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I need advise from the local experts. I have a friend that lived in Illigan City. So the idea would be for me to fly from Manila to Cagayan de Oro where my friends family would meet me.

Then together we would go by taxi to their home in Illigan City.

But. Since I am a "gringo" Westerner. Everyone I know tells me not to go. That is it very dangerous for a Westerner even in Northern Mindanao.

Now I would dress so as not to attract attention but the face I cannot hide.

I travel to all parts of Asia so I get around.

Are the dangers rear? Should I not go in fear of this or that?

I would really appreciate some true feedback as I really would like to go. But. No sense jumping into the fire.

Many thanks!!

[QUOTE=Firebird;1759868]I need advise from the local experts. I have a friend that lived in Illigan City. So the idea would be for me to fly from Manila to Cagayan de Oro where my friends family would meet me. Then together we would go by taxi to their home in Illigan City.You could. [/QUOTE]You did not elucidate who your "friend" is. An online dating contact I will assume? You could take a taxi. Most folk will take a bus. If her family comes from Illigan, they will take a bus (taxi's are expensive, pinoy take jeepneys and busses). In fact, the bus trip from CDO to Illigan is about 2 hours, and the airport is about halfway between CDO and Illigan. Might be better to catch the bus or taxi from the airport to Illigan, rather than traveling east from the airport into CDO (one hour), then traveling 2 hours west to Illigan.

[QUOTE=Firebird;1759868]Are the dangers rear? Should I not go in fear of this or that?[/QUOTE]Its much smarter to invite your girl to CDO, and for both of you to stay in CDO. Don't allow her bring more than one other person there to meet you, and then only for a brief amount of time (an hour: introductions and some small talk, then lose the friend). However, I can see since you've mentioned family, that the family thing has already been discussed. Is your intent to meet the family for the sake of legitimately dating / marrying this girl (that's what her family will think)? Or, to just pork her (that's what we will think)? Where do you intend to stay: a hotel? Her home? For your maiden trip to Mindanao, don't leave CDO. Its not that you need to be paranoid in Illigan, more its just not the place you go on a first trip there.

Please be advised: anytime her family is involved, don't be surprised if they treat you like an ATM; be prepared to shell out large pesos (at her rural level) for food, drink, gifts, etcetera for the family (its expected).

Other gents jump in here.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1759880]You did not elucidate who your "friend" is. An online dating contact I will assume? You could take a taxi. Most folk will take a bus. If her family comes from Illigan, they will take a bus (taxi's are expensive, pinoy take jeepneys and busses). In fact, the bus trip from CDO to Illigan is about 2 hours, and the airport is about halfway between CDO and Illigan. Might be better to catch the bus or taxi from the airport to Illigan, rather than traveling east from the airport into CDO (one hour), then traveling 2 hours west to Illigan.

Its much smarter to invite your girl to CDO, and for both of you to stay in CDO. Don't allow her bring more than one other person there to meet you, and then only for a brief amount of time (an hour: introductions and some small talk, then lose the friend). However, I can see since you've mentioned family, that the family thing has already been discussed. Is your intent to meet the family for the sake of legitimately dating / marrying this girl (that's what her family will think)? Or, to just pork her (that's what we will think)? Where do you intend to stay: a hotel? Her home? For your maiden trip to Mindanao, don't leave CDO. Its not that you need to be paranoid in Illigan, more its just not the place you go on a first trip there.

Please be advised: anytime her family is involved, don't be surprised if they treat you like an ATM; be prepared to shell out large pesos (at her rural level) for food, drink, gifts, etcetera for the family (its expected).

Other gents jump in here.[/QUOTE]Westcoast, as always. You are superb in your reply!

My comments. Girl I have been meeting for close to a year each time I come to Makati. Yes, I do support her in little ways. Clothing, pay for electricity and treat her well. Even got some furniture for her and got hor roof fixed.

Am I foolish. Perhaps, but then again I [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] away money on other foolish things, why not make another persons life little better. And yes we have lot of "fun" together.

THe family would come to CGO as protection.

Westy. You being an expert in what you say. I will take your advise and not travel there. MANY THANKS for your feedback!!

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1759880]
Its much smarter to invite your girl to CDO, and for both of you to stay in CDO. Don't allow her bring more than one other person there to meet you, and then only for a brief amount of time (an hour: introductions and some small talk, then lose the friend). However, I can see since you've mentioned family, that the family thing has already been discussed. Is your intent to meet the family for the sake of legitimately dating / marrying this girl (that's what her family will think)? Or, to just pork her (that's what we will think)? Where do you intend to stay: a hotel? Her home? For your maiden trip to Mindanao, don't leave CDO. Its not that you need to be paranoid in Illigan, more its just not the place you go on a first trip there.

Please be advised: anytime her family is involved, don't be surprised if they treat you like an ATM; be prepared to shell out large pesos (at her rural level) for food, drink, gifts, etcetera for the family (its expected).

Other gents jump in here.[/QUOTE]That advice is good advice Firebird. Mindanao is not for newbies per se and I would stay CDO.

Family is a big issue. I have met the family but in a resto, my terms and a few turned up. If you go to Illigan you will meet the much larger 'family' which will included distant relatives all of whom will want to see the size of your wallet and not much else.

Examples:

1. A good friend went to meet the family on their town about 45 minutes from Cebu. Around 40 people were there and he was expected to foot the bill for food and drink etc. He was warned by me but thought he should see the family and believed they would not be that bad. He then invited the mom and the to the hotel for lunch (nice buffet) and 15 turned up. He was not tough enough to say "go home".

2. When I was a newbie (we all are once at least!) I met a girl in a mall (following advice from others) and still 5 family members turned up expecting a feed before I was allowed to feed her sausage all night. Now we could that does happen and it does but not with 5 family members.

3. Another friend in Cebu invited mom / dad for Fathers Day lunch. But to his surprise 9 family members turned up ordered 3 times more food they could eat (always seafood and steak), had it ate some and took the rest home for the larger family waiting.

So be cautious. Yes see the mom and dad as this will make the relationship legitimate as Westie says and helps the girl as well. Parents wills see you, also see you are a decent guy then tell her (maybe) to let you pork her all day every day. Does happen trust me.

But first time make it your rules don't let me dictate and certainly not where you are intending to go.

[QUOTE=Firebird;1759884]Westcoast, as always. You are superb in your reply!

My comments. Girl I have been meeting for close to a year each time I come to Makati. Yes, I do support her in little ways. Clothing, pay for electricity and treat her well. Even got some furniture for her and got hor roof fixed.

Am I foolish. Perhaps, but then again I **** away money on other foolish things, why not make another persons life little better. And yes we have lot of "fun" together.

THe family would come to CGO as protection.

Westy. You being an expert in what you say. I will take your advise and not travel there. MANY THANKS for your feedback!![/QUOTE]I'm a bit on the fence. Friend of mine went from CDO to Illigan recently, 2 nights, no problems. What say the other gents?

I was in Koronadal at the time of that SAF massacre that happened up the road last January. No real problems there, but I did get allot of attention. All up in the T-boli mountainous area was ok, and Kidapawan was ok. A friend rode his motorcycle from Illigan to Dapitan and lived. But if you hang around Illigan much, or go outside of the area, you're being watched. If you go south of there to Marawi, or north of Koronadal, going to Cotobato, you're nuts. I don't really see much reason to go to any of those places unless you just have allot of time to kill, and something else is bothering you.

[QUOTE=Firebird;1759868]I need advise from the local experts. I have a friend that lived in Illigan City. So the idea would be for me to fly from Manila to Cagayan de Oro where my friends family would meet me.

Then together we would go by taxi to their home in Illigan City.

But. Since I am a "gringo" Westerner. Everyone I know tells me not to go. That is it very dangerous for a Westerner even in Northern Mindanao.

Now I would dress so as not to attract attention but the face I cannot hide.

I travel to all parts of Asia so I get around.

Are the dangers rear? Should I not go in fear of this or that?

I would really appreciate some true feedback as I really would like to go. But. No sense jumping into the fire.

Many thanks!![/QUOTE]I have been to Cagayan de Oro many years ago. I have friends that still live there. All I can say is that the Muslims there are becoming more and more radical. Kidnappings, murder is their specialty. If you don't have to go there why bother. There are much safer places to travel. The thing is that you can't tell who is Muslim and who is not because they are Filipino. Why risk your life for what? The govt is so corrupt there, the lawless people know that they stand a very good chance of getting away with hurting or killing you. Even if they were to get caught they know there is a very small chance they will prosecuted.

Westcoast has given you some good advice there Firebird, specially as a first time traveller to the northern Mindanao region. You are obviously in a long-term relationship with a special Filipina, and you are helping her and perhaps her family out a bit. You maybe under pressure to see her on her home turf.

I have been to, and stayed in, Iligan on three separate occasions and have felt quite safe. But like Sam I would not tempt my fate travelling further east and south of there. If, Firebird, you have a need to see your girl, and family on the home patch here is a suggested arrangement. Stay a night or two at Kingsway Inn on the main highway. It is just 100 meters from Gaisano Mall, the only big shopping mall in Iligan. There are quite a few restaurants in the immediate area. Pretty safe (compared to Malate and Ermita!

So if you want to see the home and family of your girl as an alternative to going to Cagayan de Oro you can get a bus (about p90) or a yellow airport taxi (about p600) from Laguindingan Airport direct to Iligan. A day or two there should be enough to see the family, maybe take them out for a dinner, and perhaps have a look at some of the nice waterfalls in the area (eg Maria Cristina Falla, Tinago Falls).

KongKing.

[QUOTE=Firebird;1759868]I need advise from the local experts.

Many thanks!![/QUOTE]First of all good luck to you in your travel. Mindanao is a beautiful place. I wish they did not have tensions. I am sure world would visit the place. If you stay in CDO, Limketkai Luxe Hotel or Seda are very good options. Both of them do have good facilities.

To ALL that have given me information concerning my desire to travel to Illigan City. HUGE THANKS!!

KongKing I will PM you.

Thanks Again.

Firebird.

[QUOTE=Sam14;1759979]I was in Koronadal at the time of that SAF massacre that happened up the road last January. No real problems there, but I did get allot of attention. All up in the T-boli mountainous area was ok, and Kidapawan was ok. A friend rode his motorcycle from Illigan to Dapitan and lived. But if you hang around Illigan much, or go outside of the area, you're being watched. If you go south of there to Marawi, or north of Koronadal, going to Cotobato, you're nuts. I don't really see much reason to go to any of those places unless you just have allot of time to kill, and something else is bothering you.[/QUOTE]What do you think about General Santos? I have been chatting with this beauty last couple of months and she is expecting me to visit there. I will be in Cebu tomorrow and I have been trying to convince her to join me in Cebu. But so far it does not look promising.

[QUOTE=KongKing;1760007]I would not tempt my fate travelling further east and south of there. KongKing.[/QUOTE]I meant travelling further WEST not east.

[QUOTE=Mbsl65;1760038]What do you think about General Santos? I have been chatting with this beauty last couple of months and she is expecting me to visit there. I will be in Cebu tomorrow and I have been trying to convince her to join me in Cebu. But so far it does not look promising.[/QUOTE]Other than the problem of boredom, there's no issue with General Santos. It's safe. PLUS, ITS AN EASY DRIVE FROM THERE TO Davao.

GE.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1760133]Other than the problem of boredom, there's no issue with General Santos. It's safe. <Snip> [/QUOTE]So true! The center of the universe there is the malls. The girls are friendly enough, but you would probably want to have someone lined up if you intend to get much action. It's hotter too, and rather noisy. It's a good base if you want to explore the region and meet allot of nice people. But again, not much of a monger destination. Here's a lovely Gen San province girl in a not so lovely room. I was testing her to see if she only loved me for my money. A much better choice for the budget traveler would be the Dolores for the same price, about p800..

Not sure where to post this, what thread. Discussion lately of Filipinas being late to this or that meeting. Pinoy comedian Mikey Busos on pinoy time:

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IxKnJP2JuM[/URL]

WC.