Newbie.

[Kansas Tom]

New to the forum but not to the Philippines as I served there in my military days. Have younger wife originally from Cebu and 4 y/o son. Presently living in Western Kansas and getting very tired of freezing my a** off every winter and worrying myself sick on how to pay the monthly bills! Am looking for a decent and reasonably safe place to retire in the PI and Dumaguete has caught my eye. Have a physician friend originally from Dumaguete that is practicing medicine here and highly recommends the place. Am a retired US government meteorologist so have stable if not overly plentiful income. Main concerns are housing, access to good schools and security. Guess we will be thinking about renting a nice three bedroom home in quiet gated community with decent access to schools and shopping. Is such housing readily available and at what cost? We are considering a move to the Philippines sometime within the next several months, timing somewhat dependent on selling our property here. KT

[Pedro]

Yes the things you are asking for are readily available in Dumaguete and at various costs. You should read the posts in the Expat and Classifieds section to find out more what to expect here. Although you have been stationed in the PI, Dumaguete does not even closely compare to Manila or Cebu, cities that offer many more services but of course have many other problems.

I also have a friend who was born in Dumaguet and graduated from Siliman and he will tell you he never wants to return. In fact he has already sold is family land there. That is why I recommend you make a visit to be sure that Dumaguete is really for you. It is easy to be pulled in by what you read, but only in experiencing it will you know if it is for you. Do more research and if you like what you find, we may be neighbors some day.

Good luck, happy hunting.

[Coyotes]

welcome to the forum, i really love dumaguete, but the advice b4 was good, it's cheap enough to rent a furnished apartment, while checking the place out.

it's a small town, that's growing, i can't say fast cos nothing goes fast here, which i sorta like, but can be a bit infuriating, when all ur trying to do is pay for ur shopping but u get used to that.

if u want a hectic town, here's not the place if u want a bustling small town, well there's always room for one more lol

best of luck whatever u decide to do.

oh an remember it's 220v here!!!!

[tagabukid]

Hi Kansas Tom,

I just joined the forum and your userid instantly caught my attention being a Missouri Tiger fan. I will surely put aside in this forum the border rivalry between the Mizzou Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawk. I worked in Dumaguete for a long time and moved here in Columbia, MO in 1992. Where are you in Kansas? Good luck in selling your property.

I look forward for your responses.

Dan (a.k.a tagabukid)

[Teacher]

Yeah I hate the cold too. But I am in Taiwan right now and it is cold and windy. wish I was back home in the Philippines right now. at any rate welcome to the forum in general it a very nice place.

[Kansas Tom]

Dan...Thanks for your response. I live way out in Western Kansas about 15 miles west of Dodge City. Not much of a football fan, but really enjoy Kansas Jayhawk basketball!

[tagabukid]

Tom,
Being the 2009 defending national champs is not bad. Although Bill Self would need to have a lot of rebuilding to do of the Jayhawk this year. Keep in touch.
Dan