Lake Mapanuepe in Zambales is on every Filipino adventurer’s travel bucket list. Who hasn’t seen photos and videos on social media of this stunning freshwater lake surrounded by lush mountains? But after reports of a theft incident at the lake went viral online, it shattered the peaceful illusion and has left Pinoys wary about visiting the area.

Lake Mapanuepe robbery incident

Travel filmmaker Joshua Chua and his friends shared an unfortunate incident that occurred during their stay at the Lake Mapanuepe camping grounds. According to Chua, someone robbed their tent while they were huddled for dinner outside, a mere five meters away.

“Beautiful place… But how can you promote a beautiful place that is unsafe?” Chua captioned his Instagram story.

He shared photos of their slashed camping tent and the stolen items, including expensive camera gear: a Fujifilm X-T4 with Tilta cage, Fujinon 50mm f/2, Viltrox 13 mm f/1.4, and Insta 360 Go 3 with cage.

His group found discarded camera gear — including his drone — a few meters from their tent the next day.

“Still thankful na walang nasaktan samin and all,” he added. “Mababalik yung gamit, yung buhay hindi.”

Other incidents in and around Lake Mapanuepe

Chua posted screenshots of his conversations with people who shared their unfortunate experiences at Lake Mapanuepe. Shockingly, even guests at private resorts in Liwliwa, Zambales, reported having their belongings stolen.

One message said, “Forced entry is prevalent in Zambales. We have a beach house a few towns away and had friends staying over. Pinasok yung mga rooms. May mga tao sa loob ng kwarto, they pretended to be asleep kaysa manlaban. It happened to us three times.”

“Kahit saang lugar delikado. I know masarap mag-travel and all, but be extra careful when traveling to unfamiliar places. Kahit saang parte pa ng Pilipinas yan!” Chua warns on Instagram.

Don’t leave your valuables unattended

Thousands of Pinoys visit Lake Mapanuepe every year; not all leave with a bitter taste in their mouths. There might’ve been a handful of incidents (traumatized theft victims), but many have had a peaceful and relaxing experience at the lake.

“Been in Lake Mapanuepe 3 times, and none of that happened. Does that mean my experience and [my] promoting the place [should] be invalidated because someone stole from you guys? The place always gave me [] peace of mind from the busy city life and I brought my gadgets too. I just always bring them with me in a small sling bag,” commented one Facebook user.

“No hate and argument here and we are sorry to know they’re a victim of theft – just saying be careful on how we say things. We shouldn’t blame the place, if you know at some point, there’s that reckless side on your end of leaving your things unattended. It’s NOT [because] of the place you got mugged. Can happen anywhere whether you’re camping or not,” they added.

It’s unfortunate to hear about thefts at Lake Mapanuepe. No one deserves to have their vacation ruined and their precious items stolen. That’s why we should always remember our responsibilities to keep ourselves safe.

Whenever you’re on a trip — local or abroad, no matter how far — make sure you keep your valuables in check and your guard up. Pack expensive electronics in a secure bag you can carry with you, or if they’re bulky, keep them close by. Extra effort can make a big difference in your peace of mind.

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