KEY Thread If not Dumaguete then where?

I agree with you on pretty much what you said. I'm not saying Dumaguete is a great place but I found it better then Bacolod at least for me. As usual the powerful and elite hate us foreigners because we do stir stuff up just being ourselves and they get pissed when we pose a threat to the way things are which honestly we do pose a minor threat. Dumaguete isn't real friendly but a lot friendlier then a few other places I have been. Here at least you can actually get a few good words now and then from a neighbor or even a good morning while plenty of places that just isn't going to happen. But you have to be friendly in return to get treated friendly as always.

I've been sick of Dumaguete honestly for quite sometime but due to my wants, my gals college, and budget not many places seem to fit our bill and Dumaguete manages. The traffic here is a killer and it will NOT get better. For it to get better will take some seriously major changes which will p*ss off a lot of people who aren't willing to accept what needs to be done to start fixing the traffic issue. But IF Dumaguete was the area for you I'd honestly suggest the Bacong area. Its where any future growth is going to go for the next 10 years at least but likely the Bacong proper area and not to far past the market.

And don't forget, Dumaguete is fairly safe from the serious weather issues and more safe even from a potential tsunami as numerous faults in line with the Philippines are 50+ years overdue.

 

Thanks for all the posts. My phone was stolen while riding a jeepney. Three guys got on with one sitting next to me and another across from me then the third to the right. My mistake was letting the guy across from me distract me by trying to get a small girl to smile at me. What can I say I like kids. The worst part of this is the changed my clash of clans account name, I know I know those heartless bas#-$-ds.
Cebu is easy to get to from Dumaguete so the beach thing isn't really a problem. I liked Argao but with no real shopping and only a so-so beach I don't know.
Once again thanks for the posts and info.

 

I like Valencia alot. Easy to get to Dumaguete or to Bacong or going North if you want to go to Tanjay etc. The air is cooler and traffic is not an issue. I have traveled around Cebu, CDO,Iligan city, Makati, Manila,bohol and another dozen places or so and none of the places were for me on a permanent basis. The biggest problem for me is the lack of Bisaya I have and my lack of patience. I think once I learn the language better and i can gear down to Phil speed...i should be fairly happy living in Valencia. I will miss alot about the USA but overall my main reason for the USA is work related only. Good luck finding your home.

 

Once again, button, zipper or Velcro pockets.

 

Well it's now apparent that it's not more fun in the Philippines when you have a serious medical problem, a respiratory illness, or an accident for three. Sanitation is non existent, air pollution is a killer of locals and expats alike with no interest in improving those conditions when people have to eke out an existence.

There is no adequate and fast internet anywhere, and Negros has no major medical facilities and although Cebu does you'd have to get through the Manila-like traffic to actually get treated at a hospital. There are no trauma centers so nationwide that I've heard of so it seems your're just SOL there. No extrication for motor vehicle accidents at all. Only one decompression center for the central Visayas. Living dangerously. Cebu seems to have one major fire a year that displaces hundreds if not thousands (you know how many in each household can run high). The fire apparatus everywhere look like they're from the 1940's. No hydrant systems in many areas so once the "pumper" dumps you're also SOL for any more water.

In South East Asia Thailand is probably the best alternative where at least you have good hospitals and adequate and fast internet and even cheaper housing. Cebu and Duma are way overpriced for expats. In Thailand there's reportedly not much English spoken but they have way better food hands down (everyone in ASEAN does). Those are trade offs that are fairly weighted in Thailand's favor. Malaysia might come in third but you'd have to find a sponsor in Sarawak to get in if you can't afford the $40k+ deposit for immigration. Singapore doesn't allow immigration unless you are already lined up for a job there.

These are the realities not just pet peeves. You pays your money and takes your chances. This is NOT a place for older expats they may not last long and if you're a generally reckless person like the type who likes to drive and drive a scooter you'll have an even shorter lifespan.

 

As an older expat and 8 year resident, I would beg to disagree with you, Midniterider. Strongly. Only problem is, I’m not sure I can. Are you being too harsh? Maybe. The medical facilities here may not be as bad as you imply, but if I were to contract any major illness, I’d get myself back to the States, pronto if I could. As for the rest of your points, there’s definitely something to be said for all of them. I still like living here, a lot – otherwise I wouldn’t be here, but I think your post is worthy of consideration for anyone planning on relocating to these parts. The remedy, I believe, is to take it slowly, step by step. Forget burning your bridges back home, sending a dozen balikbayan boxes of stuff you may not need or be able to use, obtaining a permanent resident visa – just be here awhile, rent, don’t buy anything you don’t have to buy – then see how you like it, and decide for yourself whether or not you agree with Midniterider.

 

In Dumaguete? Even local doctors say you should not live here if you are a high risk for advanced medical treatments, such as the kind of treatment you would get for a heart attack. When a friend of mine had a heart attack, while already in one of the new private rooms in Silliman hospital, the treatment was to give the wife a ventilator bag with a tube shoved down the patient's throat with instructions: "Squeeze this every couple of seconds until someone else dies and we can put him on their ventilator machine". (note that he was 70 years old and in hospital for pneumonia with complications and unfortunately passed on in the ICU)

Its absolutely horrid but its all we got if we choose to live here.

EDIT: For anyone who thinks this is an isolated incident, 2 years ago another friend was admitted to Holy Child Hospital because he "did not feel good". While in one of their private rooms he had a heart attack and did not even make it through one night, even with all the staff right there. He was 40 years old.

 

I guess that I am different from most expats. I love nature and the quiet life. Two years ago I applied for the Visa for my wife to join me in the USA. Her Visa was approved in 2014. However, while we were waiting to get it approved, we discussed the future and where would be the happiest. The more that we talked about where we wanted to live, the more I could see that she would be the happiest staying in the Philippines. Closer to her family.
One day I asked her if she would like staying in the Philippines, and making it our home. She replied "Hun, I will be happy anywhere you want to live, as long as I am with you!" But, as she answered me, I could see a smile come upon her face. A smile that spoke volumes, without saying a word.
I started searching information about the different Islands, and what they had to offer. I read an article in International Living magazine that rated Dumaguete very high as the best place to retire. So, I concentrated my search around Dumaguete.
I found an ad for a house for sale, placed by an American man and his wife that were moving to the USA. The house sat in 4,400 sq meters of land, and was only 1 year old, overlooking the ocean and Cebu Island. AND, the price was something that I could afford.
I showed the ad to my wife, and asked her if she liked it. I told her that we could buy something like this, and live there for 1 or 2 years while we traveled in search for the perfect location to live permanently.
She thought that it was a good idea.
I contacted the owner, and made arrangements for me to fly from the USA to see, and possibly buy the house. I flew to Manila, and met my wife there. We came to Dumaguete, and hired a small van to take us to Bindoy ( about 1.5 hours North of Dumaguete).
We bought the house! Then I went back to the USA and spent the next 4 months selling my house there, and all other items that I owned.
We have now been living here for more that 1 year. Bought a jeep type 4WD, bought an ATV, Planted a vegetable garden, Papaya trees, Passion Fruit plant, Orange trees, lemon trees, 50 Dwarf coconut trees, Many Cavendish Banana trees ( the kind you buy from the supermarket in the USA), and my wife's beautiful flowers. I have also built a nice Gazabo, where we can eat our breakfast, as we look out to the ocean (we have a beautiful view).
Yesterday I asked her where she wanted to live, should something to me. She said "This is my home, and I want to always live here."
It is very peaceful here. The neighbors are great, and we already know most of the people in town, even though we live in the Province. We come to Dumaguete every 2 weeks, just to fight the traffic. haha
We love it here!

 

I can attest to the lack of English use in Thailand, even the cab drivers could not get me to my hotel. But is certainly has a better transportation in some areas than the Philippines . I am not fully aware of the whole country.

You mentioned "Malaysa might come in third", who were you thinking of as second. It seemed like your ruled out Singapore for immigration target if you did not have a job lined up
MIDNITERIDER

 

I think some patterns are becoming clear. That as I surmised, many people who love Dumaguete don't live there. I'm not saying Dumaguete is bad or wrong, just that it has some issues that are not adequately addressed, but it isn't the only place that someone can point to! Look at Manila for a prime example.

I think satisfaction with Dumaguete may be higher for homebodies who would probably be just as happy if not happier in many places in the Philippines. If they were out and about 5 days out of seven in Duma, I think the satisfaction rating would dwindle. If one is just after the nightlife, yes the traffic dies down dramatically after 9pm. I like to build things and I would spend significant amounts of time in town during the day tracking down what I needed. I wasn't digging it. It took me quite awhile to find Rejoice Hardware (highly recommended). I kept asking locals where a hardware store was and they would tell me Robinsons, in the mall or downtown, Citi hardware, Builders, Polaris and so on and I wanted to tell them no! Where do poor people go who just need hardware and not expensive decorative crap? But I did finally find most of what I needed.

I know that a good part of what I found dissatisfactory about Duma is because I am not a homebody and I am not retired. The place I lived was nice enough, very nice really, but I have never been one to want to stay at home. I did not come to the Philippines to stay at home. Even when there is nothing to do, there is always something to see. I used to like the corny animated public service announcement commercials that said "Life! Be in it". After spending 3 days asking people and trying to find some cheap carbon steel hinges, not stainless, not bronze, not brass and finally finding them. I felt like Redhorse Grande "be in it!" I was pretty disgusted by the time I found them. I had literally asked half a dozen people. not where foreigners buy things, what if you were wanting to buy it, where would you go? This from my friends uncle who is a welder/ supposed auto mechanic and builds lots of stuff for people. What an a$$ kicking just to find the simplest things. I know where to find most of the things I would need there now, except a good mechanic ?(other than me) but the thrill has gone for me. It is what it is.