Since 1992 when Cambridge Farm Hotel first opened there has never been any real problems on the property except for some petty thefts from the rooms! We have been Raided for Drugs on a couple of occasions by the Police after Tip Offs by people who meant to do us harm but on both occasions nothing was found but we still got bad press from the Local Lower forms of Media! In mid August this year, 2009 this changed as we had a very Serious Crime committed on or near to our property! I had just finished my evening meal at around 6.30 pm when one female staff member called me and told me that there was a girl laying down in the car park near the entrance. … [Read more...]
Big Trouble for Tourists?
October 14, 2009 By 47 Comments
Lately, I have been watching a TV show that I downloaded from the Internet. The name of the show is "Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand," and it is a show from the Sky Network in the UK. The show is about British tourists visiting Thailand, and some of the troubles they run into. "But Bob," you might be saying, "this website is not about Thailand," and you would certainly be correct. However, some of what I've seen on the show certainly applies in the Philippines. And, I have seen things on the show that would be good lessons for the Philippines to put into practice, I believe. As I am sure all readers know, Thailand is a place well known … [Read more...]
Mindanao Security
June 16, 2009 By 20 Comments
For so many years most of the foreign embassies have given out travel warnings about the Philippines, and in particular the Island of Mindanao where my home, Davao City, is situated. Now I have been coming here for five years and traveled around Mindanao a lot, and I have never come across any problems that made me feel threatened, well except one when a drunken policeman and his Army friend tried to get money from me. Most of the foreign embassies treat Mindanao as a war zone, and of course just like Thailand there are political and turf squabbles in certain parts that involve war like activities. However, that is like saying that the USA is … [Read more...]
The gang who couldn't shoot straight
April 30, 2009 By 66 Comments
Back in the 70's there was a movie called "The gang who couldn't shoot straight" which starred Robert de Niro, among others. Unfortunately, the Philippine National Police (PNP) may soon be called "The Police who couldn't shoot straight." You see, recently, the 125,000 Philippine National Police officers were given a marksmanship test. They were also tested on gun care, cleaning and handling. Ninety percent of PNP Officers failed the test. According to National Police Commissioner Luis Mario General, of the 10% who passed the test, most of them ranked as "novices" in weapon care and in marksmanship. Furthermore, General revealed that … [Read more...]
Justice
April 24, 2009 By 64 Comments
Remember, a while back I wrote an article here about the Subic Rape case, and the conviction of Daniel Smith in the case? It was one of the top commented articles in the history of this site. To refresh your memory, the "rape victim," Suzette Nicolas recanted her story, and said that she wasn't sure if she had been raped back in 2005, as she had earlier testified in court. Immediately after recanting her story, Nicolas left the Philippines and is not residing in the United States. Well, news broke yesterday afternoon in this case again. You see, Smith had an appeal on file with the Philippine Court of Appeals. The ruling came down on … [Read more...]
Quagmire in Mindanao
March 30, 2009 By 70 Comments
The Government of the Philippines finds itself in a quagmire these days. What is a quagmire? Well, the definition of a quagmire is a difficult, precarious or entrapping situation. Unfortunately, that is where the Government of the Philippines sits at this time when it comes to the situation in Mindanao. Of course, as I often say, the great majority of the Island of Mindanao is a safe place, but in selected areas, the island is very dangerous. Right now, the dangers are amplified. After years of relative quiet on the kidnapping front, Mindanao has once again become a hot spot for kidnapping. It seems that people of all kinds are … [Read more...]
Philippine injustice
March 19, 2009 By 173 Comments
Can a foreigner expect to get justice in the Philippines? Just ask Marine Lance Corporal Daniel Smith. Smith was convicted of rape in 2006. The "crime" supposedly took place in November 2005, while Smith was in the Philippines to participate in joint military exercises between the US and Philippine militaries. Smith and several other Marines were accused of rape by "Nicole" (a cover name given to the "victim"). Nicole's true identity has now been revealed, she is Suzette Nicolas of Zamboanga City. Since 2006, Daniel Smith has been incarcerated for the rape, and has been awaiting appeal. This week, Suzette Nicolas recanted her account … [Read more...]
The Crocodile Chronicles
March 16, 2009 By 41 Comments
Do you remember the 1970's? It was in the mid-70's when the movie "Jaws" came out. For those who are too young, or who don't remember the movie, it was about a shark attack that happened in the United States, a fictional place called Amity Island. Basically, a viscious shark attacked on the beach of Amity Island, and continued to haunt the town. Eventually, a group of local people, headed by the Sherrif hunted down the shark. Something similar is happening in Mindanao at this time. Only thing is, it's not sharks that are being hunted, it is a Crocodile! A huge croc too, many witnesses are saying this croc is 8 or 9 meters long, … [Read more...]
Not all invitations are good
February 10, 2009 By 24 Comments
Getting invited to an event is a honor, right? I mean, the fact that the person throwing the even thought of you as a person to invite should be a pleasure, an honor and such, don't you think? Wait... don't think too quickly like that. Being "invited" in the Philippines does not always have a positive connotation. You see, in a case where there has been a crime, or some kind of wrongdoing, the police "invite" you to come in to the station for questioning. If there is some kind of scandal, the Senate will hold a hearing, and they "invite" the accused to come and tell them what happened. For me, I think I would prefer not to be invited … [Read more...]
Lost my wallet
November 7, 2008 By 15 Comments
I have been very lucky over the last few years in my traveling around Asia and I have never lost any ID or Credit Cards, although in Thailand I did have my cards cloned by a waiter who put a £6000 bet in a Casino in England as I slept in my Thailand hotel. Last week a string of coincidences led me to having a financial and ongoing headache and its because I changed my well trusted procedures that have kept me safe. As it was my birthday a few weeks ago I had a present of a new pair of trousers which I decided to wear on my trip to Manila, however the pockets were not deep so I decided to put all my cards in one wallet not my normal two … [Read more...]
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