After posting the last trip report, I received many PMs from different mongers who have never been to Angeles City and wanted more information. Therefore I feel its important to post a seperate section on the different aspects involving safety.

So here are the finer points that everyone should be aware of:

- The Plane- This will be a long flight (18+ hours) for most people. You will be sitting in a small confined space and have no where to go. The air is going to be thinner then what you get on the ground. This wont be a problem for most, but there is an older crowd that may have circulation problems. If you dont feel your healthy, you should consult your doctor before getting on the plane.

-Getting mugged- Its well known that this destination is safer then certain other countries. I have never had any problems. However, when your in a third world country, its always best to assume that there is a high risk you will be robbed and carry yourself appropriately. You should take all precautions and use common sense.

-Disease- If you do not use condoms, there is a much higher likelihood that you will get a disease. Most travelers, including myself, have been infected with gonnorhea. You will know when you get this when your penis is in flames.

-Hotel theft- This is not common, but in any third world hotel, you should always put (lock) your belongings when your not in the room or when the ladies are in the room.

-Airport security- When your bags come in to the Manila airport, I theorize that they are x-rayed. If you have an expensive item in your bag (such as a camera), they will rip into your bag and steal it. Several travelers have reported this happening to them. Carry all expensive items in carry-on luggage.

-Jet lag sickness- The time difference will be as much as 12 hours in some instances. This type of lag will do wonders on your immune system. Fevers and stomach problems are not uncommon.

-Scams by the ladies- The ladies are poor. If they didnt need the money, they would not be there. They will tell you just about any story in order for you to give them cash.

-The food- Eat at your own risk.

-Road safety- Traffic regulations are not enforced in this country. Look both ways before walking into the street. This is not a destination where they yield to pedestrians. Make sure your driver is awake, alert and hasnt been drinking. If he looks tired, have him stop and buy him some coffee.

-United States Customs- We are all law abiding citizens on this website. However, know that these guys might be subjecting you to a thorough search on the way back. Its not common, but it does happen. They might x-ray your bags or go through your laptop.

There are more things then just on this list. Always use common sense when in a third-world country. That is the best advice.

Definitely be careful putting expensive items in your check in bags as Manila airport is notorious for theft. I had an old cellphone I check in, and they cut my 50 baht locks to get at it.

Great start to the report IE. Regarding airport security, luggage is not X-rayed on the way in to NAIA airport. Only outgoing luggage is x-rayed. Luggage theft usually happens when it is immediately obvious that the case contains something expensive. My rule of them is to keep dive gear and camera gear in fairly ratty-looking duffel bags (hockey bags are great for dive gear). If you have an expensive dive bag with "Mares" or Aqua-Lung" printed all over it, well duh, everyone is going to know what's in it. Same with camera bags. Those are the bags that get opened or just "disappear".

If your trip is for 6 days or less you should be able to get away with just a carry-on bag. Laundry service is cheap.

RG.

I whole heartedly concur about NAIA. I had my JBL On Tour portable speakers stolen last month. From now on, all "valuables" are going to be hand carried. Actually, I am usually very cautious about stuff I put in my check-in, but this time I was lazy and trying to lighten my carry-on. Lesson learned.

I know of two people who had things stolen from them in Manila and have heard numerous stories over the internet. The first person had their stuff in a canvas army type duffle bag with large padlocks on it. The duffle bag was ripped into. The second person had a nice leather type bag with locks, that was ripped into as well.

I've read of one guy on clubhombre who packed their new digital camera into a check-in luggage. He had a hard-side bag and it was locked. They somehow cracked into it.

The Manila airport seems to have a lot of security. For example, they stopped my driver each time before he entered into the airport area to check the trunk for bombs. Then you go through two seperate x-ray machines with your luggage and then a final hands-on frisk. I think after the frisk, there was still one more checkpoint. There is an army of guards in the passenger wait area.

So I find it hard to believe that the luugage area is so unsecure. I can only conclude that airport security is probably the culprits. Im not sure if the airline could be held responsible and where would I sue them, in the Philippines?

Every filipino seems to know and have stories about luggage theft at this airport. Its so obnoxious that I wonder why someone has not done something about it.

"I had an old cellphone I check in, and they cut my 50 baht locks to get at it. "

Thanks for the heads up. I always carry on only, but once had to check my bags in at air asia because it weighed too much. I took all everything of value i could on carryon, but they still broke my lock and went after my dvd collection, taking only the newest movies and leaving me with the leftovers. bastards. This was from sing to bkk.

-Getting mugged- Its well known that this destination is safer then certain other countries.

Yes, Angeles City is probably safer then Rio, but of all the destinations I've been to in SEA this place is the most dangerous. In Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and even Singapore there are a percentage of locals that are looking to cheat and rob you - in the PI that number approaches 100%. It's the nature of folks that grow up in the PI. Wish it were different, but lying/cheating/stealing is part of the game there.

-The food- Eat at your own risk.

Agreed. Some of the worst on the planet.

E

"In Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and even Singapore there are a percentage of locals that are looking to cheat and rob you - in the PI that number approaches 100%"

In MNL and AC the number approaches 150%. But let's be fair. Drive the 30 mins to go clubbing in Tarlac city and you will find exactly zero touts, trike drivers who are laid back rather than aggressively pushy, jeepneys that will drop you door to door anywhere in the city for 20 pesos, and a population that is for the most part genuinely warm and friendly. Most small to moderate size provincial cities in the PI are like this. Why do you think most Filipinas are so sweet and charming? Most of them in AC came from a provincial background, from small cities like Tacloban, Tagbiliran, Naga, Cagayan de Oro, etc. If the everyone in the PI was a fucking asshole, all the bargirls would be cunts too, and none of us would ever want to go back there.

As Blazers very astutely mentions in his guide to AC, most of the male filipinos in AC absolutely despise us foreigners. We take all their best women, and filipinos never get treated as well by the ladies as we do. So their goal in life is to take us for everything they can. If you ever have time to really get to know filipinos outside of a mongering area, you will find that most of them are very different people to the street scum in AC. The thing to keep in mind is that AC is the armpit cesspool of the Philippines. In my experience, only Tondo and Cotabato City are worse.

Hmmm, a lot of talk lately on CH about how Filipinos are such liars. Well, they are very apt to be dishonest, but I have to wonder how many hombres have wives and kids who think daddy is away working hard on a business trip. Not that I should talk. I'm a lying motherfucker when it comes to girls because I like having lots of girls, but the girls don't like me having lots of girls. Deny, deny, deny....

PS At which airport I have had the most shit stolen from my luggage? Logan (Boston) in the good ol USA. I have flown in/out of NAIA exactly 140 times now and never had a problem.

AGR, your posts are top of the line info about the PI. Thanks.

I did a Google on all the towns mentioned and was wondering, what in the world prompted you to ever go to Cotabato City? If it's sleazier and filthier than AC, I think I'll pass. LOL

Huevon, thanks for the props. Cotabato City trip was work-related. I'd never in a million years go there on my own dime - for any reason. What a dump! Tondo is just deadly. I went there coz a group of friends (actually a band that was contracted to play here in Palau) lived there. We only went outside in the daytime in a group of 6-10 people. Watched one poor dumb white guy in a taxi get beaten and robbed by a pack of teens, as the taxi was literally dismantled in place in a matter of 2 minutes. Scary shit.

Let me venture that Tondo is the roughest neighborhood in Manila.

My google search says Tondo has the highest per square mile population density in the world, which would put it ahead of such places as Bombay, India.

"-Airport security- When your bags come in to the Manila airport, I theorize that they are x-rayed. If you have an expensive item in your bag (such as a camera), they will rip into your bag and steal it. Several travelers have reported this happening to them. Carry all expensive items in carry-on luggage."

Not sure about the theft part but the X-ray part is correct, although I am not sure that it happens 24/7.

From my personal experience, if you see that your checked bag has a large chalked X on it as it comes up from below onto the conveyor belt, then you can be sure that customs, if they see it, will ask you to open it. I placed mine on the carrier so that the X was not obvious, but they still saw it.

I once brought in 5 LBC boxes full of stuff. The contents included 2 desktop computers, 2 large monitors plus an assortment of other electronics. I explained that all were used equipment, but the officer still said I was only allowed one each.

I offered $10/box for her trouble, and she said to wait a minute. A few minutes later another customs guy came out and asked me what I had offered the lady inspector. I said $10 for each box. He said "okay, close 'em up."

I paid the $50 and was on my way to my waiting van. The entire episode took perhaps 10 minutes.

My wife, who is a Filipina and who usually brings a couple of LBC boxes* packed to the brim with gifts, always puts $10 in her passport before she hands it over to the customs officer. She has never been asked to open her boxes.

Welcome to the Philippines!

*If you are bringing lots of stuff to the RP, these boxes weigh only 4 pounds each, so you can stuff 66 more pounds into each of them. That's 132 pounds that you can bring with you for free, plus your carry-ons. Each box measures exactly the size that you are allowed to check in for free (either 102 or 106 inches, I've forgotten the exact dimensions). Here in LA there is a place on Broadway that sells a heavy-duty canvas bag, for $10, that is just the correct size for an LBC box.

Please dont encourage any mongers to bring any balikbayan boxes....grrrrr...I cant understand why the Filipinos continue this tradition when nearly everything available in the States is now available in the Philippines...Usually its just a bunch of Old Navy clothes and bulk food from Costco...two places cheap Filipinos flock to in droves in the States. Makes the baggage claim wait triple that of other countries.

-The food- Eat at your own risk.

Agreed. Some of the worst on the planet.

Epi, you'd love the article in this month's Tiger Air in-flight magazine calling Angeles/Clark the gourmet dining capital of SE Asia.

Makes the baggage claim wait triple that of other countries.

I agree 1000%.

Epi, you'd love the article in this month's Tiger Air in-flight magazine calling Angeles/Clark the gourmet dining capital of SE Asia.

That article must be written by someone that's never traveled more then 2km from the San Fernando Mall.

E

I think the author is from Gardena. His name is Cesar Santos.

Quick note. As we were on the tarmack after the landing at the airport, the steward got on the loudspeaker stating that it would take a few minutes while all the baggage was x-rayed for contraband.

Translation, the baggage will be x-rayed for anything valuable and those items will be taken.