General Info

[QUOTE=Chocha Monger; 1230512]It's interesting that it is always the same handful of posters claiming that the Philippines is safe and free of corruption. They always make personal attacks against any poster with a dissenting opinion. The basis of their argument is always the same. If someone has a different viewpoint or experience of the country that poster must be bitter, sour, on an agenda, never visited the country, etc.

Perhaps, the media, law enforcement agencies, embassies, other expats and tourists are part of some dark conspiracy to create false information about foreigners being murdered, robbed and scammed. The reasoning of the clique is if it did not personally happen to them if must not be true. Those 95 foreigners killed in the Philippines between January 2009 and mid-June 2010 never existed. The thousands of Filipinos desperate for a chance to flee their country must be just be bitter sour people. After all, who in their right mind would want to run away from this leafy green tropical paradise where one awakes to the sweet twitter of birds and fresh cool air scented with the exotic fragrance of flowers?

Gaddafi claimed that his people loved him and it was only a few foreign terrorists creating minor disturbances in his country as Libya revolted all around him. It is no surprise that cliques of elitist mongers perceive the reality surrounding them very differently from the masses. In fact, it is to be expected. I guess the reality of foreigners in the Philippines who do not live in protected enclaves dining on fine French cheeses and quaffing 1945 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild Jeroboam really does not count.

I encourage travelers who will not be safely hidden in the 'leafy' Green Zone to research factual information on the politics, crime, corruption and treatment of foreign citizens. Also, take some time to go back over the posting history of those mongers claiming that the Philippines is a paradise. You will find numerous instances of them complaining about the people and the country. Yet, I'm the one who is bitter.[/QUOTE]Guess I'm the compromise candidate. I don't live in Phils but for the last two years I've come for 4-5 month extended stays, living in pensions (in cities) or nipa huts (on islands). No "leafy Green zones", na. I have a bank account, always a free GF, and don't do the barstool scene. I've never felt threatened or intimidated. I see Phils getting better / smarter / cleaner every year and I'm considering spending more time here.

The media worldwide preaches "gloom and doom" to sell papers or attract viewers. Don't be sucked into a "life of fear" anywhere.

Just stay aware of where you are, who you are, and who you are with. Get off the barstool, out of the 5 star aircon hotel, and experience Phils for what it is, for better or worst.

I live in the rough part of town. My street has drug deals, guys drinking all day and gangsters (cribs here bloods are 1 km from my street) they shoot and stab each other. I feel safe I walk my street any time. When I tell people where I live they know the streets reputation. The reason we are safe is that so many eyes are watching some are enemy of the guy who would like to rob you. To me the only danger is people you know so if you are a asshole to those around you they may tell some one who will do something about it. As posted many times the wife was out 12am etc. She is the one in your house she can see your value dead. Some family will do honor killing so that you not find out about her lies.

I mean Jesus Fucking Christ. For Cripes sake, WE are sick of it.

Having a good time in the Philippines looking for we are.

Tuning into Public TV you old hands should do.

[QUOTE=Chocha Monger;1230512]I encourage travelers who will not be safely hidden in the 'leafy' Green Zone to research factual information on the politics, crime, corruption and treatment of foreign citizens. Also, take some time to go back over the posting history of those mongers claiming that the Philippines is a paradise. You will find numerous instances of them complaining about the people and the country. Yet, I'm the one who is bitter.[/QUOTE]Umm, I don't have a dog in this fight, but I am just curious. When was your last visit to the Philippines?

stockholm—a swedish court on tuesday sentenced a man to five years prison for a series of sex crimes against children including a [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord123][CodeWord123][/url] in the philippines and possession of more than 500, 000 pornographic pictures featuring children.

the kristianstad district court, in southern sweden, found 45-year-old patrick johnsson guilty of [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord125][CodeWord125][/url] a young child, planning further child [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord124][CodeWord124][/url], aggravated child pornography, sexually assaulting children, and making children pose for sexually explicit pictures.

johnsson, who according to the tt news agency is only the third person to ever be sentenced in sweden for sex crimes committed against children abroad, was arrested in february.

at the time, he was in possession of 514, 216 pornographic pictures of children and 10, 230 video films, including ones portraying sexual assaults and [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord124][CodeWord124][/url] on young children and even infants, and was found to have spread the material widely, according to the court documents.

among the pictures were a number documenting his own assaults on children, and the kristianstand court said that at least one case, involving a girl in the philippines aged four or five, should be considered [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord123][CodeWord123][/url].

when he was arrested, johnsson had already purchased a new ticket to the philippines, and a chat conversation over the internet indicated he and an accomplice intended to sexually assault more children during that trip, according to the court documents.

the prosecutor in the case, maans bjoerklund, had demanded eight years behind bars for johnsson and told tt tuesday he was considering appealing the verdict.

helena karlen, who heads the swedish branch of the global anti-child prostitution network ecpat, meanwhile said she was pleased with the verdict and especially the message it sent.

'it is important that the public opens its eyes to these crimes and realises that assaults, even committed on the other side of the planet, can be prosecuted at home in sweden, ' she told tt.

[url]http://globalnation.inquirer.net/21745/man-jailed-in-sweden-for-child-[url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord123][CodeWord123][/url]-in-philippines[/url]

if this guy actually did what he was accused of, in my opinion, he should be publically hanged.

8 years in jail. the actual sentence, is totally inappropriate to the severity of the crime.

g

[quote=chocha monger; 1230948]stockholm—a swedish court on tuesday sentenced a man to five years prison for a series of sex crimes against children including a [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord123][CodeWord123][/url] in the philippines and possession of more than 500, 000 pornographic pictures featuring children.

the kristianstad district court, in southern sweden, found 45-year-old patrick johnsson guilty of [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord125][CodeWord125][/url] a young child, planning further child [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord124][CodeWord124][/url], aggravated child pornography, sexually assaulting children, and making children pose for sexually explicit pictures.

johnsson, who according to the tt news agency is only the third person to ever be sentenced in sweden for sex crimes committed against children abroad, was arrested in february.

at the time, he was in possession of 514, 216 pornographic pictures of children and 10, 230 video films, including ones portraying sexual assaults and [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord124][CodeWord124][/url] on young children and even infants, and was found to have spread the material widely, according to the court documents.

among the pictures were a number documenting his own assaults on children, and the kristianstand court said that at least one case, involving a girl in the philippines aged four or five, should be considered [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord123][CodeWord123][/url].

when he was arrested, johnsson had already purchased a new ticket to the philippines, and a chat conversation over the internet indicated he and an accomplice intended to sexually assault more children during that trip, according to the court documents.

the prosecutor in the case, maans bjoerklund, had demanded eight years behind bars for johnsson and told tt tuesday he was considering appealing the verdict.

helena karlen, who heads the swedish branch of the global anti-child prostitution network ecpat, meanwhile said she was pleased with the verdict and especially the message it sent.

'it is important that the public opens its eyes to these crimes and realises that assaults, even committed on the other side of the planet, can be prosecuted at home in sweden, ' she told tt.

[url]http://globalnation.inquirer.net/21745/man-jailed-in-sweden-for-child-[url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord123][CodeWord123][/url]-in-philippines[/url][/quote]

I can kind of vouch for Frenzy3's comments about safety. When I went to visit him, I walked both to and from his house. I did not feel particularly threatened or afraid. But it really is in a pretty seedy part of town.

G.

[QUOTE=Frenzy3;1230562]I live in the rough part of town. My street has drug deals, guys drinking all day and gangsters (cribs here bloods are 1 km from my street) they shoot and stab each other. I feel safe I walk my street any time. When I tell people where I live they know the streets reputation. The reason we are safe is that so many eyes are watching some are enemy of the guy who would like to rob you. To me the only danger is people you know so if you are a asshole to those around you they may tell some one who will do something about it. As posted many times the wife was out 12am etc. She is the one in your house she can see your value dead. Some family will do honor killing so that you not find out about her lies.[/QUOTE]

Five years in jail. What a sick joke.

Some Duterte justice maybe?

Barba

[QUOTE=Chocha Monger;1230948]STOCKHOLM—A Swedish court on Tuesday sentenced a man to five years prison for a series of sex crimes against children[/QUOTE]He's lucky he's from Sweden and not the U.S......

[QUOTE=GoodEnough; 1230487]I'm hardly blind to reality. This is a third world country and it's got a long way to go on the road to development. Converesely, it's surely not the crime-ridden warren of corruption painted by CM.

GE[/QUOTE]I was in the Philippines for my second trip in November so am not qualified to comment on much. However; from my point of view it seemed that Manila and Cebu were much cleaner than on my first trip at the same time last year. Who knows, perhaps I was just not as wide eyed on this trip. In Cebu I was stopped by the "lady smoking patrol" and was very respectfully pointed to an ashtray to use when I was finished my smoke. We had a good discussion about their role which was basically to make smokers aware not to put their butts on the street. At 06:00 the street sweepers were our and cleaning the streets before rush hour got started around Mango Square.

In Manila of course I kept my cigarettes in my pocket.

That being said I was visiting Aquino's grave in the cemetery on All Souls Day and interviewed on live radio about why a foreigner would come to that site. I was not foolish enough to make anything but complimentary comments about the family.

I have not taken in many to the typical monger sites as I have been an DIA tourist, but I have now been to Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro. I have never felt unsafe, but am also aware of where I am and my surroundings at all times. From my limited experience it's normally simply a matter of using some common sense and I intend to return again as soon as I can.

[QUOTE=David_33;1231104]He's lucky he's from Sweden and not the U.S.[/QUOTE]Wow, ain't that the truth! In the US, that guy would have gotten life.

I don't live in the Philippines, and don't consider myself to be as knowledgeable as many on these forums are about the country. But the times I have been there, I have not felt that my personal safety was any more at risk than traveling to anyplace in the US. I lived in South Korea from 2004 to 2010, and felt safe walking around many areas there as well. When I would talk to family and friends that had never ventured out of the US, they would ask me if I was scared living in such a dangerous place. I always tell those people to stop listening to the media, as they distort the truth to sell their product. For instance, I was living in South Korea in 1994 when North Korea's Kim Il Sung died. The media was reporting that his son, Kim Jong Il, would bring war to the peninsula. Now, they are saying the same thing about Kim Jong Un. I have been living in central US since 2010, and have heard so many reports of robberies, attacks and murders, that I want to go overseas again. I feel that anytime I travel, whether it is here in the US or overseas, I simply need to take precautions to protect myself, and be aware of my surroundings. Enjoy the Philippines and the many pleasures that are there!

HW

[QUOTE=Barba; 1231074]Five years in jail. What a sick joke.

Some Duterte justice maybe?

Barba[/QUOTE]Or you mean the kind of justice where sometimes, the wrong people get 'trial by media' and proven guilty before even being. Like the case in Cebu where the wrong couple was accused of murdering a kid? LOL

Heading to the phils on Jan 14th for 30 days. Having been caught up in work, I haven't much in the way of any planning. However, having been to AC two times, I would prefer some travel (south) in the rest of the country. I am not a beach person but a day or two in various spots wouldn't be hell. I would prefer to stay in 5-6 various places for 5 days or so before flying back to Manilla. I fly into Manilla, but would prefer to only stay there for 2/3 days.

If ye guys had a wish list for out of the way places to monger or chance freelancers, what cities, towns or beach resorts would you choose!

I. E.

(1) Cebu. 3 days.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[QUOTE=Subaculture; 1231320]If ye guys had a wish list for out of the way places to monger or chance freelancers, what cities, towns or beach resorts would you choose!

I. E.

(1) Cebu. 3 days.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions![/QUOTE]Should be posted in the Travel Announcements Only thread.