New risk level ?
- Thread starter Immeriswas
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Maverick17
Contributor
34 bodies and counting (from suffocation allegedly though, not shot), but agreed seems not to be something affecting the "risk level of the Philippines" for now regarding terror. Unfortunately Manila has always had lots of violence. Security is reportedly tight in MetroManila today, with many soldiers on the streets. Hard to say how long it will last that way.
Damselfish
Contributor
yikes. Even though it appears not related to the stuff in the south it hits close to home for me, so to speak, as that's our usual layover spot in Manila. There is airport style security entering the Marriott where we usually stay. They don't appear to be sloppy and actually catch things, like we have always needed to check dive knives which they inventory and lock in a safe outside the hotel. I think the other hotels in the complex are similar.
(I don't think there is a Resorts World hotel per se - the whole complex is Resorts World and it has several hotels, the casino where this happened, stores, food court. It's pretty much a nice shopping mall with hotels and a casino as the anchor stores.)
(I don't think there is a Resorts World hotel per se - the whole complex is Resorts World and it has several hotels, the casino where this happened, stores, food court. It's pretty much a nice shopping mall with hotels and a casino as the anchor stores.)
We're struggling with what to do with our LDS trip early next year. We've already had some folks cancel out and are now at that critical go-no go number. Anyone out there dealing with similar issues and have a good thought on how to approach group trips where your guests are increasingly nervous. Unfortunately the destination is Bohol so saying the terrorists do not come that far north doesn't work anymore.
Rob
Rob
CarcharodonCarcharias
Contributor
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Not to sound like a nervous Nelly, but I'd give PH a miss right now. There are a lot of uncertainties and there are other places to go for diving. What is going on in Marawi right now can easily escalate and spread of other part of Palawan, Cebu, and Mindanao.
We got back from our trip this morning. We visited Manila, Puerto Galera, Cebu/Mactan Island, Oslob and Moalboal. Not one second did I not feel safe, we walked to dinner In Manila from our hotel, we walked around Green Hills and another area I don't remember the name, walked all over PG and Moalboal. Everybody was nothing but super friendly and helpful. We dove PG and Verde Island (got sucked to 110' by a sudden downdraft, not too funny), Cabilao Island (off Bohol), Mactan Island and Moalboal. We had such a great time, already planning to go back.....
There were Security Guards present, but they also acted as greeters, held the door open for me and were generally very friendly.
When Martial Law was declared in Mindanao, it was business as usual in the other parts of the country. Nobody seem to pay it any mind.
I am sure that, like in any other country, there are areas that one should avoid. Just like in Miami, LA, New York, Frankfurt etc. Use common sense and you should be just fine.
There were Security Guards present, but they also acted as greeters, held the door open for me and were generally very friendly.
When Martial Law was declared in Mindanao, it was business as usual in the other parts of the country. Nobody seem to pay it any mind.
I am sure that, like in any other country, there are areas that one should avoid. Just like in Miami, LA, New York, Frankfurt etc. Use common sense and you should be just fine.
Banon
Contributor
We got back from a trip to Puerto Princesa (underground river), Tubbataha, and PG Marco Vincent Dive Resort on June 8th. At no time did we feel unsafe. On the way home we stayed a night at the Marriott in Manila, a few days AFTER that "gambler in debt" killed all those poor folks by setting a fire in the casino. Security at the hotel and airport seemed about the same as our prior trip, but the hotel staff were down because folks were choosing to stay away.
When we saw the UK and USA announcements that Abu Sayyaf was planning action against tourists around the underground river at Puerto Princesa, right before we were planning to go there, it spurred a little thought and conversation. After thinking it through, we chose to continue with our trip plan. My thinking was that Abu Sayyaf wouldn't be too smart to send some of it's declining members to attack a place that had advanced warning. After seeing the place and talking to some of the people, I'm glad we made this choice. The entire trip was fantastic.
When we saw the UK and USA announcements that Abu Sayyaf was planning action against tourists around the underground river at Puerto Princesa, right before we were planning to go there, it spurred a little thought and conversation. After thinking it through, we chose to continue with our trip plan. My thinking was that Abu Sayyaf wouldn't be too smart to send some of it's declining members to attack a place that had advanced warning. After seeing the place and talking to some of the people, I'm glad we made this choice. The entire trip was fantastic.
scubamickey
I'm a GIRL!
Is Puerto Galera near where all this activity is happening. I only started looking at dive shops today and haven't really looked at a large map of the islands so I don't yet have a perspective of distance from these locations. We would really like to go to Puerto Galera next May but...there's a reason we haven't been back to this part of the world since 2012. I try to avoid Islamic terrorist hot beds when on vacation 
I realize it's too far out to predict where the activity will shift, but I'm trying to get an idea of the layout. Is the Puerto Galera area generally a non Muslim part of the Philippines?
I realize it's too far out to predict where the activity will shift, but I'm trying to get an idea of the layout. Is the Puerto Galera area generally a non Muslim part of the Philippines?
MV Dive
Contributor
Hi Scuba Mickey,
Puerto Galera is nowhere near where the trouble is in Mindanao and everything is peaceful here. We are around 900 miles away from that area. I have been living in the area for 5 years and there has never been any trouble. Please don't be put off from visiting PG in May, you will have a great time
Warm regards
Kris
Puerto Galera is nowhere near where the trouble is in Mindanao and everything is peaceful here. We are around 900 miles away from that area. I have been living in the area for 5 years and there has never been any trouble. Please don't be put off from visiting PG in May, you will have a great time
Warm regards
Kris
GavinO
Registered
As you can see it's quite a long ways away , they have many more places closer to home to choose from before they decide to come to PG. I live here 7 years now and I value my safety as much as the next diver and I don't feel my safety is in any way compromised here in PG.
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