Dumaguete Vs. Puerto Princesa? The "Top Spot" Battle.

OK. So I've now been riding my motorbike over 12 months / 20,000+km here searching for "The Top Spot" to retire in. All over all the major and medium islands. Even 3 months around magnificent Mindanao. I had thought I'd found it in Dgt/Valencia until the Iloilo ferry docked in Palawan. (Do NOT take that ferry! Trust me.)
Back in the states during two years of online research, I always knew Dgt would be the place I'd end my ride and hang my hat. PPC "Puerto" seemed too much like Alaska to be considered. Remote, isolated, impractical. But after over two weeks exploring the island and city I must say I'm pleasantly surprised and might reconsider my top pick. The entire island is awesome and since its the least densly populated province in the Philippines its easy to get away from the crowds. I had no idea it was such an international tourist destination, a boom unleashed the last few years by travel rags such as CNN traveler, Conde Nast, etc.. Heres some comparisons in no particular order;
Both DGT & PPC are provincial capitals. Similar size 150-250k people. Both have huge mountains just behind them with cool little motorbike/bicycle roads. Ppc's roads are far less crowded out of town. Both a 1+- hour flite from Manila. PPC = tagalog, DGT = Visayan. DGT 7 colleges, PPC 2?. DGT a small mall with another coming. PPC a larger Robinsons with a big SM coming. Dgt has better food choices. Ppc has an international airport thats being enlarged, with direct flites to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, I hear. Ppc has way more hotels and way more euro-hippy tourists. Dgt has closer proximity to Cebu. Dgt has coolerish lovely Valencia, Ppc has nothing comparable up high. Both are equally close to scarey terrorist kidnappers from the south. Dgt probably has better health care. Dgt has 5000+- expats, Ppc has about 1000 or less. The expats in Ppc seem more friendly and approachable, and the girls are by far easier to meet it seems. Dgt is oversaturated with us. Ppc has so many backpacker tourists they're seldom overly chummy. Both seem to have similar living costs. Both have a looming water crisis unfolding. Province girls come to both capitals for work, as their first step into big city life. Both have equally cute baywalks along the seawall. Palawan is not volcanic so less earthquake danger. I hear its also off the typhoon belt. Palawan obviously beats all challengers for beaches and cool islands. Both have excellent diving sites relatively near.
In Puerto the gov tolerates the "business" of girlie bars/KTV/hookers much more than in Dgt. A good thing or a bad thing is up to debate, but I hate a gov telling me I cant go share a brew with the "musical assistants" (GRO's) as they're called here. There are quite a few clubs here ranging from top talent/fancy down to local dives. Dgt has the Why Not, Ppc has the Tiki. Ppc has 1 mcDo, 3 Joli's, a shakeys and others. Dgt has more and also favs such as the True Love, Tommys Tacos, Taco past Robinsons, the Pasta King, and more. Both have an immigration office. Ppc has timed street lites that usually work and that everyone usually obeys. Both are clogged with tricycles.
So, before you all beat me up, I think its a tie. I'll try Dgt/Val soon, then maybe move out here awhile later.My other top choices for livable cities here are; Malabalay Bukidnon (small but friendly and cool climate), Mati Davao del Sur (really pretty area but zero foreigner infrastructure yet) and Dapitan/Dipolog just across the big river there. My favorite small livable islands are; Biliran (go there, see it), Camiquin, Marinduque, and of course Siquijoir, tho I doubt I'd actually live on any of them. What say yee, O bretheren?