Other Areas

[QUOTE=Sam14;1801512]Yes, I have. Daan Bantayan is where I got my first taste of filipina puddie pie. I set up a Cupid account 6 months prior to my departure and had folders loaded with contacts for a couple dozen cities. By the time I landed in Cebu, my short list was down to exactly two (2) girls. One in Ozamiz and one in Daan bantayan. The latter was 18, brown, gwapa, and had a great ass. But who cares, that wasn't your question.
i
Don't know if any of that helps or not, hope so.[/QUOTE]Hi,

Did you rent the bike from Cebu and rode to North? Can you give more details? I am very interested doing a similar adventure trip.

After reading Keen Eye Joe's post about a bar next to our place and his nice stay over there, I gave it a shot on my last vacation. The bar is located on the "highway" going from Lingayen to Alaminos, between Labrador and Sual. At first we missed it as there are quite a lot trees an vegetation around, best way to find it is to watch for the gas station on the opposite side of the road. By describing how you can reach the "establishment" I'm already thinking of why I'am doing that.

When I visited the bar with a mate there where 6 or 7 girls most of them feed with too much arozcaldo or lady drinks, what is hard to guess as there were only two drunk British expats and two pinoy besides us. The girls can't compete with the girls in AC or Manila, classic province girls on "sembreak". So we sat down and had a bucket of San Mig Apple 6 Bottle for PHP 350. Steph the mamasan showed us the girls that all were quite keen on sitting with us. So quickly we had two girls sitting with us and some ladies drinks (150 each) stand on the table. Both girls from Mindanao and even nothing you would take out in AC, quite cute and pleasing. So after on more bucket and more LD we all wanted to leave the place for some "rest" and to escape the KTV sining expats. Barfine was 2500 and more 600 for a moderate room in one of the nearby resorts. I forgott to mention, that before, we already figured out if one of the girls is on her juice red days which they said no.

So over in the resort room I quickly find out why my companion was so eager to make the room dark. Not like some ambient-light. More like in a coal cellar. So of course I confronted her with that she was lying before and this is a no go for me because bloody is only my taste if I order a steak. So I told her lets get the clothes on I going to bring her back. When we were about to leave the room she refused to go back to the bar. So I went there alone to have some talk with Steph. Later I got to know that after I left the resort my companion was like trying to smash the door of the room my mate and his companion where in, so that other resort guest came out and were looking what was happening till she got into the room where she did some Cebuano quack quack with "dai" and after short both girls left the resort and where never seen (at least not that evening).

Well Stephani the mamsan was sleeping already. So I told her bar guys to wake her up. We asked her to refund the barfine which she didn't denied. But was more curious about where the girls are then solving the problem we got with her. She mentioned a couple times that she may have to call the police if her girls run away because their not allowed to be outside alone? Of course she was just interested to see us getting your feet under the arms an run away from the police. So she was kinda irritated when instead of that I order one bucket san mig apple. After maybe aprox an hour talking with her, friendly trying to settle differences, and her mentioning to call the police more and more and more. She got kinda pissed and was talking some words with one of her staff that I could identify as not gentle talking about us. So keep things short maybe 10 minutes the police gators from the Labrador crossing where besides our table. What Steph din't know was that the captain gator is a buddy to my cousin and we already know each other quite well from various occasions (no not that kind like that evening, I mean just sitting together with some SM or Emperador and playing Tongits / Romé). So the evening ended with a refund of our barfine some free drinks and what else the gators did at the Europe Bistro after we got our arses out of there.

If ever someone is in that area I would suggest visiting one of the 2 bars (Bahay ni Tito and RM Beergarden) at the junction of Lingayen-Alaminos higway and Romulo highway in Lingayen besides the green no name / out of order gas station. Girls look proper friendly staff Beers 80 PHP LD 120 PHP, Karaoke, Pulutan and VIP Rooms available. If I remember correct it was 2 k vor VIP and 2200 for BF. We were told cheaper service is available at the Beer garden next to it, but we never went there.

Another location to go are the bigger clubs in Dagupan along Arellano Street, all in all a bit more pleasing and also some rare beauties. You can have a 5 minute trike ride between the bars (Eclipse, 808, Hubstruck).

A bit off topic: I remember being in a street in Baguio where several bars where located, but can't find it on a map maybe some local got a hint on it.

So far my 5 pence.

Greets,

Roque

[QUOTE=KeenEyeJoe;1258868]I recently spent 16 days in northwest Luzon. I'm considering the Phils as a potential place to retire at the end of the year, so toured around Pangasinan, La Union, Zambales, and Benguet provinces in search of the perfect locality. I can't say I found paradise, but I decided that San Fernando, La Union is a pretty good place to start. It's a medium-sized city with nice beaches, low prices for housing, decent shopping, close to Baguio and its temperate climate, and only a 6 hour bus ride from Manila.

I used Dagupan, Pangasinan for my base of operations and spent 9 nights there. Westerners are very rare in that city and I received lots of stares everywhere I went. People were very friendly when I made the effort to initiate dialogue with them. I was looking for the "real Philippines" on this trip and wanted to stay away from cities with a large western presence. Dagupan has nothing interesting for a tourist, but I found it a suitable place to be as I traveled by bus during the day.

Unfortunately, I found it's tough but not impossible to find paid companionship in Dagupan. I was fortunate in meeting a local 28 year old lady by chance at a Jollibee and we hit it off really well and she took good care of me in all ways. But she couldn't be with me every night due to having to take care of her children, so I was on my own a few nights....[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=GreenBud;1819122]Good report. It's the way I remember it. I didn't do Sabang on my last trip due to the typhoon.

If you find it, please let me know.


.[/QUOTE]Baretto in subic bay works well. Not as good if you like corals and good viz but the wrecks are awesome.

About 20 bars there and only 1500 -2000 BF.

With all the reports of some trouble in Mindanao, being a "westerner" I was hesitant to take a trip to Iligan city. But this past week I got the balls to take a flight into Cagayan de Oro and then a van ride to Iligan city.

I spent two days over a weekend and must report I did not sense any problems of being there. Do not flash any money or jewerly. Keep a low profile and you will be fine. By the way, during the visit I say some dozen westerner in the Gaisano mall. It was a very nice trip to say the least. By the way, at all times I was accompanied by a local friend and her family.

Enjoy.

[QUOTE=Firebird;1830495]With all the reports of some trouble in Mindanao, being a "westerner" I was hesitant to take a trip to Iligan city. But this past week I got the balls to take a flight into Cagayan de Oro and then a van ride to Iligan city.

I spent two days over a weekend and must report I did not sense any problems of being there. Do not flash any money or jewerly. Keep a low profile and you will be fine. By the way, during the visit I say some dozen westerner in the Gaisano mall. It was a very nice trip to say the least. By the way, at all times I was accompanied by a local friend and her family.

Enjoy.[/QUOTE]Given its proximity to Marawi, Iligan is always a bit of a risk. But risk factors not withstanding, why would anyone want to go there? The place doesn't offer very much.

GE.

[QUOTE=MichaelSamuel;1818958]Puerto Galera. Sebang (Sabang).

This was my 2nd year

Spent 6 nights there this year and hit the bars / clubs every night to find something to take home. Last year at least 2 of the nights I wimped out after a few post dive beers and dinner and went to sleep alone so I vowed to correct that this year. One of the interesting parts of the Sebang scene is that at 7 when the bars open the korean guys come in droves and the mamasans line up the girls and they just point and choose taking out a lot of the top talent. There is no conversation with the girl or even drinks bought, just point and go. I had heard about this, but witnessed this for the first time this year and it is as advertised. Different strokes for different folks. .

.[/QUOTE]Reminds me of a night many many years ago when I was in Firehouse in Cebu. Yes there was one, back in last century LOL. I was sitting having a beer with a young lady and two Japanese walked in. They had a chat with the mamasan and next thing I know, all the girls left the stage and went to get changed. All the GRO types also went to get changed. The mamasan came to me and told me that my girl had just beeen barfined too. Girls then all left where a coaster type was waiting and apparaently headed to Shangri La Mactan where a large group of Japanese were staying.

Suddenly, I was in a bar with flashing lights, music playing, a well lit stage and not a single girl!

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;1831435]Given its proximity to Marawi, Iligan is always a bit of a risk. But risk factors not withstanding, why would anyone want to go there? The place doesn't offer very much.

GE.[/QUOTE]I think he explained he went to meet a 'friend' . Iligan is a provincial city which is larger and more modern than people might realize. Honestly I don't understand the fear of 95% of Mindanao. I would feel more comfortable walking around Iligan City alone at any hour of the day or night than most all of Quezon City or 75% of metro Manila. Granted I haven't been to Iligan for 6 or 7 years but I was there a few times in the mid oughts for 4 days each time and had a great time also meeting female friends and exploring the city with them and alone. I wouldn't hesitate to go back, if I found another friend as Firebird did.

The people of Mindanao are very hospitable to foriegners. The bad spots are very obvious and likely to be off the beaten path for most of us.

Did you have a particularly bad experience in Iligan goodenough?

I stayed in Cheradel Suites it was close to the common fish and farmers market. Is that place still kept up well does anyone know? They had a nice pool but most Phils resorts deteriorate quickly often.

[QUOTE=Pantot;1831654]The people of Mindanao are very hospitable to foriegners. The bad spots are very obvious and likely to be off the beaten path for most of us.

Did you have a particularly bad experience in Iligan goodenough?

[/QUOTE]I'm with GE here. On one hand, I think for experienced phils provincial travelers, much of Mindanao is fine. OTOH, the entire island can be dangerous even for locals. Kidnappings are the largest threat for anyone who travels the roads. In the last year alone, a mayor of a small town near butuan (and his disabled son) were kidnapped from their home, tortured and killed. In Zamboanga a corporate mining exec (and his driver) were kidnapped. Several Coast Guard members were kidnapped in Dapitan (between Iligan and Zamboanga). A number of Bachelor-type highway busses were stopped by separatists (dressed as Pilipine military) and the travelers robbed at gunpoint along the northern Butuan-CDO-Zamboanga corridor. Two Canadians and a Norwegian were kidnapped from Samal, near Davao. A German couple were kidnapped while sailing around Mindanao. An Italian restaurant owner was kidnapped in Pagadian in October (the 4th kidnapping in the region in a 2-week span). From the US State Dept. Phils Travel Warning from last October:

[I]"Over the past nine months, at least 15 separate kidnappings have been reported across Mindanao. In western Mindanao, terrorist, insurgent, and criminal gangs regularly conduct kidnappings for ransom, including the kidnapping of a foreigner in Dipolog City in early October 2015 by unknown assailants. ".[/I]

To make Pantot's case, I ran into a guy in CDO by chance a few years ago. Gringo, early 40's, long beard, a free spirit with a wife-beater shirt and head bandana. He was traveling from Butuan (about a 4 hour ride from CDO) to Bukidnon (another 3 hour south) on a small motorcycle in a driving rainstorm. He'd stopped to warm up and get coffee. He's married to a pinay and they built a home near the beach near Butuan and Gingoog. It was pouring rain and he had little more than shorts, sandals, his wife-beater shirt, bandana, and a clear rain slicker. I asked him if it was dangerous on the road. "Nothing than more than my own driving scares me. I've been all over this rock. Every cranny". Not afraid of kidnap or other trouble? "Nah. More afraid of local police scamming a few pesos". Why not wait till tomorrow to go to Bukidnon? Weather's looking better tomorrow. "Told my buddy in Bukidnon I'd be there today". Safer to travel with your pinay wife? "F*ck no. Abu Sayaf f*ckers would just as soon kill us both". Ever seen any trouble? "Ya. Twice. Saw those f*ckers holding up a bus. Robbing everyone of their money. Just drove on by". I see.

Any of that keep me from traveling the island? Like Pantot, no. However, I think its not wise to tell newbs to the island to make their initial trip to Mindanao to anything other than CDO or Davao. Other places can come on later trips. The girl can be brought from her province anywhere in Mindanao to Davao / CDO (or better, Manila) for $100 (your safety is worth much more than that).

From a guy named Fred, who blogs:

[B]Hello,
I am moving full time to Mindanao, a small village not far from Dipolog, I have been there many times and NEVER had any problems at all. Matter of fact people are far more friendly than my home now in Miami Florida.
I love to take road trips and would like to drive all over Mindanao. Where are the places I should avoid?
My wife is Filipino and will always be with me.
thanks in advance
Fred[/B]

He's right! And, he's wrong! If he gets kidnapped, it will certainly not help that his wife was with him (they'd as likely shoot her on the spot to get to him as take her along for the ride), nor will she be more able to avoid Abu Sayaf because she's pinay (the Norwegian above was kidnapped with his pinay wife).

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1831711]I'm with GE here. On one hand, I think for experienced phils provincial travelers, much of Mindanao is fine. OTOH, the entire island can be dangerous even for locals. Kidnappings are the largest threat for anyone who travels the roads. In the last year alone, a mayor of a small town near butuan (and his disabled son) were kidnapped from their home, tortured and killed. In Zamboanga a corporate mining exec (and his driver) were kidnapped. Several Coast Guard members were kidnapped in Dapitan (between Iligan and Zamboanga). A number of Bachelor-type highway busses were stopped by separatists (dressed as Pilipine military) and the travelers robbed at gunpoint along the northern Butuan-CDO-Zamboanga corridor. Two Canadians and a Norwegian were kidnapped from Samal, near Davao. A German couple were kidnapped while sailing around Mindanao. An Italian restaurant owner was kidnapped in Pagadian in October (the 4th kidnapping in the region in a 2-week span). From the US State Dept. Phils Travel Warning from last October[/QUOTE]Well to be fair here Westie simply visiting and living there are 2 different scenarios. Most all of the cases you cited were victims who were conspicuous by there presence and not just guys on a holiday visiting some random chickie pie and her family. I am not advocating living ANYWHERE in the phils as a perfectly safe endeavor. Anywhere you can become a sitting duck for locals with a grudge or nothing to lose much less armed radicals with a political agenda.

From my very first posts on Mindanao I noted that the main thing to avoid for a simple traveler is public transport in between the cities. Your recent incidents confirm that. The others were bad events happening to people who were notable members of the community or business. Living large in the Phils is not a good plan anywhere IMO.

There are two seperate classes of posters here, those who see the Phils through the lens of being a vacationer getting laid short term and those smaller but more vocal and strident minority of posters in number though certainly not in volume of posts who view the Phils and each locale up for discussion as a place to LIVE put down roots and become part of the community. I am not in that group and want no part of that discussion as I have no interest in ever being in that group of full or part time residents. Some of you are there on business which puts you an entirely different category with entirely different issues and good luck and hope you are safe. Mindanao or Metro Manila or wherever.

In the cities of Mindanao you will be surrounded by citizens who are happy to see you and much less likely to view you as a mark than you will in Angeles or Metro Manila. You are much less likely to have your pocket picked literally or figuratively and almost everyone you meet won't be trying to overcharge you or rip you off like in AC or Manila. Nearly every taxi trip or motor or pedi trike trip will be a simple transaction and not a big negociation as we all get in the usual areas. My main point is you will much more likely to have a stress and trouble free short term visit to the cities of Mindanao spend alot less money and have just as good a time if you have some local girls already lined up, than you will in the common destinations of Luzon, while spending less money. I'm not saying its risk free. No place is.

I was was in Illigan and Ozamiz recently. It's true, there really isn't much of interest, especially not restaurants. I prepared most of my meals in my hotel room. (Sorry Pantot, I didn't notice the place you mentioned). Someone once told me that a friend of his had a nice house and lot in a coastal village not far from Illigan. When he returned, the house was boarded up and the owner was long gone. Presumably something frightened him enough to get the hell out. If you hang around long enough, you are likely being watched. Money is a motive. If you have allot of it, it doesn't matter if you're white, brown, or a Catholic priest.

On my first night in Ozamiz, there was a few traffic control guys hanging out on the main intersection with their truck parked and the lights flashing. As I was getting to know the place, I passed their intersection a few times. Every time I passed, all heads turned. Any local hanging around the city is well aware of any new gringo arrival. That said, I always felt safe in both places, and the ride from CDO to Dipolog was uneventful in terms of safety. Both are OK places to meet girls, but you are not likely to get much action unless you have something lined up or have allot of time, patience, and enjoy Filipino cuisine.

[QUOTE=Firebird;1830495]With all the reports of some trouble in Mindanao, being a "westerner" I was hesitant to take a trip to Iligan city. But this past week I got the balls to take a flight into Cagayan de Oro and then a van ride to Iligan city.

I spent two days over a weekend and must report I did not sense any problems of being there. Do not flash any money or jewerly. Keep a low profile and you will be fine. By the way, during the visit I say some dozen westerner in the Gaisano mall. It was a very nice trip to say the least. By the way, at all times I was accompanied by a local friend and her family.

Enjoy.[/QUOTE]Did you go to the waterfalls? They are cool.

[QUOTE=Dirtdog;1833529]Did you go to the waterfalls? They are cool.[/QUOTE]Which waterfalls?

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;1833645]Which waterfalls?[/QUOTE]Iligan is the 'City of Waterfalls' according to the locals.

There are 2 main tourist waterfalls.

The most famous is Ma Cristina. Its large but I would say its not much to see. Its actually huge hydro power plant and you can't get near the falls.

The better one is Tinago Falls. Its a secluded grove with a big pond which overflows to a stream fed by a tall narrrow waterfall which flows over from 100 or so feet above very picturesqe and a nice refreshing swim with plenty of places to hang out and a big local attraction. You have to climb down a bunch of steps to get there and back so if you arent ambulatory it could be problematic.

I looked at my photo records and I was last there in 2007 so maybe its changed. It was almost entirely a local attraction. A nice swimming hole with fresh clear water.

The best waterfalls I have been to in the Phils for personal experience was in Siquijor. It was the same set up as Tinago Falls a secluded pond and You could actually stand under it with a football fields worth of water cascading down on your body, very invigorating. Also Siquijor had pretty cool caves to explore for an amatuer with local guides not spelunking but still fun. I banged my head a dozen times and my tevas blew out at the bottom where there was a tiny pond to swim in to get refreshed so the climb back was a challenge.

Gentlemen:

I read all your reports with great interest. Quite an assortment of information. Why did I travel to Iligan City? I met a wonderful girl (I can hear some of you snicker) that I have known for two years now. Her.

Family lives there and I wanted to meet them and see where she lives. Good god!! - even if we in the west do not have much. We are millionaires in comparison. I was accompanied by her family all the time and kept a low.

Profile. Yes, was there some danger? Sure! But in New York City's Park Avenue, I was once almost mugged. Guy came me at gun point, but last minute something scared him away. Once walking the street in Moscow I was.

Approached by two fake cops wanting to extort money. I told them to f*ck off. When traveling in Sao Paolo Brasil I keep my money on my socks and look like a local. If you walk late at night in Prague. Wenceslaw Square.

You better have eyes on the back of your head. Otherwise you will get robbed. In Tijuana Mexico, you better avoid most cops, as they will try to extort some "shake down" pesos from you.

In Detroit if you get into the wrong neighborhood, you may never come out. I never venture into Manila and heard that certain sections of Quezon City are quite dangerous. So as you see even in Western world, parts are.

More dangerous then CGO or Iligan city.

In Iligan City, I stayed in Kingsway Inn. Walking distance to Gaisano Mall. Lot of people. Everyone super friendly. There I must have seen close to ten westerners during my visit. First time ever I rode a jeepney.

Is there a great concentration of Muslims in Iligan City. Yes! So what!? When I travel to Jakarta, there are Muslims everywhere. I have never had any problems.

I have heard of Maria Christina falls, but no interest to see them. Once you see Niagara Falls or some of the other large falls, everything else just pales in comparison.

Will I go back to Iligan City? Why not!? - not for the sightseeing but to see my friend and her family.

And it is true. Even for the locals in Iligan city, there is some danger. Do they stop living??

To all many thanks for your comments and yes "stay safe" and keep you wits about you when you travel.

Firebird.

[QUOTE=Firebird;1837389]Gentlemen:

I read all your reports with great interest. Quite an assortment of information. Why did I travel to Iligan City? I met a wonderful girl (I can hear some of you snicker) that I have known for two years now. Her.

Family lives there and I wanted to meet them and see where she lives. Good god!! - even if we in the west do not have much. We are millionaires in comparison. I was accompanied by her family all the time and kept a low.

Profile. Yes, was there some danger? Sure! .[/QUOTE]Yeah the paranoia over Mindanao is so overblown. Are there parts that might pose a threat to random foreigners? YES but its parts we would never go to to meet a girl, nor would she want to as well it would be a danger for her. I'm sure tiny pockets of trouble not in the main cities. I did the same as you 10 years ago meet a girl in Iligan and had a great time and I was there a few times over the next 7 years. Its a huge city actually. Pretty modern. I always chuckle when people advise us here that its dangerous! Glad to hear its the same. Are motorized tricycles still illegal in Iligan proper? It was a nice feature when I was there and taxis were cheap.