Where to Live?

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The first priority is deciding where to live. Thart decision depends entirely on what type of life you intend to live, and what you intend to do. I met my partner when I was in Australia, and I've had alot of support from her family. eg. meals, transport, washing, visa assistance, holidays away. Some of these things I have done myself, but actually I've never used a local laundry, but I am guessing no problem. Just make sure you get back what you give.

The most important issue is getting access to the services you need:
1. Trustworth food and a variety of menus - no food poisoning and food that doesnt look at you. eg. Metro Manila, large malls, tourist areas like Subic, Boracay.
2. Places to go out drinking - nice, air conditioned places with cold beer. These can be found in any large city, or where foreign & local tourists go.
3. Shopping malls - preferably a large one because the smaller ones are boring since they have the same old franchise choice all around the country, eg. SM Fairview, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Manila & Galleria.

There are other criteria as well:
4. Cool climate - Manila and surrounding lowlands are a little hot. I prefer Lipa City (Batangas), Tagaytay (Cavite) and Baguio. I also like Nueva Eclija, but there is a lack of services here. No big city, but give it another 10 years and it will be good.
5. Clean Air - Manila is really polluted so many foreigners prefer places like Alabang, as its upmarket but close to Manila. I'm at Lipa City, which is 40km from there, but cooler.
6. Nice ambience - Probably the hardest aspect in the Philippines is finding a comfortable ambience because of the pollution, noise and poor infrastructure maintenance. For this reason it makes alot of sense to stay in or buy a resort-style residential condo. More on this issue later.
7. Things to do - I am keen on the outdoors so I want a place where I can get outdoors. This part is proving elusive.
8. Good Beaches - The best beaches I have seen are likely to be on the Pacific Coast because they will be cleaner. Alot of rubbish washes up on the west coast (from Philippines & China), and no one cleans it up. There are good beaches in Zambales & Pangasinan. Boracay is regarded as the best beach, but my favourite was near Sagnay in Albay, but this is a very poor, isolated area, so dangerous for tourists I'm guessing.

I think the big question is - rural or city? I think the answer depends on your local support and your lifestyle. Ideally I'd probably live in Naga City, but I would not live there alone. For people will no support I would live in the city until I found a support base, and travel out from there. I have visited many places by bus. Just get buses to major cities and travel our from there. Once you are in the countryside its easy to get a sense of where jeepneys go.