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If you read the post you have the answers to your questions, no one drops the puppies off and it is not the posters dog who delivered the puppies. Why are you always so grumpy? There are people around with a good heart and feelings to other living creatures, you are for sure not one of them, but don't be so negative to people who care, get a life and try to be a little more positive, it can be a good feeling

 

Michael,

First, let me say congratulations in the service to your country!

My wife and I moved to the Dumaguete area in late September last year so I can share some of my experiences and suggestions.

Unless you have been here, or to the location you plan to retire, I would recommend going to a hotel or other temporary accomodation so you can get a little familiar with the area, housing, malls, etc. Before moving I did a lot of research and checking the forums and thought I kind of knew the area but actually arriving here for the initial week or two was far more instructive. We took trikes to visit the area and look at rentals; very helpful! The principal trike driver we used was one whom another foreigner had used. Trike drivers can be a good source of information on rentals but they may have poor understanding of many Westerner desires and expectations for housing; what may be a great place to a trike driver struggling to make ends meet may look quite different to a newly arrived foreigner!!

You need to be flexible in that even nice looking rentals may be up to Western housing standards. For example, most bathrooms and kitchens we saw when looking. This all depends on what is acceptable and not acceptable for you.

You may find an acceptable house but may find surprises from the neighbors and surrounding area. Examples may include blaring music, barking dogs, burning trash, open sewers and sewer smell, outside traffic, chickens crowing (right word??) at most hours; usually you will have two or more of these at the same place. Since internet is on of your priorities then you need to make sure what the internet situation FOR THAT HOUSE before signing a lease and moving in. We did not do that and thought we could get one provider but was about 100 meters past what they could serve. We went with Globe DSL and have been generally satisfied with the service with a few exceptions.

Suggest you give yourself a year ot two trial period to see if you really, really, want to stay here long term. After this period of time ask yourself if this is the place you really want to be permanently? My wife and I have been here for six months and we will probably return to the United States in February. I think we could stay long term, but we miss our family, friends and church and will likely return.

Some people adapt well and are very happy here. Others start out excited and with time find their attitude changing and become angry and bitter. How you ultimately react to real like living here will be the ultimate judge whether you will be happy here: to the good and bad, the exciting and depressing, the beautiful and tragic, the "out of stock, sir," "mam-sir," "for a while," the impressive number of steps for getting basic services, and so forth. There is much to say in favor of living here including low cost of living, wonderful people, warm climate beautiful scenery and the opportunity for new and exciting experiences.

Since this is becoming too long I would finally recommend you check with this forum and other contacts about available housing about 1 week before leaving. Once you arrive here ask the locals and the expats and you should find something acceptable to you in no time! Suggest you negociate for a short lease, say six months instead of a long lease. At the end of the lease you will know the area so much better and can do a smarter housing search.

Best wishes!

Gary

 

I don't think we should mention specific places here. The purpose of this thread should be general information. It's easier for us to say something which may be false than it is for bar owners to clean up the mess of spiraling misinformation. I have been part of this myself, so I have learned my lesson after having heart to heart talks.

That said, I know which location that Canadianized is referring to.

Here is what I have learned about bars and some specifics of Dumaguete.

Know the location

There are multiple locations here which have a reputation for fights. Some of these locations have an inadequate security staff to deal with problems. To enter one of these locations is a risk which should be avoided. If you must enter these places, make sure to observe security. Does the staff check people at the door? Is there sufficient security that you believe they could handle an out of control situation? Is the staff professional? Are the guards actively looking for problems rather than sleeping at a table? Is the place overcrowded?

Note: In some cases I will tip the guards. When you get to know them and help them out, they will often look out for you as well. I don't know that means they will risk themselves to pull you out of a pileup, but every bit helps.

Watch the street crowds

I feel the street crowds can be as dangerous or more dangerous than the venue. Outside, you may be on your own. You might be able to get security to help you out right in front of a bar, but further down the street you are on your own. When people are walking down the street to get to their ride, it's at the end of what may have been a long night of drinking and they may be highly intoxicated.

A lot of fights end up on the streets. People who get thrown out of the bar end up on the street. Someone who runs out of a bar to escape a beating just brings the fight to the street. Security guards will focus on order inside the bar rather than outside.

You don't even have to be drinking to get into a problem on the street. Avoid walking past these places late at night and especially when you see a crowd.

Know the cultures

Cultures and alcohol don't mix well. In the expat bars, we know our fellow cultures quite well. Once you get into the "local" bars then you get to be outside your element. Not only might you find Filipino's, but you may also find Iranians, Nigerians, Koreans and a long list of other cultures. The more unknowns you run into, the more you risk problems to yourself. Different cultures also deal with alcohol differently (it may be more of a social norm to drink yourself stupid in some countries?)

Lately there seems to be a large influx of natives from Papua New Guinea. I know some of these guys and they are good guys. But I have also seen some racial tensions and this has sparked off some hairy situations in places where I have seen a large group of them.

Young people also create a different cultural atmosphere. Just as I generally don't want to be drinking with a group of people half my age (and I'm not very old) I certainly wouldn't want to be in a club full of them. Young people have enough of a problem dealing with emotions without alcohol. Adding alcohol is a recipe for problems.

Know the alcohol flow

High levels of intoxication is bad in general. A bar may or may not be right to cut people off. But we have to watch out for ourselves. A good sign that you may be in the wrong place is that people are puking or there is puke all over the CR. As disgusting and unbelievable as this sounds to people who don't go to these places, I see this regularly at a lot of bars.

When you arrive to the bar, survey the place to see how people are acting. If you see a lot of highly intoxicated people, then leave. Stick to the places where people are happy, sipping their drinks and have their wits about then.

Early risers beware

Being out late at night isn't a problem for you? You go to bed early and early to rise? You could still run into problems. Some of these clubs are open nearly until dawn. I regularly see people I know coming home drunk as **** from clubs when I'm on my way to get breakfast. I regularly have to dodge drunk drivers coming out of karaoke parking areas. I still have to watch out for the above mentioned crowds.

Take care of your own

If I know I'm going to have a rough night, I try to stick to expat bars. At least there the people know me. But of course the best prevention is simply not to get too drunk. And watch the driving, get a pedi cab.

That's just a stream of thought that I had brewing in my head. Pipe in with your own stories and thoughts.

 

Well, they didn't stay there long. The BI office in Cebu has moved again, effective Jan 8, 2024 they are now in G-mall Cebu
View attachment upload_2024-1-10_14-29-51.png

 

I tell myself every day above ground is a blessing, regardless of my situation. Be strong and never give up if there is a dark cloud above you. It will pass or you will.

 

I have been up there a few times, go mountain biking around that area from the top (not the summit) back into Valencia. The roads are pretty rocky not sure how far up you drove.