You know, over the past weekend, Feyma, myself and a group of friends journeyed up to Father Franco’s house in Buda for some fellowship and food (among other things like Father’s liqueur). John Grant and I were walking around, kind of roaming Father’s land and enjoying the countryside. It sure is peaceful up there! I noticed today that John wrote a column about the trip. Let me quote a piece of what John wrote:
He lives in a place that must as close to heaven as you can get, surrounded by mountains and a river and a cool breeze that makes you feel so relaxed and restful. No noise no traffic, just natures beauty.
It’s true. The place is so quiet, no honking horns, no traffic, no loud motorcycles without mufflers. It’s just peace and quiet there. As John said, the breeze comes through, and the temperature is not hot and oppressive, it’s actually comfortable! Indeed, it is heaven-like up there.
I can’t tell you how many times Feyma and I have gone up to Buda to visit Father Franco, and on the way home we seem to always start talking about buying a hectare of land and putting a house there. Sometimes we say that it would be a rest house where we would go for a week at a time a few times per year. Occasionally we think that it’s a place where we could live full time. Most often, though, the rest house idea is more in our minds.
The thing is, if you are realistic about such an idea, you have to be realistic. For example, Feyma loves cooking. Basically, to get to a proper grocery store you are talking about a drive of nearly 2 hours. Me, I can’t live without Internet (it’s my business after all), but the only way to get on the net would be via your cellular phone, and not reliably. I suppose that you could go to a higher expense and set up a satellite link, but that’s not too feasible, in my opinion. School for the kids? There are not any spectacular schools up there. If you were to live in an area like that, you would really have to commit yourself to living a very simple life. You’d have to make every effort to live off the land – planting the vegetables that you would use, etc. To some extent, this is what Father Franco does.
The key, in my mind, would be to finding a balance. Finding a place that is quieter than the City, more restful than the City, yet close enough so that you could still avail of the advantages that the City offers. Does such a place exist? I don’t know. Another option would be to locate in or near a smaller town. Up in the Buda area where Father lives, that could mean that you actually go into Bukidnon and locate in Valencia or Malaybalay. Or, in the Province, near to one of those Cities. For me, I would probably choose Valencia, it’s a little more to my liking than Malaybalay, although I like both places. Being up in the mountains you get the advantages of cooler weather up there, and in these places you can also enjoy the luxury of having a grocery store, and Internet (although from what I read it is not spectacular Internet service) in these areas.
These are just examples that I am giving. I don’t have plans to leave Davao City, I do love it here so much. But, when you take a little trip so close to Heaven, as John describes it, it’s hard not to have these thoughts cross your mind to some extent.
Does the balance exist? Or, is it all or nothing? What do you think?
Hi, Bob, I sure hope that balance exists there-somewhere. Its why keep reading everything I can find about the Philippines. I have yet to visit all the places I read and think about-one day soon. I think that Iloilo, Bohol and Cagayan De Oro fit the requirements. When I was in Davao Pales Verdes on the 1st through 18th holes felt very close to heaven-my version of heaven any way. Maybe that is the answer-our heaven is where we find it. I look forward to reading what others say about this topic. Especially the special places they have found to live. Thanks Bob for starting this thread-its where my interest is. Ron
Hi Ron LaFleur – I think that you are right, heaven is where we find it, and each of us find it in a different place. For example, when you mention Cagayan de Oro, I quiver a little bit, because I could never live there. No insults intended to those from CdO, but for me, I don't like the place. It is so tight, narrow roads, super high amounts of traffic. I have been there when it took me over 2 hours to go over the bridge on the main highway. To me, it's closer to hell, but for you it may be heaven. Ha ha… to each his own! I am really drawn to rural locations like Buda, yet I want amenities too like Davao has. You can't have both at the same time, though! 😆
My vote would be for Tagaytay just south of Manila.The views of the lake and crater are beautiful and in my opinion has perfect weather in the 60's/70's at night to the 80's during the day. Plenty of grocery stores and restaurants nearby and SM 20 minutes away. 7 golf courses in easy driving distance. Great Internet service. The beaches of Calatagan and Puerto Adventuraare about 30 minutes away. Only downside is on weekends the traffic becomes hellish otherwise it is heaven. If you have the money you could even consider moving into the highlands/midlands community. It is a secure/very private self contained Ayala community of houses and condominiums with country clubs, golf courses, health clubs, restaurants, etc…
Bob, I have never been to CGO either. I just read about it so often in favorable comments from other blogs. Your comments are the first that I have ever read that are not positive. Once again-its all about perspective. I hope one of your readers writes in and gives all of us (me especially) the answer. Ron
Hi Bob and to all of you, we can't get everything the same time. I enjoy living in Davao City (near some malls, post office, "all the things we need". I have my "several paradises", where to go from time to time. I enjoy Mindanao as well as Ilolio or Cagayan de Oro (hi Ron!). I also would go for Tagaytay (hi Corey!). Everyone of us has another paradise. For me and my family it is Davao City and its surroundings. It's nice to be in Buda i.e. and enjoy Father Franco's place. I could stay there even a couple of days as I used to do on Samal Island. But "my home is my castle", and that's in a quite and green part of Davao City.
Hi Bob, Does Father Franco have electricity at his house? If so you are set. A satellite Internet connection is not that expensive (last time I checked it was $1000 Canadian). I am retired now after 32 years working Canadian lighthouses. We had a small generator for power, collected rain water for drinking and washing. A monthly supply trip ro bring us mail and groceries. After 32 years doing that I think I could live anywhere. Your dream hill sounds wonderful!
Hi Bob-I think what you are really doing is revaluating you life similar to what you discussed about life always changing. In some respects due to being a little older than you what you described at Father Franco’s place is what Marilou and I seek in retirement in Talakag. We have the beauty of the mountains and a more temperate climate and like Father Franco we wish also to be to a greater extent self sufficient in things such as vegetables, eggs and chicken and we may even rear our own fish as my sister in law does in Bulacan. Like you say Bob life is about a balance we are only 20 minutes away from the nearest SM mall if we require to restock or just plain want a change for the day. With the new bridges being built over the river in C de O getting to the beach is easier as you do not have to drive through the city from Talakag as you described. I agree with you C de O is a different place from what I first found in the early 80’s but as you enjoy Davao I’m sure those living in C de O enjoy it also as they are familiar with its layout and know all the short cuts or “Rabbit Runs” as we call them in the UK. Back to the issue life is about balance and I think as you get older and the children are less dependent on you your idea of buying a small piece of land adjacent to Father Franco may just be the answer to finding that balance. By doing that you also would have the best of both worlds i.e. city life during the week and country life at weekends and holidays and a bus load of visitors from Davao every time you are in residence. So when you get round to making that decision don’t broadcast your address otherwise your peace will be shattered for ever more.
Hi Bob- I almost forgot to add with the arrival of your visitors Father Franco's drinks cabinet will also take a battering now that people have read John G's mail.
Hi Corey – I've heard good things about Tagaytay. Just curious, why didn't you choose to settle there? As I recall, you plan to settle in the Davao area, right?
Hi Ron LaFleur – Yeah, I agree, we all have different desires and feelings. I have been to CdO many many times. I will say that I enjoy visiting there, but I just could not live there.
Hi Klaus – I'm with you, Davao is my home. I get little thoughts about other places from time to time, but they are all actually close to Davao.
Hi John – Yes, Father Franco has electricity. However, the last time I looked satellite internet here was about $2,000 to purchase the equipment, then it was over $1,500 per month to maintain the connection. And, it wasn't even that good, from what I was told. If you have different information, I'd be happy to listen.
Hi Jim – I do think that your place in Talakag is a special area. Close enough to CdO, yet still really out in the province! When we went there, though, Feyma worried about the security. I don't really consider that a problem, though. Regarding Father's cabinet (he calls it his treasure chest) – You are right there! 😆
There is only one RIGHT balance!!!
Be there when it is warm, when it is cold here, and be here when it is hot there and comfortable here.
This morning as I was sitting in my deer stand it was 3Degrees F above 0,F. Now if you do not know what cold is try dong that for 4 hours. That is when the RP looks GGGGGGGGOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the summer we average about 78F with coll nights. Right whee I want to be.. YYYYYEEEEEHHHHHHAAAAAAA 😆
Hi Wayne – Nice to see you back! It's been a while since we've seen your name here! Haha… it sounds like you were a little chilly this morning! I was sitting outside enjoying a mango shake in the sunshine! Now, that is what I call balance!
How appropriate. Mita and I just came back from a day in Zambales … in a little town where she spent her high school years. Mita and all her siblings all have small property holding there and among other things we went to collect the yearly land rent … the property is manged by caretakers … sharecroppers, really, who live nearby and farm the land as if it were theres and give the landowner a hsare of each years' harvest. It's not a scheme that will make anyone rich .. although our share pays the taxes (about 550 pesos per year per hectare) and more. One of the things we discussed for Mita's personal pices is the economics of having the land leveled and tilled via bulldozer to increase the yield … it's irrigated but much of it is sloped wrong so that the irrigation water won't flow where it's needed. We'll go back agin before the month is out and make a decison based on the current prices the caretaker was asked to get.
We're pretty sure that next year we'll out a small house on a corner of the property … initially to be a "rest house" where we'll exapce for a few days at a time, possibly as a future full-time home but that part is uncertain. There's a new expressway nearing completion that will connect the exisiting NLEX with the Subic Bay Metro area (the former US Navy base) which is a very busy and fast-growing area about an hour's drive from our propsed "country home". Our property is less thna a 20 minute drive from the sea coast as well … we both miss the ocean and the cheap sea food in the palenkge. The new road will knock more than an hour off the current three hour drive.
Internet is one of the negative issues about moving that far out, although we'll be within 2 km of a cell site so wireless DSL like we have now is certainly possible. having provided various types of satellite voice and data service for years I wouldn't depend on getting satellite Internet … the companies involved, especially here in Asia are very pricey and the way most interactive services … like using secure shopping sites … are technically configured it just doesn't work reliably (too much delay both going and coming).
I would have to say, though, that Corey is the smartest of us all. The Tagaytay area is indeed one of the absolute best areas to settle … it's close enough to the city, yet remote and peaceful, has tremendous property values and just about everything I can think of going for it. It's very possible that Mita and I will wind up building/buying a permanent home there … but today it is too far from family and outside our current price comfort range. It may be we'll never invest that amount of money in any Philippine property … But Tagaytay is certainly a lovely place indeed …. ever so much better to me that living out at the "ends of the earth" like Davao or Baugio (sorry Bob ;-))
Hi Dave Starr – Davao the end of the earth? Those are fighting words! Davao regularly ranks in the top 5 of the most livable cities in Asia in some magazine (I forget which one). That might make Manila the end of the earth! 😉
Your information about Zambales is quite interesting.
Hi Bob – out of curiosity, can you give me an estimate of the population of Davao.
Hi Anthony – About 2 million.
Hi Bob & All,
Howdy! Could not resist on this one. FYI, here is a link to Davao City's website listing its awards. Asiaweek was the magazine who did the survey, Bob.
http://www.davaocity.gov.ph/about/awards.htm
I know Tagaytay and appreciate its beauty, know people who've chosen to live there. I don't think it can compare to Davao, though. Personally, I think people who've never been to Mindanao (Filipinos included) are afraid to go to this "mysterious, dangerous island". If I wanted to be "close to the city" I'd rather stay in New York than in Tagaytay.
Bob, don't let our secret about Davao out! 😡 I don't want it to turn into an overcrowded, polluted city like Manila, unfortunately, has. 😉
Till next mail, take care everyone and enjoy the Philippines, whichever part of paradise you decide is best for you. 😀
Hi Tina – Wow! You're still alive? I've been thinking about you and hoping that all was well.
Personally, I haven't been to Tagaytay, but I have heard good things about it. Since you have been there, you can make a better call on a Tagaytay vs. Davao match! I do know that I love Davao, and couldn't even think of moving away at this point!
Nice to see you back, I hope we'll see more of you!
Hi Bob & All:
A mango shake? Is that where you act like a mango and shake all around? In the Sunshine AAAA.
Personally I rather be gathering food for the up coming year. Even if it is cold.
However we are looking forward to our three week vacation in Feb/March.
Hi Wayne – You're just jealous about that mango shake I had in the sunshine! 😆
Haa haa Bob, i was a technical instrauctor for the USAF for some years and in instructor school they always taught us to have an "attention step"' in the lesson plan to make sure the students were awake … you passed LoL.
Seriously we'll visit Davao somethime soon and I can clearly see why it might be a good choice … but OMG if you asked a Filipino on the street here in Luzon … I'm talking about well-paid, eductaed and traveled folk, not my labaundera, they would make some reference along the ends of the earth line about Davao also.
What many foreigners don't know before they come here is how little "nation-thought" there is among Filipinos … I think we've spoken of it before. Someone born and raised in say, Luzon thuinks of Mindanao in much the same terms as they think of a forign country … in fact, Filipinos are most likely to think of themseleves as from a particular province more thna anything else.
This has reminded me that I need to make some time to sit down with my father-in-law. he worked for the Central Bank for many years, traveling the country inspecting banks and is one of the few Filipinos I know who has at least visited every province in the Philippines. It would be interesting to get his thoughts on where he would live.
One other old Air Force thought comes through whenever we start talking about places being better than others … in the USAF there were only two good places, ever, to be stationed … the one you just left and the one you were going to 😉
Hi Dave Starr – I figured that you were just trying to get my dander up! 😀
Hi Bob,
Just trying to stay out of trouble. I'm sure you know what I mean! 😆
Please say hello to Feyma, Fr. Franco and the rest of the LiP and Mindanao bloggers.
Stay well, take care and enjoy the holidays!!! 😀
Hi Tina – Stop by more often! I am sure that most of us will be gentle!
Merry Christmas to you! 🙂
I'm hoping to make the giant leap to Phil later this year. I was there in November on my fourth visit, and I'm returning for a month next week.
I need to balance the desire to be somewhere "off the map" ans somewhere with workable internet access !
I currently have a 1.5Mb/s access in Cairns, Australia. I heard the cellphone access in Phil is around 256kb/s ? 🙁
I'd be interested in hearing of more people's experiences, and options on this (though I haven't finished reading all the posts yet !)
Cheers, Geoff
Hi Geoff Holland – In the bigger cities (like here in Davao) you can get a decent connection. My account is 3Mbps, although it usually doesn't achieve those speeds. It is still adequate, though. 256K on a cellphone? In the areas where you have mentioned to me, there is no way you will get that speed. 🙁
hi Bob Phil here…. I have a little place outside of talasay east of gingoog city , but to close to the main highway, and barking dogs.. other wise a very nice place 10 yards from the bay waters .. 😆 we had talked about going to davao my wife has relatives the too …some day we will get there
Hi Phil – I am not familiar with talasay. There is Talisay, but that is WEST of Gingoog City, do you mean Talisay? I have been to Talisay, and it's a beautiful place.
Good Evening Everyone:
Personally I believe that the place of balance depends on each individuals and their individual needs. What is balance for one will never be for another. I for one find nature to be an important part of balance in my life. While others need what is to them a more exciting environment. Night life, fast pace, urban excitement. I would still prefer to live on my own island than in a town. JMHO. 😉