Heading to Mindanao

I decided to fly down to Mindanao, which is South of the Philippines, because I have some extended family living down there who I've never met. Mindanao is about an hour and forty minute flight from Davao (pronounced Dabow). The history of Mindanao is a bit dodgy. I was warned that the very west of the island has a stronghold of rebels, and that you really shouldn't venture over there. Let's just say it's a got a lot of history with violence. Beforehand, I was informed I would be staying in a very safe place, away from the wankers, so I thought "why not?", it'd be interesting to live in that type of environment during my trip.