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Why do a lot of foreigners think the Philippines is dangerous?

June 23, 2010 By MindanaoBob 133 Comments
Culture is always on display at Philippine Festivals!

Do you think that the Philippines is a dangerous place?  A lot of foreigners think it is.  If you look at the news from overseas, about the only time you ever hear mention of the Philippines is when something bad happens.  A bombing.  A kidnapping.  Some kind of massacre like what happened last year in Maguindanao.  So, it's not unexpected or perplexing why the vast majority of foreigners think that the Philippines is dangerous. However, there is also a lot of good stuff in the Philippines!  Why do we never hear about any of those things?  Are they being properly promoted? I have mentioned in a previous article, but will bring … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Communication, Daily Life, Expats, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Safety, Travel

Million Peso MAN, A Greedy Lawyer!

May 28, 2010 By GenSan Chris 56 Comments
Life Guards Logo.

This is an account of a tragic accident which took place last year, 2009 on Mothers Day leading to the unfortunate death of a young 11 year old boy in the Cambridge Farm Hotel Swimming Pool and the pure greed of the Mother and her Lawyer in trying to make a large amount of money from this tragic death which was in fact the result of negligence by the mother! It started in the afternoon when the unfortunate family went to the swimming pool in order to swim and eat which is not unusual for people, even none Hotel Guests are allowed in after making a small payment which covers costs. They entered the area and ignored the sign telling people … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chris Tagged With: Business, Chris Dearne, Communication, Expats, Filipino Culture, Financial, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Safety

What are they smoking in Washington?

April 7, 2010 By MindanaoBob 106 Comments
mindaintro

Are the American politicians smoking something that they should not be smoking?  Sometimes, it seems so.  In the last day or two, the United States Government issued another travel warning to American Citizens, warning against travel to Mindanao.  What else is new. Fact is, the USA has been issuing travel warnings against visiting Mindanao for years now, without ceasing.  Usually, whenever anything bad happens in any way on the Island of Mindanao, a new travel warning is issued by the US Government. So, what happened on the Island of Mindanao recently to prompt this new travel warning?  Basically, nothing has happened.  Why was the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Davao, Expats, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Safety, Travel

Living on the Ring of Fire

March 1, 2010 By MindanaoBob 50 Comments
quake

As anybody who follows any news at all knows by now, there was a major earthquake in Chile on Saturday.  The magnitude was 8.8 on the Richter Scale.  Remember the January earthquake in Haiti?  It was a 7.0 magnitude.  Do you know what the difference between the two is?  I knew it was a big difference, but I was surprised when there was a Geologist on CNN explaining the difference between a 7.0 Quake and an 8.8.  An 8.8 Quake is approximately 900 times more powerful than a 7.0.  So, there were more than 200,000 people killed in Haiti in January, and the Chile Quake was 900 times more powerful!  Can you imagine? Twice in my lifetime, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Daily Life, Davao, Earthquake, Health, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Safety

Of course its safe

January 8, 2010 By John 9 Comments
PC280025

As I travel around the Philippines from area to area, I am often told by people not to go somewhere, or its too dangerous, or even stories of strange rituals. When you add the warnings from most  of our home countries, about not going to Mindanao because of bombs and killings, you can become extremely paranoid. Don't get me wrong of course there is danger, there is in most any country you visit, and if you don't take reasonable precautions, then bad people can steal or hurt you, but that's the  same anywhere. Common sense precautions are the same all over the world. I have recently been traveling to a place of my late friend, the small … [Read more...]

Filed Under: John G Tagged With: Living in The Philippines, Matalam, Mindanao, Safety, Travel

Accused of a Crime!

December 9, 2009 By MindanaoBob 57 Comments
prison

Living in the Philippines is something that I enjoy.  I've been here for nearly a decade already, and I have been happy, after a period of adjusting to the different life here.  But, is there anything that actually scares me about living here?  Not really, I suppose.  At least I can say that I don't lose any sleep worrying about any scenarios that could cause trouble in my life here. Maybe I should worry a bit more, it's hard to say.  A friend of mine said something to me the other day that made me think a bit. A few days ago, a friend and I were having a discussion.  During our talk, which was on all kinds of subjects related to living … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Daily Life, Expats, Living in The Philippines, Safety

My neighborhood is under lockdown

December 6, 2009 By MindanaoBob 40 Comments
soldiers

Right now, as I type this, nobody can enter or leave the neighborhood where I live in Davao City.  There is an Armored Personnel Carrier parked in my driveway.  The street is blocked by Military and Police on either end.  The street is lined with military troops, with guns of course. Why? I have not mentioned too openly on this site (although I think I may have alluded to this in the comments, but Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. owns the house across the street from my house. Right now, starting about an hour ago, the military, Davao City Police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is conducting a raid of the house.  … [Read more...]

Filed Under: LiP Lines Tagged With: Bob Martin, Davao, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Philippine News Discussion, Safety

Governor Ampatuan hospitalized in Davao

December 5, 2009 By MindanaoBob 4 Comments
A Task Force Davao Soldier walks patrol in front of Davao Doctor's Hospital

Security is important for Davao City, and Task Force Davao, the military unit that has the task of protecting Davao City, is now securing Davao Doctor's Hospital as well as other locations around the city which are connected to both the Ampatuan family as well as the Mangudadatu family. Both of these families have residences in Davao City, and much of the families live in the City.  Task Force Davao is now trying to keep the two families from coming into contact with each other in the City, to avoid any possible flare ups of residual violence following the Maguindanao Massacre last week. After the arrest of Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: LiP Lines Tagged With: Bob Martin, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Philippine News Discussion, Safety

It’s martial law…

December 5, 2009 By MindanaoBob 46 Comments
It's Martial Law in Maguindanao

Yes, folks, you read the title correctly.  Martial law has been declared in Maguindanao Province.  As you will recall, Maguindanao is the site of the recent massacre of 64 people, including around 30 journalists, and more than 20 members of the Mangudadatu family. Last night at 9pm, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued a proclamation declaring Martial Law in the Province of Maguindanao.  I have also heard some reports that parts of Sultan Kudarat Province and Cotabato City are also under Martial Law at this time, although that is not clear to me at this time.  Most news is only mentioning Maguindanao. At around 2am this morning, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: LiP Lines Tagged With: Bob Martin, Living in The Philippines, Martial Law, Mindanao, Safety

Bloodbath

November 25, 2009 By MindanaoBob 137 Comments
A dark and bloody day for Mindanao

I have some rules that I live by.  One of my rules is that I don't become involved in Philippine Politics.  As a guest here in the Philippines, the political situation here is not my concern, and it is not my place to tell Filipinos how to run their own country.  Today, I am going to stretch that rule a bit.  I don't think I am breaking the rule, but I am getting right up to the edge. Some situations, though dictate that one cannot remain silent.  Sometimes a person must stand up and be heard.  By speaking out, I am not advising the Filipino people how to run their country... I am only saying that the situation that I will address is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bob Tagged With: Bob Martin, Elections, Filipino Culture, Living in The Philippines, Mindanao, Safety
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