Davao

[Jim]

I just got back from ten days in Manila and Davao. We spend the first three days and the last day in Manila mainly to facilitate a dental implant. The procedure cost $280 rather than $1900 in the US and the dentist was excellent. I personally find the medical and dental work in both Costa Rica and the Philippines far superior to the US because practitioners don’t have to run their practices like businesses to repay six figure student loans. They can concentrate on personal quality care.

One of the things I am looking for is a place with a great view to buy a lot and build a home. I plan to live in a place at least a year before I would build and settle permanently. I like Davao which is in Mindinao, the southernmost (and second largest) island. It has a reputation for being unsafe which keeps most foreigners away and, to me, is a gigantic advantage. The mayor of Davao is ruthless and petty criminals and miscreants have been known to disappear. This doesn’t seem very fair but it makes for a VERY safe city.

This is my fourth time with Divina. We’ve been together seven months of which about seven weeks we’ve actually been together. She’s just a very sweet person who wears well. We went to movies, toured museums, looked at houses and raw land; we went white water rafting, played pool and just hung out together.

We’re going to apply for a student visa for her. This is another advantage of her age. If she comes here on a student visa, there is no marriage or engagement requirement. She just gets to study and I have to pay for her to attend school. Lots less complicated that a K1 or K3 visa.

One of the continuing phenomenon I experience in the Phils is being started at. I did notice that quite a few men look at Divina because she has a facee that most men will notice. The incredible thing is the number of women who smile at me and openly flirt even though I am with Divina.

Clearly Filipinas and Colombianas have a lot more in common with each other than they do with AW. In the US, women have economic options which foster their independence and there is a dearth of opportunities for both men and women. There are a lot of the same pitfalls with a relationship for gringos…some women are gold diggers, some are dishonest or deceitful. I am aware of a ton of successful relationships between foreigners and fililipinas but the majority of them are in the Phils. It’s a long trip but I’ve made it four times and am looking forward to going back in Demember.

[Jim]

I meant to say there is a dearth of opportunities for both men and women IN THE THIRD WORLD.

Originally posted by jim:
I like Davao which is in Mindinao, the southernmost (and second largest) island. It has a reputation for being unsafe which keeps most foreigners away and, to me, is a gigantic advantage.

The incredible thing is the number of women who smile at me and openly flirt even though I am with Divina.

Hi Jim,

Glad your back in one peice. About this island you mentioned being "unsafe". Why? In what way, earthquakes, crime, what?

About the open flirting, I am seeing the same thing here in Medellin where the women are supposed to be "reserved". Gladys with me or not, if they are interested, they find a way to let you know.

Jim, as always, your posts reflect your highly valuable GringoTalk Hall of Famer status. Bottom line, when you "speak", I listen.

[Micky10]

GA,

The "unsafe" is basically Muslim rebels in the Zamboanga peninsula, in western Mindinao. Been going on for years.

Love-Micky
I know I am not Jim, but I need the post count, I'm trying to catch you!

[Micky10]

Jim,

Did you end up going to Dumaguete? As far as you know, what are the best beach areas to live.
Not "Gringo" compounds, and relatively close to infrastructor? Thanks.

Love-Micky

[El Capitan]

Thanks for the update Jim! It sounds as if it was another successful trip.

[Jim]

Micky,

Indeem the "unsafe" refers to the muslim rebels in Zamboanga. There is a state department official warning but it is without merit. The US govt would like to frame this as part of a worldwide Al Quida jihada to destroy the US but it isn't about the US. It's a perpetual civil war in a small region and their targets are exclusively the Philippine government and their agents.

I went to Dumaguete in July and will return in December. Davao and Dumaguete are my two top home destinations so far.

I don't know much about great beaches. Boracuay is considered the #1 vacation resort. I'd like to live close enough to the ocean to have a great view of it from my patio but I'm not looking to live on a beach.

My goals are places than are not inundated with foreigners (gringos are not the majority of foreigners here...there are aussies, brits and people from all over). I also want to be close enough to shopping and able to travel. There are probably ten places in the Phils which fit this description. The is our of 7,000 islands, 1,000 of which are inhabited.

Also, I want to avoid islands inhabited by canibals.