Gotta Get Outta Manila

[Jeff R Us]

Greetings All!

While I am new to this forum, I am not new to the Philippines. Came over in early 2014 and lived on Palawan. Loved it!!! A serious medical issue brought me to the south of metro Manila for treatment at the Asian Hospital in Alabang. Btw, I highly highly recommend this hospital. Now that I no longer need to be within spitting distance to a top notch hospital, I just gotta get outta Manila. While Alabang is a very nice area, it is too rich for my blood, way too commercialized and way too close to Manila.

After several months of online research I have narrowed locations down to Bacolod and Dumaguete. Early January will bring me to Dumaguete to complete my due diligence. I am seeking advice on some sweet spots just outside of Dumaguete City. I am thinking between Valencia and Duma as well as between Bacong and Duma. Junob perhaps? I booked a week at the Manhattan Suites Inn which seems to put me close to the two areas. I will be relying on public transportation until I can get a feel of the area and then obtain a local drivers license. My maximum housing budget is 25,000 pesos per month. Thank you for any advice.

[Dave Hounddriver]

It sounds like you already have a good plan.  Good luck with it.  All sounds good.

[mogo51]

Welcome to the forum, two good locations you have chosen.  I am sure you will enjoy which ever you choose.  There are some really good people from the forum in Dumaguete and  they have regular gatherings which is a good way to find out the lay of he land as they say.  

Good luck and keep us informed when you settle.  I am with you 100% on Manila, the best thing is the road out.

[Jeff R Us]

Wow! So far so good. Thanks guys!

[Gary D]

There are some nice areas north of Duma as well depending how far from the city you want to be. Amlan is pleasant although you are about 45 mins north, many small places inbetween.

[jimeve]

Also, check out for decent internet, if that's the right word. Internet sucks further away from Dumaguete you go.

[BrettGC]

Having just spent a couple of weeks in Dumaguete I can highly recommend it, perhaps only slightly due to the bunch of reprobates that live there, or despite them, depends on your point of view 

If you're going to spend a couple of weeks there yourself I'd highly recommend one of two things if you want to keep your costs down.  

1. Hermogina Apartments have studios for about 10k a month, not sure of the weekly rate but much cheaper than Manhattan in any case and you'll keep your costs down and if you like to cook yourself that's the way to go. 

2.  Golden Gate Suites:  On a par with Manhattan cost-wise but they also have studios with a basic kitchen.  

3.  Not recommended:  Hotel Essencia

Significant other and I fell in love with Palawan and are toying with the idea but can see it becoming very commercialised in the near future and found it to be a little more expensive for day-to-day living, so would be interested to hear your thoughts on that, particularly after your Dumaguete visit.  We're about 80% Dumaguete due to her family being only a couple of hours North of there (just outside the two hour rule).  To be honest, Palawan is the only place I'd come close to considering outside of The Visayas but that's a personal preference and familiarity thing on my part.  

Do you have a spouse?  Do you have kids?  If so what's the "other half's" main language?  It can make a difference as some have found.  

Edited November 14, 2017 by BrettGC

[davewe]

4 hours ago, Jeff R Us said:

Early January will bring me to Dumaguete to complete my due diligence. I am seeking advice on some sweet spots just outside of Dumaguete City. I am thinking between Valencia and Duma as well as between Bacong and Duma. Junob perhaps? I booked a week at the Manhattan Suites Inn which seems to put me close to the two areas. I will be relying on public transportation until I can get a feel of the area and then obtain a local drivers license. My maximum housing budget is 25,000 pesos per month. Thank you for any advice.

For 25K you can get a very nice house. We're in Valencia and spend a lot less than that. I also like it south (Bacong and Dauin) so those areas are well worth checking out. The Valencia-Bacong road seems to be one of the best kept secrets in the area. Light traffic I can get from Valencia to a beach in Dauin in about 15-20 minutes.

By all means let us know when you're coming for your research trip and the gang can help.

[Jeff R Us]

You guys are great! Looking forward to meeting those interested. The beer is on me......................well the 1st one. Reading the replies it seems that I am on the right track. I am very interested in Valencia. Just wondering about the distance to Duma City. That,s why I'm considering half-way. I definitely want a good internet connection. Have a terrific wife that speaks Cebuano, Wari Wari, and of course tagalog. Yerha has family in Moalboal. They all speak very highly of Dumaguete.

[Jeff R Us]

3 hours ago, BrettGC said:

Significant other and I fell in love with Palawan and are toying with the idea but can see it becoming very commercialised in the near future and found it to be a little more expensive for day-to-day living, so would be interested to hear your thoughts on that, particularly after your Dumaguete visit.  We're about 80% Dumaguete due to her family being only a couple of hours North of there (just outside the two hour rule).  To be honest, Palawan is the only place I'd come close to considering outside of The Visayas but that's a personal preference and familiarity thing on my part. 

Palawan is getting busy and growing. We were in the province 20 minutes north of Puerto. The traffic and pollution was getting crazy when heading into town. Most of the time we could take care of our needs at the Robinson Mall. The only reason we are not going back to Palawan is that I found the hospital and medical services seriously lacking. I still need to feel secure about a decent hospital like Silliman. I was also told that there are some decent doctors in Duma. The word going around is that Palawan is going to get real crazy in the next five years. Sad