‘The Rising Tiger’ in Asia, Philippines is expected to continue its economic growth by welcoming world tourists and international students. Its impressive growth proves its safety however there are always few concerns that should be addressed when you travel to a foreign land. Especially when parents are deciding to send their children to Philippines for further studies, SAFETY is one of their biggest concerns.
An initiative taken by a student to study abroad does not just show something about his/her academic achievements but also about his/her personal ambition and determination. However, when they land for the first time to this new land without a family member they tend to have mixed emotions full of nervousness and excitement.
An international student always searches for home away from home and it comes only with safety satisfaction. Philippines is a safe country and a lovely place to visit but when you travel in any part of the world, you should be aware of your surroundings. You cannot have your passports and IDs and credit cards with you all the time. Whether it is Mumbai, New York, Moscow, Mombasa, Shanghai or Sydney pick pockets can be anywhere.
Every year thousands of Indians are taking admission in MBBS Philippines. There are social networking groups and local groups for Indian expat communities in Philippines. When it comes to Philippines local Filipino people are also considered most warm, friendly, happy and helping. Locals treat foreigners and especially international students with lot of warmth. Most locals speak English and hence communicating with them becomes very easy. In no time, Indian student in Philippines starts feeling like home.
Moreover, the expanding presence of Indian businesses and growing domestic tourist inflows make them feel at home. No racism or hatred incidents have been reported in last few years unlike some of the other western countries.
Most of the Universities are in safe areas, but it is always advisable that parents talk about safety to their children before their international journey. There is no need to scare them but of course they should have a brief idea and should be made conscious to take care of their purses when walking in a crowded area. There are some locations within the country in which it is considered not so safe zone for foreigners so to know that and avoid visiting those places is a wise step. Beware of strangers offering drinks or confectionery. They may be spiked. Seek advice from local contacts and always leave travel plans with friends, colleagues or relatives. Keep up to date with local and international developments and avoid demonstrations or large gatherings of people. The Philippines Bureau of Immigration has specifically warned foreign nationals against participating in public protests and political rallies. Foreign nationals who participate in these activities may be detained and deported for violating Philippine immigration laws.
The general emergency number in the Philippines is 112. Expats can also call 117 or 168 to reach the police directly.
As parents, briefing your children with little details mentioned through the trip-prep will stay with them abroad and help them to have your voice of reason in the back of their head when met with complicated situations. Though they are heading abroad – they are existing in the same world full of good and bad people.
About the Author
Prachi Soda, Business Manager at Just for Education, an alumnus of Amity Business School, Noida has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Marketing and Human Resource (Dual).She has completed her Bachelor’s Degree also in Business Administration and Management, General from B.N. P.G. College.
