Live in the Philippines

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Overview of Iligan City

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Once again, today we will look at another City where expats might want to consider settling down! Today’s Overview is of Iligan City, and I was helped out by my friend, Marc de Piolenc. Marc is a dual French/US Citizen, and I’ve known him since the early ’90s online, and in person for nearly 10 years now too! I consider Marc a good friend, and I appreciate his willingness to answer my survey.

Marc tells us that he has been living in Iligan for Nine years already! Heck, he’s already practically a founder of the city, having been there that long!

When it comes to housing, Marc says that price depends on your needs, of course, but you can readily find a place to rent for P5,000 to P10,000. Marc says that he is currently paying P6,000 for his place. I’ve visited Marc’s house a number of times, and I can tell you that it is quite livable and very nice! I feel that P6,000 is quite a bargain for the house that he is living in! To give you an idea, Marc’s home is a 1 1/2 storey detached house in a great neighborhood near to a good local university and also close to the National Highway.

As for amenities in town that foreigner might be looking for, Marc says the following:

A new Gaisano mall is under construction to replace the aging department store near the port area. There are gyms, but I’m not a user so can’t comment. No public swimming pools in town, but Timoga springs with multiple pools is a few km outside of town on the Lanao side; likewise Maze Park. On the other side, the corporate rec area of Holcim Cement is accessible for a modest fee. There are four cinemas and many restaurants, ranging from hole-in-the wall eateries to restaurants I would not hesitate to take foreign visitors to.

Marc says that the cost of living in Iligan is “Cheap” with a lechon manok going for P140.

As far as transportation in Iligan, Marc says that the highways are very good, with local roads ranging from good to not so good. Jeepneys, Tricycles and Taxis are all readily available around town. Taxis are even radio dispatched, and will pick you up if you give the dispatcher a call! Unfortunately, while Iligan has an airport, it currently has no commercial flights. Generally, people in Iligan would depend on the Cagayan de Oro Airport, about an hour and a half away.
Marc also says that dealing with Government offices in Iligan is getting better all the time. He says that while there are some hassles, they are really improving compared to previous years.

Marc says that there are not too many foreigners living in Iligan, maybe a maximum of 100 or so in the entire city. He says that it would be rare to find more than 20 of them in a single place, though. Many of these foreigners are missionaries working with the local people in the area.

Iligan gets about 40 inches of rain per year, with peak rainfall in November. Minimum rainfall is in April.  Summers are hot and humid, and mostly dry. Tap water varies in quality, and Marc recommends drinking only bottled water, which is delivered to the house at a reasonable price. Electricity in Iligan is cheap, due to the vast amounts of hydro power being used in the area. Electricity rates are only about P5 per kilowatt hour. Power interruptions are frequent, though – Marc reports that they average about two brownouts per week.

For entertainment, Marc says that good beaches can be found very close to Iligan – around 10 Kilometers in either direction of the city. Cable TV is also available in town, as is broadband internet.

Marc reports that some imported items (like Wine!) are available in Iligan, but for better shopping you should plan to go to Cagayan de Oro, about 80km away.

Marc feel that most people in Iligan are quite friendly, although there are a few neighborhoods that he would not visit alone at night – although those are small and few.

By the way, one thing that Marc didn’t mention, but I thought that I would add is that Iligan is the “City of Waterfalls” with lots of great waterfalls. If you love waterfalls, you will certainly love Iligan City!

Thanks again, Marc for sharing your experiences in Iligan!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bob,

    I lived in Iligan for a year, and had been to Ma. Chrsitina falls once, it was a very interesting experience. My brother still lives there. I think it's cooler (not as hot) than Gensan. I like their City Hall location too, it's up in the hill, overlooking the city. The biggest university in town, MSU-IIT (Iligan Institute of Tech.), is actually one of the top 20 schools in the Phils., at least according to survey.

  2. I wanted to mention, Bob, that every time you post one of these, I have this obsession to go over to Wikipedia to read further about that particular city. I am most certainly enjoying this series of posts.

  3. P.S. I would be more than a little curious to read one of these about one of the old U.S. military areas – either Angeles or Subic Bay – to see what it is like in those areas now for expats.

  4. Hi Bob, I am really enjoying your tours of cities in the Philippines. I have only visited a few parts of the Philippines and your reports are generating interest to visit more and more places. I do have one request – could you be a bit more specific with the name of the city for us "foreigners" i.e. at least tell which island the city is on, please. I finally found Iligan by using Google Earth. Great website!

  5. Hoi Bob and other readers. 20 years i am married to an iligan girl , and visit there about 7 times during holiday's [ 4 or 5 weeks ]
    I remember the first time , people stare at me , because not many tourist came there.Only some Russian and East German workers in the
    7 electric plants there. We stayed in my family small house , buy food
    at the market.
    Later with our children we rent a house [ $ 100 for a month.]
    Still making my own food.
    % months ago we stayed in Rene pension house and diner.
    It's near the Town , 10 minutes walk to Jollybee , Chow King and Gaisano.
    Price a night 700 peso , hot water , TV and fridge.Very good
    [ room ]service , cleaning every day .
    TfFirst years we allway,s go to Timoga Pools. In the beginning it's only me and my family on weekday's. Paying 5 peso entrance.
    But by the years it get crowder and last time it was 50 peso and 100 for the table. Outside there are Lechonsailers and grilled fish. Allso nice to see. Maze park is okay with olympic size swimming pool , 25 peso ,
    but you must have your own transportation.And the food was bad that time.
    Then you have Bucana [ family ] beach , it,s between the city and Timoga. you can get there by public transportation and in the years ,
    the owner get's my friend . We make our ownn food in his house kitchen.
    And yess, the governement has allso improved over the years.
    Allso the hospital , there are 3 now , i had a treatment in Mindanao State hospital , it was free , only pay your medecin.
    Allso , first years cannot use your pincard or creditcard in iligan, but now we pin our money at Quitable bank [ PNB is still not possible ]
    Jes , when i retired we go to live in Iligan.
    HappyNew Year to all of you readers. Anton

  6. Hi Lea – Yeah, I've been up to the City Hall area in Iligan, it's a beautiful area, with a great view site!

    Hi Tom – Glad you are enjoying the series. I will keep posting them, as long as I can find sources of the info! Right now I don't have any sources in Subic or Clark.

    Hi John in Austria – Sure… you already found Iligan, but for the benefit of others, Iligan is in Northwestern Mindanao.

    Hi Anton – Thanks for sharing more about Iligan and it's growth over the years. Sounds like you really love the place!

  7. So just where has Marc De Piolenc disapeared to? E-mails, letters, and phone have been bouncing for the last several months.
    PLEASE CONTACT ME. REX, San Diego, CA

  8. I will be visiting Iligan City from 03/21/08 until 04/05/08, and am looking for a 2 bedroom home to rent during this visit…on the water if possible…deeply appreciate any help/info that can be provided.
    Thanks,
    Randy

  9. Hi Randy – Finding a rental for two weeks or so will be close to impossible. You might find one, but if you do it will surprise me. Here in the Philippines, in almost all cases, a house rental will be for a minimum period of one year. Even for a specialty property like a beach house, which is commonly found for a week to week rental in the States, they just don't generally do that here.

  10. Hi Bob,

    This is Melody from Iligan City. I was only checking info on the new Gaisano Mall and found your cool website. Marc and Sharon are my personal friends too, very nice people! I must have seen you around Iligan because your face looked familiar.

    Anyways, a friend of mine told me once that their family owned 2 bedroom beach house in Dalipuga is up for rent on a short term basis. I will be happy to provide contact details. Let me know.

    All the best,
    Melody

  11. Hi Melody – Welcome to my site! You may have seen me in Iligan before, because I do go there often to visit friends (including Marc and Sharon).

    Thank you for visiting, and if I have a need for the contact details on the rental, I'll be in touch!

  12. Love to go visit What are good and safe accommodations to stay in Iligan city and what are the rates per day? Whats there to do in town in terms of restaurants and nightlife?

    THanks 😆

  13. Hi Steve – I have three different places I recommend to stay in Iligan. For a budget place, try Famous Pension House, it's around P400 per night. For mid-range, try Corporate Inn at around P1,300 per night. The nicest place in town is Cheradel Suites, which is about P2,500 per night last time I was there. If you are looking for nightlife and good restaurants, Iligan is probably not the place for you, it is a relatively small town. There are some good eats there, but not fancy. There is little nightlife in the area, though.

  14. 😀
    Hi Bob, Melody,
    Thank you very much for the information. If I cannot find a 2 bedroom home for the short period of time, I will stay at the Cheradel Suites. Iligan City will be near the family I am visiting. Looking forward to seeing the waterfalls, and visiting St. Pauls underground river during my trip.
    Apprecaiate your time,
    Thanks,
    Randy

  15. Hi Bob, whew its my birth town wow thats where i grow up. im married now to a fantastic guy in Oregon and im in oregon right now reading your blog makes me proud. my husband would be so happy to read this.. his been there and he loves it so much. Where in iligan marc and sharon lives? maybe we can visit them on our trip back home this september need to attend the Sr.San Miguel Fiesta… thank you

  16. Hi Ces – Thanks for stopping by! I am from Washington, near the Oregon border! I don't want to give out Marc and Sharon's address over the net, I hope you understand.

  21. Hi Bob , about lodging in iligan , last July i stayed with my family[ 5 p. ] for 5 weeks.
    I looked at the famous pension house too[ have no hot water ], but decided to stay in Rene's diner and pensionhouse at Roxas boulevard [ allso named highway ] only 5 minutes walk to city proper.
    rooms exelent with hot shower , refridgerator and TV.
    Discount for long stay.
    we had 2 rooms for 1200 peso a day.
    And for me being a chef , the food was allso good , allso staff ,
    opposite the hotel there is a bakery [ fresh bread every morning ]
    refill of bottled water and small sari-sari store.
    Next door the barber , 40 peso for haircut and shave.
    Next time i will go back there.
    Anton

  23. Thanks Anton! I appreciate your information on Rene's Diner and pensionhouse. Thanks again!
    Randy

  24. hello bob..thank you so much for the admiration to my beloved Iligan City. Im so happy reading your sites..yeh it's true Iligan is nice. The people are very hospitable and have less crime rates. Hope to see u there. i live in pala-o.

  26. hi bob , joey here again….love your blog on iligan city hope to meet you and other foreigners and Mr. marc in iligan city in june 2008. i also wish to rent home in iligan long term and would be thankfull to all information from you or other in iligan city.i am not by any means am rich american but i have am passive income to live on there and am also interested in maybe am small venture in iligan city.i am so happy for the many pictures and blog i have found already. i am now am addict to your site each day.i welcome all infornation on iligan bye now bob your am asset to the philippine people…joey

  28. WoW Bob .. I've been to illigan city stayed at Rene’s diner and pensionhouse ,been to maria christina falls ,we walked up to the falls about a mile walk and since it was the two of us ,my wife an me we had a guard escort us around the power station and explane the operation history of the power station and the falls it was very interesting . then we went to timoga springs . It was fun and i had a very good time ..Phil R.

  29. Hi Phil R. – I've been to all of those places myself, except for a tour of the power plant! It's quite nice. I particularly enjoy all the waterfalls/springs in Iligan. It is, after all, the City of Waterfalls! 😆

  30. hi there!
    it's good that you like our city. for now, iligan city has been on the process of redeveloping itself from the midst of the 1997 asian financial crisis which resulted to the closure of the former National Steel Corporation. I hope u can see Iligan City's developments on Skyscrapercity becoz there are pics that are posted there.

    If you like cool water springs, the National Power Corporation at Ditucalan is currently developing some areas for cold spring and eco-tourism where a zoo is going to be put up. Perhaps in two years it will be finish but they have started it already. I hope when you come to visit Iligan, you will be able to see the eco-tourist spot that the National Power Corporation is currently developing.

  31. Hi tonzi – a lot of the pics on skyscrapercity were actually lifted from my website, so I know what they look like! 😆

    Seriously – I like Iligan, it's a nice place with nice people too!

  32. hey!!
    gud day!!
    my aunt asking where in Iligan can stay or recommend a nice place to stay with a cheaper price.they planning to go in Iligan. 😆

  34. Hi Bob,

    I was researching for a speech in my communication class and I came upon your site. Yes, the speech is about Iligan City, my hometown.

    Reading your post made me really proud to be someone coming from Iligan City. I am now studying college in Quezon City, Manila and I 'm taking summer classes. I can't tell you how happy it makes me feel to know that someone, a foreigner at that, likes our humble city. Just really makes me miss Iligan more.

    I'll be going back to Iligan May21 for a short vacation before the first semester starts. I'm so excited to be back home. Nothing really does beat home.

    Thanks, by the way, for the nice things you said about our city. Hope to see you around! 🙂

  35. Hi Dean – I just got home last night from another great visit to Iligan City. I always enjoy my times there!

  36. Great blog archive Bob. Can u give any info on purchasing property ie. condo,, house, etc. in Iligan area. is realestate expensive there? Any info or contact info would be great.
    Thanks,
    Bill Watkins
    Florida, USA

  37. Hi Bill Watkins – In my experience, real estate tends to be on the high side here, although you can certainly find bargains too. I don't know your situation, so I don't know if you can buy real estate here or not. You personally could not buy real estate if you are not a Filipino citizen, since foreigners are banned from owning real estate. If you are married to a Filipina, she could own the real estate, though.

  38. Hi there, was surfing to look for a place to stay in Iligan. Would you happen to have the contact numbers/emails of the hotels you mentioned in comment#13?

    Thanks in advance!

  40. Hi Teresa it is difficult to make arrangements on the phone ,
    and the most have no mail-adres.
    But if you look on google or webside iligan city ,
    you will find some post adress and you can write to them.
    for me , i recommend René,s diner and pensionhouse , they have
    room from 600 peso. incl. hot shower , TV , fridge.
    You can mail the owner : [email protected] .
    if you stay longer , ask for discount.

  41. Hi everyone im an Australian living in Iligan and absolutely loving it. Is there any expats also living here that want to catch up?? If so drop us an email [email protected]. I also have a couple rooms available for rent for those ppl who want a homestay instead of a hotel

  42. im afraid thers somehting weird with the gaisano mall iligan location it is between a funeral parlor and a cemetery this mall maybe intended for the mall tos not the living people why cant they look for another location

  43. Hi romel – yes, I'm aware that the new Gaisano Mall is in an area like that, next to a cemetery. Maybe the mall will bring a life to the neighborhood!

    • hi Bob,

      i am happy for your nice post. i am from marawi city next to iligan… the Tinago falls is also best one. would you ever been there in that palce? we have also in hiden falls in my province. the name is Tinago Falls. this falls is located at Municipality of Balindong. it will take 1hrs along to the said falls.

  44. hi bob, my son has just moved to illigan city from ireland as his wife comes from there, and he loves it. He feels strange though when people stare at him! It was so good to discover your website, and to read about illigan city. I feel I know a bit about it already, although I have never been there. I hope to visit my son, his wife and my two little grandaughters later this year. Can't wait, as I miss them so much.

  45. Hi carol – I also am glad that you found my site! I am sure that your son will do just fine in Iligan, it's a nice little City, a place that I always enjoy visiting myself!

  46. Hello Bob,

    Im from Iligan (Linamon), im glad to see you site. im here in the US now and i do missed Iligan so much.. planning to go next year summer. My husband loves timoga and taytay.

  49. hi bob how are you this days 😆
    i like to know about the safety situation in iligan i looking in the news daily about the peace agreement with the milf
    as u know i have there many times and all stay in Cheradel Suites but the way if it possible give my regards to Jojo and ll the wonderful staff there i love iligan very much but my friends are telling not to come 4 now please let me know
    respectfully yours
    DR.Armand kadosh

  51. hi bob , well i don't know if i told you or not,but i went to a neurosurgeon on the 14t of nov and he doesn't want to do surgery for my pain,he's going to put a spinal cord stimulator implant it just beneath the skin. He said it should cut my pain by 50 to 70 %, so maybe i can quit taking the narcotics. i was surprised to see my name on your column,maybe i can see you soon,will let you know how things go, god bless you and your family! Bobby Wallace

  53. Hi Bob! I was born and lived Iligan, until i marry my husband from Virginia and now were leaving in Houston, Texas. I was amazed to all the people that like our province, i felt overwhelmed. Even though there is a lot of miscommunication that Iligan is not a safe place to lived coz of the "Abu Sayaff" but i can tell 100% that its a very safe place to live in. I just want to ask something, if anybody can tell me if there is a house for rent instead renting a hotel or inn. Although i have family in Iligan but they cant tell if there are houses for rent for a short period of time. I have a friend coming back this Christmas with her family, she was looking for a house for rent for her family and relatives renting a house for 2 weeks or more. Thanks you and more power! Lynden

  54. Hi Lynden- I have been to Iligan many, many times, and I can assure anybody that there is no Abu Sayyaf activity in the area.

  55. Hi Bob!

    Like your website.Im planning to stay in iligan city this month and still looking for apertments or houses for rent.Maybe you cud give me an idea on which site i cud find one.

  57. Hi Bob;

    Glad to hear you enjoy our city. I've been away in the philippines for a couple of years and cant wait to be back for a vacation this year. Luv the timoga and the lechons there. Keep posting…love your site.

  59. hi, well everyone praising iligan, and my fiancee is from there, and i am intending to move there to live in next couple of months, just been told today my fiancee has been stabbed in the stomach and her phone and purse stolen… she is in hospital right now as i speak .. have been trying to contact her through relatives….. but just shows you you never know what is going to happen next in this world…..
    hope iligan is not a violent place to live…. thanks for now biee..

  61. Hi Bob, lived in Iligan off and on from 1955 until 1972. Don’t know how realistic my memories are. As a missionary kid nobody interfered in anything I did. That said ,it was an incredible place to grow up, especially the years 67-72. Routinely road my motorcycle past Linamon to the west ,the old air port south and Initao to the east. My bike bike topped out at 140kph in 3rd so that what i did on many straightaways. Once got 175kph on Roxas Ave between St Micheal’s college and the river, at dawn on a new years day. I’m sure things have changed but have nothing but good memories of the tolerance i found in iligan.

  62. Hi Bob, lived in iligan off and on from 55-72. Dont know how realistic my memories are. As a missionary kid nobody interfered in anything I did. Best years were 67-72. Routinely road my motorcycle past Linimon to the west, the old air port south and Initoa to the east. My bike did 140 kph in 3rd so that was my usual top speed on a fast run. Once got 175 kph between St. Michael College and the river on Roxas Ave. dawn new years day 71. I’m sure things have changed since then. Have nothing but good memories of the people in Iligan.

  64. i really appreciate for those people who stay and visit Iligan city, thank you .. actually i miss iligan for so long , i live here in japan since i got my residency but someday am going home.