A Philippine Survival Guide for Tourists

I sometimes find it ironic that “Mabuhay,” the Filipino word for welcome, also means “stay alive.” That is because over the years, the Philippines has become one of the hot spots in Asia for small-scale criminal activities like mugging, kidnapping, thievery, and scamming. If you are a foreigner who is planning to visit the country for the first time, make sure you do your homework before making final arrangements. For starters, heeding the following tips will keep you and your wallet generally safe from harm:

1. Try to act like you belong. Standing out in the crowd in most public places looking like you don’t know what you’re doing is a terrible idea, especially if you’re Caucasian. Never stop in the middle of the road looking at signs, or you might find yourself with unwelcome company before you reach your destination.

2. Avoid traveling alone. Always tell your companions where you are going, or better yet, always travel with a trusted person. If you have a Filipino friend, ask him or her to accompany you when you go out. Never take a cab alone at night unless you’re taking an airport taxi. If you can’t avoid it, text the vehicle’s license plate number to someone you know. Always request the cab driver to turn the meter on before he starts driving.

3. Do not talk to strangers. This advice might seem laughable, but many tourists who did not take it seriously have already paid the price for their naïvité. Never tell strangers your itinerary, or any personal information for that matter. If you absolutely must ask for directions, approach the nearest security guard or a mall information assistant for help.

4. Always put your bag, wallet and purse in front of you. This indicates to potential pickpockets that you know their agenda and you’re not going to be easy prey. The more effort they need to make in order to steal from you, the more likely they will move on to the next victim.

5. Walk fast and deliberately. Occasionally glance back to see if anyone is following. If so, stop and let that person pass. Otherwise, go straight to wherever you plan to go. If you are in a mall and want to look inside a store, go in right away. Don’t give criminals a chance to observe you.

6. Stay away from places that are either too crowded or too isolated. Commuters inside the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) trains and stations are a favorite target of cellphone gangs. Always be aware of the people around you. Pickpockets like to bump into their victims “accidentally” to distract them, or go in groups of threes or fours to surround their potential victim. Similarly, walking in dark alleys and slum areas increases your chances of getting held up. If that ever happens, surrender your wallet immediately and do not try to resist in any way.

7. Do not buy from peddlers. If anyone should approach you selling incredibly cheap stuff or “second-hand” merchandise, adding that they need the money right away to buy medicine for a sick relative or child, simply turn around and walk away. It’s one of the oldest scams in the book. You don’t want to be the recipient of a shiny new cellphone or jewelry that is already being reported to the police.

To summarize, tourists need to use more than common sense to stay out of trouble in the Philippines, especially in Manila. Although most foreigners manage to finish their vacation relatively unscathed, it is better to be safe than sorry. Keeping this in mind will make your stay a lot more stress-free and enjoyable for everyone.