Is it safe live or travel in the Philippines? Are there really so many thieves and robberies?

I admit that before I arrived in the Philippines, I always heard from my friends that the security in the Philippines was very bad. I was really scared when I heard it, before I started working here. I was afraid of being robbed, so I didn't dare to bring too many beautiful clothes, didn't want to use too good a mobile phone, didn't want to bring my selfie gadget here, so even the shoes were durable sneakers, not beautiful shoes. Because I listened to too many advices and experiences, I wanted to keep a low profile to protect my own safety, so I always carried a non-woven bag bought in Japan to work. It looked cheap and felt like it was used for shopping, so as to avoid being targeted. Even the sneakers were durable basketball shoes. Even if a child hugged me, I could run away immediately. But is it really that scary?



Actually, I don't think so. In the second month after I came here, I began to regret wearing those tattered clothes, which made me look ugly at work... But the advantage of sneakers is that it is really convenient to run when encountering robbery. Once I was going to Makati. The crime scene was at the intersection of Makati Avenue and Kalayaan Avenue. When I was walking to the intersection of Durban and Makati Avenue, I was surrounded by 4 children. It seemed that these children had not taken a shower for many days. They were in a group. I didn’t know how many of them were watching us nearby. To them, we were a golden bucket falling from the sky. We didn’t have much money to work outside. If we could just grab an IPAD or a mobile phone, we would make a fortune.

They locked onto me from a distance. Their eyes were completely different from those of other kids. They looked fierce and ready to commit a crime, and they didn't have that innocent smile. Some people might not go there and take a deTour, but I ran directly to the dividing island on the road and walked along the road to CITYLAND. It was actually very dangerous. I was walking on the side of the road, and I was actually afraid of being hit by the car behind me. But in fact, the traffic in the Philippines is chaotic, and they drive very slowly. Even if I was on the side of the road, they would still stop. But at that time, it happened to be a red light, so I ran directly through the group of children, but my friend was surrounded by these gangs of children.

Seeing several kids trying to catch him, my friend held his bag tightly, waved his hands to stop them from snatching it, and ran away quickly, but was surrounded by 4 enemies. He kept struggling to prevent the enemies from reaching into his bag. I walked with my bag. I never put anything in my pockets when I went out, so as not to be easily taken away. Although the guards on the roadside would help me scold the children, it was actually useless. They all shouted in Filipino. They might have joined other Xihuan gangs to surround us. When they saw me become a gold barrel, the nearby Jingwei asked them to stop messing around in order to help me, but they refused to listen and joined 3-4 children to take off their clothes.

Why do you take off your clothes? I heard from my friends that this is one of their methods. They hide their faces and things, and even carry handkerchiefs to dig in your bag... Just like picking a lottery ball, you can take the grand prize home. I heard a lot of stories from my Malaysian friend that day. He said: His friend went to BGC SM to watch a movie alone, but I have lived in BGC SM for almost half a year and never encountered a robbery. On the contrary, the security there is very good! However, when he was watching the movie, he put his bag under the chair. In Taiwan, we also put our bags under the chair to watch movies. However, after he finished watching the movie, all the things in his bag were looted. IPAD, wallet, and valuables were gone. This is the first time I heard of this method. It made me think that the thief must have secretly opened the bag from under the back seat. It is a very profitable method. Stealing something while watching a movie is too profitable. So you really have to be careful. No matter where you go, you must keep your bag with you. What's more, the security in BGC is really good, but thieves are everywhere. After hearing this, I felt that the Consular Affairs Department could treat this place like Taiwan, thinking that it was safe and that the safer the place, the more people would steal. "Then can I fight back?" I heard that it is not allowed, and children cannot be hit, but the government here is very protective of children, and children cannot be hit. If they are hit, they will be arrested no matter what. Before, I wanted to learn boxing, thinking that it could be used for self-defense, but now it is not allowed to use violence against 16.17. I think I can only practice running marathons. In short, I just run away, or keep shouting bitter teeth, bitter teeth, daddy, daddy, HELP ME.

I think there should be a kind-hearted Feifei to rescue me. To be honest, every time I meet these children, I really hate them and feel sorry for them. They are too poor to receive a good education, and they can't eat properly. Their bodies are also dirty, smelly and black, so pitiful. But I won't give them money or food, because if they see me taking out my wallet, I might lose my whole bag. They don't care if you give them money or not, they will just rob them. So, never give them money out of pity in front of the child gangs, and don't go out of the convenience store without collecting your change, or use your phone while walking. Some people talk on the phone while walking, and the gangs behind them rush over and steal their phones. They are so skilled, so be careful~ Don't go to dark corners and alleys. I feel so sorry for many of them, and I have to tolerate the behavior of these children.