Hi Elaine

I wish you all the best with your decision. After 10 years in Europe and 6 months in Dumaguette, we are returning to South Africa next week. Our position is different to yours as we are not retired and still have school going children to consider.

 

Thanks to everyone for all the kind help and information you have given. @ Tiger Lilly. Hello there! I hope you are able to reply to this for me either before you leave or we can e-mail and correspond once you and your family are back in SA. I have a lot of questions that I feel you would be able to help me with. Where in Dumaguete are you staying? How safe would it be for my hubby and I to go into the mountains to the nature sites etc? Do you have cable tv and internet connection? Is the internet connection on 24\7? What channels do you get and what is the cost per month? Are you renting, and if so does the rental include water, electricity? So many questions, so little time! :-D If you are renting, did you go through an agency and if so, which one do you recommend? Or did you just look in the newspapers? We read in the Negros Oriental online newspaper about 2 months ago about drive-by shooting from scooters. This is all so worrysome for us. It was so very, very safe there in 2004\5 when we were there last, and we really can not beleive what we are reading and hearing from the papers and the people on the site!! We miss Lee Plaza, Jolly Bee, Malatapay Wednesday market, etc. Any info you can give me would be very much appreciated. Have a safe trip back to SA.
Have a great week everyone
Elaine

 

well, I don't give a FF what is written in Negros Chronical, since it was based on bloodlust 15 years ago as it is still ...

There is no crime-rate sky rocketing here, unless you believe each chismes you hear from neighbors, friends and asawa(s).

True, there might be more crime then 10 years ago what can be observed in each growing City world-wide. Money attracts poor people, but with common sense when choosing area to stay and where to walk around it is a pretty safe place. But I am only 5 years here, so what do I know.

I am sure I am not a "low-profile" kind of guy but up to this day I never ever felt in any way unsafe.

 

@ Rhoody. That is so nice to hear!! We really, really want to come back to Mangnao, Dumaguete! And we do understand about the location you pick to live\visit, as we have no go locations here as well. We also have newspapers that will report favourably\unfavourably on situations to benifit the party they favour! This is my reason for joining this forum. To gain first hand insight from the people on the ground.
@ jellyfish. Thank you for your info aswell. As you may see from the post from Tiger Lilly, someone who was from South Africa has contacted me.
Keep the info coming everyone. it is much appresiated by us.
Have a great week

 

Hi Elaine
I shall do my best to answer them.

We are on the outskirts of the city, very close to Valencia.

I would have no idea how safe it would be. My perception of crime over here is that it's on a par with England. A lot of opportunistic petty crime and random acts of violence.

We have cable TV and ADSL internet.

We pay 1000 pesos per month for 24/7 connection. For liesure use the internet is great, but I have found it too unreliable for business use.

We pay 400 pesos per month, but I have no idea what channels we have, as nobody in the family watches TV ever.

We are renting and the rental does not include electricity and water. Our water bill is about 400 pesos per month and electricity varies between 1200 to 4000 pesos per month, depending on how much the aircon is used.

We used Island Properties, but I think you would be able to negotiate a much lower rental if you used word of mouth once you were here.

It will be strange being back in SA for us. In Holland, hubs was the immigrant and had to deal with the authorities and now it's my turn as I am a Dutch National. Oh well, the best of Irish luck to both of us, Elaine, with our travel plans.

 

Thank you so much for all the info Tiger Lilly!! I will definitely write it all down and keep it safely.
Keep well
Elaine

 

@ Tiger Lilly. Who is your internet provider and who is your cable tv provider? Some one told me that they have Skycable with their internet for Php1530 and they also have Fil-Products for Php370 per month without the internet.

 

What a disheartening thread for someone who is/was planning on coming to Dumaguete in May. I'm not one to be parnoid but I'm also not one to venture where things may not be as 'gentle' as advertised. I'm open to alternative suggestions. I will check out Puerto Princesa. Any other suggestions?

 

Tomalh2, everyone has his own perception of 'feeling safe'.
You have also read the comments of some members (including myself) who do not have serious problems, not even mediocre problems.
If you live in a neighborhood where it happens several times the last year then of course you have a different opinion than when having never had a problem in the area (like also some of us).
Best thing to do is living here for some time (at least 2 or 3 months) and decide if (when unsafe !) it is only your area or everywhere.