General Info

[QUOTE=GoodEnough]Some of the guys planning to come to Mindanao really need to download a decent map, study the geography, and memorize the location of some of the larger areas. Tagum is about 30 minutes outside of Davao. There's no unrest whatsoever. The closest conflict situations to Davao are about 3 hours or so West of here, and even in these places, the conflict occurs in fairly remote rural areas where no expats would think of going.[/QUOTE]Good advise GE but I have noted of the last several years that things are sliding in the wrong direction in many parts of Mindanao. I personally regard it as less safe now than in the past. I personally have pulled out & live elsewhere. My decisions are based on long term planning though.

AV

[QUOTE=Amavida]Good advise GE but I have noted of the last several years that things are sliding in the wrong direction in many parts of Mindanao. I personally regard it as less safe now than in the past. I personally have pulled out & live elsewhere. My decisions are based on long term planning though.

AV[/QUOTE]
Interesting AV. I'd be interested to learn which places specifically you think are deteriorating--outside of the ARMM and the whole Cotabato area. My sense is that things have actually gotten a bit more stable over the six plus years that I've been here. I had a long, pretty interesting conversation yesterday with a very senior politician from Sulu, and came away with some optimism that even there, things will soon change for the better. The only place I can think of that's done downhill from a security standpoint, since I've been here, is Zamboanga, where I'm headed today. But again, that's only perception and I've got nothing factual to back any of this up.

GE

[QUOTE=GoodEnough]Interesting AV. I'd be interested to learn which places specifically you think are deteriorating--outside of the ARMM and the whole Cotabato area. My sense is that things have actually gotten a bit more stable over the six plus years that I've been here. I had a long, pretty interesting conversation yesterday with a very senior politician from Sulu, and came away with some optimism that even there, things will soon change for the better. The only place I can think of that's done downhill from a security standpoint, since I've been here, is Zamboanga, where I'm headed today. But again, that's only perception and I've got nothing factual to back any of this up.

GE[/QUOTE]You're probably in a better position to know than me GE.

Like you I'm working off my perception of the situation. I keep my eyes & ears open. I'm sure many of my ex-pat mates living in some of the cities there will continue on in blissful ignorance with business as usual for years to come.

I've always been aware of the dangers of living there and found the risk/reward ratio favorable but I'm not comfortable with many areas of Mindanao any longer. Just a gut feeling based on watching & listening to what is going on.

The ruling elite (quaintly termed government) will not let this resource rich area go without a fight. A few years ago I was guardedly optimistic but not now.

Recently I went to visit the town of an old flame & stayed overnight. The MILF/NPA/Abu (call 'em what you like) turned up & pillaged the place at will while everyone including the Barangay captain (who is strong on law & order) cowered behind barricaded doors. This is 30 mins from an jet airport in a place formerly considered safe. Im not that enamored of Mindanao that I'm going to keep retreating to new 'safe haven's' there. Zamboanga? Been there in the past for fun, not going there any more dude. I have too much to live for. Im sure I could get on a flight there tomorrow, walk around & probably nothing bad would happen but why push your luck?

AV

[QUOTE=Amavida]
.................... Im not that enamored of Mindanao that I'm going to keep retreating to new 'safe haven's' there. Zamboanga? Been there in the past for fun, not going there any more dude. I have too much to live for. Im sure I could get on a flight there tomorrow, walk around & probably nothing bad would happen but why push your luck?
AV[/QUOTE]

When I first arrived 13 years ago Zamboanga City was my favorite place on my work and visit schedule. I loved to stay at the Lantaka Hotel, right on the water's edge, and breakfast on the terrace looking out towards Basilan Island was bliss. I was actually there on the weekend the (then unknown) Abu Sayyaf kidnapped a German guy and his wife and 2 kids soon after they had left Lantaka in a motorboat for a picnic on the sandy islands a few kms offshore. The AS let them go for a few thousand php but then all hell broke loose and alas - no more visits.
I lived in Davao for 2 years 2002 - 2004 and it is STILL my preferred destination to live if ever I retired and moved from Manila.
I like the northern strip too - Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro across to Gingoog City and Butuan and Surigao, but the road between Butuan and Davao is now not considered safe due to random NPA activity.
Like Amavida, my days of venturing off the beaten track in Mindanao have long gone. It's fly-in to CdO or Davao for me nowadays, and leave once business is done.

[QUOTE=Amavida]Subic beaches not polluted with sewerage. Who told you guys that? AV[/QUOTE]

When I was there in December local folks recommended not swimming anywhere near where the Olongapo River flows into Subic Bay. They indicated that raw sewage flows out of the thousands of homes along the river and into the bay. They suggested it is safer to swim at the beaches further to the North or out near the mouth of Subic Bay. Three other Westerners and I swam at a beach next to Ocean Adventures (Philippines version of Sea World, but their animals don't kill their trainers). There's a nice resort there. We sauntered in and ordered lunch and drinks and then used their beach. The beach wasn't great but the water was comfortable and the resort maintained a float and diving platform out in diving depth. None of us got sick -- yet.

The nicest and cleanest beaches I have seen in the Phils are on Palawan. From the plane you can see they go for miles but remain relatively undeveloped. East Asians aren't yet showing up in great numbers. But these beaches are definitely BYOG. If you go through Puerto Princesa you might recruit company at a little club near the airport.

[QUOTE=Amavida]Recently I went to visit the town of an old flame & stayed overnight. The MILF/NPA/Abu (call 'em what you like) turned up & pillaged the place at will while everyone including the Barangay captain (who is strong on law & order) cowered behind barricaded doors. This is 30 mins from an jet airport in a place formerly considered safe. [/QUOTE]You mean to say that you were there when it happened? What did they do exactly? Enter the houses and take whatever they wanted? Did they assault/abused anybody? Took hostages?

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]
I like the northern strip too - Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro across to Gingoog City and Butuan and Surigao, but the road between Butuan and Davao is now not considered safe due to random NPA activity.
[/QUOTE]I've had some _lovely_ GF's from Butuan. The girls there seem to have a willowly lingerie model look unlike the usual Mindanao telly tubby look.
Surigao del sur beaches are just devine..

AV

[QUOTE=Red Kilt]Bukidnon to Cagayan de Oro across to Gingoog City and Butuan and Surigao, but the road between Butuan and Davao is now not considered safe due to random NPA activity [/QUOTE]I usually don't really worry about NPA. I have heard that they are not after foreigners (maybe very bad advice I don't know). In the worst case they would steal whatever I have, and I never carry an awful lot. kidnapping is another ball game, and I don't think I ever heard the NPA kidnapping foreigners. Only heard that about Abou Sayaf (not even MILF but that may of course be more likely). I may be very misinformed, though, but that's the modus operatus on which I have been travelling so far.

Besides, if we speak NPA, then it is would not be specific to Mindanao. At this rate, it wouldn't be safe to travel in the Northern Luzon area, or anywhere in the Philippines for that matter. Over the years, though, I felt that their presence around the country was in sharp decrease. I don't think that today it really is a problem. For me they are about as a problem as any random hold upper, and these are things you can't control other than locking yourself in the bathroom with a survival kit and never going out.

[QUOTE=Skip Kost]When I was there in December local folks recommended not swimming anywhere near where the Olongapo River flows into Subic Bay. [/QUOTE]If you walk over the bridge from Olonggapo to Subic you dont need to be told not to swim in or near the river. Standeard advice all over the PI. Rivers are totally abused here. The default choice is the beaches over in the Barrio. Sorry for confusion.

AV

[QUOTE=Denom]You mean to say that you were there when it happened? What did they do exactly? Enter the houses and take whatever they wanted? Did they assault/abused anybody? Took hostages?[/QUOTE]Yes I was there. This was at night. First I knew people were running in their houses & locked themselves in. The 'rebels' spent about 30 min's helping themselves to livestock, gasoline and supplies. They were armed with millitary rifles and in assorted semi millitary clothing. I was told to stay absolutely silent & out of sight because of the extreme risk of kidnap.
Some houses they banged on the door's demanding (& getting) bags of rice & fish.

Thats as close as I ever want to come thanks very fuckin much.

AV

[QUOTE=Denom]I usually don't really worry about NPA. I have heard that they are not after foreigners (maybe very bad advice I don't know). In the worst case they would steal whatever I have, and I never carry an awful lot. kidnapping is another ball game, and I don't think I ever heard the NPA kidnapping foreigners. Only heard that about Abou Sayaf (not even MILF but that may of course be more likely). I may be very misinformed, though, but that's the modus operatus on which I have been travelling so far.

Besides, if we speak NPA, then it is would not be specific to Mindanao. At this rate, it wouldn't be safe to travel in the Northern Luzon area, or anywhere in the Philippines for that matter. Over the years, though, I felt that their presence around the country was in sharp decrease. I don't think that today it really is a problem. For me they are about as a problem as any random hold upper, and these are things you can't control other than locking yourself in the bathroom with a survival kit and never going out.[/QUOTE]

I travel a lot in NPA areas and they are much better than non-NPA areas when it comes to personal safety. Just listen to the locals and their advise. Dont be too interested in certain topics. If you work of a government agency or something like the Red Cross, dont go. Otherwise the NPA keeps common crime at a low level. So no traffic tickets (cops keep indoors) or robberies (NPA is tough on criminals).

Muslims. I guess AV was talking about Iligan and that Milf (not what you think guys...) raid some time ago. Again, I travel in MILF and MNLF areas and zero problems as long as you observe discretion. To put MILF and Abu Shit in the same basket is really over the top. The major problem in the Cotabato area is more the private kidnapping business. MILF and NPA have a cooperation agreement and I dont think that be-headings Abu Shit stile are part of it. But if your after Muslim ladies, the family might solve the issue swiftly. Fingers off...

Having said that, the common board member will do good not to venture south or south-west of Davao or go far beyond Mati. Pickings are rare and too visible activities along the lines of this forum might lead to trouble. Having said that: I cant wait to get to my small place and be pampered.

It is like anywhere, in Cambodia guys go to the capitol, the beach, or Siem Reap and are doing ok, going to remote border areas and enjoying the wild west would be a bad idea. No acceptable hotels, infrastructure down, climate sometimes difficult, bad tv reception, constant brown outs, candle light or kerosene lamps, mud roads impassable, so there is nothing else to do then to hang out, drink and ..... Mindanao is partly the same. :) I luv it.

[QUOTE=Amavida]You're probably in a better position to know than me GE.

Like you I'm working off my perception of the situation. I keep my eyes & ears open. I'm sure many of my ex-pat mates living in some of the cities there will continue on in blissful ignorance with business as usual for years to come.

I've always been aware of the dangers of living there and found the risk/reward ratio favorable but I'm not comfortable with many areas of Mindanao any longer. Just a gut feeling based on watching & listening to what is going on.

The ruling elite (quaintly termed government) will not let this resource rich area go without a fight. A few years ago I was guardedly optimistic but not now.

Recently I went to visit the town of an old flame & stayed overnight. The MILF/NPA/Abu (call 'em what you like) turned up & pillaged the place at will while everyone including the Barangay captain (who is strong on law & order) cowered behind barricaded doors. This is 30 mins from an jet airport in a place formerly considered safe. Im not that enamored of Mindanao that I'm going to keep retreating to new 'safe haven's' there. Zamboanga? Been there in the past for fun, not going there any more dude. I have too much to live for. Im sure I could get on a flight there tomorrow, walk around & probably nothing bad would happen but why push your luck?

AV[/QUOTE]
I understand, but still I'd be interested to know the town if you feel safe sharing it in a PM. Maybe I should tell our security guys if they don't already know.

I'm in Zamboanga now, and my behavior here is far different than it was six years ago, as I no longer feel secure. I go with my car and driver to my meetings, all of which are always finished by 5 in the afternoon, then I come back to the Orchid and don't go out again until my next series of meetings the next morning. I have as many meetings as I can in the hotel. I have just heard too much I guess, and sat through too many security briefings by people who know lots more about what's happening on the ground here than I do. It's too bad, as this is a nice city and I used to enjoy it.

I have stayed at Lantaka a few times in the past. Though it's gotten fairly seedy, the location is attractive. However, I don't feel safe there. It's too near the beach, thus too accessible to the bad guys from Basilan who can come over in rubber boats. I feel much more secure at the Garden Orchid where I get rooms in the back, away from the street side.

CDO and Davao are safe, secure, and hassle free, and those are the cities where I prefer to stay. Of course I live in Davao so I know the city pretty well.

GE

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