There is always a silver lining

I keep getting emails from Qatar Airlines offering discounts on selected routes - Bangkok being one of them and I do want to go back to the Philippines this year. For now though I have settled on a city break to Bratislava departing on Monday.

My partner and I recently toured Vietnam, are heading to Boracay next week, later she goes to Mindanao to see family while I return to Australia, then we spend one month together in Indonesia. To date, none of our arrangements have been disrupted, it’s as if the Iran War, fuel shortages etc don’t exist. Of course, now I’ve said that everything will turn turtle 😅 but seriously I think if you’re going where most tourists go and doing what most tourists do, these events are exaggerated in impact

My partner and I recently toured Vietnam, are heading to Boracay next week, later she goes to Mindanao to see family while I return to Australia, then we spend one month together in Indonesia. To date, none of our arrangements have been disrupted, it’s as if the Iran War, fuel shortages etc don’t exist. Of course, now I’ve said that everything will turn turtle 😅 but seriously I think if you’re going where most tourists go and doing what most tourists do, these events are exaggerated in impact - @Brojeslov

Great posting Lotus, you make many heart-warming points!

And, enjoy Boracay Brojeslov. and you are wise to stick with

the tourists, for now anyway. Seems the Iran War has maybe

lit up both some Americans, and a number of Philippine locals?

"Two US citizens killed in raid on Philippines communist stronghold"

The two Americans, Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem, arrived in Negros Occidental province about a month before they were killed

By Agence France-Presse  Published: 5:34pm, 26 Apr 2026 Updated: 5:39pm, 26 Apr 2026

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351477/two-us-citizens-killed-raid-philippines-communist-stronghold

Two US citizens were among 19 people killed in a raid on an alleged communist stronghold in the Philippines that has sparked a probe by the country’s rights commission, a government task force said.

More than 300 residents in the Toboso municipality of Negros Island fled their homes on April 19 as gunfire rang out in the remote sugar cane-farming region, the municipal disaster management office told reporters last week.

The number of people killed in the firefight, in which only one soldier was wounded, sparked calls for an investigation.

The two Americans, identified as Lyle Prijoles and Kai Dana-Rene Sorem, arrived in Negros Occidental province about a month before they were killed, the task force said in a statement late Saturday.

“The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict [NTF-ELCAC] notes with serious concern the confirmation that a second American national was among those killed in the April 19, 2026, armed encounter,” the statement said.

“This brings to two the number of US citizens … who died in the same incident,” it added, identifying all 19 killed as “combatant” members of the New People’s Army (NPA), which has been fighting a long-running insurgency for nearly 60 years.  The US embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

‘Not a massacre’

“The military operations carried out by the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion … warrant an urgent investigation,” Congresswoman Leila de Lima said on Saturday.

She pointed to the deaths of a young student and a community journalist in the raid.

In a separate statement, local rights monitor Karapatan said the “sheer number of those killed triggers significant questions and conclusions on the conduct of the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] operations”.

The Philippine military, which handed out medals to a number of soldiers involved, said the raid was “a legitimate armed encounter, not a massacre”, noting the seizure of 24 firearms.

Addressing a probe launched by the country’s Commission on Human Rights, Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Louie Dema-ala told reporters on Sunday the military was “open to investigation and the evidence will speak for us”.

The military told reporters last week it had been fighting “remnants” of the NPA near the Toboso municipality. Dema-ala said the area was “one of the more active remnants of the [guerrilla] front in the central Philippines”.

The military estimates the rebel group has fewer than 2,000 armed members left.

--

happy trails ppl

@Lotus Eater

Just remember to tell them not to fall in love!

***

Train wrecks happen all the time!

@NY_Mike

That's a bit rough mate. Everyone knows of these train wrecks but many guys are happily married to Filipinas and wouldn't have it any other way

@Brojeslov

Yeah

I was fooled too for 12 years.

***

Maybe you'all found the one in a million?

You lucky.

@NY_Mike

Hello ,

General insults toward an entire country or its people will not be tolerated on the forum. Please keep discussions respectful and avoid inflammatory language so the conversation remains helpful for everyone.

regards

Bhavna

@Brojeslov

So I have been blocked for "insulting" an entire country?

Not really, just a group of  resident people.  But this fake  site doesn't  like truth?

You need to all be aware, always. There are many scammers out there.

Good luck

@NY_Mike

Hello,

You said "they are all and the country itself is *****" not just some residents.

You should take accountability of what you write on the forum.

Regards

Bhavna

Well I am still sitting on the fence regarding booking another trip to the Philippines. Very hard to work out what will happen next with the war in the Middle East and how flights will be impacted if Trump decides to start bombing Iran again. I would have ideally liked to go late June or early July but like Lotus Eater said, the typhon season is fast approaching. Another thing that holds me back is the travel advise given by the Foreign Office and the fact that travelling against Foreign Office advise will probably result in my travel insurance being null and void. I did once go to Davao in August or September and do not remember any storms on that visit just an earthquake.

On the plus side my trip to Bratislava was excellent, a very beautiful city with great food and small enough to walk around.

I am going to fly back to the Philippines on May 26 and Emirates confirmed the reservation. So no issue with that. In my almost 10 years in the Phils, Boracay was hit once. So the chance to experience it, is low.

@Cherryann01

I don't blame you at all particularly since the fuel crisis hasn't even arrived yet. The Iran War has been going on for three months yet no-one seems to be reporting actual shortage of oil ... yet. For example, the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Australia last week said all oil shipments due to member countries to date had been completed. Same for Australia. There is a world of difference between being worried about a shortage and actually having a tanker not arrive. When a tanker doesn't arrive, the Hunger Games will begin and it will be nasty

@Cherryann01

Another thing that holds me back is the travel advise given by the Foreign Office and the fact that travelling against Foreign Office advise will probably result in my travel insurance being null and void.

I would not be too concerned about that CA. If the airline cancels your flight, you would be entitled to a full refund. The riskier routes right now are via the Gulf but of course you could swing in to Manila with say Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.

My neighbour will be travelling to Dumaguete with Etihad Airways on June 25th to stay at his house in Dauin before flying on to Jakarta (Typhoon free ) in July to promote his book. He will be on the same Cebu Pacific flight you took in November. The main issue I foresee is the airline (CP) cancelling certain routes because of a dearth of jet fuel.

The main concern is booking your accommodation in the Philippines ahead of time. Some insurance policies will cover this anyway in the event of your UK departure flight being delayed but why not book the accommodation at the last minute or heck just arrive and book it on the hoof when you get there. There are some really good deals going. And the don't forget the strength of the £ against the PHP.

Foreign office advisories do not affect the Philippines anyway.

@Brojeslov

The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association expects the U.S. to run out of Group III base oils from the Gulf region by June. The motor oil shortage will likely last until at least mid-2027, which could imperil new-vehicle production, the association said.

Synthetic motor oil shortage threatens dealership service lanes and new-vehicle production

BJ writes, "The Iran War has been going on for three months yet no-one seems to be reporting actual shortage of oil ... yet. For example, the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Australia last week said all oil shipments due to member countries to date had been completed. Same for Australia. There is a world of difference between being worried about a shortage and actually having a tanker not arrive. When a tanker doesn't arrive, the Hunger Games will begin and it will be nasty" - @Brojeslov

`

Yes mate, you're quite right .. no oil would = Hunger Games

Maybe we can take some solace in that the U.S. Energy Information Administration still currently assumes that, "oil-shipping traffic will slowly begin to pick up in June 2026, although shipments through the strait are not expected to reach pre-conflict levels until late 2026 or into 2027."

Here in Australia the oil crisis has had a marked effect on electric vehicles.

For example, "In April, roughly one in every six new cars sold in Australia was fully electric. Rapid Year-on-Year Growth: EV sales surged by 157.2% compared to April last year."

So, this can't be a bad result, i'd say. There seems no going back now? Mad Max can retire

happy trails all 

Yes P1, no going back and learning from previous disruptions over the decades it seems there are alternatives within reach of the humble punter, what pisses me of with Oz is the fools weighing up whether to charge an extra road tax on EV's, what a load of crock. EV's already pay road taxes in their rego fees, taxes if plugged into the grid etc. etc. but seems a government touting alternatives finally see the real cost, lower revenue from oil sales,,,,,,,, next they will be taxing push bikes and the air that we breath (Beatles, Taxman).

Us punters are diversifying but seems the government not only Oz but many countries can't and as always dropped the ball with what they wanted to create, zero emissions by 2050.

The worst offenders are those that charge from their rooftop solar systems, me included, placing a road user tax on EV's is counter productive to help achieve climate change goals,,,,,,, what is next? Taxing the free sun that shines everyday on our roof tops?

In the mean time here in the Phills are all for alternatives for many reasons and even here I see the uptake in private solar systems and the EV numbers on the road are now a head spin, OMO but don't see a road user tax imposed by PH. for 2 decades.

Cheers, Steve.

@Lotus Eater

Foreign Office Advisories do warn against travel to the Middle East and that includes transiting through those airports so although you are correct about travelling with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, travelling through places like Doha and Dubai will probably render travel insurance null and void. Also my girlfriend and I did want to visit Davao and the Foreign Office does have advisories against nearly all of Mindanao including the Davao area.

I know that most trips are usually trouble free but it is still a risk and to be honest I have never fully understood why Davao and most parts of Mindanao are deemed unsafe by the Foreign Office. I mean - just to give you an example - We had the the Manchester Arena Bombing in 2017 and there is no advice against travelling there.

I could try to find one of the specialist insurance companies that I used before that includes cover for travelling to places the Foreign Office advises against but I think I will bide my time for now.

Three weeks ago, Lotus kindly writes, "Any punters thinking of visiting the Philippines for the first time but are undecided now is the time ... May & June are good months to visit before Typhoon season hits." - @Lotus Eater

Any further feelings on the silver-linings fellow phils fans?

happy trails

Always found the best weather on Luzon is from October through March.

@Cherryann01
Another thing that holds me back is the travel advise given by the Foreign Office and the fact that travelling against Foreign Office advise will probably result in my travel insurance being null and void.
I would not be too concerned about that CA. If the airline cancels your flight, you would be entitled to a full refund. The riskier routes right now are via the Gulf but of course you could swing in to Manila with say Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.
My neighbour will be travelling to Dumaguete with Etihad Airways on June 25th to stay at his house in Dauin before flying on to Jakarta (Typhoon free ) in July to promote his book. He will be on the same Cebu Pacific flight you took in November. The main issue I foresee is the airline (CP) cancelling certain routes because of a dearth of jet fuel.
The main concern is booking your accommodation in the Philippines ahead of time. Some insurance policies will cover this anyway in the event of your UK departure flight being delayed but why not book the accommodation at the last minute or heck just arrive and book it on the hoof when you get there. There are some really good deals going. And the don't forget the strength of the £ against the PHP.
Foreign office advisories do not affect the Philippines anyway. - @Lotus Eater

Booking accommodation is not really a big problem for me since I always tend to move around and make several bookings at different locations so if I did visit my girlfriend I would land in Cebu, stay for 3 nights maximum and move on and travel around. I always book through Agoda or booking.com and select free cancelation using the filters. That way all my accommodation is refundable if cancelled 48 or 72 hours in advance so the worst I can do is lose out on my first booking.