#RedZone

I've been in western Mindanao for 9 nights: Have spent 4 nights in Dipolog City, a place I'd wanted to come to for awhile, having been on my radar since I heard about its fabulous Boulevard, then a sad night in Oroquieta City which had nothing to offer, I then spent 4 nights in Ozamiz City.
On the morning I was leaving Ozamiz city I received a text from a filipina I’d been chatting to asking if I had any foreign friends in Ozamiz. Then forwarded a Facebook post regarding a foreigner who’d been discovered dead that morning with gunshot wounds to the head who’d been executed. He had no phone or anything on his possession, so police couldn’t identify him. It was a chilling thought knowing that a foreigner was murdered in a place where I’d been staying for the previous 4 nights.
I’d not spent much time on the Ozamiz streets, as I’d been holed up in my hotel room editing. There’s a handful of good places to eat, but that’s about it. Fortunately the Royal Garden Hotel where I'd stayed was really lovely, which was probably the best thing about Ozamiz city. Apart from leaving.
On heading to the port for the daily 7.30 am ferry to Iligan City, the Cokaliong ferry ticket agency was closed. There's no places to buy a ticket at the port so I was eventually directed on to the ferry itself to buy a ticket from what seemed like a random guy.
In Iligan City I'd booked an AirBnB called Vacueto's Place which I'd booked online for 4 nights. I didn't realise Grab operated in Iligan city so on arriving at the port, finding a taxi driver who didn't speak English was frustrating.
This was my first time visiting western Mindanao. I have previously taken a ferry from Camiguin to Cagayan De Oro, spent time in that city, before travelling on to Davao, spending 3 weeks in Davao over Christmas 2022.
How safe is Mindanao Island? On the United Kingdom’s Foreign Travel Advice Website, they’ve virtually drawn a line down the middle of Mindanao depicting which are the safe places to travel to and those that are not so safe. The website states that there’s a high threat of kidnap in the Philippines, with foreign nationals targeted by both criminal and terrorist groups. The threat of kidnapping is particularly acute in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago and offshore areas in the nearby waters of the Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea.
A British national and a dual Filipino-British national were kidnapped on 4 October 2019 from a resort in Zamboanga, Western Mindanao. They were successfully rescued on 25 November 2019 by the Philippines Armed Forces. Some hostages however, including foreign nationals, have been murdered.
According to the 2020 census, CDO has a population of over 728,000. It is a vibrant multi-cultural city with over 50 mosques dotted around the city. I love cities. I walk each day for hours pounding the streets. I find much more life to see on the streets than a hike up a mountainside. Even if I’m not taking photographs or shooting video I still like the energy and interest that a city provides.
The Philippines should be on everyone’s bucket list with its beautiful white sand beaches, fabulous idyllic islands, turquoise sea and stunning scenery. The Philippines is a traveller’s paradise and regularly included in top ten favorite places to visit in Asia and affordable, favorite world holiday destination.
Many foreigners/expats choose the Philippines as the best country to retire in Asia and live in paradise. The Philippines is one of the cheapest countries to live in the world with its low cost of living and all year sunshine. Retiring in the Philippines is affordable on a budget of less than $1000 per month.
Filipinos are welcome and warm people. Filipinos are often regarded as the most friendliest nation in Asia and nicest people in the world. English is widely spoken throughout the country. The Philippines is included in the top ten English speaking countries in the world. The majority of Filipinos are highly proficient in English, so it is very easy to strike up a conversation and make new friends.
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#mindanao
#REDZONE
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[@JonW_FL]

This was the most on-point video of your whole channel. This is every interaction in PH most days...lol.

[@Billy_B_Goat]

It was good to see you end this episode enjoying a nice meal. I seriously don't get you man. I want to see you do well, but the crap you put yourself through to save 50 pesos is beside me. You have lived in the Visayas for how many years now and still seem to not have acquired even the most basics words of the language?? Hmmm. How are you feeling... have you taken any time to sit quietly and check-in with your body? Are you considering making any plans on following up on the medical treatments suggested/prescribed when you were in Duma? I hope so, but you do you Phillip. I am keen to see what your experience is going to be like once in Zamboanga and how you find the natives there. Be well, stay healthy, and I hope you have a good time in Iligan. Peace and Love, B Goat

[@misterboo72]

+1

[@keithjetski3060]

If you slow your speaking to half speed they will understand you much better .

[@Lancaster7]

Yeah, but most vloggers don't care and then they mock the person for not understanding.

[@zacharygordon7037]

_​@@Lancaster7

[@brianbarton777]

Who’s “they”?😊

[@jeffjeff4477]

Just flew into OZM a few weeks ago Across to Mukus and into LDN Have family about 20 minutes from there. Remote, not enough coffee shops but love the mountain s there. Tobud was a nice trip, not alot of action over there, but peaceful. Sairigao will be my next time adventure, although seems like the next Bohol Good travels USA

[@Kimonha]

You’re leaving cemetery girl? She was a keeper.

[@PatrickFDolan]

Maybe she stiffed him.

[@MikeWood-yc1er]

Ricky was drop dead gorgeous

[@unggoytrader]

Unlucky mate. It looks like the taxi guy just started 2 hours before you arrived. 😂

[@keithjetski3060]

Iligan looks better. Maybe I'll try there.

[@rodrigo1965]

What happened to your new friend? She was cute, nice video ❤

[@mikelandry6397]

Awesome seeing real life experience of getting on the ferry . Philippines is unscripted and stuff happens, keeping it real.

[@sailingeos204]

Being a queue jumper and not paying the port fees let alone the ticket...Crikey... that almost makes you a criminal....

[@j.r00n14]

yeah, but he had every intention to pay, he just fell through the cracks this time, he's a good guy, let's give him a pass on this one

[@keithjetski3060]

If you flew to Ozamis, you would see zero cell service from Smart or Globe while at the airport. Only place I've ever had that experience.

[@markbisdak]

nice video..what camera are u using?

[@eprohoda]

like it. awesome ~goodnight, =)

[@FraserPayne]

Fly in from Aussie on the 9th of Oct

[@faustinodibauda251]

Great to see your traveling the roads less traveled

[@1DancingCloud1]

WTF! You left Ricky? Hope you gave her a good Mustache Ride to remember you by.

[@misterboo72]

Phil. I am sorry if I am being rude, but you are not the charismatic and charming bloke you believe yourself to be. When speaking with the locals you have a very quick way of speaking and you have.a short fuse. Philippinos will always smile and say "hello" but your interactions sometimes sound like a cop questioning a suspect, Why not just say "hello" and let them initiate the conversation? Then, listen to their answers rather than playfully teasing them about what they are doing ("Red Horse already?"). It's judgement. That does not make people want to like you.

[@JohnnyLawrence293]

thought you were headed to zamboanga? isn't this the opposite direction?

[@BiggWorldCinema]

Just a little detour b4 heading south.

[@tigermanmccool4037]

How much? in Bisaya ...say Pila ....sounds like "pee-la" , say how much? followed by pila? will help you & the other person overcome the language barrier

[@rolandmueller7218]

Another thing I hear from other foreigners is that everyone speaks English in the Philippines. That isn’t always guaranteed. If you plan to travel or live in the Philippines for a long duration, it behooves you to learn to speak some Tagalog and the local language where you will live.

[@Lawrencerice]

I have been here less than 7 weeks, living in Negros Oriental. I am already learning basic greetings and phrases in both Tagalog and Basayan.Few communication problems as Google translates on my cell very well. Works with Tagalog and Basayan. He's not new; this is clearly self created KZbin drama.

[@rolandmueller7218]

@@Lawrencerice yes, I know Philip is not new. I just made the comment because a lot of people think everyone speaks english all the time. I heard electronic translators work. But, I was raised bilingual and prefer to teach my brain tagalog and Ilocanos than depend on an electronic device.

[@rolandmueller7218]

@@TheMagnificentNow It’s worth it if you are there for a long duration as well. Some of us grew up knowing more than one language and enjoy learning a new language. I have gone places with my girlfriend not knowing what people were talking about. Learning their language is a sign of respect to Filipinos.

[@Lawrencerice]

@rolandmueller7218 Jackpot! As Americans, don't we complain when foreigners come and expect us to speak their language? I live here now. I would not wish to disrespect this land or its people.

[@Skippie]

Spelt Iligan not Iligin?

[@markhindmarsh9360]

I very familiar with this port,you wanted adventure,don’t you love it,no panic we just bend the rules.try that in uk

[@peterthomas6486]

I like the ticket Dude's uniform?

[@PatrickFDolan]

All that drama over 50 peso. Imagine being that grasping and close.

[@bynjoe2000]

It's a new luggage? with a tape? lol

[@misterboo72]

I was wondering that too!

[@bonnetbolt]

fk that..way too difficult squeeze not worth the juice

[@j.kittredge]

Our boy Frenchie game as f**k!

[@markbisdak]

hahah so funny ..ive been away from iligan for almost 30 yrs and i know where jeffrey rd is and the taxi driver doesnt