Balikbayan Visa Hi - new on the board -- expat or balikbayan?

Hi all - just joined the forum - looks like a great site! Hubby and I live in Virginia but plan to move to the Philippines in a couple of years....starting our research on where to live....we love fishing and diving (I know - odd!). I was born in the Philippines but moved to the US as a child and fell in love with the Philippines when we visited Palawan, Boracay and Puerto Galera 3 years ago.....

Looking forward to reading your posts and learning from you guys!

 

Welcome to the forum bearkeley. Many expats here have looked or lived around the Philippines and found Dumaguete to be the most suitable for a westerner to retire at. I first came down here from the Manila area to go diving at Apo Island and fell in love with the place (and my to-be wife) and relocated here. Having said that, forum members will suggest you check Dumaguete out for a couple of months before making your move decision; Dumaguete is not for everyone. Good luck.

 

Welcome to the forum. For me Dumaguete has a wild-west frontier outpost feel, out there with just enough ameneties to remind you of home but not quite enough to satisfy you. If you like to be pampered and have high expectations of life here then some of the more touristy towns or larger cities may be more to your liking. It is a smart move to do research on important decisions like moving to a new country. Good luck on your search and even if Dumaguete is not your choice, don't be shy, share with us what you have found and keep in touch, just knowing that someone out there is happy and has found what they are looking for can put a smile on our faces.