The Three Biggest Dangers to Foreigners in the Philippines

 

 

 

Living in a foreign land can be a wondrous and liberating experience.  Traveling thousands of miles across the globe and tasting what life has to offer with all the five senses is truly one of the greatest natural highs there is.  Even so, in being so far from the conventions of our home nation and thoroughly immersed in the “newness” of our destination, one sometimes forgets that danger still exists.  That danger – in some cases – can be magnified by a number of factors relative to the unique aspects of your particular destination.

When it comes to the Philippines, the three biggest dangers that a visiting foreigner is going to face here are all exacerbated by some rather unique factors.  Let’s take a look at what – in our humble opinion – are the Big Three. 

 #1 Danger: Motorcycles and Scooters
This is the number one danger to any foreigner in the Philippines.  Regardless of whether you are just “passing through” on vacation or living here full time, the likelihood of getting into a “motor” accident in the Philippines is rather high.  Experienced motorcyclists know this as a given, going on to note that “it’s not a question of if as more of a question of when.”

There are a number of reasons why riding in the Philippines is more dangerous here than it is in a foreigner’s home country.

Creative Driving:  Driving in the Philippines is different than what most foreigners are used to.  Many smaller cities (outside of Manila or Cebu) do not have traffic lights or stop signs so getting used to the “flow” of intersection traffic can take some time.  Right of way is also different here, with many people understanding that “Might makes Right”:  The bigger the vehicle is the more right of way it has.  Passing on the inside, turning left from the right side of a traffic lane and a variety of other dangerous riding practices are all part of riding here, contributing to increased risks for foreigners on Philippine roads.

More Skilled. Less Safe: First off, although there are driver’s education and licensing tests in the Philippines, given the “unique structure” of the Land Transportation Office (that is, corruption) a good number of folks simply use a “fixer” to get their credentials.  As a result, Filipinos riders – while generally more skilled than foreigners when it comes to ability – are generally less safe when riding, changing lanes without signals, riding on the wrong side of the road, not looking when merging into traffic and driving at high speeds on rough and dangerous roads.

Drinking and Driving: In our opinion, you are more likely to encounter intoxicated drivers in the Philippines than you are in the West.  Outside of major metropolitan areas, you will rarely – if ever – see sobriety checkpoints.  Knowing this, both Filipinos and foreigners alike are more likely to be on the road after imbibing alcohol.  Drinking and driving is probably the number one cause of foreigner injuries and deaths (non-natural causes) in the Philippines.

Road Hazards:  Compounding the danger of all the other things we just mentioned are the prevalence of things you will find running out into Philippine roads.  Askals (semi-feral dogs) are probably the number one thing that riders will crash into (especially when chasing a bitch in heat), but chickens, carabao, monitor lizards, street vendors, merging pedicabs and kids playing in the street are also dangers that once always has to be mindful of.  

Finally, keep in mind that a variety of other factors contribute to the dangers of riding in the Philippines. Many foreigners in the Philippines are “older” riders, and with advancing age comes compromised in braking emergency reaction times.  New arrivals are also unfamiliar with street layouts or where they are and a good amount of our attention is subsequently fixed on looking about trying not to get lost.  And as we noted, Filipinos tend to be more skilled scooter riders, having been on them since they were toddlers and taking their first ride  as soon as their feet could reach the pedals (usually at 12 or 13 years of age).  This extensive amount of local experience accounts for Filipinos holding the edge over their foreigner counterparts when it comes to riding, especially when it comes to understanding the unwritten rules of Filipino roads, “flowing” through intersections and knowing how to ride a scooter at high speed down a goat path while texting with one hand and holding a rooster with the other.

Yeah, they can do that.

Muffler Burn 10 4 15
Muffler burn


#2 Danger: Food and Water

Someone had mentioned mosquitoes as being the second biggest danger to foreigners in the Philippines (malaria and dengue) but after some back and forth, we decided on food and water being the greater immediate danger.  The Philippines is a tropical nation, and as such is rife with all kinds of water and food-born pathogens just waiting to strike down a hapless foreigner.  Whether they be protozoan, bacterial, viral, parasitic or algal infections, the end result is moderate to severe debilitation or even – in some cases – death. 

On that happy note, let’s take a look at some of the more common food and water-born maladies in the Philippines.

Traveler’s Diarrhea – Thankfully, the most common manifestation of contaminated food and water is Traveler’s Diarrhea, or, as we at My Philippine Dreams like to call it:  Lapu-Lapu’s revenge.  TD is usually a result of bacterial or viral infection (rarely protozoa) and the diarrhea symptoms and weakness usually taper off after 3-5 days leaving its victim feeling rather drained and listless.  (On the flip side, it’s also a pretty good weight loss program.)  Note that TD can sometimes be a result of Giardia or Cryptosporidium protozoa –a more serious infection that requires medical attention. 

amoebic dysenterry
Bad Amoeba!

Amoebic Dysentery:  This fun little malady is brought to you by Entamoeba histolytica and while prevalent in tropical developing nations, it was actually first diagnosed in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Rancid flatulence, chills and severe diarrhea (sometimes bloody) can result.  This is one of the infections that you need to seek medical attention for as the resulting dehydration and electrolyte imbalance can be deadly.   

Hepatitis A and E – A viral infection that is passed through food or water contaminated by the fecal matter of someone infected with hepatitis.  Attacks (inflames) the liver and manifests with a yellowing of the skin, eyes and urine (jaundice).  Poor personal hygiene and sanitation measures increase the risk.  Note that there is a vaccine for hepatitis A but not a vaccine for hepatitis E.

Leptospirosis – This fun-sounding malady is a bacterial infestation that is vectored through food or water contaminated by mammal urine  – rats being a major culprit.  Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, headaches, vomiting and jaundice.  Like hepatitis, it attacks the liver, and if untreated can result in liver and kidney damage or meningitis.  Note that although leptospirosis usually won’t kill you, it will take you months to recover.

Schistosomiasis – This parasitic infection is caused by the flatworm Schistosoma, a plucky little fellow that is carried by the big fresh water snails that you see all over the Philippines.  Once the larva enter the human host, they mature and breed, releasing eggs that hatch throughout the body (liver, intestines, kidneys and blood vessels).  A myriad of intestinal and urinary diseases can result, and some untreated cases can later manifest as bladder cancer.

Cholera – Cholera is a stone-cold killer that is most commonly found in Africa and Southeast Asia. A bacterial infection that is (once again) vectored by water or food contaminated by fecal matter, cholera commonly manifests with very loose diarrhea, vomiting and muscle cramping.  The diarrhea can be so severe that it can result in life-threatening dehydration.  Seafood that is not adequately cooked is a common source.  If treated, your chances of dying hover somewhere around 5 percent.  Untreated, the death rate of cholera can surpass 50%. 

Typhoid Fever – The final contestant in nasty-diseases-passed-though-fecal-matter is typhoid.  A bacterial infection, typhoid symptoms arise 1 to 3 weeks after exposure with a high fever, general weakness, constipation and headaches.  In some cases, light-red spots will appear on the skin.  The death rate if treated is 1-4% – untreated the rate of death is approximately 20%.  The only way to actually test for typhoid is through a bone marrow test which only goes to add another level of fun to this bacterial infection.

Protecting Yourself
All of the writing staff have either personally experienced or know folks who have experienced the joys of food and water-borne sicknesses in the Philippines. To keep yourself as safe as possible, there are a number of self-protective stratagems you can employ:

  • Make sure ALL of your inoculations and vaccines are up to date, especially those for hepatitis and typhoid
  • Drink only filtered water and avoid ice in questionable eateries
  • Make sure all seafood is well cooked
  • Wash fruits and vegetables well before consuming them
  • Make is a habit to regularly wash your hands
  • If eating at a “street food” barbeque place, make sure that the meats are well done – charred, preferably

contam food


#3 Danger:  Ourselves

“We have met the enemy, and they are us.”
                                                          – Walt Kelly, Pogo 1971

NOTE: We were actually going to make “Ourselves” the number one danger to foreigners in the Philippines, but after some discussion, it was decided to keep motorcycles and scooters in the top spot.

Visiting or living in another country doesn’t require any type of expertise. As long as you have a passport, a pulse and XX number of dollars, you can basically go or live anywhere you want.  Having not traveled a great deal before coming to the Philippines, I can now understand why people love it so much: Taking oneself out of the same old, same old and relocating to a foreign locale is incredibly stimulating – a virtual smorgasbord of previously unsensed sights, sounds and smells.  Immersed in this newness, it’s sometimes easy to forget that foreign travel brings along with it its own particular risks – especially as one gets further and further off the beaten track.

We as foreign travelers are our own worst enemy when it comes to doing (or not doing) things that can make us more vulnerable and less safe.  Whether it is drinking too much, getting into fights, feeling isolated and lonely, losing our minds by falling in love, venturing into unsafe locations,  losing our emotional support system, wallowing in self-pity or (even worse) constantly whining about the deficiencies one perceives around them, tripping ourselves up as foreigners is actually quite easy.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why we can sometimes be the greatest dangers to ourselves, oftentimes without even realizing it. (Note that some of these are also brought up in the “Drugs and Alcohol” section of “Dangers in the Philippines.”) 

Lack of External Controls:  When you are 10,000 miles from home, your friends and family are a long way away.  You know – the people that actually care about you.  As we will see a bit later in the Alcohol and Drugs section, not having caring people around to call us out on our behaviors can be a very bad thing.  If we are drinking too much, hanging out with questionable folks or putting ourselves in bad situations, friends and family usually won’t hesitate to try to put us back on the straight and narrow.  And if we find ourselves in more dire circumstances, they are the ones who will usually be the ones to drop everything in order to help us out.  When you are far from home, however, they can’t do much of either.  Being left to our own devices – for some of us – is not healthy.

Freedom:  Many countries outside of the West are rather lax when it comes to A) either having public safety laws and/or B) actually enforcing them.  The Philippines falls squarely in the latter – it has a great number of laws on the books but they are either not enforced or – even worse – selectively enforced, usually to the detriment of whomever has the target reticle on him.  Drunk driving, helmet laws, open fires, public drinking/intoxication, emissions controls exist, but depending on where you are, they are rarely enforced.
        “But what about freedom from the nanny state?” Many folks coming to the Philippines find the lack of enforced laws to be a welcome breath of fresh air.  Keep in mind, however, that there is always a price to be paid for freedom:  Pollution, hospital admissions for traumatic head injuries, trash, noise and all the rest of the things most people don’t like about the Philippines is actually a result of enforced rules and regulations.  In the case of the newly arrived expat, it soon becomes a case of “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it……”

Cultural Ignorance: The local traditions and cultural mores in the Philippines are often either not known, misunderstood or simply ignored by some foreigners.  Although stereotyped as friendly by visiting foreigners and those living here, Filipinos are still human beings and subject to the same emotions as those visiting its sandy shores.  Faced with physically larger Westerners, don’t be surprised if that one-on-one fight you thought you were getting into turns into your opponent inviting in four of five of his buddies to assist in beating you into a fine pulp.  Sarcasm is also not widely utilized – it’s not only a question of being lost in translation, its more of a case of it simply not being seen as amusing by Filipinos. If employed, expect to either be taken literally or for the person to become offended.   In some cases, those emotions can be even greater, occasionally magnified by

“Western Superiority”:  Some foreigners that come to the Philippines have the unfortunate habit of comparing things here to their home countries.  Finding constant comparative faults in Filipino customer service, internet speeds, store inventories, building construction, civil or business laws and bureaucratic deficiencies, they have a tendency to only focus on the negative.  Embracing this level of incessant cynism isn’t exactly healthy – it sickens the spirit, increases stress levels and – when voiced – starts to really irritate not only other expats but other Filipinos who happen to be in earshot. Furthermore, focusing on the negative and only goes to increase the chasm between the involved expat and the culture in which he is supposed to be residing.

The Love Bug:  Another way in which foreigners trip themselves up in the Philippines is when they fall in love and lose all objectivity.  Getting bitten by the ‘love bug’ happens quite a bit here (understatement, that), and although it is a great and wondrous thing, it can also have its downsides.  As we note in the Relationships section, love can do some strange things to people, turning folks who are normally well grounded into impulsive, self-deluded shadows of themselves.  Combine that with the distance from friends and family noted previously, and some guys can get themselves into quite the pickle. 

Isolation/Depression:  It can be lonely in the Philippines.  Even when surrounded and pressed in on all sides by friendly meandering Filipinos, one can’t help get the feeling from time to time that you are still basically a stranger in a strange land.  Yes, you’re here physically, but without knowing the local lingo and becoming an actual part of the community, you’re still going to feel like an outsider.  Even in areas that have large foreigner populations, you can still feel lonely.  This is most pronounced when foreigners first arrive as they will generally not really know anyone at all.  It’s not something that most people think about when putting together a potential plan to live in the Philippines, but it’s something that really needs to be acknowledged. 

 

Conclusion
So, those are the three biggest dangers that foreigners are likely to encounter in the Philippines.  Most of the time, the damage can be mitigated by employing self-protective behaviors:  Focusing on being safe, being mindful, employing everyday common sense and taking things slow are all good counters to some of the unique hazards one might face in the Philippines.

27 comments

  1. Been been traveling to the Philippines since 2010. Got a helmet ticket once 1 year ago. 200 pesos. And only once, was i sick as a dog. My wife cooked squid. But, but, she was cutting squid while she was cooking. Soooooo, she had Mr. Salmonella on her hands and gave plenty to me. It took about 4 hours to kick in. But when it did, I threw up for 2 hours. Mostly dry heaves.

  2. Just wanted to let you know that I love your videos and find them very helpful. I married my wife in Olongapo in 1975 and we lived in the States since. We are both retiring soon and will be moving to Catanduanes, my wife’s home island. I am looking forward to it.

  3. That is so funny you but motorbikes #1. I was there in August 2015 had a accident in Puerto Galara and was in the hospital for 10 days. Not slowing me down though will be back this August and probally rent another motorbike.

  4. Ned
    First of all, thank you for the amazing and wonderful work you do! It was your accurate and straight shooting information that prepared me for my month long visit and eventual move here to the Philippines. I have been living here just short of 3 months now and I had an “interesting” experience with the local PNP. I was wondering if you had any input or similar experience.

    About a week ago, I had a visit from two PNP Officers (not in uniform) around 9 at night at our home here in a medium size province. They didn’t speak to me in English so I had my very protective girlfriend come out to greet them. It turns out that they were looking to get some of my personal information and interview me as part of a “foreign liaison” objective. She graciously declined to give any of my information to protect my privacy.

    My girlfriend was upset at the late intrusion and decided to inquire around with trusted sources if this was legitimate or local corruption. She is a counselor at the local Brgy and has lived here all her life so I trust her sources. We got a lot of different answers, but the two consistent were: Her long time friend at the PNP told us it was a legitimate visit. They keep track of all the foreigners living in the province to keep more patrols in those areas in case of trouble. The other was from a local Lawyer friend stating it was more than likely with ill intentions and advised me of my rights under the law here. Either way I don’t have any intentions to get mixed up with the law here. I’ve lived a clean life all my life and I intend to keep it that way.

    Any thoughts or experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to read my short book here. I realize you are very busy, especially with the wedding plans. Congratulations! I know you say you don’t deserve her, but everyone deserves to be happy! Take care, Salamat Po!

    1. Thanks for that, Ray. I personally have not experienced it but I have heard of other foreigners being visited by the local police under similar circumstances. I would – at the very most- tell them I would meet them down at the police station the next morning and give them just general information about yourself. There are always people coming by our gate telling me they are from XXXXX agency and could I provide my name, nationality, phone number and whatnot. Even if they have a little ID tag, I don’t tell them anything. If it is the police, I’d go down to the police station. Thanks again!

  5. What about dangers in the waters? I have been to some nice looking ocean areas and do not see many people swimming. Do the locals know something we don’t, or have I just seen Jaws one time too many?

    Also I noticed not too many people eat raw veggies, they seem to prefer soups over salads.

    I have been mostly on Cebu and Leyte.

    1. Filipinos go to the beach but a lot of them are not very competent swimmers – they tend to wade and splash in the shallows. Shark attacks are not an issue here as they have been pretty much fished out but box jellyfish are a problem. And they don’t generally eat raw veggies (salads) like we do – they cook them up for pinakbet or side dishes.

  6. I have not been sick from anything there yet except sinus infection. My wife makes sure i don’t eat certain things. all ways on me about washing my hands especially after mercado visit. on the commit from Ray, the Brgy Captain came and introduced himself to me, but all in all my experience has been positive i am sure there will be the something negative to happen. Love what you do Ned you put out good info for expats.

  7. I come here for 5 months a year. I eat everything, mostly seafood; veggies and fruit. My main problem is constipation. Everytime i come here, same problem, i try to eat lots of steamed veggies here as I do in Canada. I have to eat lots of prunes and prune juice every day. Any suggestions. Thanks.

  8. I really enjoy your posts.
    My experience of the Philippines is unique it started 6 years ago when I was writing for a woodworking magazine in Australia
    I wanted to report on traditional woodwork there .
    Strangely enough I met a young woman in my hotel who said there were many interesting woodworkers in Bilibid prison Muntinlupa
    To make a long story short she introduced me to the Superintendent .he asked me if I could assist in teaching woodwork in the prison
    All he could give me was men , nothing else ,since then I have built a workshop in the prison at my expense and imported tools and machines .The prisoners {my boys }get a trade ,remission on their sentence and Supplement their meagre diet .
    I have a rented house near the prison and return regularly to teach over 27 times!!
    Love the country and the people , have had problems with corrupt Govt employees but thats life .
    I have developed some intensive agricultural systems to improve the prisoners diet and also inexpensive cabins we will make in the prison for emergency situations
    M y business supports my mission http://www.rockinghorses.com.au
    Returning next month , the new admin are making things difficult but still love the work
    ONE DAY i HOPE TO SEE THE COUNTRY NOT JUST PRISON
    Cheers Chris

  9. Ive been to the Philippines a number of times since 1987 and drink and eat from roadside vendors and have no issues except when i go swimming in public pools i always seem to return to Aust with an ear infection. Id say the Philippinos are friendly but if u value ur life dont upset anyone.

  10. I lived in Dumaguete in 2007-2008.I am also married to a Filipina from Sibulan who’s grandfather ( Macario Literal) who was the first Mayor of Sibulan in 1910. His statue stand in the Middle of Sibulan. She who is currently working in Malaysia. I am working part-time as a stock broker in America and when I get enough money together $2-3million I will be back ,to take care of all my family. My support system is there. Family is important. Political connections are also important there. My wife’s uncle is the Police Chief in Sibulan and I have many friends at Silliman University. I have some serious health issues but with international health insurance and money those can be treated well there.

  11. Been in Dumaguete for two weeks now. Second week was spent in bed and CR. Yes, great weight loss program!!! Found an apartment for now with short term rental agreement. Was thinking of getting a scooter but now thinking I need 3 or more wheels.
    Say, are 3 wheelers licenced as cars here?
    Thanks for all the sharing you do Need! I have found your YTube info well worth watching!
    Be well everyone!

  12. 4. Beware of Shady Expats. While visiting in 2015 I was in Angeles City and observed some shady expats that were trying to take advantage of a disabled US military Vet right by the VFW. So these expats are Aussies and British that have settled down and prey on visiting expats and disabled vets. I was having a beer with my wife, and my buddy speaking too freely about his VA disability and what kinds of meds he was on. Not the smartest thing to talk about anywhere. Anyway he is talking to another Vet and several slime balls eased themselves into the conversation and began to ask alot of questions and warning bells went off. (Opsec) Being retired military I realized he was in trouble . I grabbed my wife and we made some excuse for my buddy to leave with us to a safer location. Afterwards I reminded my buddy that he was making himself a target big time.
    Bottom line Beware of Shady Expats that prey and scam fellow expats, People think Fellow English speaking Expats are good to go, wrong answer ! Angeles City has a large expat community but where there is good there is also bad.

  13. I have seen a number of your videos well spoken and common sense.
    I am here for 6 months ( 6 weeks to go) to see if the Philippines suits me. To see how much I spend on average a month. And to try a learn a little of the language. I think just saying thank you and few other phrases can help a little and is polite.
    Reference you saying we are guests here…. I think of it as being in someone’s house. When you are in his house you follow his rules it is a simple as that and if you upset him he won’t invite you back again…..
    P.S. living in Malolos Bulacan
    biggest love too many to mention but weather food and way of life.
    Biggest hates standing 6 ft 1inch it has to be very small tricycle and once you are in many of them hard seats and a bus or lorry tailpipe that is just right to poison you
    Take care and once again loved your shows
    Mike Bloye….

    1. Great to hear from you. I stayed for the full 6 months and can honestly say that i did not come across any major problems.
      I have come back to england and i am sorting things out here. My wife came back with me on a 6 months visa and i am hoping to return either with her if not as soon as possible after depending how long it takes to complete everything here.

  14. I was born in the Philippines but moved overseas when I was only a few years old. Every time we have visited the Philippines I have ended up getting sick, just common cold and flu symptoms. The first time I was taken to the hospital for tests because there was a dengue outbreak a while back before we came. I tested negative but the idea that my chances for diseases are escalated every time I travel here terrifies me, it doesn’t help that this is my 3rd or 4th time I have travelled back to the Philippines and have gotten sick. Earlier today I cried and told my dad that he needs to have the house fixed because it’s old, bugs are around, mould is growing especially because the house gets easily flooded when it rains and various other reasons why it should be fixed. He just told me to stop complaining because it’s normal as children get sick more easily than adults (I have recently already turned of age and am legally considered an adult already). He also said I could still get sick when I leave the house anyway, which is true but at least my chances are decreased by having a cleaner home. I want to keep coming back and spend time with family here in the Philippines but I’m so scared of repeatedly getting sick and I find myself feeling guilty because when the trip is over I’m so relieved that I get to go back to a safer and cleaner home overseas. I just don’t know what to do.

  15. Been going to the Philippines since 2012,married in 17 and about 2 more months until she arrives in America. Ditto the motorcycle taxis and scooters. The last 2 times I was there…..large black spots on side of road where motorcycle taxis,passengers and driver all died in accidents with trucks. The last one even the truck driver died. First time I was in a CAR TAXI from airport in Manila to hotel,I looked for seatbelts as it was a newer Vios and none to see. I asked the driver and he turned back to me and stated”You Americans are all too cautious”.
    Yea well….. welcome to the Philippines!

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