A new global study just dropped, and it’s brutal: the Philippines is officially the least safe country in Asia—and one of the riskiest in the entire world for travelers.
Let that sink in for a second.
As a Filipino, seeing that headline felt like a punch to the gut. Singapore? Safest in Asia (second globally, no less). Us? Dead last. We even ranked below places like Colombia and Mexico—countries often in the news for violence. It’s embarrassing. But honestly? More than that, it makes me furious.
Furious because we’ve gotten used to this. Furious because the people in charge—the ones who swore to keep us safe—don’t seem to care that the world now sees us as a danger zone.
Safety? What Safety?
The study ([HelloSafe Safety Index] The Map of the Safest Countries to Travel to in 2025 Index) looked at five big things: natural disasters, violence and crime, armed conflicts, healthcare, and militarization. Let’s be real—we failed on all fronts.
- Natural Disasters – Let’s face it: Mother Nature hates us. Typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions—we get hit with everything. But the real disaster? How badly we handle it. Emergency response? Disorganized. Relief efforts? Slow and full of politics. Every. Single. Time.
- Violence & Crime – Snatch thefts, scams, even violent crimes—especially in cities. Trust the police? Yeah, right. More often than not, they are the criminals too.
- Armed Conflicts – Parts of Mindanao are still no-go zones thanks to insurgencies and kidnappings. Foreign governments straight-up tell their citizens: “Don’t go there.” And yet, decades later, nothing’s really changed.
- Healthcare – If you’ve got money, private hospitals are great. But for everyone else? Good luck. Our public healthcare is drowning—underfunded, understaffed, and overwhelmed. Get sick or hurt in the wrong place? You’re on your own.
- Militarization – Soldiers and cops everywhere—like it’s normal to see armed guys on every corner. But does it make us feel safer? They are all suspiciously missing when criminals strike! How messed up things really are!
Why Nothing Changes
Here’s the most frustrating part: None of this is new. We’ve been dealing with the same problems for years. So why does nothing improve?
Because our government doesn’t work for us. It works for the rich, the powerful, the political dynasties that treat this country like their personal ATM.
Instead of fixing crime, they give us empty slogans and lies about crime statistics. Instead of upgrading hospitals, they push useless charter change talks. Instead of disaster-proofing the country, they wait until after the typhoon hits to act.
It’s all show, no substance.
This Isn’t Just About Tourism—It’s About Pride
We love bragging about Filipino hospitality. But who’s gonna visit when every travel warning says “Avoid the Philippines”? This isn’t just bad for business—it’s a national humiliation.
And the worst part? No one in power seems to care.
Where’s the urgent plan to clean up crime? Where’s the investment in disaster response? Why isn’t Malacañang freaking out over this ranking?
We Deserve Better
I’m sick of pretending this is fine. I’m sick of leaders who act like we should just accept being unsafe. The world sees the truth—even if our officials refuse to.
I love this country. But loving it means demanding better. We deserve leaders who actually protect us—not ones who let us become a global punchline while they line their pockets.
Enough is enough.