Davao

[PBtoCobra]

If your giving out your opinion on the safety of a city you should also mention your ethnicity and your basic age, height and weight so that others can judge if they match up to your appearance. Someone well over 6 feet tall of any color will easily stand out from the crowd and might have higher risks than someone of shorter stature with the same skin color of the local population.

I am 5'8", 80 Kgs and White European. Not tall by any means, and I was accompanied by my GF all the while. I know how to blend in and not stick out, I also tend to dress in accordance to where I am, so in a formal environment or casual, I dress to blend in.

I was there in July 2018, and am only reporting my experience.

I have been to Indonesia and was in the Jakarta Marriott 2 days before it blew up, we were advised when we got there to not go out in the evening due to local activity. We ignored that advice and had a very nice meal without incident. Having lived with terrorism in the country I live in, I don't let it generally stop what I want to do, but if I go to an area I feel uncomfortable I leave immediately.

I've been to places in the US where I felt just like that and left. These un-advisable areas exist in many places in the world.

[PedroMorales]

I have had many sexual encounters in Davao. I actually got into a mini row on the hooker strip as I thought a kid had picked my pocket. Some loud mouth aggressively told me such things do not happen in Davao. , And nor do they normally because the ex Mayor had death squads that kept down repeat offender numbers. With a minimum of effort and a low profile attitude, Davao is as safe as it gets and much better than Korea town aka Pampanga.

With earlier posts about Jews and 6'6" giants, there are two related issues. If you wish to go and enjoy Davao, you will haven no problems, only kids laughing at your giraffe status, which is fine, more so if you laugh back. Why some Jews or others feel the world and Davao have to salam to them is a different matter. Most of them could not name the current Pope, never mind argue about Judaism. Of course, if you go around attracting needless attention to your religion.

On that matter, last time I flew from Clark to Davao there were ISIS supporters in the seats ahead of me in the waiting room, some Pinoy others ME Arabs, showing each other Allah Akhbar videos. Every time I have gone through Manila airport, I have noted the hordes of Muslim Pinays ME bound. To believe many of them have not been radicalised is silly. Indeed, ISIS are increasingly relocating to SE Asia.

Leaving big mouths to one side, the most dangerous place in Davao is probably the bus station.

Chocha Monger is informed on what he writes. One has to weigh up what he and others say and act accordingly. Low profile is always best.

[Bushes]

There she blows! There she blows! A hump like a snow-hill! It is Moby Dick!

I'm 6'6" and weigh 270 lbs, do you think I'd be able to walk down the street in Daveo and not stand out?

There are several posts on safety in the South / Latin America threads I pretty much have done the same thing over the years. Mostly from just picking it up when in not safe areas. The tribe usually has great safety measures. Hence my suggestions.

[Sammon]

Fair enough. I'm about the same height as most Filipino men, now in my 7th decade, and white. And, I've lived here quite happily for about 17 years, and feel, among th dozens of countries / cities in which I've lived and worked, this is the safest I've ever felt.

GE.

I will put my 2 cents in.

I have travelled all over the world including some considered dangerous. Rule of thumb is no walking the streets after 10 pm unless you are with a crowd. Definitely not while you are drunk. Take taxi if you have urge to hit the clubs. Once you get a girl she being local will protect you or at least bad guys will think you are married to a local and will not bother you. Standing out in a crowd happens all the time especially these days of intermingling of races and ethnicities.

You are safe in confines of the hotel. If you want to meet a girl ask her to come and meet you at the hotel bar and tell her to wear decent clothes. Philippines girls in spite of being told do not like to dress up. They are happy in their jeans. Many do not have a dress. I make it a point to buy them nice dresses to take them to upscale bars and restaurants.

Generally all the people of the world are nice and not indiscriminate killers, robbers, pickpockets. It is only very very small fraction of the society who for one reason or another want to hurt people. Unfortunately if you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time you will be the victim.

[GoodEnough]

Not at all. Some people blend into some places better than others. If you look middle eastern then many middle eastern cities are safe for you. If you stand out in the crowd then the risks go up. That's all I am saying. Guy comes on and says Daveo's is perfectly safe I'd have to ask him if he stands out in a crowd of Daveo'ans. I'm 6'6" and weigh 270 lbs, do you think I'd be able to walk down the street in Daveo and not stand out? Now a guy standing 5'6" with similar skin color of the local population might not get a second glance, for all I know he's the one telling me Daveo is a safe place.

Fair enough. I'm about the same height as most Filipino men, now in my 7th decade, and white. And, I've lived here quite happily for about 17 years, and feel, among th dozens of countries / cities in which I've lived and worked, this is the safest I've ever felt.

GE.

[Wicked Roger]

Not at all. Some people blend into some places better than others. If you look middle eastern then many middle eastern cities are safe for you. If you stand out in the crowd then the risks go up. That's all I am saying. Guy comes on and says Daveo's is perfectly safe I'd have to ask him if he stands out in a crowd of Daveo'ans. I'm 6'6" and weigh 270 lbs, do you think I'd be able to walk down the street in Daveo and not stand out? Now a guy standing 5'6" with similar skin color of the local population might not get a second glance, for all I know he's the one telling me Daveo is a safe place.

I am big and chunky like you Breadman and I have no issues with Davao. Is safe is clean and a nice place to be. I walk around everywhere and no one bothers me. FYI tall big white guys are everywhere in the Philippines and in much smaller places than Davao.

So if you are worried stick to western destinations, never travel to the Middle East, Asia, Africa or South America. Stay in the panhandles of the USA is my best suggestion. That way you will always blend in with the locals.

I have been all the world and never encountered issues even in riots in Pakistan. So as GE said you must be joking or seriously lacking in self confidence.

[Kabul Guy]

......

March 4, 2003, Tuesday.

.......

April 3, 2003, Thursday.

.......

February 14,2005, Monday.

......

September 13,2013, Tuesday.

.......

Two examples 15 years old.

One 13 years old and the newest will be 5 years old next week.

Ancient history is not a good indicator of conditions today. That is like saying that it will rain in Cebu today because Yolanda went through there a few years ago.

[Breadman]

Is this a joke?

GE.

Not at all. Some people blend into some places better than others. If you look middle eastern then many middle eastern cities are safe for you. If you stand out in the crowd then the risks go up. That's all I am saying. Guy comes on and says Daveo's is perfectly safe I'd have to ask him if he stands out in a crowd of Daveo'ans. I'm 6'6" and weigh 270 lbs, do you think I'd be able to walk down the street in Daveo and not stand out? Now a guy standing 5'6" with similar skin color of the local population might not get a second glance, for all I know he's the one telling me Daveo is a safe place.

[GoodEnough]

If your giving out your opinion on the safety of a city you should also mention your ethnicity and your basic age, height and weight so that others can judge if they match up to your appearance. Someone well over 6 feet tall of any color will easily stand out from the crowd and might have higher risks than someone of shorter stature with the same skin color of the local population.

Is this a joke?

GE.

[Breadman]

I would happily go back to Davao, I did not see any of the scare mongering issues when I was there, and my GF lives in a pretty run down area. We also went out to bars late at night. I know how to assess risk, and avoid places I don't feel comfortable with.

At no point did I feel unsafe.
.

If your giving out your opinion on the safety of a city you should also mention your ethnicity and your basic age, height and weight so that others can judge if they match up to your appearance. Someone well over 6 feet tall of any color will easily stand out from the crowd and might have higher risks than someone of shorter stature with the same skin color of the local population.

[Chocha Monger]

That is interesting news CM. I know there is a fair amount of anti-Semitism throughout the world today but I had no idea it also existed in Davao. I remember it was touted many times on this board as a mini mongers paradise and nobody likes to monger as much as a member of the tribe. I've told my buddy to cross off Davao from his list and focus on AC. He's already reached out to the Bagleboys in AC and he plans on meeting up with them while he's there.

Angeles City is a wise choice for your friend. While a handful of mongers claim that they did not "feel unsafe" or that they "felt safe" in Davao City, your friend likely does not wish to risk his neck based solely on the personal feelings of his fellow sex tourism enthusiasts visiting or residing in Davao City.

Regardless of subjective feelings, the fact remains that the consulates and intelligence agencies of all of NATO member countries warn their citizens against traveling to Mindanao, including Davao City. This upsets those with property, business, and familial ties to Davao City. It is human nature for people to look out for their own interests. However, the facts do not lie.

Davao City remains in a state of high alert since it suffered the Roxas Night Market bombing in September 2016, which killed 14 people. Davao City has experienced a total of 8 major bombings with a combined toll of 73 people killed and 551 injured. Many of these bombings were coordinated with bombings in other locations. Therefore, bombings elsewhere may signal increased risk of an impending bomb attack within Davao City itself and one should disregard such bomb attacks simply based on the distance away from Davao.

Some of the major bombings in Davao City:

March 4, 2003, Tuesday.

Unidentified men used an improvised explosive device to bomb the waiting area at the old Davao International Airport terminal, killing 22 people and wounding 155 others.

April 3, 2003, Thursday.

Barely a month after the Davao airport bombing, another powerful bomb exploded, this time at the entrance of Sasa Wharf.

The incident, which the government blamed on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), killed 16 people, including 4 policemen and a nun, and injured 46.

February 14,2005, Monday.

At around 6 pm, an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT). The incident killed a 12-year-old boy and left 5 others wounded.

The DCOTT bombing occurred almost simultaneously with the bombings in the cities of Makati and General Santos.

September 13,2013, Tuesday.

At around 9 pm, two simultaneous explosions rocked movie theaters at SM City in Ecoland and Gaisano Mall of Davao in Bajada.

No fatalities. A handful of moviegoers sustained minor injuries.

This followed explosions in Cagayan de Oro City and Cotabato City in July of the same year.

[PBtoCobra]

I would happily go back to Davao, I did not see any of the scare mongering issues when I was there, and my GF lives in a pretty run down area. We also went out to bars late at night. I know how to assess risk, and avoid places I don't feel comfortable with.

At no point did I feel unsafe.

My GF would prefer to go somewhere new for her birthday celebration. So we will probably select somewhere else, and she can fly solo from Davao.

Thanks to everyone who suggested locations to visit in Davao. , I will be sure to check some out when I return at some point.

[Bushes]

Oh. Second bomb went off in Isulan Sunday 2 September 2018. Also check point on nearby island hit by a truck bomb earlier. But all far from Davao. So Davao is not hit.

Well, FWIW, late Tuesday 2018 Aug 28, according to the news, there was an IS responsible bombing in Isulan. From the map, it looks like it is 3-4 hours from Davao. I assume it was a softer target aimed at a festival.

[GoodEnough]

I am afraid that your friend will be like a wildebeest visiting a watering hole in the Serengeti surrounded by a gauntlet of hungry lions and filled with starving Nile crocodiles. LOL! I would only recommend it if he is hell bent on ticking off the last box on his bucket list.

ISIS beheaded every non-Muslim they found in Marawi. Your buddy should take this into consideration before traveling to pop his cherry in Mindanao. However, many claim Davao is safe. If your friend wears his yarmulke around Davao for a week and makes it out unscathed, I will consider that strong evidence that the city is safe.

The usual nonsense from this guy. Your friend would be perfect safe, though no one here would likely know what a yarmulke is. I doubt that CM has ever been to Davao, as his perceptions are so nonsensical they sound like something emanating from the mouth of Donald Trump. The only relevant fact for your buddy is that there's no Jewish identity here; no hostility, no animus at all, just no knowledge.

GE.

[Screaming Beaver]

I am afraid that your friend will be like a wildebeest visiting a watering hole in the Serengeti surrounded by a gauntlet of hungry lions and filled with starving Nile crocodiles. LOL! I would only recommend it if he is hell bent on ticking off the last box on his bucket list.

ISIS beheaded every non-Muslim they found in Marawi. Your buddy should take this into consideration before traveling to pop his cherry in Mindanao. However, many claim Davao is safe. If your friend wears his yarmulke around Davao for a week and makes it out unscathed, I will consider that strong evidence that the city is safe.

That is interesting news CM. I know there is a fair amount of anti-Semitism throughout the world today but I had no idea it also existed in Davao. I remember it was touted many times on this board as a mini mongers paradise and nobody likes to monger as much as a member of the tribe. I've told my buddy to cross off Davao from his list and focus on AC. He's already reached out to the Bagleboys in AC and he plans on meeting up with them while he's there.