New members of the Philippines forum, introduce yourselves here - 2024

@Lakeman23

Welcome to the forum Niel and enjoy.

Good idea thinking of retirement as you are going to do is explore and feel out the culture and people as well as the traffic, noise and pollution and bureaucracy. Don't just look at Cebu city, get out to the more rural areas and see what you like, other islands also as the Philippines is an acquired taste, love it or hate it comes with spending lots of time here to find out. It certainly has its foibles but most countries do. Good luck with your visit and hope you find what you search for.

Cheers, Steve.

@lakeman23

Welcome!  Hope you have a great time in Cebu.  It seems like everyone is more favorable to the northern/central islands.  I'm still looking for some expats in the Mati/Davao region, but perhaps I can travel up north once I get over to the Philippines permanently.

Definitely come and live for a minimum of 6 months.  Rent a place and do some traveling. I live part of the year outside of Cebu but go there often to shop.  If you like city life and need access to quality healthcare than Cebu is fine.  Lots of expats live there.  Plenty of traffic and noise ( city life) good selection of malls, shopping and restaurants.  More expensive than other smaller cities such as CDO, Dumaguete , Davao, but less expensive than Manila/ Makati.

@mugtech

Most agree the best time to come is October through February,

And then there was 3 years ago when the Christmas typhoon Odette raged through Cebu causing destruction and shutting everything down for 3 weeks. Typhoon season is all year in the Philippines; even right now, Dec 19 2024, we have a tropical depression stalled in the ITCZ around Southern Mindanao affecting the Visayas with rain.

We never let a little thing like typhoons impact our vacation schedules when we used to visit here.from the States.

         Lot less rain October through February, have seen Typhoons most months.

@danfinn

Typhoon Odette caused 3 million peso damage plus to my home in Argao!

Typhoon Odette caused 3 million peso damage plus to my home in Argao! - @Morgacj200424

        Good thing you had insurance.

@danfinn
Typhoon Odette caused 3 million peso damage plus to my home in Argao! - @Morgacj200424

Wow, Argao would have seen almost the worst of it because the eye went through Carcar. We were in Dumaguete/Valencia which was hit somewhat but not too bad. Our power was only out for 7 days.but restored quickly in downtown areas so it was sort of minor here. As you went North in Negros Oriental the damage to residents and commercial properties was visualy devastating when approaching Bias. That is where American scammer YouTubers released videos asking for paypal and patreon donations which they took and spent for themselves.