Just how dangerous is it in the Philippines?

There are many stories about killings, kidnap and robbery but what is the real picture? My wife, a Filipina, has not been there for around 15 years and we are going to live there soon around 60 minutes south of Manila NAIA. Currently where we live there is virtually no crime against westerners and locals have little crime as well. And so my wife is worrying .. maybe she should stop reading Ngyon and Bulgar and Manila Buletin etc .. Other posts I have seen mention dont use taxi's, dont go out after 9.00pm ...so it does seem a bit of a prison camp after this time. Just how bad is it really? Only this week we read of a gang and 'shoot out' with police at Molino 4 Just outside Alabang on the main Dang Hari Road .. Wild West Of Asia?