Tbf, medyo "safe" na sa may Pisay area these days because of the development in that area, particularly Vertis North. Alala ko I accidentally asked the North Ave bus to drop me off thinking na Trinoma na, yun pala I was still several meters away and I ended up alighting to a dimly-lit street on the opposite side of Agham/NIA road at 1AM. May guards so I didn't feel scared at all.

I think what makes QC a "don't go down there" city is because there's clusters of squatters everywhere. I don't want to sound "matapobre" but when there's a squatters area, it typically has hoodlums and other criminals and they also don't take too kindly of outsiders. There will be a gated subdivision but just behind it are squatters. A posh mall but when you go up to the roofdeck your view are squatters. Business district but if you wander too far away you'll end up in a shanty town.