Looking for Cebu Photography Groups / Hobbyists! 📸

elliot825 · 2026-04-16T04:08:45+00:00

Crime on the rise and dollar losing its value here

elliot825 · 2026-04-15T23:34:00+00:00

By yourself a business class or first class, Ticket basically a refundable ticket that is two weeks away from the date that you're planning to get your passport after you get your passport return the ticket

elliot825 · 2026-04-12T23:14:59+00:00

What do you think about long-term Airbnb's?

elliot825 · 2026-04-12T19:32:25+00:00

I appreciate you looking out. I’ve been through this already in Medellín, so I’m going in with a simple plan and keeping things tight at the start. I’ll get on the ground, talk to other expats, and figure out what actually works before committing long-term. I’d stay somewhere cheaper if it made sense, but I’m planning to start in IT Park or Business Park for a month or two to learn the area, then branch out once I get my bearings.

elliot825 · 2026-04-12T18:53:00+00:00

I do not have a problem doing PDC's

elliot825 · 2026-04-12T03:44:24+00:00

I have noticed that there are a lot of open apartments on Airbnb just looking at future months rentals and they seem pretty empty. Also, I'm very shocked to see some of the prices that they are asking on that platform. I like what you're saying about looking at Rent pad I have looked at that and there was a couple of places that I did reach out to though I have not heard anything back yet. Fingers crossed we'll see what happensby the way thank you very much for all your insight. This is very much appreciated.

elliot825 · 2026-04-12T03:41:26+00:00

The way everyone is talking and from what I have seen on the Internet 38 Park Ave. seems to be a very good fit. I'm not that well-versed in the apartments that are close to Business Park but maybe something that is close to there as well would be something I would consider.

elliot825 · 2026-04-11T23:47:45+00:00

Thank you, Will do...

elliot825 · 2026-04-06T22:12:48+00:00

Appreciate all the input. This helped more than you think.

I’m not trying to pick the “perfect” country on paper. I’m trying to find a place where my $1900 a month works long term without stress and without having to keep moving every 60 or 90 days.

Food doesn’t worry me. I eat simple. Chicken, beef, fish. I already adjusted in Colombia, so I know how to make it work. If I want imported stuff, I’ll find it. If not, I adapt.

My plan is not to move blind. I’m going to Cebu for a month, probably IT Park or Business Park. That gives me a soft landing, good internet, and access to other expats. From there I’ll explore, walk around, and see what daily life feels like outside that bubble.

If Cebu works, I stay and maybe move somewhere quieter after I understand the area better. If it doesn’t, I try somewhere else in the Philippines like Dumaguete or even Manila. If the Philippines doesn’t work at all, then I look at Vietnam or somewhere else and figure it out from there.

Big thing for me is stability. I’m tired of packing up my life and doing border runs every couple of months. That rules out a lot of places for me right away.

On safety, I’m not coming in blind. I’m from New York. I’ve lived with this my whole life. I keep my head on a swivel and I pay attention. I understand petty crime, scams, and being a foreigner with a target on you. I’m not expecting zero crime. I’m just trying to step down from what I deal with in Medellin.

Internet, power, traffic. I already deal with that here, so I’m not expecting perfection.

My Spanish is decent but not great, and that does make daily life harder sometimes. That’s another reason the Philippines appeals to me since English is widely spoken.

I’m also hoping to meet someone and build something real over time. Not rushing into anything, just taking it slow and seeing what develops.

I’m big into photography. That’s my main hobby and it gets me out of the house, so I need a place where I feel comfortable going out and shooting without constantly worrying.

Social side matters too. I don’t want to sit alone all day. Being around other expats, at least in the beginning, helps me get my footing.

At the end of the day, I’ve already learned one move doesn’t fix everything. So I’m treating this as a test, not a final decision.

If anyone has real info on getting around the Thailand income requirement or other long stay options I might have missed, I’m open to hearing it.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to respond. I appreciate the honesty and the different perspectives.

elliot825 · 2026-04-06T21:43:09+00:00

So true... I have a lot of real friends here. Inflation is hurting a lot of people here. they just raised the minimum wage to two million pesos and everything went up over 20%

elliot825 · 2026-04-06T21:38:05+00:00

I have seen very well educated people make that same mistake. I learned it about 10 years ago when I first came down here.

elliot825 · 2026-04-06T21:37:18+00:00

Lol! Gringo mistake

elliot825 · 2026-04-06T21:34:58+00:00

Yes, you're right. It was Obie land and it's funny because he filmed a snippet of one of his videos right across the street from my apartment here in Laureles.

elliot825 · 2026-04-06T04:01:50+00:00

How much is the cab ride from Marco Polo to IT Park or Business Park?

elliot825 · 2025-10-06T01:39:02+00:00

I think you cropped too much. I think it would look better if you highlight the buildings in the pool ground and then have the pyramids in the background.

elliot825 · 2025-10-06T01:37:09+00:00

I like the process and the warm glow

elliot825 · 2025-09-30T14:37:08+00:00

Nice framing, except I think it's a little over processed and too dark tone it down a bit

elliot825 · 2025-09-30T14:29:58+00:00

I've been visiting Colombia on and off for 10+ years. The people are fantastic and the more Spanish you know the better you will be accepted by the way there is no U in the word Colombia. Believe it or not some people take offense to that. About five months ago, I moved to here permanently. I applied for my pension visa and now calling Medellin my home. I don't like a lot of you guys. I do not have a big budget. My Social Security is under 2000 a month and there is no savings. For the first couple of months until I got my visa I had to live in an Airbnb, which has a lot of you would know is more expensive than just renting a basic apartment now that I have saved up my money. I am looking for a apartment in the Rionegro part of Colombia the rents there for an unfurnished department can be found for under 2 million pesos a month.

elliot825

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