Best City For Expats Is? Cebu Or Manila Or Elsewhere?

[Thomas]

Any input on Cagayan de Oro appreciated.  Also I am adding Damaguete to my list of places to visit.  A guy who lives down there in Damaguete says to avoid Mindanao (is that just the NW city or the entire island?  I'm always confused but I assume the former), which is "Kidnapping Central" (my words but his intent). He may just be engaging in hyperbole however, but I'm not going to find out the hard way.

Muslim guerilla: Still dangerous in SW. I don't know if it calm in the rest after the peace, but earlier it was dangerous at the south side all the way to around General Santos City. It was some dangerous in NW too around Dipolog, but as far as I know it's nothing in Misamis Occidental part in NW. So far -  muslims have a tendency to spread   :)

 

Cagayan the Oro:   In general I can't recomend any city at all, because I like to live at countryside   :lol:    but some like CDO. But it had been hit hard twice during just over one year. (A year ago flood killing many, but OK in higher parts. This year hit by typhon, breaking houses, but at least comparingly not many killed.)

[Markham]

You really should carry-out some research before making such sweeping statements. I live in Davao and as well as being the world's largest city in terms of land area, it is (probably) the safest city in the country for Filipinos and foreigners alike. There are a few Muslims living here, there are also Buddists, Hindus and INCs just as there are everywhere in the Philippines - so what?

 

And you speak from the vast experience of not actually having visited either place; incredible.

 

Since you require "high-speed" internet, by which I assume you mean greater than 1 MBit/sec, your choices are fairly limited to Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities -- ie those others have mentioned in their replies to you. Or, here's a thought, why not move to Cambodia?

 Hi Markham--thanks for the input.  If I carry out research I'll post here, but this was by definition a post on suggestions.  I'm not considering Davao due to turbulence in the past (I'm glad to see it's all over now, though I seriously doubt it's safer than where I'm at now in the Visayas, perhaps you are comparing it to some gang-infested barangay in Manila?)

I'm delighted to hear that you won't be living in Davao: you simply wouldn't fit in.

You, who've only been here ... what less than a week, know the place so much better than the rest of us so I'll concede that you're right: Davao is a highly dangerous place and the only part of the country where even foreigners are allowed to carry weapons. I myself have an old Russian battle tank (bought off eBay) parked at the front of my house which I use as a run-about for shopping trips. Not only that but there are no girlie bars, smoking is prohibited in public places and they're about to introduce a complete ban on alcohol sales and consumption. I daren't go to the airport for fear of it being bombed by Abu Sayaf terrorists again. We have our own armed forces unit, the Davao Protection Force, and because overland routes are so dangerous, escorted mile-long convoys are organised on a daily basis through the Bukidnon Badlands to Cagayan de Oro and the only safe air and sea ports. There's no point owning a TV or aircon here as there are nightly powercuts lasting 8 hours or more and internet is dial-up.

 

As for "so what" I suppose you are perhaps trying to be funny (Cambodia for high-speed internet?  really?)

I mentioned Cambodia as a possible destination for you as I believe it would be a better fit for someone with your stated preconceptions and prejudices. And yes, high-speed internet is available there.

Edited April 25, 2013 by Markham

[Markham]

Mike J: "Dumaguete and Davao"--the first place reminds me of where I am now (as does Tuka Ram's Iloilo), the second place is Kidnapping Central, no?

No. The mayor has made so all bad guys are killed   :hystery:     so, as Markham says, now it's among the most safe.   The Davao CITY. 

 

I believe the most south part of Davao PROVINCE is still restricted (it was around a year ago) not allowed to travel for foreigners, but perhaps it has ended after the piece signed with muslim guerilla?

 

Davao is in SouthEAST. The "Kidnapping Central" is Zamboanga in SouthWEST.

There are, in fact, three provinces bearing the name "Davao" - Davao Del Sur (wherein Davao City lies), Davao Del Norte and Davao Oriental. Of the three, Davao Del Norte is marginally less safe due to occasional NPA activity. Edited April 25, 2013 by Markham

[Thomas]

 

 

Mike J: "Dumaguete and Davao"--the first place reminds me of where I am now (as does Tuka Ram's Iloilo), the second place is Kidnapping Central, no?

No. The mayor has made so all bad guys are killed   :hystery:     so, as Markham says, now it's among the most safe.   The Davao CITY. 

 

I believe the most south part of Davao PROVINCE is still restricted (it was around a year ago) not allowed to travel for foreigners, but perhaps it has ended after the piece signed with muslim guerilla?

 

Davao is in SouthEAST. The "Kidnapping Central" is Zamboanga in SouthWEST.

 

There are, in fact, three provinces bearing the name "Davao" - Davao Del Sur (wherein Davao City lies), Davao Del Norte and Davao Oriental. Of the three, Davao Del Norte is marginally less safe due to occasional NPA activity.

 

Yes, I know. I just didn't bother to go into such details in my answer to the topic starter  :)

 

As I wrote somewhere, I don't know how much it has changed since the peace signing, but before it I were told government had restrictions against foreigners going to the most south part of the Davao del Sur province.

[i am bob]

CebuJoe, I have to ask...  Do you have a vested interest in trying to spread dissent amongst the members here?  You have insulted just about everybody you have talked to along with this forum and you don't seem to care...  Please,  show some respect for the people who willingly share their knowledge as well as for those who are just trying to learn more about the Philippines and have decided to become members of this forum to do so.  By doing this, you might just be surprised by what this forum can do for you.

[Markham]

I were told government had restrictions against foreigners going to the most south part of the Davao del Sur province.

I've not heard about any such restrictions but then I've only lived here for six years! There are restrictions in place for Cotobato, Sultan Kudurat, the Zamboanga peninsular, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi - among others on the western side of Mindanao. But General Santos and Zamboanga cities are considered relatively safe to visit.

[Beachboy]

Also Islamic people,

 Some "Islamic people" are indeed devout and conservative, just like some "Christian people".  But some smoke, and drink and curse as bad a sailors, just like some "Christian people".  I've always found it best to leave my preconceived notions at home when I venture out into the world.

Regarding "interracial marriage" my friend in Davao has informed me that people there are the most diverse (mixed) in all of the Philippines -- Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Arabic -- all of which makes for a very beautiful culture.  But you will miss all of this unless you leave at home your ideas of how people are.  IMHO :cheersty:

[Tukaram (Tim)]

BTW, I find getting around PH a problem--they don't use airports like in some countries, but overland transportation, which can be a long, bumpy ride. Thanks again! CJ

 

Ain't that the truth!  We just did a vacation to Palawan and my girlfriend got us beds on a 30 hour ferry.  It never occurred to her that a 1 hour flight would be an option (her family is too poor to fly - the ferry is 1/2 the price).  We flew back and even she said it was better.  But they all look at me like I'm crazy when I ask about flying to Boracay instead of the hellish 4 hour drive down the 2 lane Iloilo-Antique "highway".  I have been up and down this coast in a personal car, a van, a bus, and a jeepney - it sucks! 

 

And to keep this on topic I would like to add that Palawan is a nice little tourist town but they can't keep the power on so I would not live there ha ha.

[CebuJoe]

 

There are, in fact, three provinces bearing the name "Davao" - Davao Del Sur (wherein Davao City lies), Davao Del Norte and Davao Oriental. Of the three, Davao Del Norte is marginally less safe due to occasional NPA activity.

 

 

Ok if you say so Markham!  Stay safe in your Sherman tank T-34 battle tank while you read this! :-) (seems Thomas was right)   http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/04/26/935170/12-killed-ambush-lanao-town-mayors-convoy

Edited April 26, 2013 by CebuJoe

[CebuJoe]

CebuJoe, I have to ask...  Do you have a vested interest in trying to spread dissent amongst the members here?  You have insulted just about everybody you have talked to along with this forum and you don't seem to care...  Please,  show some respect for the people who willingly share their knowledge as well as for those who are just trying to learn more about the Philippines and have decided to become members of this forum to do so.  By doing this, you might just be surprised by what this forum can do for you.

 

No, I've not insulted you yet, you jerk! ;-)  And from this I now know who my enemies are! "Markham, Jake, Geoff Thomas and 1 other like this

"  But who is "1 other"?  I will find out and insult them, you can be sure!

 

CJ

 

 

Note from the boss

If you had of clicked on "1 other" it shows who likes a post but now it says 2 others but too late for you idiot. 

Edited April 26, 2013 by Jollygoodfellow
added bit for troll