[kipita]

Friendly people and great beaches but the government and citizen leadership is the problem.

[Mount Athos]

The problem is tourists fear for their safety. Whether that is a valid worry doesn't matter.

[Justice]

I think their food isn't great either. Chinese, Thai, or even Indonesian food is more interesting and more tasty as well.

[conshack]

But the Philipino woman are cute.

[Billthedrill]

Baguio is worth the trip - gorgeous mountain resort. Everywhere but Manila they're some of the sweetest, friendliest people on the planet. In the big city, though, you still have that chic anti-Americanism on the part of the rich kids and the academics and the newspapers that so infests Europe. This ex-sailor doesn't care if he ever sees those particular jerks again.

[Just another Joe]

The author makes some very good points.
The infrastructure, especially the roads, are very poor.

BUT, get away from the large cities and there isn't a better place on earth for a vacation.

I spent 5 1/2 years living in the Philippines and spent very little time in the major cities.
I went to Baguio, Palawan, the Visayas, Borocay, rode ferrys back and forth between the islands (12 hour trips sometimes) and had the time of my life.

I plan on retiring to the Philippines on Palawan on my own little piece of paradise.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

This article is spot on.