I just had a client ask me if it was safe to drink the tap water in the Philippines, and it reminded me how not every first-time visitor from Australia is as prepared as they should be. And we don’t want to lose any clients or we won’t get paid!

The Philippines is a Third-World country. Parts of it are very developed and sophisticated, whilst just down the road you’ll find people sleeping in the streets making a living by begging. It’s not like Australia. Try to mentally-prepare yourself for something quite different if you’ve never been before. 

Safety issues – food, drinks and general hygiene

Definitely do not drink tap water. Do not drink water from restaurants and food outlets unless they are in modern shopping malls or fairly upmarket. Do not have drinks with ice for the same reason. Bottled water is available everywhere, and it’s cheap.

Avoid foods that are not freshly and thoroughly cooked! This is a poor country, and food rarely gets thrown out. It’s also tropical, which means bacteria grow and multiply very quickly. “Street food” sanitation is often non-existent. Even in private homes, refrigeration is often non-existent too, and leftovers may have been sitting on the table for days. Even salads and salad dressings can be bacterial extravaganzas if they’re not made fresh and if the washing water is a bit suspect.

Protect yourself from mosquitos, especially around sundown. Dengue Fever is common, and Malaria exists in some areas.

Hepatitis is also not uncommon, so avoid sharing utensils, cups and drinking glasses with others.

And don’t go trying to pat dogs. Rabies is fairly common.

Personal safety – Being a “target”

In a sea of short, brown Filipinos, most Aussies stick out like a sore thumb. You will never be lost in a crowd! And whether you consider yourself to be “rich” or not, you ARE a rich man. You would have spent more money on your trip than the average poor Filipino would earn in a year. Hunger is a strong motivator, and the contents of your wallet will be highly desired. So wherever you are, you will be noticed by every conman and every thief.

So have some common sense. Stay out of slum areas or anywhere with dark streets and shady characters hanging around. Keep money in a money-belt or similar. Leave passports, credit cards and the bulk of your money in hotel safes. And incidentally, avoid bargain hotels in seedy areas or even the hotel safe will be a risk as will you. And don’t wave your money about or act like a loudmouthed tourist.

Try to use hotel car services rather than taxis on the street, especially in places like Manila.

And for those of you “taking a walk on the wild side”, there are many traps for those caught with their pants down, eg. Accusations of rape, being set up with under aged girls, etc, not to mention sexually transmitted diseases galore. There are lots of advantages to clean living, and staying out of trouble is certainly one of them.

If it’s your first trip, remember you’re a foreigner in a strange place. Don’t be over confident. Don’t get cocky. Show caution, restraint and common sense. If you’re here to meet a Filipina lady you’ve been getting to know, remember that it IS her town. She will take care of you and steer you away from the trouble spots. If she says don’t go there or don’t do that, you should listen to her.

We suggest that you use www.australia.com.ph to guide you to places that are Aussie-friendly, so you will be safe and comfortable and less likely to be prey to thieves and scam artists.

And if your meeting-up goes well and you want an Australian Partner Visa, please go to www.downundervisa.com