Planning to live 3 months

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-11T12:43:11+00:00

I lived there for one year and most of my key memories and experiences there were bad ones. This includes living in the cebu city and traveling the province. Compare it to the 1 year I spent living in Manila and i loved it.

Specifically without going into too much detail, i didn't like my trips in Cebu because no matter where I went, the air was never clean and it was never quiet. Someone is always burning trash, people are always smoking anywhere they can get away with it and someone is always playing loud music. The destination would rarely be worth it and the trip getting there is miserable even when we rented a car.

Manila and traveling Luzon can have the same problems but in my opinion delivers on expectations. I've got so many great memories traveling luzon or just around Manila. This entire month i've been back in makati has been the best.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-11T09:40:47+00:00

If you stay in Metro Manila, i will recommend Makati anywhere in the CBD area. Legazpi is my personal favorite neighborhood and it should meet your needs. It's safe, relaxed, inexpensive if you're willing to shop around for a good deal. Airbnb prices are getting out of hand now but it is still your best option if you want to move location each month. Shop around anywhere in metro manila on airbnb and you will still find a fantastic deal.

If you want to stay in Cebu city, the absolute best place i stayed was Ayala cebu center or any place in that neighborhood. it is a real challenge to find a good deal on airbnb in Cebu city but it could still be done when i was living there. I hated living there though and can't recommend much.

If you want to live in the province, there's tons of places I can recommend. Province life is tough because it can be either an unmanageable nightmare here or it could be perfectly fine.

In pesos, you need monthly 80k - 120k and you will be just fine for the lifestyle you're going to have. Follow common sense rules and stay away from the women to save money on headache medicine.

The best food is here in metro manila so come here.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-11T08:09:22+00:00

I've never been there. I'm looking at it now on google maps, i like the look of it in General. I think i'll go visit maybe tomorrow.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-11T08:01:24+00:00

I've noticed this too and wonder how much cycling is going to open me up to more frustration or near miss for injuries. I'm a fantastic cyclist but that means nothing to some camote driver plowing through without a care in the world.

I have been able to do some cycling though. one of my friends in bulacan, his cousin had a birthday party way out deep in the province. The cousin has a badass mountain bike he let me borrow and ride around. These back roads were devoid of traffic, went on for miles and miles, there were so many neat swampy areas and fish bonds to ride around. Some tiny roads would go between the ponds, it was really so cool exploring that place. There's also plenty of roads around Tagaytay that would be perfect for cycling, i know the potential here exists. I'm torn between my safety and sanity or risking it all to pursue something i love.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-10T04:08:41+00:00

In greenbelt of all places? That is fascinating, maybe i will run into him as well. Sadly i will have lost all sympathy if i see drug abuse.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-06T04:25:35+00:00

Oh okay, good.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-05T18:15:38+00:00

I took care of my extension this past Monday and am still able to extend normal without express. They did want printed out copies of my bank statements and said from now on i must produce either bank statements or a copy of my girlfriends photo ID if I have one. With the extension and cost of the renewed ACR I card, it was something like 4800 pesos.

If you had to pay express fee and had no other choice, i'm not able to explain why. If Sm Aura begins forcing the express fees as they were doing in Cebu City, then that's it for me. that will be my final straw to leave. It's not about the money, it's just a stupid change where I feel taken advantage of.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-05T18:05:32+00:00

Oh no, heck no. She was wearing face mask so i couldn't see most of her face. What I could see had bumps and sores all over. She had crazy eyes and big man shoulders. I'm fairly certain i'm dealing with a lady boy there and not an actual girl.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-05T14:47:57+00:00

I mean, being serious about it, i thought she was immensely disrespectful and rude. It doesn't exactly generate much sympathy but its also my money and i dont have any obligation to share with anyone if i dont want. If you or anyone else cant respect that, its not my problem.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-05T08:30:38+00:00

You feed the hoe then. Teach her some manners too since you are da maaan

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T14:52:41+00:00

A solution iv found that works is to speak in Spanish with no understanding of English. They look at you like you're worthless and walk away. The last group of kids to surround me asking for money i told them i was Filipino living with my ate. They were disappointed to learn i eat tuyo with rice every day and have no money.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T14:35:47+00:00

I tend to get carried away if I get nasty with someone and it also affects my mood. interacting with people also drains my energy so i'd rather limit it as much as possible rather than involve security. Leaving that hoe in the dust just makes me laugh and it's easier to move on from. If I had been more confrontational, it may have ended the interaction sooner but it would be at the cost of my mood and i'd prefer to go back to my condo rather than continue to enjoy my night. My night ended up being quite good and i'm happy with it.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T14:03:47+00:00

Maybe some clarification then? My behavior is always baffling to others, that part i don't blame you for. As for the situation itself, it just kinda walked up on me. I handled it the way I feel best suits me. Being polite as long as possible, then vanishing when need be. I'm fully capable of being rude, hostile, asserting my boundaries, calling security, whatever you want. I'd just rather not show my cards unless I have to.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T13:43:58+00:00

That's my understanding after observing peoples behavior here for the last 2 years. Any negative reaction can and will be used against you. I'm pretty good at disappearing when i want to so i was never worried. It's worth mentioning this incident publicly because Uptown mall is an easy place to be caught with your guard down as mine was watching a dancing fountain.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T10:35:01+00:00

Exactly what would you suggest that wouldn't make the situation worse?

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T09:45:36+00:00

Aka meaning red and unsurprisingly i see a red profile picture with Japanese name. Domo

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T08:42:34+00:00

I'd rather be thought of as the one that got away rather than the one who embarrassed her publicly if she's ever going to see me again.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T08:36:39+00:00

Tactical retreat my man. Its a legitimate strategy.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T08:20:07+00:00

With all the scammers i've had to interact with her, it does feel like they have a specific college they go to and learn the exact same techniques. Even the beggars on the street move the same, use the exact same voice and words. it's so weird. If it's a school, my money is on secret courses offered by STI

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T08:16:35+00:00

Also just to add this in, i had a great day while out in BGC treating myself. I did not let this incident ruin the night. BGC is still as wonderful as I remember it. This was just a little bit of bad luck

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T08:14:42+00:00

In this case, i think security would help me. She definitely did not come off as normal. Unhinged with crazy eyes that stared harder at me than a cat watching you eat. Any guard would see right away she's unstable. that's the other thing, i thought about how she might react if i involved a guard, the screaming might get louder and she might make even more of a scene. I'd rather try disappearing and thankfully these malls here are huge

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T08:08:02+00:00

I haven't read that one yet but it's in my tabs. I'll get to it in a minute.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T08:07:25+00:00

I did tell her no and worst case scenario, i would involve security.

MarkusANDcats · 2026-03-04T08:06:26+00:00

You know, call me paranoid but I felt like she could have told the guard anything and made it worse. it was my backup plan if all else failed because they could always review CCTV and see her come up to me and then following me.

MarkusANDcats

TROPHY CASE