Could I ever live in Dumaguete? I was there for approx 1 week. It was quite OK, but enough. For me it was just to much and to many foreigners and feeling of being inside an "expat bubble". Here at the countryside in Luzon, I have never seen a foreigner at all, in the village I am living. But I have MC'Donalds within 10 minutes, and 2 different big cities within 1 hours with slow driving, using motorbike. Whenever I want the city life, I can have it. Some times I do, but after 1-2-3 days I'm tired of the city life. I think your video gives a good explanation of why some expats claim that you need $3,000 for a good life, while others say that $1,000 is enough. Here in the countryside, it would be a stressful job to have to spend 3,000 every month. That wouldn't be a comfortable life. Then it feels better to live a calm and relaxed life while you let your savings grow as they want.
The province I go to is between Iligan city and Cagayan de Oro. Not sure if I will retire there yet. I can go to each city and eat at great restaurants and get any western items I need.
Mate I agree I have lived in a province for 14 years on a farm, I have no foreigners living in my province and I don't miss that, I am part of the community as I am treated like a local. I have seen on RUclips foreigners fighting other foreigners over silly things, if I want to go to a city where foreigners live I only have to travel just over half an hour, but I never worry about meeting another foreigner. I am happy living this lifestyle but I understand it's not what some foreigners would like, but it suits me.
@@ansonjimmy9129 very few don't mind not having others to talk to... but most humans like to be around folks like themselves ..... which is why you see many faces.. but only recognize a few...
I've lived in the Philippines three times since 1987 (working the first two times)... a total of 12+ years. I've also lived in Sri Lanka and four African countries for over 16 years. So I'm quite adaptable for living in cities or provincial towns of low-income countries. Nothing truly rural. I'm now living in the exurbs of Manila, in Bulacan. While it's not the beach, the mountain or some sleepy rural idyll, it's not in the crush of the big city either. Giant malls, smaller malls and good hospitals are all within a 15 - 60 minute drive (we have a car). I have my computer-based "projects" to keep me busy. I don't get bored. A domestic trip a couple of times a year keeps things from getting too routine. Guys, do not simply arrive with no plans other than to sit in a chair with a drink in your hand. Get a project. Go to the gym. You need to keep mind and body in good working order. During COVID, I was the only foreigner in the area. It didn't matter. Even now, I have zero expat friends and don't need them. The reason? My Filipina partner of 18 years is well-educated and worked at a bank head office in Makati. Her English vocabulary and grammar are better than most native English speakers. We talk about a wide array of topics and she has intelligent, well-informed opinions. She proved her mettle by living with me in the last two African countries. And she's a sweetie too. So, for men who come here looking for a relationship, my advice is to take your time, don't go for a vast age difference (my partner is 16 years younger) and try to find a "city woman" who's more likely to be well-educated and worldly.
Living in the province provides the perfect opportunity to learn the local language (plus culture and mentality) compared to a life in the city with all its distractions. I consider it very advantageous to know the local language, if you consider living here not just as a tourist.
I first started watching Mark with "Every man has a story" two years ago. He made the PI look like one glamorous paradise and would constantly push for expats, 'old men', to move to the PI. I was smitten by it, but having had already a health care crisis, i was concerned about health care in the PI. And when i acquired about it, he just blew it off as it was an non-issue. I couldn't understand that for someone that had open heart surgery that he wouldn't be under the care of a cardiologist. He would even promote other expats with major health issues moving to the PI. The PI is fine for young folk. But when one gets old, you need to be near a medical facility. It needs to be one that offers the best standard of care. You need to have medical insurance or a great deal of funds for an emergency. Mark only started to talk about the medical issues recently on his channel. He couldn't even get the basic meds for his heart condition. They say Thailand has very good health care, but should one trust what one hears? I like the idea, the Philippines speaks a lot of English. One can live in Thailand without having to speak much English but what if you end up in the emergency room and no one speaks English? I guess there is Google translate if you have it on you.
Dan-- I have been there and many other countries. The bottom line is that you had better be okay with "going to your final reward" if you are not in a first world developed country. There is a reason one doesn't see great numbers of older people in these countries.
I find that many expats in SE Asia go to Malaysia or Thailand for healthcare treatment. I was satisfied by the healthcare in Thailand though it wasn’t for emergency services. I found that all of the healthcare professionals at the high end places I went spoke fantastic English but these facilities were in the most expat-friendly cities in Thailand like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya.
I'm retired US Army, I did considered retiring there permanently, but also I considered my health issues. Despite already having a place to live, still isn't practical to live there permanently. Yes!, vacationing 2-3 months is more practical for me.
@@CandidoMacabulos I think that is probably more practical for most retired age people that can afford it. I can only get three months of medication at a time to take with me and I was not able to buy it in the Philippines. There is a lot of misinformation concerning the level of health care and availability of medications and procedures there.
For me the most important factor regarding food is to keep it healthy. Yes I can eat some junk food once in a while but most of the time I try to eat healthy. The older I get the more important this is..
Lol I had a roommate that would not eat anything that was not from her country. So when she was on a date to fancy restaurants she would try a little bit ....but always brought it home for me to eat it. I oved it.
A couple of reasons that you don't have enough to do in the province is you don't have a partner and you don't have a comfortable place to live. You've chosen a lifestyle that limits your happiness in the provinces
@@EasternDreamer615 Believe me that would be the first thing she would change. Put the ring on her finger one day and the next you would be out with her house shopping. I read a lot of comments on videos here.
Rather live poor in a rich country than poor in a poor country. Don’t need to go to the PI to enjoy coffee only. Food in the province is not great nor that healthy if you need to have rice with everything. Think one can live with 1000.00 a month? Good luck
I live on $1200 in the US right now. I own my small cabin, and elect. Is $25 per month average. Couldn't do it if paying rent though. Now half or more goes to food.
@JosephMiller-nd8om I too was doing it until I got into a road accident. The guy that totally my vehicle ran off, I am assuming he had no insurance. I had to bollow thousands from family to buy a used car. The dealership sold me a lemon as I was looking for the cheapest vehicle for less than $5k. I now have to borrow an additional $4-5k to fix the transmission. If you can't afford to save for high ticket items like that, you are screwed! Unfortunately I am on disability, unable to work bec of my medical condition. I need a vehicle to get to a doctor etc as we have no public transport where I live. And the cost of groceries keeps going up and up! I wish I could hire help but I can't. In Asia one can afford to hire help. Folk are able to hire someone to cook and clean, pick up meds, groceries etc. Great advantage. Marrying someone comes with complications. One American YTer posted his expenses in the PI for under $300. He is very frugal. I also don't think what he eats out, is very healthy. But it can be done for around $600. And you save the rest of a rainy day. Not possible for me to save anything here in the US.
Im married for almost 35yrs to the man of my life here in Tn.Im looking forward when the time is right to settle down there in the Philippines,Im from Cebu in one of the island there in Mactan Lapu-Lapu.Its hard to survive here in US,with only SS money,everything is high.Also as we gets old we don't like cold anymore.
IMHO Dumaguete is the best place for an expat to start their journey in the Philippines. I lived there my first 7 years in the country. There is great banking, shopping and restaurants in the city compared to smaller cities. It's a wonderful place to spend the first few years as you settle into retirement and learn the culture. But, Dumaguete has changed greatly over the last decade. Be prepared for traffic, a higher cost of living compared to places like Bayawan or Bais and a very large expat population. I now live a few hours away and prefer life in the province but province life means forgoing convenience and a life adjustment compared to living in a city. For me the best areas in Dumaguete proper are Piapi, and Daro, close to everything and nice neighborhoods. I also feel Valencia, Bacong and Dauin are great places to live outside the city.
The nice people of Zamboanga will invite you for a boat ride. If you decline, they will insist. Great bunch out there on the far off province, much more welcoming than in those big bad cities.
A British expat just put out a video where he talked about living on an island in the PI which was surrounded by the most beautiful beaches. He said after a few months he got very bored living there. He said he was tired of waking up and doing the same thing of going to the beach and back every day. I guess it kinda depends on the individual. I dream of living on a beautiful beach. But since i have not done it, i don't know if i too would get bored with it after a short while??
@@thealanshow25Siargao is a small islamd too & it doesn't have a good hospital. You'll need to ride a ferry to get to Surigao city in Mindanao (a larger island). If you have health issues, my suggestion is don't live in small islands or isolated areas like El Nido. If you still want island but not Dumaguete (too many foreigners, gentrified, higher rents), try Bacolod, Iloilo or Roxas cities. They're bigger islands & have malls, supermarkets, hospitals, gyms, restos, etc.
I'm a Filipino, but I don't think I can live in the provinces in the visayas region. First off. I'm from luzon, and our way of life is different from there. Our taste for foods is different also. I don't think foreigners will easily understand why it is so, but there are differences among the cultures and languages and ways of life, the taste for food and the manner Filipinos from different regions conduct their daily activities. it could be perhaps due to the effect of the hundreds of years of having been colonised by Spaniards and Americans who divided us from one another. For whatever reason, there are really big differences between the people who were born in luzon and who were born in visayas and mindanao. Even in luzon, there are hundreds of different languages.. different tastes. Tagalog are different from the Ilocanos, Pampanguenos are different from Pangasinense.. so I don't blame you and any foreigner who come here for the first time to be confused with the life In the provinces. Filipinos are the most discriminating people in the world. Contrary to everyone who says that we are the most welcoming and nice people, yes. That could be true but it depends on where you stay.
Oh yes on point. Different culture in every place especially the food we eat. In the north, people eat more vegetables and fish. In south, people eat meat than vegetables so on and so forth...
Tagalogs speak and pronounce better English than those in visayas, mindanao and northern Luzon. The more affluent Filipinos who were able to study in private schools can even speak english with american accent and most rich people anywhere in the Philippines train their children to speak english at home and could even grow up not being able to soeak good filipino language. I can tell you that with all certainty because here in my own home, kids cant speak goid tagalog even in school.. bevause everyone else speak english. Kids here do not watch local shows and only know foreign singers and are not familiar with the happenings inside the local politics.. and that makes me sad. But young students today do not care anymore about what is going on in their environment.. they only care about themselves. But houng back to the main reason im doing this reaction to your video.. i just hope that foreigners who come here will not just go to one particular place ir region in the country and say it is the PHILIPPINES. IT IS NOT!! THE PHILIPPINES IS SO DIVERSED AND WE LIVE DIFFERENTLY FROM ONE ANOTHER. I LOVE MY COUNTRY SO MUCH BUT I MUST BE HONEST THAT IF YOU ARE A FOREIGNER.. DON'T LIVE HERE WIITHOUT LEARNING FIRST EVERYTHING ABOUT US AND CHOOSE THE PLACE THAT WILL SUIT YOUR WAY OF LIFE SO YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED. DAVAO AND CEBU AND MANDAUE ARE NOT THE ONLY BEAUTIFUL BEACH PROVINCES WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE BEST BEACHES.. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BEACHES ALL OVER TGE PHILIPPINES AND THERE IS NO PLACE HERE WHERE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND GOOD PLACES WHICH ARE NEAR THE BEACH .. GO TO SUBIC,ZAMBALES.. PANGASINAN, ILOCIS NORTE, BATANES, BATANGAS CITY, CAVITE, LA UNION. SEARCH ONLINE AND YOU WILL FIND THESE PLACES AND HOW TO GO THERE. AND YOU WILL FIND OUT ABOUT A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE. DIFFERENT KIMD OF FILIPINO PEOPLE. BUT DONT SPARE METRO MANILA!" IT IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR A FOREIGNER WHO WANT TO FIND CONVENIENCE AND COMFORT BUT THEN YOU MUST HAVE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE FOR LONG. GO TO PASIG CITY, PASAY CITY, MAKATI CITY, QUEZON CITY, ALABANG CITY.. GO TO LAGUNA.. WHERE YOU WILL FIND THOSE RESORTS WITH VERY WARM WATER IN CALAMBA CITY AND LOS BANOS BECAUSE IT IS WHERE THE MOST FAMOUS MT. MAKILING IS FOUND WHICH EMITS THAT HOT WATER BECAUSE IT IS AN INACTIVE VOLCANO.. IT IS ALSO THE HOME FOR ONE OF THE BEST STATE UNIVERSITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES OUTSIDE MANOLA, THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BANOS,LAGUNA. DONT LIMIT YOURSELVES IN VISAYAS MEN.. IT IS JUST A TIP OF THE ICEBERG WHEN PHILIPPINES IS CONCERNED. LOOK AT THE MAP OF THE PHILIPPINES AND LOOK AT EACH PLACE AND SEARCH THEM IN YOUR GOOGLE.. AND YOU WILL FIND THAT U ARE LIMITING YOURSELVES THE OPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THE REAL PHILIPPINES.
I’ve been here about 5 months on this trip, I last spent a month in other parts of the Philippines about 5 years ago. Dumaguete has among the highest rates of English fluency in the country.
It seems Duma has the right balance to make life enjoyable for you. I've always been a suburban middle class person. Province and country life requires interest in other activities that I'm not familiar with.
Hey Alex, my main goal is to have an apartment close to a main road. That way if it's been raining for a week I can grab a Trike a head into town. And yes a Motorbike is definitely in my future, your fear of riding will be over the first wheelie I do with you on the back !!!! 😂🤣😆😬
Good stuff, Alex. I really like your differentiating rural or suburban US to provincial areas of the Philippines. It's definitely not a 1:1 thing. The province tends to be too rural, too undeveloped, compared to the US, for my liking as well.
I think that most of the people that you're talking about that are wanting to go into the province are not people but, old guys. Old retired men. I think either are used to rural living here in the US and/or have grown tired of people and so they are so sick and fed up with people that they just want to isolate and cut out all of the complexity to life and so they view provincial living as a way to do that. I can understand, feeling overwhelmed and fed up with other people and just wanting an escape. I'm 45 currently and I'm not at a level where I I'm so fed up that I want to forego all the conveniences of being in a major city including stable power and internet. For me. Even dumagete was not stable enough with the brown outs of power at least once a week. For the entire day. I had to go back to Cebu. So I think that the guys that are telling you that they want to live in the province are almost always older or elderly. If I was to ask you, I'm almost positive. That's what you would say and that is most likely the reason
I am 53 years old in the USA right now I have chickens that lay eggs and pigs. With usually a garden. I just enjoy the green space and I am at a place that is maybe 200 steps from the sea!
A need for civilization and that includes people interactions with stores and stuff ! Other expat company is also nice in some cases (🤗) perhaps not so much in others ? ❤ The countryside the scenery and the way the locals treat you mostly ? Having modern hospital care if needed is more than a luxury - it's really a necessity if you value your life ? - - - Different strokes ? An area where you can live cheaply but be near all the modern civilized ways of life is what I would be after and it can be had. Simply a matter of spending the time it takes to locate them with the help of locals is needed ! Yet many won't do what is needed to assure that success ? They claim it isn't possible ! And they are right - for them - it isn't possible !!! For some frugal thrifty motivated souls such as myself - it is possible. 👍🙏✌🎯🍺
Could I ever live in Dumaguete? I was there for approx 1 week. It was quite OK, but enough. For me it was just to much and to many foreigners and feeling of being inside an "expat bubble". Here at the countryside in Luzon, I have never seen a foreigner at all, in the village I am living. But I have MC'Donalds within 10 minutes, and 2 different big cities within 1 hours with slow driving, using motorbike. Whenever I want the city life, I can have it. Some times I do, but after 1-2-3 days I'm tired of the city life. I think your video gives a good explanation of why some expats claim that you need $3,000 for a good life, while others say that $1,000 is enough. Here in the countryside, it would be a stressful job to have to spend 3,000 every month. That wouldn't be a comfortable life. Then it feels better to live a calm and relaxed life while you let your savings grow as they want.
I'm curious how old you are. I have a theory about expats that move to the provinces so I want to test that which is why I'm asking 😎
Yes better to save that money you never know what’s gonna happen Next ….
The province I go to is between Iligan city and Cagayan de Oro. Not sure if I will retire there yet. I can go to each city and eat at great restaurants and get any western items I need.
These are great points MrHeiarne
Mate I agree I have lived in a province for 14 years on a farm, I have no foreigners living in my province and I don't miss that, I am part of the community as I am treated like a local. I have seen on RUclips foreigners fighting other foreigners over silly things, if I want to go to a city where foreigners live I only have to travel just over half an hour, but I never worry about meeting another foreigner. I am happy living this lifestyle but I understand it's not what some foreigners would like, but it suits me.
I liked that quiet neighborhood you were walking around in the beginning of the video. Didn't know Duma had quiet spots.
Yeah, there are some pretty cool spots to find in Duma!
I have out of America for 14 years.... and I learned lonely is your worst enemy ....
💯
Disagree
After being here in PH for 9 y I respectfully disagree
@@ansonjimmy9129 very few don't mind not having others to talk to... but most humans like to be around folks like themselves ..... which is why you see many faces.. but only recognize a few...
It just about person lifestyle. If you financial stable, you should enjoying yourself, and knows how to navigate.
@CandidoMacabulos ruclips.net/video/GODzh0_27y0/видео.htmlsi=p9YbWVg7q1JMEUKw
I've lived in the Philippines three times since 1987 (working the first two times)... a total of 12+ years. I've also lived in Sri Lanka and four African countries for over 16 years. So I'm quite adaptable for living in cities or provincial towns of low-income countries. Nothing truly rural.
I'm now living in the exurbs of Manila, in Bulacan. While it's not the beach, the mountain or some sleepy rural idyll, it's not in the crush of the big city either. Giant malls, smaller malls and good hospitals are all within a 15 - 60 minute drive (we have a car).
I have my computer-based "projects" to keep me busy. I don't get bored. A domestic trip a couple of times a year keeps things from getting too routine. Guys, do not simply arrive with no plans other than to sit in a chair with a drink in your hand. Get a project. Go to the gym. You need to keep mind and body in good working order.
During COVID, I was the only foreigner in the area. It didn't matter. Even now, I have zero expat friends and don't need them. The reason? My Filipina partner of 18 years is well-educated and worked at a bank head office in Makati. Her English vocabulary and grammar are better than most native English speakers. We talk about a wide array of topics and she has intelligent, well-informed opinions. She proved her mettle by living with me in the last two African countries. And she's a sweetie too. So, for men who come here looking for a relationship, my advice is to take your time, don't go for a vast age difference (my partner is 16 years younger) and try to find a "city woman" who's more likely to be well-educated and worldly.
Thanks for sharing your experience, you've given some great insight!
Living in the province provides the perfect opportunity to learn the local language (plus culture and mentality) compared to a life in the city with all its distractions. I consider it very advantageous to know the local language, if you consider living here not just as a tourist.
💯 I agree Rebels
I first started watching Mark with "Every man has a story" two years ago. He made the PI look like one glamorous paradise and would constantly push for expats, 'old men', to move to the PI. I was smitten by it, but having had already a health care crisis, i was concerned about health care in the PI. And when i acquired about it, he just blew it off as it was an non-issue. I couldn't understand that for someone that had open heart surgery that he wouldn't be under the care of a cardiologist. He would even promote other expats with major health issues moving to the PI.
The PI is fine for young folk. But when one gets old, you need to be near a medical facility. It needs to be one that offers the best standard of care. You need to have medical insurance or a great deal of funds for an emergency.
Mark only started to talk about the medical issues recently on his channel. He couldn't even get the basic meds for his heart condition.
They say Thailand has very good health care, but should one trust what one hears?
I like the idea, the Philippines speaks a lot of English. One can live in Thailand without having to speak much English but what if you end up in the emergency room and no one speaks English? I guess there is Google translate if you have it on you.
you would have to be in the big cities e.g. cities in metro manila to have the advanced hospitals
Dan-- I have been there and many other countries. The bottom line is that you had better be okay with "going to your final reward" if you are not in a first world developed country. There is a reason one doesn't see great numbers of older people in these countries.
I find that many expats in SE Asia go to Malaysia or Thailand for healthcare treatment. I was satisfied by the healthcare in Thailand though it wasn’t for emergency services.
I found that all of the healthcare professionals at the high end places I went spoke fantastic English but these facilities were in the most expat-friendly cities in Thailand like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya.
I'm retired US Army, I did considered retiring there permanently, but also I considered my health issues. Despite already having a place to live, still isn't practical to live there permanently. Yes!, vacationing 2-3 months is more practical for me.
@@CandidoMacabulos I think that is probably more practical for most retired age people that can afford it. I can only get three months of medication at a time to take with me and I was not able to buy it in the Philippines. There is a lot of misinformation concerning the level of health care and availability of medications and procedures there.
Thanks for covering those scenery, cathedral church where i used to attend masses
Glad you enjoyed seeing that church! The church is a beautiful building :)
@@EasternDreamer615yes i was in that cosca college behind the church during college days
For me the most important factor regarding food is to keep it healthy. Yes I can eat some junk food once in a while but most of the time I try to eat healthy. The older I get the more important this is..
I absolutely agree alr
Mc Garbage made me the GREAT man I am today
@@jamesrecknor6752 haha😃
Not everything is healthy.
Lol I had a roommate that would not eat anything that was not from her country. So when she was on a date to fancy restaurants she would try a little bit ....but always brought it home for me to eat it. I oved it.
Hehehe :)
A couple of reasons that you don't have enough to do in the province is you don't have a partner and you don't have a comfortable place to live. You've chosen a lifestyle that limits your happiness in the provinces
Thanks for watching!
@@EasternDreamer615 I think she has someone in mind for you Alex. Probably a cousin or sister.
Unfortunately I doubt it John, she says I don't have a comfortable place to live.
@@EasternDreamer615 Believe me that would be the first thing she would change. Put the ring on her finger one day and the next you would be out with her house shopping. I read a lot of comments on videos here.
Exactly!
Rather live poor in a rich country than poor in a poor country. Don’t need to go to the PI to enjoy coffee only. Food in the province is not great nor that healthy if you need to have rice with everything. Think one can live with 1000.00 a month? Good luck
I live on $1200 in the US right now.
I own my small cabin, and elect. Is $25 per month average.
Couldn't do it if paying rent though.
Now half or more goes to food.
@JosephMiller-nd8om I too was doing it until I got into a road accident. The guy that totally my vehicle ran off, I am assuming he had no insurance. I had to bollow thousands from family to buy a used car. The dealership sold me a lemon as I was looking for the cheapest vehicle for less than $5k. I now have to borrow an additional $4-5k to fix the transmission. If you can't afford to save for high ticket items like that, you are screwed! Unfortunately I am on disability, unable to work bec of my medical condition. I need a vehicle to get to a doctor etc as we have no public transport where I live. And the cost of groceries keeps going up and up! I wish I could hire help but I can't. In Asia one can afford to hire help. Folk are able to hire someone to cook and clean, pick up meds, groceries etc. Great advantage. Marrying someone comes with complications. One American YTer posted his expenses in the PI for under $300. He is very frugal. I also don't think what he eats out, is very healthy. But it can be done for around $600. And you save the rest of a rainy day. Not possible for me to save anything here in the US.
Enjoy
I live ok on 1000 a month pay 9000paso rent ....was homeless in la now i have house food and stuff but america is superior of coarse
@@anjinsanx44 Are you living on SS?
Im married for almost 35yrs to the man of my life here in Tn.Im looking forward when the time is right to settle down there in the Philippines,Im from Cebu in one of the island there in Mactan Lapu-Lapu.Its hard to survive here in US,with only SS money,everything is high.Also as we gets old we don't like cold anymore.
When will you return to the Philippines Elsa?
IMHO Dumaguete is the best place for an expat to start their journey in the Philippines. I lived there my first 7 years in the country. There is great banking, shopping and restaurants in the city compared to smaller cities. It's a wonderful place to spend the first few years as you settle into retirement and learn the culture. But, Dumaguete has changed greatly over the last decade. Be prepared for traffic, a higher cost of living compared to places like Bayawan or Bais and a very large expat population. I now live a few hours away and prefer life in the province but province life means forgoing convenience and a life adjustment compared to living in a city. For me the best areas in Dumaguete proper are Piapi, and Daro, close to everything and nice neighborhoods. I also feel Valencia, Bacong and Dauin are great places to live outside the city.
Thank you for sharing your experiences! I agree, Dumaguete is a good starting point in the Philippines.
It's all good deep in tha Gingoog City 'hood [except for the occasional NPA]
Everywhere in the world I have been the further away from the city the nicer the people have been.
True
The nice people of Zamboanga will invite you for a boat ride. If you decline, they will insist.
Great bunch out there on the far off province, much more welcoming than in those big bad cities.
Also True
Very true and a lot of smiles
I use a bike...but we are right off McArthur Highway...very convenient..access to bus..shuttle etc..
Love to live in a Convenient Area Easy Access to Everything
@piacash5216 airport area is good...
@@anthonynorris1016 👍👍👍👌
I hear you on the convenience, it makes life easier
@EasternDreamer615 save money from not always needing a tricycle..plus when it is traffic conjested, you actually save time..
A British expat just put out a video where he talked about living on an island in the PI which was surrounded by the most beautiful beaches. He said after a few months he got very bored living there. He said he was tired of waking up and doing the same thing of going to the beach and back every day.
I guess it kinda depends on the individual. I dream of living on a beautiful beach. But since i have not done it, i don't know if i too would get bored with it after a short while??
I agree Dan, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I’m curious to see how you feel after you try that lifestyle out.
Watch the movie castaway.
I’ve decided I’m going to try BGC, El Nido or Siargao. Either total city or total island vibe.
Sounds like a great plan!
If you ever need a doctor, hospital, or well stocked pharmacy don’t live in El Nido. It’s beautiful but remote.
@ thanks for the advice. I’ve learned that island life is too limited.
@@thealanshow25Siargao is a small islamd too & it doesn't have a good hospital. You'll need to ride a ferry to get to Surigao city in Mindanao (a larger island). If you have health issues, my suggestion is don't live in small islands or isolated areas like El Nido.
If you still want island but not Dumaguete (too many foreigners, gentrified, higher rents), try Bacolod, Iloilo or Roxas cities. They're bigger islands & have malls, supermarkets, hospitals, gyms, restos, etc.
I'm a Filipino, but I don't think I can live in the provinces in the visayas region. First off. I'm from luzon, and our way of life is different from there. Our taste for foods is different also. I don't think foreigners will easily understand why it is so, but there are differences among the cultures and languages and ways of life, the taste for food and the manner Filipinos from different regions conduct their daily activities. it could be perhaps due to the effect of the hundreds of years of having been colonised by Spaniards and Americans who divided us from one another. For whatever reason, there are really big differences between the people who were born in luzon and who were born in visayas and mindanao. Even in luzon, there are hundreds of different languages.. different tastes. Tagalog are different from the Ilocanos, Pampanguenos are different from Pangasinense.. so I don't blame you and any foreigner who come here for the first time to be confused with the life In the provinces. Filipinos are the most discriminating people in the world. Contrary to everyone who says that we are the most welcoming and nice people, yes. That could be true but it depends on where you stay.
I absolutely agree Justice :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts
Oh yes on point. Different culture in every place especially the food we eat. In the north, people eat more vegetables and fish. In south, people eat meat than vegetables so on and so forth...
Philippines composed of many Asian tribes in the past, many differences.
Yeah I'm wanna be something in the middle have room for parking a garden gazebo but no more than 30 minutes from city good points you make
Same here Jerry :)
Have you considered staying in Thailand? I feel like it's the first choice for many Americans in the Southeast Asia.
I spent a year in Thailand and loved it, I just wanted to mix things up. I plan to spend more time there in the future :)
Hate to break it to you but to most Filipinos that live in Manila, Dumagate is the province.
No hate needed, I welcome diverse opinions
Tagalogs speak and pronounce better English than those in visayas, mindanao and northern Luzon. The more affluent Filipinos who were able to study in private schools can even speak english with american accent and most rich people anywhere in the Philippines train their children to speak english at home and could even grow up not being able to soeak good filipino language. I can tell you that with all certainty because here in my own home, kids cant speak goid tagalog even in school.. bevause everyone else speak english. Kids here do not watch local shows and only know foreign singers and are not familiar with the happenings inside the local politics.. and that makes me sad. But young students today do not care anymore about what is going on in their environment.. they only care about themselves.
But houng back to the main reason im doing this reaction to your video.. i just hope that foreigners who come here will not just go to one particular place ir region in the country and say it is the PHILIPPINES. IT IS NOT!!
THE PHILIPPINES IS SO DIVERSED AND WE LIVE DIFFERENTLY FROM ONE ANOTHER. I LOVE MY COUNTRY SO MUCH BUT I MUST BE HONEST THAT IF YOU ARE A FOREIGNER.. DON'T LIVE HERE WIITHOUT LEARNING FIRST EVERYTHING ABOUT US AND CHOOSE THE PLACE THAT WILL SUIT YOUR WAY OF LIFE SO YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.
DAVAO AND CEBU AND MANDAUE ARE NOT THE ONLY BEAUTIFUL BEACH PROVINCES WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE BEST BEACHES.. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BEACHES ALL OVER TGE PHILIPPINES AND THERE IS NO PLACE HERE WHERE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND GOOD PLACES WHICH ARE NEAR THE BEACH .. GO TO SUBIC,ZAMBALES.. PANGASINAN, ILOCIS NORTE, BATANES, BATANGAS CITY, CAVITE, LA UNION. SEARCH ONLINE AND YOU WILL FIND THESE PLACES AND HOW TO GO THERE. AND YOU WILL FIND OUT ABOUT A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE. DIFFERENT KIMD OF FILIPINO PEOPLE. BUT DONT SPARE METRO MANILA!" IT IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR A FOREIGNER WHO WANT TO FIND CONVENIENCE AND COMFORT BUT THEN YOU MUST HAVE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO STAY HERE FOR LONG.
GO TO PASIG CITY, PASAY CITY, MAKATI CITY, QUEZON CITY, ALABANG CITY.. GO TO LAGUNA.. WHERE YOU WILL FIND THOSE RESORTS WITH VERY WARM WATER IN CALAMBA CITY AND LOS BANOS BECAUSE IT IS WHERE THE MOST FAMOUS MT. MAKILING IS FOUND WHICH EMITS THAT HOT WATER BECAUSE IT IS AN INACTIVE VOLCANO.. IT IS ALSO THE HOME FOR ONE OF THE BEST STATE UNIVERSITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES OUTSIDE MANOLA, THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BANOS,LAGUNA.
DONT LIMIT YOURSELVES IN VISAYAS MEN.. IT IS JUST A TIP OF THE ICEBERG WHEN PHILIPPINES IS CONCERNED. LOOK AT THE MAP OF THE PHILIPPINES AND LOOK AT EACH PLACE AND SEARCH THEM IN YOUR GOOGLE.. AND YOU WILL FIND THAT U ARE LIMITING YOURSELVES THE OPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THE REAL PHILIPPINES.
What kind of camera are you using?
DJI Osmo Action 4
Good points. how long have you been in the Philipines, and how long in Dumageti. Your best guess percentage of fluent English speakers
I’ve been here about 5 months on this trip, I last spent a month in other parts of the Philippines about 5 years ago. Dumaguete has among the highest rates of English fluency in the country.
Baguio is. And more cities people are good at speaking English.@@EasternDreamer615
It seems Duma has the right balance to make life enjoyable for you. I've always been a suburban middle class person. Province and country life requires interest in other activities that I'm not familiar with.
I understand that feeling!
the Philippines is a Country for the OLD and the Young.
I agree Reynaldo, the title is a reference to a famous American film called “No Country for Old Men,” starring Tommy Lee Jones
Hey Alex, my main goal is to have an apartment close to a main road. That way if it's been raining for a week I can grab a Trike a head into town. And yes a Motorbike is definitely in my future, your fear of riding will be over the first wheelie I do with you on the back !!!! 😂🤣😆😬
Thank you for chiming in Joe hehehe :)
Good stuff, Alex. I really like your differentiating rural or suburban US to provincial areas of the Philippines. It's definitely not a 1:1 thing. The province tends to be too rural, too undeveloped, compared to the US, for my liking as well.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on that! :)
Lol I'm not sure what exactly is more developed about us rural areas
I think that most of the people that you're talking about that are wanting to go into the province are not people but, old guys. Old retired men. I think either are used to rural living here in the US and/or have grown tired of people and so they are so sick and fed up with people that they just want to isolate and cut out all of the complexity to life and so they view provincial living as a way to do that. I can understand, feeling overwhelmed and fed up with other people and just wanting an escape. I'm 45 currently and I'm not at a level where I I'm so fed up that I want to forego all the conveniences of being in a major city including stable power and internet. For me. Even dumagete was not stable enough with the brown outs of power at least once a week. For the entire day. I had to go back to Cebu. So I think that the guys that are telling you that they want to live in the province are almost always older or elderly. If I was to ask you, I'm almost positive. That's what you would say and that is most likely the reason
I am 53 years old in the USA right now I have chickens that lay eggs and pigs. With usually a garden. I just enjoy the green space and I am at a place that is maybe 200 steps from the sea!
If I were elderly, I’d be concerned about the lack of access to healthcare services in the province
Dumagete is for people with one foot in the grave... end of story
Dramagete is a nice Place 🤣 I don’t mind living in there close to the Manjuyod Sand bar … Beautiful place
It's definitely a beautiful place to live!
Location is important...home base..
A need for civilization and that includes people interactions with stores and stuff ! Other expat company is also nice in some cases (🤗) perhaps not so much in others ? ❤ The countryside the scenery and the way the locals treat you mostly ? Having modern hospital care if needed is more than a luxury - it's really a necessity if you value your life ? - - - Different strokes ? An area where you can live cheaply but be near all the modern civilized ways of life is what I would be after and it can be had. Simply a matter of spending the time it takes to locate them with the help of locals is needed ! Yet many won't do what is needed to assure that success ? They claim it isn't possible ! And they are right - for them - it isn't possible !!! For some frugal thrifty motivated souls such as myself - it is possible. 👍🙏✌🎯🍺
Go to El Salvador
Where in El Salvador?
Some of y'all foreigners act like you have been everywhere in ph lol
Location is important...home base..
I agree Anthony