Next month we're heading to Mindanao, we'll stay mainly along the northern coast, but we also want to visit the area around Lake Danao/Marawi City.
Does somebody know if it is safe enough to travel to these areas nowadays, with the upcoming elections?
Well, that is a big question. I mean did you hear of the massacre in Maguindanao? the killings that was motivated by politics. anyways, why not try Palawan? its close to the area anyways and there are a lot of great places to visit in the area...
Upcoming elections and MILF... You should be careful with the places u are gonna stay in mindanao...
"Maguindanao, South Cotobato,Zamboanga and nearby regions arent safe".. "it is safe to go to Davao, Bukidnon"...
Thats what my filipino friend told me...
Better be careful.
Well actually, this will our third time we'll visit the Philippines. We've seen almost all the 'must see' places so far (including Davao, Mindanao), so this we wanted to focus to northern Mindanao and Camiguin, before taking the ferry to our 'traditional' visit to Bohol (we have friends here...).
And of course I've heard about the massacre, the upcoming elections and the tension with the muslims in this region, and that's why I'm asking this question...
I travelled through the places you have mentioned in Sept. From Siquijor, i headed by ferry to CDO, then to iligan, marawi, down all the way to Lake Sebu, Surallah, South Cotabato, Gensan, Davao back to CDO via the BuDa route... safe and sound...the only problem was one too many army chckpoints along road from Iligan down to Marawi... to be on the safe side, you can opt for a hired taxi to Marawi, instead of public bus.
Camiguin is nice and so in Bohol...esp. area around Panglao, and the Loboc river ride..
Well, elections in the Philippines have never been trouble-free, but then.. the heat is usually on during the campaign period.. well after you are done with your trip to Phils.
anyone traveling to the PI-Manila for new years? im visiting the PI as i have family there but would be nice to get away from the family and hang out with folks either from home (US) or europeans. i am in the manila area around december 31st on.
[ 09-Dec-2009, at 07:35 by pammydaisy ]
anyone traveling to the PI-Manila for new years? im visiting the PI as i have family there but would be nice to get away from the family and hang out with folks either from home (US) or europeans. i am in the manila area around december 31st on.
P.I.? that translates to M.F.(English) in Filipino language. RP is the appropriate acronym.
New Parties are everywhere, but Filipinos ussually stay with their families, unless its like the year 2000.
I am from the southern islands infamous for bombings, kidnappings and all that sensationalized public entertainment issues.
But now that I have been travelling for ages, I realize that I have always been right, its not as dangerous as the media would make us believe.
But you just have to ask yourself, is taking the risk really worth what you will see or do in Mindanao. If you are really interested in the region, then you just have to go, but dont forget to pack your COMMON SENSE. The cities that you will visit in Mindanao are not as exotic or uncivilized as you might expect. People who get in trouble are ussually the ones who would get in trouble even in places like Tokyo or Paris.
I tell my friends to keep off the shopping centers, even if it means not getting their favorite pastries and breads for the week. So I would tell foreigners that there is a risk... But elections or no elections, they won't kill tourist, unless you are a nosy journalist or some DELUSSIONAL missionary, who just got out of rehab, and you want to convert the indigenous people to some western religion, then you are most likely to contribute to the statistics of foreigners who get in trouble.
anyone traveling to the PI-Manila for new years? im visiting the PI as i have family there but would be nice to get away from the family and hang out with folks either from home (US) or europeans. i am in the manila area around december 31st on.
P.I.? that translates to M.F.(English) in Filipino language. RP is the appropriate acronym.
New Parties are everywhere, but Filipinos ussually stay with their families, unless its like the year 2000.
im sorry, did i offend you? im filipino too and i understand filipinos stay with family but i just asked a simple question and i don't understand how my question invoked such a response from you. i appreciate your correcting my acronym but my filipino family members also call the philippines island, PI as well. if you didn't like my post, please simply refrain from a caustic response. my post wasn't a personal attack to you. so let's just play fair please.
hey..if you haven't visited palawan...u should ... El Nido & Sabang .. just did this along with Bohol..makati 2 weeks back
cheers!
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