Is the Philippines becoming less welcoming and more dangerous for foreigners?
For context, I'm 26, and my Filipina fiancée and I are getting married in January. We've been together four years, and in a week we're heading there for six months.
I've traveled to a lot of places, from Thailand to South Korea to Taiwan to Mexico (I'm currently staying with friends in Puebla for two weeks). But lately I keep seeing on social media, subreddits, Facebook and the news, stories about foreigners being attacked, beaten up, robbed and even killed. Is there some kind of anti-foreigner mood going on there lately? How do things look from the perspective of the foreigners living there in this group?
In my experience, too, the Philippines has felt less welcoming and less friendly than Mexico, Thailand and so on. And trust me, I've been all over these countries in non-touristy areas, staying with local friends for long stretches. I'm just worried about rising violence and anti-foreigner sentiment ahead of my upcoming trip, because the vibe I've seen online over the past few months has definitely been off.
Why do you think this is? Or is it simply that rare acts of violence against foreigners get more exposure online?
(a) With the economy getting worse all around, people become more desperate and so more likely to scam or rob foreigners, knowing they (usually) have far more money than Filipinos. (b) In bad times, people look for scapegoats. Because of 'Filipino pride', locals would much rather blame foreigners for all their problems than admit their own mistakes. A good example is the myth that expats and their extra money are behind the rising cost of living, even though we're such a tiny fraction of the population that our effect on the economy is negligible.
Statistically, crime rates in Thailand and the Philippines are dropping steadily year after year. Mexico is on a completely different level. In my experience, people in both the Philippines and Thailand are extremely hospitable, the difference being that Filipinos approach foreigners more easily because of English. When I'm at the beach alone, other guests almost always come up to me, share food and drinks, and are really curious. That didn't happen much in Thailand, probably because of the language barrier. I also don't think the Philippines is dangerous for expats or foreigners. Most of the people affected are in some kind of scammy business or involved in other illegal stuff. Another issue is people who just can't behave, especially in Southeast Asia. It's easy to get deported here if you act like a jerk.
Getting married at 26 is more dangerous than the Philippines.
They're fine. Just don't be dumb and don't start trouble in someone else's country. Big trouble in little Manila.
Yes, but the same goes for most countries. The whole world is going down the drain, with the same problems everywhere.
Have you seen how foreigners behave all over Southeast Asia? I'd love to know what you think of them. Siargao, Bali, Bangkok. One Google search is all it takes.
I'm here now (my first trip), and while people have been very nice, I can definitely pick up a lot of negative body language and disapproving looks from local men when I walk with my Filipina. Thailand is the opposite. I've been to Thailand three times, so I do have something to compare. Congratulations on the upcoming wedding.
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