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Ingat Kayo: Here’s How You Can Keep You and Your Loved Ones from Danger

Ingat Kayo: Here’s How You Can Keep You and Your Loved Ones from Danger

Dec 11, 2019   •   Kyzia Maramara

Last night, Filipinos found themselves once again distressed and traumatized from the news of yet another abduction/kidnapping and in one of the major cities in the Metro no less. This comes a few days after news of youth abducted in Pasay City circulated online, incidents yet to reach a conclusion. No wonder Filipinos are on the edge of their seats out of fear. A business district like Makati never runs out of people no matter what time of day and it’s considered to be one of the safest. If it isn’t safe, then where is?

There’s nothing we can do but wait for authorities to solve these incidents but for the meantime, with the rise of the number of people being kidnapped, it’s wise to get over the fear and think logically. What can we do to keep everyone around us safe?

 

Download location-sharing apps

We’re lucky we live in the age of technology where all it takes is one tap and the rest of the world knows everything about us – it’s a gift and a curse. But during unpredictable times like these, it’s a blessing. Location sharing apps such as Facebook Messenger, Live360, Google Maps, Find My Friends for iOS, and even Telegram’s location sharing proves to be extremely useful. Download these apps and set specific friends or family as your contact, they will then get to track you anytime provided you’re connected to the internet.

 

Utilize your own phone’s features

iPhones have an Emergency SOS feature which users can turn on, set up the Medical ID feature, enter their information such as who should be contacted in case of an emergency, and it will be displayed on the iPhone’s lock screen. The iPhone will alert emergency contacts with a text message and will send the user’s current location.

For Android phones, the process is almost the same. Go to settings and look up the emergency contact option.

 

Purchase self-defense items

pen knife

Sometimes it’s not enough to be cautious. If you’re caught in a certain situation and you need to fight back, it’s better for you to have an item that would help you protect yourself. Purchase pepper sprays, or if don’t have access to one, you can always DIY. Carry small sharp items such as retractable knives, normal pens, or even your house key. Stun guns could also come in handy as well as backpack alarm sirens.

 

Do the buddy system

Never walk alone especially at night. If you thought Makati’s Central Business District was safe enough, guess what, nowhere is really “safe enough.” Even if this recent abducting news might be about Chinese people, it doesn’t erase the fact that somewhere out there are real kidnappers and you might be the next unlucky victim. Don’t let your friends walk alone. For the time being, look for workmates or classmates who go home in the same route as you. Two is always better than one and if you’re in a group, then that’s definitely better.

 

Learn the basics of self-defense

how to escape an attack

Via Source

Knowing where to hit where it hurts the most or even the maneuvers to escape an attack will prove useful. Those who actually studied self-defense have an advantage but if you’ve never had the chance to, you can always enroll in a class or learn from videos online. If you’re familiar with the process of basic self-defense, in the event of an attack, your body just might remember how to fight back.

 

Consider carpooling

With Grab prices through the roof, the increasing difficulty of booking Angkas, and the horrible pits-of-hell traffic we’re dealing with, it’s almost tempting to walk home alone. Don’t. Try carpool services from groups such as Wunder Carpool Philippines which is still functioning even if the official app itself is no longer available in the Philippines. Of course, you still need to do your own background checks on your fellow passengers and notify your friends of your whereabouts.

 

Be alert when walking alone

Never use earphones while walking alone at night, it’s easier for other people to sneak up on you and you’ll be disoriented from the loud music. When walking, always stay at the inner parts of the sidewalk, and walk briskly. Stick to crowded places and don’t walk quiet streets alone at night. In public transportation, look at the people around you and gauge them. Stay vigilant. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

Trust your intuition

via GIPHY

Humans can feel when something isn’t right. Call it what you want – sixth sense? Spidey senses? – but it has actually saved a lot of lives. Follow what your intuition tells you and when something isn’t right or if a person looks and acts suspicious, get away from them as far as you can. You might have no way of finding out if your hunch was right but at least you didn’t risk your life.

At the end of everything, we can’t really predict what’s going to happen or the evil minds of people. We can only do our best to protect ourselves and those around us.

Got anything else to add? Share them with us below!


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Kyzia spends most of her time capturing the world around her through photos, paragraphs, and playlists. She is constantly on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and a great paperback thriller to pair with it.

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