SPECIAL NOTE ON TERRORIST TRAVEL ADVISORIES

    One special note I will make about terrorist organizations and threats in the Philippines. There are two organizations that are currently recognized as operating in isolated spots in the Philippines and classified as terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Dept. These would be Abu Sayaf (Al-Qaeda) and the NPA (Communist New Peoples Army). These 2 groups are isolated into only a small portion of southwestern Mindanao and have absolutely no presence within or anywhere near the bounds of our tour routes and destinations. This is the primary reason our tour routes on Mindanao travel only the northern most roads from Cagayan De Oro northeast to Surigao. I have personally traveled from Butuan to Davao (Southern Mindanao) on multiple occasions and the only indication I have ever seen of a potential terrorist threat was to be stopped at a military check-point and have my baggage searched for weapons and explosives by the Philippine Army.
    The NPA really is no terrorist threat at all and they simply exist to extort bus lines, gold miners and illegal logging operations in southern and western Mindanao for a "Revolutionary Tax".
    Abu Sayaf operatives and forces are isolated even more-so to only a few small islands in the archipelago of Zamboanga that extends from the southwestern most point of Mindanao in the direction of Malaysia.
    During any given tour, we may pass by an isolated military post and even more rarely we might actually pass thru a check-point but almost never are we actually stopped and searched. I can assure you most definitely that I would never conceive of putting my wife and son in harms way, nor myself for that matter, and I can promise you most assuredly that you run a much greater risk of being a victim of terrorist activity in the USA or Europe than here.

SPECIAL NOTE ON FERRY TRAVEL ADVISORIES AND SAFETY

    Traveling by ferry is an everyday occurrence in the Philippines. Ferries are by far the largest source of inter-island transportation here for both cargo and people. The bulk of this traffic is provided thru a network of small Ro-Ro (Roll-on, Roll-off) ferries. There are a few very large passenger/bulk cargo ferry services here, namely Sulpicio and Super Ferry, that have both had tragic accidents in 2008 and 2009 which resulted in their vessels sinking, and in the case of Sulpicio in 2008, over 700 people lost their life.
    The reports that these vessels were poorly maintained are not so accurate and the maintenance of the vessels ultimately was not the issue in their sinking. In both cases, it was the failure of the cargo loading crew to secure the cargo that resulted in the cargo shifting, thus causing the ferry to list and take on water and eventually sink. In the case of Sulpicio, there was also blame to be placed on the ferry captain for deciding to set sail into the potential path of a hurricane and with full knowledge of Coast Guard advisories. Both of these ferries were on voyages lasting more than 12 hours.
    The tour routes we take utilize the Strong Republic Nautical Highway system of roads and Ro-Ro's, not the large passenger and bulk cargo ferries. Most all of our ferry trips last no longer than 4 hours and in some cases less than 1 hour. During most of the ferry crossings, we are almost always close enough to the shoreline of an island that an average swimmer would have no problem swimming to safety should a tragedy take place. All ferries are equipped with life rafts and life vests for each passenger.
    All of this being said, the small Ro-Ro ferries have a virtually flawless record of safety. Yes, some of these vessels look like they could have used a new coat of paint 2 years ago, and yes, some of these boats add new meaning to the phrase "a slow boat to China" but overall, these boats are very responsibly operated, well maintained mechanically and they are kept seaworthy in all respects. These vessels are the lifeline of the Philippine domestic economy and the companies operating the Ro-Ro's do a very good job of keeping their ferries operating safely and on time.
    Just the same as my statement concerning terrorist threats, I would never conceive of putting my wife and son in harms way and I have never ever felt unsafe while riding on any of the Ro-Ro ferries. Ferry riding is all part of the Philippines adventure and I am sure it will be an experience you retain fond memories of for years to come.