed this when - lets say - a Filipina is talking with another Filipina (both having the same age).
In short:
why doesnt a Filipina sister calls her Filipino brother and say: "Hey Juan, lets go grab a beer in town"?
I do know about the Ate and Kuya stuff but for me hearing that sounds so very strange, weird, distant (as if we are not family members or friends). And what is the purpose of giving a person a first name anyway when nobody uses that first name?
You just can't adjust to the way we Filipinos do things. It's best that you leave the country because you don't belong here And in case you have already left, don't bother coming back here!
I would add marriage and motorcycles as a danger. Biblical marriage is best... common-law is second best. Avoid the scooter at all costs.
Relatively safe I would say, after 6 trips there, but some areas deep south f.ex. are no-go places
Typhoon odette oh my god my glass blew in on the 4th floor. I was renting then. A lot of people went to the basement in the condo building. It was scary. Our patio furniture went flying off the patio. But safety I feel safe. No problem. I’m also not out at midnight. When I was single that was a different story.
Philippines is very safe and very expensive
I was traveling solo in Cebu city , didn’t feel that safe . Only talking about petty crime stuff . Didn’t experience that feeling in Thailand or Vietnam . Will not go out by myself there late at night next time . I think the Filipino tourist bureau could do more to help protect foreigners from scammers . For example the taxi scam of turning off the meters. Word of mouth is the most powerful export ….if people hear their friends say they didn’t feel safe there then they might just choose Thailand or Vietnam over the Philippines.
It's not only foreigners who need to keep their phones inside. Even Filipinas cannot use their made-in-China phone outside not even in the bus. If this would happen in a certain area no problem, but this is almost everywhere in the PH. Doesn't sound like save and lot of fun to me. I understand fully why Duterte was very strict and thus why Davao - his city - is way more saver than other cities. Without savety you have nothing.
Scammers pose the most danger in the Phills.
@JMgmkh
the latest method is 'pig butchering scams' so be aware. CNA Insider made a good documentary about it.
scammers pose danger ANYWHERE
Honestly just sounds like many USA cities I've been to
#1 natural disasters
#2 crime
#3 healthcare
#4 how to treat locals
#5 geographical areas where to live
#6 scammers
#(7) stray dogs
@@chocolatecookie8571,
The only thing I know is that pet dogs are not kept inside the house/home. At least, that is what I saw when visiting my Filipina girlfiend's parents. They had dogs but never were inside the house.
@@haighton I know one Filipino family. Their daughter got bitten by the dog of the neighbours. Had to take rabies shots afterwards. Too many dogs in the PH. But I heard that Davao has very little which shoudl be the standard if you want to call a country civilised. Or else it is a zoo.
@@chocolatecookie8571,
I dont know what the definition of civilised is when we talk about a poor 3rd world country (or a developing country). Let me be rude or direct or both: The Philippines today lives and breathes the same way my country did 70 years ago. (And I myself am younger than 70).
@@haighton if you dont know what the definition is of civilized or think that its somehow dependent on a strong economy then good luck with your dogs.
No privacy been watched all the time
Safer than US
Being physically fit is 90% of your personal safety.
Lmao yeah try to run away from a bullet 🤦♂️