Live in the Philippines

Live in the Philippines helps expats with visas, moving and other services regarding the Philippines.

A Reader Question

Davao City / by

On one of the posts on my Mindanao Blog, a reader left a comment with a question for me. Here is what he said:

Hi Bob. I know you have been all around Mindanao so i ask you this. Of all the places you have been what would you say has the best combination of safest place, friendliest people , nicest scenery and best weather ( least amount of rain) I hope there is such a place ha ha ha. I would like to buy a piece of land and retire there someday. Thanks

And, here is the response that I gave for him:

There is no question in my mind on this – I don’t believe that anyplace can even come close to Davao City for the things that you are looking for. That’s why I choose to live here!

Davao is very safe – in my opinion it is the safest City in the Philippines.

The people of Davao are very friendly (but Filipinos in general are very friendly, not just in Davao).

Davao City is close to the Islands and the Highlands! In a single day you can visit the beach resorts of Samal and the Mountains of Bukidnon. Not many places can provide such a variety of scenery.

It does rain regularly in Davao City, but 90% of the rain comes at night. The rain keeps the vegetation here lush and beautiful, yet since it mainly rains at night, that doesn’t interfere with your plans during the day.

Good luck!

Of course, everybody has their own favorite spot to settle down, but I choose Davao. The reasons are partly outlined above, but you can find it in more detail here.

How about you? Where is your special spot in the Philippines? Why?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. St. Mary's Church in Catitipan has a chapel on a hill. It's something like 100 steps to get to it and it's supposed to be a sacrifice. From up there it feels like you're in the jungle but it's much cooler than the city and you have a wonderful panaramic view eastwards of all Davao and on a good day even as far as Samal. The house that I'm going to be renting in El Rio has a nice view of the province from the bedroom balcony and I swear it was 3deg cooler there than at my current place in Lanang.

  3. Dumaguete definetely describes what you are referring too.
    1. Small town yet has 5 hospitals and 5 Universities so lots of young people around.
    2. An expat population of over 4,000 from representing numerous countries mostly: America, Canada, European Union.
    3. Great beaches: Dauin to the south (20 minutes)
    4. Beautiful views of the islands of Cebu and Siquihor and even Mindanao on a clear day. All this from the scenic Rizal Avene or otherwise known as the boulevard in the center of town AS WELLl as from the mountain area of Valencia (20 minutes)
    5. Cool tempertures in the mountain area of Valencia. Home to many expats.
    6. Some of the best diving in all the Philippines. Dauin and APO Island
    7. Older expats involved in relationships with substancially younger women. Many 30 – 40 year age spreads. Not as common in other Philippine communities. If this is your perogative.

    There are many other things. go to dumagueteinfo.com

    Nevertheless, I will be moving to Davao this March. Reasons being that I am having a baby girls this March and my wife is Davaoa,. her family is there so I think this will be better for her. We have a fantastic property on Samal Island on which to build our dream house. There are Better golf courses in Davao. And Davao is actually less expensive than dumaguete. There is more but you can see for yourself when you come as they both deserve a look see.

  4. Hi Brian – Bohol sounds wonderful, and I am planning to visit there in the not too distant future. My father in law was Boholano.

    Hi Louis – Thanks for the tip on that Church. Maybe I'll have to go up there and have a look. It sounds like a nice place to shoot some photos.

    Hi Corey – I have a friend in Iligan (expat) who loves Dumaguete too. Maybe I'll try to visit there someday. Let me know when you are in Davao!

  5. It's the same place I got married Bob, but that was the main church, up the hill is the chapel. There's a dirt road that takes you up there so you can skip walking the steps lol.

  6. Hi Bob and to all of you. I agree with you, Bob. That's why without question I choose Davao City as "last place in my life". If I would a build up a second house, I do it on Samal Island. It's many times my "hidden paradise"…

  7. Hi Louis – Oh, OK… now I don't have to search for the place! 🙂

    Hi Klaus – As you know, we intend to build on Samal… why don't you join us!

  8. Hi Bob- My reply to the question would be, there is no place like home and home is where you make it. Each and every one of us has our own priorities and personal desires and you would never satisfy all of the people all of the time only some of the people some of the time.

  9. To Klaus and Bob. Let's stop blowing collective smoke about Samal and if you are so inclined, seriously think about our building there and using our levarage with a builder for all our mutual econonmic benefit. Since I don't know anyone there in Davao for building perhaps someone can do some homework on this. Sorry that it can't be me at this point in time. BTW, with or without, I plan on starting building around May. Better if we can get together before then and make a good case for discount with a builder. Hey Bob, With all this money you must be making with all these e-commerce websites you must be close to building that mansion on Samal as well. Just having fun with you. Would be great if we can make this work.

  10. Hi Corey – Frankly, I find your comment offensive. I am not "blowing smoke" as you say. I think that you are just joking around, but the words themselves come across in an offensive way, sorry to say.

  12. Hi Corey – Thank you, I accept that. Where I come from when you say somebody is "blowing smoke" it means that they are telling lies or they are full of crap. Perhaps in your neck of the woods the meaning is different.

    Enough said… I think we just misunderstood each other.

  13. Speaking of safe places, I've noticed a strange coincidence while reading the newspapers. Be it the shooting of this person or the tossing of hand grenades at that person's house, it seems the alleged killers are almost always described as, "two men on a motorcycle."

    Perhaps personal safety boils down to staying away from motorcycles having two male occupants. 😛

    Yes, this is "tongue-in-cheek" and facetiously presented here, but the point is: be aware of your surroundings and happenings around you. Trouble or danger can come out of anywhere, be it on two wheels or on two legs (robbers jumping into your jeepney or a simple pick-pocket at the Mall). A little common sense and preparation can keep similar problems away. Back in my service days, bad things always happened to guys who'd walk around as if they had $20 bills hanging out of their pockets (advertised that they had "easily available" money by the way they acted)! Those who "acted normal" never had any problems.

    Of course, the newspapers do not report many of the millions of safe and trouble-free incidents that occur daily in the Phils. (Those don't sell papers!) Remember that fact if you start to worry about relative safety in the Phils. 😉

  15. Hi Bob –

    Those "two guys" certainly get around the islands.

    If DDS, then I guess I should add another safety tip: Stay away from illegal drugs, pushers, and places where these things exist (especially if there's motorcycle traffic around!).