General Info

[Chocha Monger]

I will be headed to General Santos area in a few months and would like to know about the place. Adult fun spots? Safety? Best deals for a reasonable hotel? Thanks, Daz.

Mindanao Region and vicinity. Avoid all travel.

Global Affairs Canada advises against all travel to the Mindanao Region, excluding urban areas of Davao City due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping. The Government of Canada's ability to provide consular assistance in this region is limited.

There is a serious risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings in this region. Bombs causing deaths and injuries have exploded in public areas of major centres, including the cities of Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Kidapawan, Zamboanga, General Santos, Jolo and Isabela. On September 2, 2016, an explosion at a street market outside the Marco Polo hotel in Davao left 14 people dead and dozens injured. Avoid the area, monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities.

Clashes occur between insurgent groups, and between armed groups and security forces. These incidents often result in deaths and property destruction, and innocent bystanders have occasionally been taken hostage.

Several foreigners have been kidnapped in this region.

[Wicked Roger]

You sent the same message (almost) on Post 10501 on this thread and got a heap of replies advising you not to go.

Didn't you see them or are you some sort of "adventure junkie who likes to live on the edge"?

He is a manager RK as a look at the FR history shows little in way of giving back etc.

For some they never read theEr replies and just cherry pick what they want while living in a fantasy land of "it will be OK etc" or "is different as it is me not others".

I would let him go to GSC as he clearly he ignores sensible advice and with these type of people where reasoning and intellect are ignored, I tend to let them figure it out the hard way instead. He is a senior member after all (well 27 FRs of basically nothing qualifies you) and should be able to figure our life himself (we assume he is a grown up). Once he goes there, had trouble, maybe worse he can't blame anyone but himself can he?

[Red Kilt]

I will be headed to General Santos area in a few months and would like to know about the place. Adult fun spots? Safety? Best deals for a reasonable hotel? Thanks, Daz.

You sent the same message (almost) on Post 10501 on this thread and got a heap of replies advising you not to go.

Didn't you see them or are you some sort of "adventure junkie who likes to live on the edge"?

[Ikksman]

I will be headed to General Santos area in a few months and would like to know about the place. Adult fun spots? Safety? Best deals for a reasonable hotel? Thanks, Daz.

I have read your previous posts, and IMHO, GSC is way too dangerous a destination for a monger with non-existent or very limited Mindanao experience.

Ikks

[Dazhiba]

I will be headed to General Santos area in a few months and would like to know about the place. Adult fun spots? Safety? Best deals for a reasonable hotel? Thanks, Daz.

[Dg8787]

I'm looking for a change of scenery and not looking to go to a beach type-place. Will be working 80% of the time via computer. Any suggestions?

If you just want to go exploring I would go to Cebu Pacific Airlines website and see which cities they fly to and pick out a few.

[Red Kilt]

I wonder what the likely outcome would be if you (unintentionally) seriously pissed off a girl and she decided to frame you.

There would a reasonable likelihood that someone in her or her friends' extended family being in LE. The girl tells the LE guy or close family member that you met her and repeatedly offered her drugs, and even produces a small amount of the drug as evidence.

Infinitesimally small odds? Or something to include in your risk assessment of mongering in the PI?

Good point Ikks.

As someone who lives here, I have changed my MO completely now to take account of this very possibility. Definitely NOT infinitesimally small odds.

I know an example of a bar / g from Malabon who did just that very thing to a guy who short-changed her because she only delivered half of what she said she would.
She pointed him out as a drug-pusher.
He has never seen or used any drugs in his life. It freaked him out, and he actually left the country very quickly because the risks are no longer low and unsubstantial.

[Ikksman]

{S N I P}If anything, I feel safer now. If you're a drug dealer, your days are numbered. And if you were to kill a tourist, God hep you. President Duterte and his right hand man, "Bato," (alias, Rock), have sent a very clear message that crime will not be tolerated.{S N I P}.

I wonder what the likely outcome would be if you (unintentionally) seriously pissed off a girl and she decided to frame you.

There would a reasonable likelihood that someone in her or her friends' extended family being in LE. The girl tells the LE guy or close family member that you met her and repeatedly offered her drugs, and even produces a small amount of the drug as evidence.

Infinitesimally small odds? Or something to include in your risk assessment of mongering in the PI? In a similar vein, we do know that false under-age and [CodeWord123] accusations have been made in the past and members take precautions to prevent these problems.

Ikks.

[Random99]

I'm looking for a change of scenery and not looking to go to a beach type-place. Will be working 80% of the time via computer. Any suggestions?

[Wicked Roger]

If anything, I feel safer now. If you're a drug dealer, your days are numbered.

DU30 ran and won on that very clear message, with the strong support of the country.

Criminals know to keep a low profile, and many have surrendered because they realize leadership at the top is dead serious.

What you said is what many say but for some (a small minority on the board) the view is 180 degrees different from you.

Yet for some who are scared silly maybe there is a more subtle issue at play as you sort of suggest.

[SergeantRay]

Been to the Phils several times but not since Duturte new shoot any one laws went into effect. Is it safe to go there now? Keep hearing any one can walk up and shoot you. I really want to go but if it's that dangerous I'll just go to Thailand or Jakarta.

Filipinos have always had a very tough attitude toward criminals, particularly [CodeWord127] and killers. There was the case of the heavily armed gang that was hitting up banks and armored cars. Philippine cops take this very seriously, and are not looking to make arrests in these circumstances. In an intense shootout, several members of the gang were killed--overkilled, actually. One of the crew was wounded in the leg. The cops weren't in a hurry to get him treatment, so the leg had to be amputated. When he was on trial they never provided him with a wheelchair--he had to be carried around in a wooden chair.

If anything, I feel safer now. If you're a drug dealer, your days are numbered. And if you were to kill a tourist, God hep you. President Duterte and his right hand man, "Bato," (alias, Rock), have sent a very clear message that crime will not be tolerated. DU30 ran and won on that very clear message, with the strong support of the country.

Criminals know to keep a low profile, and many have surrendered because they realize leadership at the top is dead serious.

[SergeantRay]

Most of the shootings takes place in squatter areas of lets say Manilas barangays and shit. If you walked in those areas pre, during or post DU30 you would most likely end up in a box anyway. Foreigners aren't reported whacked to my knowledge so far. But since I presume you will stay in touristic / sextistic areas of pines you will (most likely) be fine as long as you don't use, store or sell drugs. Happy pooing.

Agreed. These shootings are in lower class neighborhoods well away from tourists. An example would be Barangay Ermita, adjoining Carbon Market.

I have a Filipino martial arts teacher in a neighborhood where he works as a tanod (like a neighborhood watch). He told me of drug users coming into the area from elsewhere to do drugs. This was the same place where Jaguar, the notorious druglord lived and did business. This neighborhood, Duljo / Fatima, is definitely off the tourist track--you'd have to look for it to find it, and there's nothing there to interest tourists.

No drug pusher ever gets shot at Ayala or SM Mall, on the beaches of Mactan, at the Fuente, etc.

[Wicked Roger]

Been to the Phils several times but not since Duturte new shoot any one laws went into effect. Is it safe to go there now? Keep hearing any one can walk up and shoot you. I really want to go but if it's that dangerous I'll just go to Thailand or Jakarta.

If you think it is unsafe then it must be as nes't pas? Life as usual and people all happy that duggies are being killed it seems, so unless you wander around the bad areas don't.

And you ask a lot of questions in your 30 odd FRs even when you have visited here many times before as you have family here you said so surely they would know? Have a view? Just wondering as last time you were worried about being blacklisted etc.

Confusing me.

[Member #4558]

Been to the Phils several times but not since Duturte new shoot any one laws went into effect. Is it safe to go there now? Keep hearing any one can walk up and shoot you. I really want to go but if it's that dangerous I'll just go to Thailand or Jakarta.

Most of the shootings takes place in squatter areas of lets say Manilas barangays and shit. If you walked in those areas pre, during or post DU30 you would most likely end up in a box anyway. Foreigners aren't reported whacked to my knowledge so far. But since I presume you will stay in touristic / sextistic areas of pines you will (most likely) be fine as long as you don't use, store or sell drugs. Happy pooing.

[Member #4698]

Anything to do in Manila when not jet lagged?

BD, as I am sure you are well aware, there is lots to do in Manila when you are feeling good. The question relevant to the conversation is; what to do in Manila when one is jet lagged and can't sleep. Off the top of my head I can suggest Burgos Bars up until closing time (3 am), LA Cafe (all night), and City of Dreams gambling complex (all night) for food, and possible early morning FL pickup. I am sure there are other possibilities. Any suggestions?