Bantayan and Malapascua, RP
 

Two small islands off Cebu. Anyone been there?

I have been to parts of Cebu mainland (OK the main island as there is no mainland in the Philippines). Beautiful beaches and good diving and snorkelling. I would assume the same or better is true of outlying islands.

I must say that the southern Philippines is not a particularly safe place to travel these days, eps if you are a US citizen. The southern Philippines is where the Muslim terrorist groups are headquartered and strongest, and most of the kidnappings have happened in this area. I am not a paranoid person and still travel a lot, but I would not go to the southern Philippines at this time.

Take a look at the US State Dept warnings. The website for the US Embassy in Manila is usembassy.state.gov/manila. The website for the US State Department is state.gov. In particular, you should read travel.state.gov/philippines_announce.html. You should also look at travel.state.gov/philipines.

Cicerone,

The warnings are for Mindinao and the Sulu archipeligo. Do you think it is dangerous to go to Cebu?

I figured that would be your next question. . .I lived in SE Asia for 10 years and spent a lot of time in the Philippines on business and some pleasure trips. I have to say that out of all the countries in SE Asia where I have lived, worked, and travelled, the Philippines is the one country where I always felt, and where it seemed very apparent, that the government/police are not in control. The southern Philippines is worse than the north, and Cebu is kind of in the middle. I am not a paranoid person nor am I afraid to travel, but the situation on the ground in the Philippines is not good, IMO. There are so many other beautiful and safer places in SE Asia that going to an isolated island in the Cebu area does not seem worth the risk, small as it may be. This of course is my opinion, and the US State Dept warnings can be unduly alarmist, I agree. Others may have different views.

Yes other asian countries may be safer but I am going to the Phillipines to visit someone who lives there in Bacolod,Negros. I was in Manila and Boracay my first trip so I want to go elsewhere this time.

Bantayan and Malapascua are off the Northern end of Cebu. So I hope your warnings though well intentioned are a bit alarmist as well.

I have not been there but my friends and relatives who have, say those islands are beautiful. Imagine Boracay 20 years ago without much of the commercialization. Still largely unspoilt with white sandy beaches.

The Philippines has been getting a lot of bad press internationally. Though a lot of it is true and that the police/military cannot control it, the islands are generally peaceful. The world press keep highlighting Mindanao and Sulu which are both on the southmost tip of the archipelago. The islands off Cebu are in the middle of the archipelago. Have you read any reports of bandits in Cebu? No-- since it will be hard for them to escape, unlike in Mindanao which goes right into the open seas or into Indonesia.

Take the necessary precautions but let this not get in the way of your vacation.