Run and Hide - American Retirees Coming

Getting back to the thread topic guys & girls!:
Flyingifr, I too want to retire to PH/Duma in the next couple of years, and I too looked at the SRRV as a less hassle alternative to getting a tourist visa 6 times a year! BUT, after reading this forum for the last 18 months, I think it is much more sensible to first go to the PH and live there under tourist visa, and get the lay of the land, before committing to the SRRV program.
Also as has been stated and you are starting to find out, getting all things admin completed whilst outside the PH is no easy task! So 'easier' to do that when living in PH, and after a year of collecting all the contacts and info that you need to make the process as smooth and as painless as is possible. ....if that is possible in the PH!

 

I've been to the three places. Dumaguete (where i live now), Bacolod and Ilo-ilo.
I am actually now in Bacolod! Yes, while writing this message on my hotel room.
Of all the places that i have been, i would say Dumaguete is where you will really feel "i'm home" or where you really want to live.
Well, that's what i feel. It's just a small city not that beautiful (the city) BUT it makes you feel satisfied and content about life.
I would want to retire too in Dumaguete. Everything is just accessible.

Bacolod.
Yeah, if you are a city-person you might like it here. But for me, it's too big, too "city-ish" and very polluted, sticky and very dusty, and traffic and things like that. (what i like here so far, is the language. It's different, it's called "ilonggo", and staying here would mean learning a new language which is fun and interesting).
Ilo-ilo.
Same as Bacolod but to a worse degree. Very polluted. No. I don't wanna live there. (at least when we visited there, it was really polluted and it looked miserable for me.)
It's big and has big malls, BUT i prefer Dumaguete really really waaaaaaay more.

Well, are you really fixed on these three places?
Are you sure?
Please visit Palawan.
Been there just recently, and OMG,
It's the most beautiful place i've ever been so far here in the Philippines.
I am Filipino btw.
I'm speaking about nature and beauty.
I would want to live there too. (Dumaguete and Palawan are my choices to retire as of now.. but too young to be thinking about retiring actually, lol, but no harm in imagining the future, right? hehe)