Recently here in the Philippines, a United States Peace Corp Volunteer was murdered, her name was Julia Campbell. Julia Campbell, 40 years old, was from Fairfax, Virginia. Campbell had been teaching at an Albay College on the island of Luzon since September 2005. She was fluent in Tagalog. I saw her do an interview on TV, and was very impressed with her ability to speak Tagalog, she was very fluent. Apparently, during Holy Week, Julia Campbell took a mini-vacation to Ifugao Province. Ifugao is the place where the famous Banaue Rice Terraces are located. It was Julia’s intention to do some hiking in the area of the Rice Terraces.
Campbell was last seen on April 8 when she rode a tricycle to the area where she planned to start hiking. She was not seen again until her dead body was discovered some 10 days later. In the interim, a massive search had ensued to find her, hopefully alive. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. How did she die? She was murdered, no doubt about that. She was found buried in a shallow grave. People who have accidents don’t end up buried, after all. What was the motive for the killing? Nobody knows yet. Maybe it was robbery. Maybe it was a political killing (NPA?). Whatever it was, she was just as dead.
What can we learn from the death of Julia Campbell?
- If you are going out to hike, explore or whatever, it is best not to do it alone. This applies in the Philippines as it does anywhere in the world. If you have an accident and get hurt, you need a partner to assist you. It’s just better if you go out in pairs.
- Let people know what your plans are. What route will you take? What time do you expect to return home?
- Even though Julia was fluent in Tagalog, she still got killed. If you don’t know how to speak the language, or at least enough to get by, you are more of a target. Know the language of the area where you intend to visit. Speaking Tagalog may not be much help if you are in Cebu. Knowing Bisaya is worthless in Northern Luzon, or even Manila. At the minimum, carry a phrase book so that you can say things that are at least the bare minimum.
These points are important no matter where you go, even outside the Philippines. The area where Julia went hiking is a relatively safe area too. All the more if you are visiting an area that is not so safe. I, myself, tend to go to places where few foreigners venture. I have visited nearly every province in Muslim Mindanao (only missed one so far). Honestly, the death of Julia Campbell does make me stop and think about my own safety. I will probably continue to visit out of the way places, but I will take additional precautions in doing so.
I’ll end this with a phrase that a Filipino friend of mine always tells me. KEEP SAFE!
it makes sense to travel with a companion, you will be safer and also you will have someone you can share your adventures with.
When I am in the philippines my family there is always concerned if I wander away. They start looking for me and stay with me. If I go to town one of my brother-in-laws is always with me even if I have been in Tacloban many times before. I have seen some very dangerous situations but never have they been driected at me. They seem to act as if I am very old but is always out of concern for my safty that they are there with me. My brother-in-law who is a policeman is always the most concerned when I go to anther Island to visit other family.
Hi Ken – You are right, traveling with a companion is safer and also makes the trip more pleasurable!
Hi Don – I really dislike it when Feyma's family used to follow me around every time that I went out of the house. Before moving here, I set down the ground rules on that. I am a big boy and don't need babysitters. If I want one of the family to come along with me, no problem, I'll invite them!
And, importantly, tragedy can strike anywhere as evidenced by the shootings at Virginia Tech last week here in the United States.
I think it would be easy to look at how unsafe Ms. Campbell's situation was (and being an American female out by yourself in the middle of "nowhere" classifies as unsafe).
However, note what Bob has mentioned about her being fluent in Tagalog as well as having lived in the country for close to 2 years, the daughter of a marine, and so on. Within her experience, she did nothing wrong. Still, bad things happened.
Not unlike VA Tech. Sometimes bad things happen. You make the best choice possible and hope for the best.
Hi Bob, I followed this case with interest, sorry to hear about Ms Campbell's death, its a very tragic case, but it reinforces the advice not to go anywhere in the Phlippines unnacompanied, she obviously put much trust in the Filipino people. but everywhere there are bad apples in the cart, may her body rest in peace.
I'm saddened by what happened to Julian Campbell. My heart goes out to her family and friends. Murders happen everywhere, not just in the Philippines. This incident just happened to attract the attention of the world because it happened to an American citizen in a foreign land. But if you look at the statistics in the United States, there are worse crimes committed there than anywhere else in the world, other than wars and other political atrocities. Just recall the Virginia tech massacre and the countless of missing adults and children that were murdered and still unaccounted for. This type of incident is a sad part of life, but as long as we live on this earth, it'll continue to happen. Incidents like this should not deter us from following our dreams and living life to the fullest. Just like what Bob said, just take precautions. That's all you can do. Till next time….
Hi Tom – It's true, Julia did nothing wrong, she was just unlucky. It's unfortunate, but should not stop others from having fun. Everybody dies. It just wasn't the right time for Julia.
Hi Peter – I have to disagree when you say "not to go anywhere in the Philippines unaccompanied". I go places unaccompanied a lot, almost every day. But, for something like going hiking and such, I believe that it's good to have a companion. That advice is not just for the Philippines, either. If you are in the UK, USA or anywhere in the world and go hiking you could have an accident and get injured requiring assistance. Having a companion in that case is quite important.
Hi Julius – You are exactly right. Think about this, how often do we hear of a foreigner being killed here? Maybe once in a couple of years? Even let's say one foreigner gets killed here in a year. That is a very low number. I know that when I lived in the USA, foreign tourists in the States would get killed regularly. It's sad but true. So, this is not isolated to the Philippines.
Here's a link to Julia's blog about her stay in the Philippines. It's a shame that I only found out about this site because of all the recent news. RIP Julia. http://juliainthephilippines.blogspot.com/
Many of my American friends and cousins (I'm mixed) have travelled on their own or hiked with friends in the mountains and I think it is definitely ok to travel this way as long as you have done your research. Some of my older Filipino relatives think otherwise — I think its a generational (sic) thing.
I believe Julia knew enough of the Philippines after living in the country for an extended time. She spoke the language, lived in a hut and buit a relationship with the locals. Her blog clearly shows she was aware of her surrounding. It makes one stop and re-think any travel plans but I don't think the rules have changed when travelling. Proper planning and common sense still applies.
Hi Macky – thanks for the link to Julia's blog. I had heard that she had one, but had not yet had the time to search it out. I went and read a little bit of it, and it is a joy to read. It makes me sad to think about what happened to her. She was a good person who was here to help others, she didn't deserve what happened.
Julia's death is one thing that is, unfortunately, making me rethink my upcoming research. My mother is flat-out freaking out. I am purposely not telling her about what is going on in N. Cotabato.
Based on what news I've read off of here, the stories coming from S. Cotabato are positive, so that's good. But if something happens, is my Filipino research assistant going to end up being my bodyguard? Will it do any good? It's scary, really….there's just no way to know if the bad news will start coming from the area where I'll be.
hi bob,
my wife and i were deeply saddened to hear of julies death. we were
wondering where it happened because the news report we read in the states did not say. its even more sad because she was helping people because she wanted to, not because she had to. she was making the world a better place. i think she would appreciate your tribute bob.
Hi Elissa – I would not let this incident make you re-evaluate your research. Things like this happen anywhere in the world. You can't run away from it. It could happen to you no matter where you go.
Hi Danny – I hope she would like it, as small a thing as it is.
Let us not forget Julie as we approach the 1 year anniversary. I can still remember where I was the day they found her. Can you?
About this same time last year there was a German gentleman and his wife brutally murdered in their home on an island that thrives on tourism. Let us not forget Helmut Malinka and his wife Eutiquia Missiona… Matter of fact tomorrow 13 April 08 will be the 1st anniversary of their death… you can read about it here http://www.boholchronicle.com/2007/apr/29/front4….
Hi Mike K – Thanks for those reminders. In addition to the anniversary for Julie Campbell, the trial of her accused murder was just concluded. A ruling is expected in June.
It will be good to have some closure to these cases. I haven't heard any updates on the case in Bohol. But, I will be watching for both of them.