My Greatest Fear for our Safety while Living in the Philippines

While walking to pick up some groceries I tell my greatest fear for our safety while living in the Philippines.
Uncle Justin is an American expat living in the Philippines with his girlfriend her daughter, nephew, and his cat. He posts daily life vlogs and shares some of his adventures when traveling in the Philippines.

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Thanks for spending you time with us! You may enjoy this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6aofqegep1on9U

[@kasyowertv.]

Done watching this one

[@JEPOYHEROBLOGG]

how long have you been here in our country ???

[@midlifewanderings]

There's no reason to fear or be scared in the Philippines Uncle Justin. But I'm with you on the traffic issue. We are moving there in June with a 15 year old son who will be attending high school there and plans to buy a motorcycle - now THAT will certainly cause fear in my heart as a mother. Other than that we feel safer there than here in the US.

[@gmm5550]

"soft crimes" like scams and pickpocket is the main thing to be aware on as a expat and the traffic of course. "Hard crimes" like local violence and robbery's are extremely rare if u look how many expats that live and tourists visit philippines every year. most common violence is a western man fighting western man in the sleesy bar and "pay for play" world.

[@unclejustinandfamily]

You are spot on. Scams and pick pockets are the most common crimes. Violent crime is generally low. It is just my fear of one us getting hit while walking that scares me the most.

[@gmm5550]

@@unclejustinandfamily 15 years working and living in se-asia..i have some..experience. I Live in IloIlo city and here there are real sidewalks and even protected bicycle lanes..in the city =)

[@wildmonkeyhunter6631]

Really...name the last incident that involved two foreigners fighting over a girl in a bar. The more common crime is the local Filipino who gets drunk and goes crazy with the machete....sheesh

[@gmm5550]

@@wildmonkeyhunter6631 well local crimes isn't including western expats..right? there are shooting's and tragedy's in every se-asian country daily but seldom are any tourist or western ppl included and bar fights happens almost every week in angeles and cebu and places like that with concentration of expats.. drunk expats starts fights with drunk expats

[@gmm5550]

@@wildmonkeyhunter6631 ""Hard crimes" like local violence and robbery's are extremely rare if u look how many expats that live and tourists visit philippines every year."

[@RussellCalamia]

i HAVE LIVED IN BINAN LAGUNA FOR OVER A YEAR AND TWO MONTHS NOW. I GO TO THE PAVILION MALL EVERYDAY SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY. I HAVE WALKED THE STREETS IN THE AREA AT NIGHT AND NEVER EVER HAVE I FELT UNSAFE OR EVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THREATS OR THEFT. THIS BINAN LAGUNA IS AN EXTREMELY SAFE AND FRIENDLY AREA.

[@paulk8444]

Justin was talking about the "Traffic" and being involved in an Accident not crime like robbery or anything else and as an Expat who drives I agree the Driving is biggest fear not anything else as where i live only 1 killing in almost 50 years compared to where i lived in USA one a day and shooting everywhere so Philippines 1000x safer in all ways

[@Untamedlove]

The fear you should have in the Philippines is Health care and Earthquake.... anything else is just worrying about nothing

[@JoeyZee-vs4kr]

You don't look rich so there's nothing to worry about. Bad guys are only interested in money. You're very safe there if you just behave. 😊

[@scotmarq]

you are right about that bro!!! Same in Thailand!!!

[@theghostoftravel]

I stayed in cebu for 2 months, i walked t hrough the barangay at 3am , tipsy, youll be fine, if this was AMERICA, id rather not walk through neighborhoods.

[@JoeyZee-vs4kr]

Filipinos are good drivers so don't worry so much about hitting or getting hit. But if you're a foreigner and don't know the psychology of driving in the Philippines, it's best not to try. 😊

[@vgwalldecals]

I agree, expats driving in the Philippines is insanity. We only use Grab to get around, if we lived in an area that didn't have Grab we would hire a driver with a dependable car or van. It's actually cheaper and certainly much less hazardous physically and mentally. I realize you have been in the PH for some time now, not new to the PH, but why are you still walking around with a wallet? I just carry the cash around that I will need for the day and that's it.

[@gmm5550]

wise man.. i have a nice slingbag for 120 peso from Lazada like most men in all se-asia, no wallet and carry what i will spend + some extra and NO plastic cards and have a laminated copy of my passport and visa to and a "cheap" oppo Android phone with no important banking apps on.. photocopy and laminate passport cost 40peso and saves u from a world of hurt. i did live and work in Thailand/Bangkok 11 years and stopped driving scooter around 2019..seen to many accidents over the years and the traffic here in Philippines are just as bad

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Most excellent comment. In side my wallet i carry an ibuprofen for back pain, and what and money that I plan on spending. I also have my DL in side and some worthless "Junk." Normally when we need larger amounts of money it does not go all in one place.

[@gmm5550]

@@unclejustinandfamily haven't carried a wallet in like...14 years now..always a "crossbody bag" or "sling bag" if u know what i mean.. back problems? try a real traditional massage they are ruff and u will probably scream of pain but after u feel like a new human. Acupuncture is another thing to try..it fixed the knee i my left leg where i did have constant pain for a decade or a real hard bed /sleaping on floor asian style eating pills for the pain is a hamsterwheel and not good for your liver or body

[@dsrrellgriffith1161]

u never use a wallet in the PI, i have been visiting for 30 years and lived in cebu for 7 years,,,I always used a thin under shirt pouch. It holds cards and lots of cash, no need to ever have a wallet. I never had a problem, if u are concerned then use a fake wallet with a few pesos,,,,,,,hahahaha

[@paulk8444]

I agree with you as a "Foreigner" is ALWAYS the one at fault and i would rather dump the motorcycle by myself then hit someone and thing that i avoid is people with kids on their motorbike especially without a helmet. Plus as a friend said it isn't IF it happens but when and how bad so just roll easy and keep your head on a swivel. I've been several times to the Phils and moving there for good mid July staying with my Buddy Derek (Qadventures) who helped me buy my Honda ADV and then via ferry to Dumaguete from Cebu to my Apartment there. P.s the Breads are great and cheap but also very fattening so do like the Filipinos and eat Rice as they are simple carbs and get with a local farmer direct as open markets good place to meet them as they will super appreciate your loyalty as a regular customer and get Best produce. My girlfriends father is on local Barangay council and shopping with him is quite the experience as it is so social they Love being nice to each other. So when in Rome do as romans do.

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Dude! Thanks for the comment. I wish you the best on your move here. Yes! The breads are amazing and fattening!

[@MaxZagar]

The noice is equally killing....

[@EdwinCV-dh8qc]

Hey there Justin,I would not even kiddingly offer to buy a child you never know who will be offended sir.Mount your Gopro on your helmet and always on when on ur skooter 4 ur safety.

[@antoniotendeiro2631]

Safer here than your country

[@paulk8444]

YES except in Traffic

[@peter-bakestar]

New subscriber here. Look forward to watching your videos

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Thank you, very much

[@captscarlet17]

Crime is everywhere in the world it doesn’t matter what country you live in anything can happen.

[@junlab2612]

traffic is an "organized chaos" here in the Philippine... we are a very populated country.. keep safe Uncle.. new subscriber here. 🙂

[@piacash5216]

Power on Uncle Justin 💪💪💪👍👍👍

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Rock n' Roll :)

[@prancer4743]

Uncle uncle I’m scared 🫣😳👀😩😉😉😉drama drama for no reason next 🤔🤔🤔

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Hahaha

[@takealongbreak]

New subscriber here..which city are you located? Thanks..

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Binan

[@QuicknStraight]

Why did you pick Binan? As far as safety goes, generally, if you don't do silly things, the Philippines is pretty safe. With the traffic, that's a problem in many countries. Keep your eyes peeled and assume that every other road user is an idiot!

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Binan is where Lani and her family live.

[@tonykitchen8631]

New subscriber

[@alexgan5506]

Uncle Justine Philippines is a nice place for you to stay ..

[@unclejustinandfamily]

I love it here. :)

[@JEPOYHEROBLOGG]

just be nice to all and youll be ok

[@kasyowertv.]

Can i have some pandesal justin

[@unclejustinandfamily]

Yes po

[@EdwinCV-dh8qc]

What city are you in Justin?

[@MsVroege]

You're not paying attention..It does says Laguna...ffs..

[@unclejustinandfamily]

I am in Binan Laguna

[@booboo6714]

I'm curious about the number of road accidents that have occurred in that area during your time there. Could you also compare this to the number of road accidents in your vicinity in the US? Have you been robbed or threatened in any way while living in the Philippines?

[@unclejustinandfamily]

I have seen many road accidents. Most involve a scooter/motorcycle. I've seen several people on the ground in pain after an accident. We did lose a "distant," family member who was hit by a motorcycle while in the crosswalk, crossing the street. The rider of the motorcycle also passed away. In the US I did A LOT of driving. I see accidents here in the Philippines more frequently than in the US. As for being robbed: I did lose a piece of plywood from my truck. It was not secured properly and fell out. It took me about 3 minutes from when it fell out to when I got back to that location and the plywood was gone. I have never been threatened in any way here in the Philippines.

[@booboo6714]

Motorcycle riding can create a deceptive perception of the available road space, which increases the risk of accidents. Besides, lightweight motorcycles are quite uncommon in the U.S.. Three minutes is an extensive period for plywood to be lying on a super busy road, and it's not as if it was taken directly from your truck. Compared to American robbery incidents, that event is almost negligible, and it's more of an accident than an actual robbery.

[@NurseArielPhysiotherapists]

👍

[@lilibethbreault5511]

They’re afraid of you my friend those men that you just passed by lol