Originally Posted by
Kev-
On my last trip to Manila, I used Wikimapia to thoroughly familiarize myself with all our planned destinations. I was even able to give the local taxi drivers directions in a few situations (we were staying in a condo rental, not a hotel, very few drivers were familiar with the building).
The taxi drivers in Manila can be quite dishonest and rip off locals, expats and tourists alike. Thieves in Manila are also equal-opportunity.
There are professional thieves who work in bars, nightclubs and malls who pick-pocket phones and wallets and they might be more rather than less prevalent in "high-class" establishments where people might tend to feel safe. These are, after all, where the money is. Manila has enough rich Filipinos living there that it doesn't matter what you look like at this point.