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.

I've spent 4 nights in Dipolog City, a place I've wanted to come to for awhile, having been on my radar since I heard about its fabulous Boulevard. I'm a sucker for boardwalks and this one is west facing so gets the sunsets. It was also good timing as Dipolog was hosting this years's Hudyaka Festival. Hudyaka ZaNorte is a cultural festival and founding anniversary celebration in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines every June. A weeklong celebration, it is the festival of all cultural festivals in the province, a gathering of its cities and towns that comprise it.

Now I'm heading around the coast to Oroquieta City. Not that it has any sights to offer, but I want to experience a smaller Mindanao city.

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. From there I took a bus to Butuan, stopped overnight then continued on to Siargao Island.

A British national and a dual FilipinoBritish 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 multicultural 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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