Share
US Embassy: No Travel List
ReportQuestion
Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported.
Why is the Philippines on the U.S. State Department list of countries Americans shouldn’t visit?
KevinCalhoun
Answers ( 2 )
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
Because State Department can’t distinguish between Chicago and Illinois. That’s why. To explain, Chicago has gang bang shootings all the time (read the news). You go there, you could get caught up in it. But the rest of Illinois is relatively safe (not absolutely, but much better than Chicago). Applied to Phil, southern Philippines (Mindanao mostly) is not safe. There’s a (small) but active insurgency, and yes if you go out into small towns / remote areas you are genuinely in danger there. But further north in Cebu, or in the capital Manila, I’ve never heard of insurgent activity happening. Even in the bigger Mindanao cities like Davao it doesn’t happen. Yes, there is general crime in the country – name one place on planet earth there is none-at-all – but I’m personally more afraid of Chicago than Manila. I’m Canadian by the way.
Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported.
Did you look at the drug wars there or the President trying to crack down on that and some of his tacticts. Or that the Philippines always seem to be insort of dissent…even before Marcos but certainly after. The island nation is strategically located but they don't necessarily have one purpose or religion or even language. It's a country of internal struggle and outside influence. Why go there are get caught up in it? Go to become a possible hostage by either of the six sides fighting for control. We cannot guarantee any safety or remedies for you. At least with Germany or even Russia we have some options.