Angeles City is still a fun & safe place to party.  But, even though it isn't as big as cities like Chicago, New York, LA, London, Bangkok, etc, there are some common sense rules that should be followed for personal safety.

  • Be aware of your surroundings.

  • Don't walk down dark, deserted streets.  If you have to go through a dark area on the way to or from your hotel, don't walk!  Use a trike or other transportation.

  • Don't wear flashy jewelry like gold chains.  Leave that stuff at home on in your hotel safety deposit box.

  • Don't show a large bundle of cash when paying bills.

  • Don't change currency on the street. Use a inside money changer like Margarita Station or the one in front of  Natalia Apartelle.

  • Drink moderately.  You can get drunk when you go home.  Stay sober enough to be aware of your surroundings and to enjoy the other benefits of Angeles City.

  • Carry cash in your front pockets.  If you must carry a wallet, put a large rubber band around the wallet. This will prevent it from sliding easily out of your pocket.

  • Trikes are generally safer than Jeepneys.  If you use a jeepney, beware of individuals sitting close to you. They are skilled at distracting you and putting their far arm behind their back and getting things from your pocket.

  • Stay away from girls on the street, especially if they look young.

    • Never let a girl bring a young friend into your room.  In the past year several people have gotten into trouble by letting a girl bring a obviously underage girl into their rooms so the girl could "take a shower."  Only to find the police at the door moments later.  This act of kindness will cost you $$$.
I shouldn't have to say this, but DON'T go to any small villages on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo (or any where in the sticks) with someone you just met.  Nothing good can come from drinking with a group of Filipino men you just met in some remote barangay (village).
Over the years we have had a few robberies in hotels.  They are rare, but they have happened (usually in the more remote hotels).  If you see an unusual number of individuals in the hotel lobby, don't enter.  If someone pounds on your door late at night and tells you to open the door, don't answer the door. Just stay quiet.

If you are involved in an incident and confronted by the police, be courteous.  Remember you are in a foreign country.   Our local police are generally friendly and helpful.  If they ask you to go with them, say "Yes Sir."   Cooperative individuals seldom have a bad experience with our police.  I have seen so many people get confrontational with the police.  If you argue or become aggressive with the police you will get arrested. If you resist arrest you will get some bumps and bruises and you won't win, you will just pay more to make the incident go away.

  • Don't put yourself in a situation like "Harry the Horse" did this month.  He is "connected" and he still had a bad night.  If he didn't have friends in high places he might still be in custody or forced to pay a significant sum to get out of jail.  If you see Philippine officials enter an establishment where you are, it is time to pay your bill and leave.  Don't take photos of the officials and don't try to help. 

  • Hopefully the incident with Harry the Horse will bring the Gestapo tactics of these NBI agents to light with their supervisors.  You can be sure it is a hot topic between the mayor and more than one office in Manila.

In the past few years we have had three EXPATS murdered in Angeles City by Filipino boyfriends of their wives.  In each case the guys were all sleeping with other women. In two of the cases the guys were bringing the girls into the home in view of the wife.  The other guy wasn't bringing the girls home, but he also wasn't going home too  often.   Duh! Do I need to tell you married guys the common sense procedures these guys were doing wrong? 
If you experience a problem with the police, someone has scammed you out of some money, you have been threatened or have any other bad experience in Angeles, come to theville and talk to a manager.  We will try to assist you and contact the appropriate people to handle your problem.  You can also stop into the Roadhouse and talk with Mark Smith.  He has great contacts within the city.

 

THE POLICE:   An old joke about four guys meeting in a airport bar


 
1st guy from Canada  said: "Our Mounties are very efficient. If there is a robbery, they are there within 15 minutes."
 
2nd guy from England said: "Mate, if there is a robbery in England the Bobbies are there in less than 10 minutes."
 
3rd guy from the USA said: "My neighbor was robbed last year and the police were there in only 5 minutes!"
 
4th guy was from the Philippines.  He said:  "If there is a robbery in the Philippines, the police are already there!."