Joe,

You'll have less things to worry about on things going wrong since you will be in the company of your Mahal.  Let her do most of the talking/haggling with cab drivers, waiters, salesclerks, etc.  At any rate, expect a warm climate when you land in Davao, hence, bring a lot of casual shirts for frequent change in case you perspire a lot and comfortable pair of shoes for your shopping spree with  your Mahal.

Public transport, jeepneys and taxicabs (aircon and non-aircon) are readily available to take you anywhere within city limits at established rates.  On changing your dollars to pesos, you can transact either with the local banks (Mondays-Fridays 9AM-4PM) or with money changers at Aldevinco Shopping Mall.  

Tourist spots-Pearl Farm, Paradise Beach Resort, Costa Marina, (located in Samal Island); Coral Garden, Isla Reta (located at Talicud Island)-ferry boats are available at designated place and time;  Eden Nature Park, Malagos Garden Resort (for nature lovers).

In case you need assistance/more info on anything, just give me a call.  Looking forward to meeting you  )))

rgg

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Public Announcement
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
PHILIPPINES
October 5, 2001

A number of recent security-related incidents highlight the danger of travel in the Philippines.  Kidnappings of foreigners, bombings, and other violent incidents call for Americans to exercise great caution throughout the Philippines.  Moreover, as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, U.S. citizens and interests may be at increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups, as stated in the Worldwide Caution updated by the Department of State on September 28, 2001.

On June 5, 2001, a group of American Navy personnel on leave and their guides were fired upon by an armed group on the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo.  Americans are warned to avoid hiking or camping in this area.

On May 27, 2001, members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) kidnapped 20 tourists, including three Americans, from Palawan Island in the southern Philippines and took
them by boat to Basilan Island.  This followed a similar attack by an unknown group on May 22 on a resort on Samal Island near Davao City, Mindanao.  That attack was repulsed with the loss of two Filipino lives.  The ASG has taken hostage a number of Filipinos and foreign tourists since April 2000.  Several were freed after payment of substantial ransoms, some escaped or were rescued by military action, and some were killed by their captors.  Other Americans have received threats of kidnapping from persons claiming affiliation with such groups.

There have also been sporadic incidents of violence in southern Mindanao, including bombings in General Santos City and at the Cotabato Airport in Maguindanao Province, as well as bus hijackings on national highways.

The ASG or other groups may attack U.S. citizens and others again.  For example, the ASG has been reported in the press as having targeted beach resorts on Boracay Island for kidnappings.  Because the ASG has broadened its area of operations and has demonstrated its ability to travel long distances by boat to kidnap foreigners, it is possible that other locations in the Philippines could be attacked.  While this ongoing terrorist/criminal campaign of kidnapping foreigners is in progress, Americans should defer travel to beach resorts in the southern Philippines, especially those located away from urban areas.

U.S. citizens are also warned to avoid travel to the southern and western areas of the Island of Mindanao, to include Zamboanga City, due to incidents of terrorism and violence.  U.S. citizens should avoid travel to the islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Jolo, located in the Sulu archipelago in the extreme southwest of the Philippines.  Americans residing in southern or western Mindinao and in the Sulu archipelago should carefully review their situation and evaluate their security posture in light of local circumstances.  As a precaution, the U.S. Government has temporarily withdrawn resident official Americans and contractors from these areas.

In view of these incidents and the possibility of future terrorist activity or kidnappings for ransom, Americans are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to increase their security awareness.  For further general information on travel to the Philippines, please consult the Department's latest Consular Information Sheet for the Philippines, which is available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.  This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement of October 4, 2001, to note the withdrawal of official Americans and contractors from southern and western Mindanao and the
Sulu archipelago.  It expires on April 22, 2002.
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http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel/tips.asp?PH  (note the warning on “mail order brides” LOL!)

Humabdos

I'll try to give you a head's up in the airport.

Joe