Living in Dipolog

I have been to Dipolog a couple times had no problems. I was wondering any American lives there can give me more insight. I was only at the airportand grocery store and ATM. My fiancee lives in a small town called Calamba about 45 minutes away. I plan on staying in a motel for a month till I find a house to rent. I plan on getting married in March there in calamba. Taking advice from others about not living to close to relatives I think 45 minutes away i s okay. Just wondering about the safety and would like to have a couple places to look at to rent when i get there but can\'t find nothing on the net. It  is northern Mindanao and I felt safe when there. Actually i got a death stare in Cebu once going to pick up our clothes from the laundry.  Other than that as many people fell in love with the nice people. I got a comment from a Filipino taxi driver he asked where we came from i said Dipolog and he said damn I am Filipino and wouldn\'t go there? Not really worried but would  like like some input if possible about the area? I  can afford to live in Cebu but closer to her family for her and the city is nice to visit but i like quiet alot.

[dylanaz]

I got a comment from a Filipino taxi driver he asked where we came from i said Dipolog and he said damn I am Filipino and wouldn\'t go there?

I heard stories about those areas but never googled it until now. I think Wikipedia paints a pretty accurate picture if you click ---> HERE <----

Basically says what we hear...
Paraphrased:

in the early 1600\'s missionairies converted 200 people and made a settlement - then they fought the Muslims who lived there and the missionairies won. Then some group called MORO BANDITS started sending out rebel attacks - and 400 years later - its still the same fight going on...

oversimplification - but its the general idea of what the taxi driver was talking about...

Wow... 400 years of fighting... as Rodney King said \"Cant we all just get along?\"  

[JHunt]

We passed through Dipolog a few years ago on our way to Dapitan (Dakak Beach Resort).  We later took a motorcycle back to Dipolog (I think) and went shopping.  Never saw or experienced any reason to be cncerned.

[dylanaz]

We passed through Dipolog a few years ago on our way to Dapitan (Dakak Beach Resort).  We later took a motorcycle back to Dipolog (I think) and went shopping.  Never saw or experienced any reason to be cncerned.

I saw a rebel once... He yelled at me \"HEY JOE!\"
... so I ran away ! 

[graham]

Just wondering about the safety and would like to have a couple places to look at to rent when i get there but can\'t find nothing on the net. It  is northern Mindanao and I felt safe when there. Actually i got a death stare in Cebu once going to pick up our clothes from the laundry. 

Just read your post. I live in Cagayan De Oro, up North, which is reasonably safe, as Dylan will attest to. I just now asked my wife, who is Visayan, the question, \"Is Dipilog City safe?\"

                       A very short and succinct \"NO\" was the answer.

You take it from there mate.  I have driven around this Island several times I can tell you that I would never venture there under any circumstances.

Graham

What is this........................... dylanaz, post credits in trying to be the king of the hill in des her parts? 

J/J!!!! 
B-Ray

I saw a rebel once... He yelled at me \"HEY JOE!\"
... so I ran away ! 
[/quote]

[coutts00]

There are some parts of the Philippines you should not want to live in, some places not safe for a visit and remember just because a gf of fiance is from the area does not make it safe. You are white, perceived as rich, whether you are or not and become a target for those who have less than you. \"caveat emptor\" Buyer beware, if you go in there and you don\'t come back, don\'t say we did not advise against it.

[c_a_p_t_a_i_n_r_o_n]

Most of our Bisayan wives/girlfriends would not wish us to travel to vast areas of Mindanao.......Bisayans have lived along the Northern coastal areas.
AS such they will have had the most difficult times with conflicts in these areas. As such they will be reluctant to travel there, even MORE reluctant for us to travel there. Even if they have family in an area, THEY may be comfortable in visiting BUT not want you to do so........LISTEN to your g/f.

I recall that Lonely Planet does not recommend travel WEST or SOUTH of Iligan City. Davao excepted.

Consider this; in locating to Dipolog City, your wife/gf will also be a stranger there......If you need city comforts CDO (6 hours east) might be a better location.