Even though the Philippines is the self-proclaimed hospitality capital of the world, there are still many unsafe areas and traps that foreigners as well as non-Bacolodnons can fall into.
Common money traps:
The random "helpful" person. This trap happens when you are carrying something heavy or trying to get a taxi and a random person comes along and tries to help. However, afterwards they will demand money from you and if you don't give it, they may turn violent.
How to stay safe: wave off anyone trying to help you.
The "trapped in Bacolod" person. A random person will come up to you and tell you a sad story about how they are stuck in Bacolod with no money to return home. Afterwards, they will ask you if you can give them money for bus fare. They will sometimes even have small children looking sad next to them.
How to stay safe: ignore them.
The drive around until the tourist figures out what I'm doing trap. This is when you get a taxi and the driver drives around random streets until you catch onto what the driver is doing.
How to stay safe: know where you are going and tell them exactly where. If they start to go off course, tell them the correct way. Don't let them tell you there is traffic. Just tell them to go the way you say.
The charge three times more than locals scam. Many street vendors and people in the local markets do not have signs displaying prices. Instead, you must ask them how much it costs. However, if you don't know how much something should cost, you can get trapped into paying three-times as much as what the locals pay.
How to stay safe: ask at least three vendors/sellers how much they charge for theirs and choose the cheapest one.
Thieving traps:
Two people jeepney trap. This happens when you are riding a jeepney and one person sits next to you while the other person acts as a lookout or distraction (may be on the opposite side of the jeepney or on the opposite side of you, depending on the purpose). One person may look around and tip the other person when to pickpocket or the person will distract you by talking to you or dropping change. The other person will then look for the best opportunity to swipe your cellphone and money.
How to stay safe: keep your hands over your pockets and bag and watch what both people are doing. Also, be sure to "feel" your pockets so you know when someone is grabbing it or your wallet/phone moves.
One person jeepney trap. This is when one person, usually with a large bag, will sit next to you. They will wait for you to be distracted and then reach their hand underneath their bag and grab whatever they can from you.
How to stay safe: like the other, keep your hands on your pocket and watch what the people next to you are doing.
Crowded places trap. This is when you walk through a crowded place and someone will walk next to you or from the opposite direction and grab whatever they can off of you.
How to stay safe: avoid crowded places as much as possible (but don't go to empty places either!) and know your surroundings. Keep your pockets and bags safe.
Walking alone trap. This is when you are walking alone and a group of people come up to you and demand your money, if you don't give it, they will likely beat you or kill you.
How to stay safe: don't walk alone after dark, no matter how safe the area seems.
Physically harmful traps:
After dark knocking trap. This is when random people come to your gate or door and knock on your gate. If you answer it, they will push their way inside, beat you, and rob you.
How to stay safe: don't answer the door if you don't know the person.
Walking alone trap. This is the same as the thieving trap, except instead of stealing from you, they simply beat you or possibly sexually assault you.
How to stay safe: never walk alone, especially after dark.
Tricycle trap. This is when you take a tricycle alone and the driver drives to a desolate area and causes harm to you.
How to stay safe: never take a tricycle alone, especially after dark.
