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I've always felt safe but I never travel alone and I'm very courteous to everyone. Americans can have a lot to overcome with some Filipinos. Our history there has not been the best and it is an established fact that American tourists are the loudest, most demanding and messiest on the planet. (Japanese, Brits and Canadians are the best tourists.) Apparently our only saving grace is that we generally spend a lot of money and tip well. You will get nowhere fast if you are demanding, even if you're perfectly within your rights to do so. If you insist on this type of behavior you can find yourself in a lot of trouble. On the other hand, if you're willing to speak softly, humble yourself and smile you'll be surprised how accomodating Filipinos are. Still, there's no excuse for being stupid and overly trusting. There are a lot of poor people and some are desparate. Watch your belongings and learn which areas to avoid.