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Would I be bored to death living in rural Palawan?

Hi everyone,

I'm a 23-year-old Italian seriously thinking about moving to the Philippines in 2027, probably to Palawan, ideally somewhere away from the main tourist spots.

I'd love some honest input from people who actually live there.

Can you live comfortably on about €1,500 a month in provincial Palawan?
Does life start to feel boring or isolating after a few months?
How decent are the internet, electricity, and mobile data outside Puerto Princesa?
Is it easy to meet people and make friends in small towns?
Would you recommend living in the province long term, or is it better just for a few months?
What are the biggest downsides of life in Palawan that tourists don't notice?

What I want is a simple life: a decent house, a gym if possible, a scooter, local food, nature, and reliable internet for remote work.

Thanks!

Aircon costs

I tested going ONE MONTH without AC

July usage 357 kWh
August usage 237 kWh

I saved about 1,100 pesos in total, or 17 USD

Context
Single guy
60 sqm condo
2 AC units
I only use dehumidify mode at 28°C
Bedroom only at night, door closed
Living room only around midday, all other doors closed

So based on my test, running AC doesn't cost that much more.

The actual electricity charge isn't much, it's all the other charges added on that make up a big chunk of the bill..

Put two months of bills side by side and compare what each line item costs.

FYI, this was before the rate reduction the government set for August and September.

What on earth is going on with this sub

I've been reading through a bunch of threads here, and it's all low-class foreigners coming over to try their luck dating low-class Filipinas, then either complaining about it or feeling proud of themselves for the trashiest stuff

Come on, does nobody else see this, or is this just what this subreddit is supposed to be?

My Filipina date wouldn't pay, so I got up and left. Was I wrong?

I've known her for about a month and a half.

After two dates where I paid for dinner and lunch, we didn't click and I stopped talking to her. My gut was telling me not to trust her

Then yesterday she kept insisting we meet. I told her I didn't want to spend money, and she said that was fine, she'd pay.

So we went out for dinner today. As it got close to paying, I checked again whether she was really okay paying. Then she says she can't, that she just realized she has no money left this month.

I figured she was after a free dinner, so I left. I waited 10 to 15 minutes while she kept eating, then said I was going to the bathroom. I never came back, and I blocked her.

On my way home I wondered how many free dinners this fairly pretty girl had gotten this month, and how many men are sending her money.

The only worry is that she lives not far from me, so I hope I don't run into her.

Korean Community Association Central Luzon Shares Updates on Safety Activities for Korean Residents
On September 7, the production team of the TV program "Brave Detectives" visited the Korean Community Association Central Luzon to film its activities and ongoing efforts to ensure community safety.
During the filming, TV personalities Ahn Jung-hwan, Lim Hyung-joon, Kwon Il-yong, and Kim Jin-soo joined in, creating a special opportunity to express their gratitude.
Recently, when a Korean resident fell victim to a pickpocketing incident, the association actively assisted the victim and helped recover the lost belongings. To show appreciation, the association awarded a plaque of appreciation and a cash prize of 10,000 pesos to Salamanca, Rene Labinisia, a Delivery K driver who helped.
This goes beyond simply thanking one individual; it signifies that our Korean community remembers and appreciates the courage and kindness of the Filipino citizen who helped a Korean.
Korean Community Association Central Luzon plans to continue actively promoting such activities, widely sharing its safety initiatives and examples of cooperation with the local community to build a neighborhood where people protect and care for one another.
Just like the "butterfly effect" where one small good deed leads to another, we believe that if a culture of mutual respect and protection between Koreans and Filipinos spreads throughout the entire community, Central Luzon will develop into an even safer, more trustworthy region that both Korean residents and tourists can visit with peace of mind.
Korean Community Association Central Luzon will continue to prioritize the safety of our residents and strive to be an association that prospers together and builds trust with the local Filipino community. #KoreanCommunityAssociationCentralLuzon
#Information

Source: Korean Community Association Central Luzon Band · Posted on September 8, 2026
https://band.us/band/68401773/post/4415

Important Notice Regarding Bringing Medications into the Philippines
ㅇ When entering the Philippines, even if you are taking medication for medical treatment, there may be restrictions on bringing it in if it contains ingredients classified as dangerous drugs or controlled substances in the Philippines. Therefore, Korean citizens entering with prescription drugs must ensure whether the relevant medication ingredients are included in the Philippine controlled substances list.
ㅇ The Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board (hereinafter referred to as DDB) has published a list of controlled substances* as of July 20, 2026. This list includes not only narcotic painkillers but also certain sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medications, ADHD treatments, anesthetics, and cold medicine ingredients.
※ DDB publication materials containing the list of restricted medication ingredients are attached separately.
ㅇ When entering the Philippines with cold medicine, allergy medication, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, ADHD treatments, painkillers, etc., it is important to check the generic name rather than the brand name.
■ Procedures for entering the Philippines with restricted medications
1. 30-day supply or less
ㅇ According to DDB regulations, travelers entering with Dangerous Drugs or controlled chemicals for medical treatment must prepare the following:
※ All materials must be prepared in English.
- A medical certificate / referral letter from the attending physician (explaining the medical purpose)
- A medical prescription stating the brand name and generic name of the medication
- Medications must be in their original containers with proper labeling, and only in a reasonable quantity necessary for personal treatment.
2. Exceeding a 30-day supply
ㅇ In addition to the documents required for a "30-day supply or less," the following documents must be prepared:
- Permit documents from the competent authority of the country of departure
- PDEA permit documents (Applications for PDEA permits must be submitted in writing at least 30 days prior to entry)
※ As this reference material is compiled based on publicly available data from sources such as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Customs, if you need to bring medications before entering the Philippines, please be sure to check the announcements on the official websites of the relevant Philippine agencies in advance and verify directly whether bringing the medications is permitted to avoid any disadvantages.
(Related Links)
ㅇ Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - https://ddb.gov.ph/

ㅇ Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board Regulations - https://ddb.gov.ph/
/images/Board_Regulation/2014/BD.REG1.14.pdf
ㅇ Philippine Bureau of Customs - https://customs.gov.ph/restricted-and-prohibited-items

※ Refer to the attached file on the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines (https://www.mofa.go.kr/ph-ko/brd/m_27094/view.do?seq=1346439&page=1
)
#EmbassyOfTheRepublicOfKoreaInThePhilippines

Source: Korean Community Association Central Luzon Band · Posted on 2026-09-07
https://band.us/band/68401773/post/4414

Adding a motorcycle endorsement to my car licence back in Australia is going to cost me AUD 1,000. Would it be easier / cheaper to just get a local one here in the Philippines?

Can I get one on a tourist visa?

Philippines 🇵🇭 fun fact

The Philippines is almost the same size as Arizona.

Philippines land area: 115,100 square miles

Arizona land area: about 1113,600 square miles.

🤔

Reddit might get banned

There's a small but non-zero chance that Reddit gets banned in the Philippines within the next few days or weeks. In case it actually happens, I suggest getting familiar with using a VPN connected to anywhere outside the Philippines.

I used to live in Indonesia, where Reddit had been banned for years. There's no reason it couldn't happen here too.

If you had to get major dental work done, is there a country in Southeast Asia you'd choose over the Philippines?

Am I an idiot?

Does anyone else get flagged for not writing in English when commenting, even when using the most common English words? What's going on?

Help us save Carl the carabao.

Sadly, our friend and work animal Carl is not doing well. Two days ago we found him bleeding, beaten, and unable to stand.
Nanay (Mom) fed him huge containers of ginger soup loaded with malunggay. It didn't help!

Now we need money to take Carl to Bali, Indonesia… where a Hindu veterinarian is waiting (we made a reservation).

Please help….. the flight and lodging are very expensive.

I'll livestream everything so you know this is legit (on my YouTube channel).

Shalom.

Is it better to stay in the IT Park area of Cebu or in the resort area?

Great customer service at SM Makati

Customer service may be dead in the US, but it's alive and kicking in the Philippines.

I broke a mirror in my Airbnb and wanted to replace it. It still had the SKU tag, so I found the exact model at SM. The glass was dirty, and the salesman insisted on cleaning it. There was a mark he didn't like, so he had new stock brought up from downstairs and cleaned that one too. While I paid, he and another employee wrapped it nicely and asked if I wanted help carrying it down.

They were helpful without being pushy, and it was a really pleasant experience. I usually don't ask for help in stores, but I think I'll change that.

Cockfighting: have you been?

I've only been to a cockfight once… back in 2014. Exactly what you'd imagine… lots of men… loud.
I learned how the fights work. I think some of the losers end up as tinola. 😉

I placed a bet.
I lost.

The darker photo is from when I went. The two brighter ones are Bacolor Cockpit. I haven't been inside that arena. Nice facility.

Good morning, everyone. Can anyone recommend a good licensed CPA in Bacolod who specializes in international taxation, specifically the Philippine tax rules for people with multiple citizenships? I'd really appreciate any help. Thank you so much!

Fed up with my condo over visitors

My flight got canceled. I booked a condo last minute to stay a couple of days before my new flight. The day before I left, my friend came to visit. It started raining. We changed plans and decided to hang out inside my condo. The guard at the entrance stopped us and asked for some QR code. So we went to the front desk so I could register my friend as a visitor (the usual process, like anywhere). My friend handed over his ID. Then the front desk staff said, “Sir, you can't have visitors. You need to ask the unit's host first.” I asked why on earth I'd need to do that. Then what's the lobby for? Keep in mind it was almost midnight. I asked what I'm supposed to do if I contact the host and get no answer. So we just wait? The staff said yes. I was stunned. Luckily the host answered in about 5 minutes. The host also said I couldn't bring visitors into the unit I'd paid to rent. A unit that sleeps at least 4, which is f*ing stupid. When I pushed back, the host said all visitors have to be registered before booking the condo. I politely asked how that makes any sense. Plans can change any time during a stay. Plus it's nobody else's business. Someone could come from far away to see me any time without a schedule or plan. How does that make sense?
I hadn't planned to hang out at my place because of the weather. We decided last minute to hang out at the condo I rented. All I expected was the common-sense thing, a quick sign-in at the front lobby, and they couldn't manage that. Wasting time and making things difficult for no reason. I lost over 30 minutes in the lobby with these idiots. Airbnb even told me to change my booking details and tried to charge me extra for my friend. I refused. I said I'm not paying. Eventually my friend was let in. Once I got to the unit, the host messaged me asking how long my friend was staying and when he'd leave. Man… it's midnight. Park your a and go to sleep. lol

Foreigners living in luxury condos for free?

Before everyone gets angry at the title: I'm not saying taxpayers should buy luxury apartments for random foreigners while Filipinos struggle with housing.

I'm talking about empty privately owned condos, developer inventory and incentive programs.

There are buildings where units sit empty and developers, landlords and nearby businesses earn nothing from them. If a foreign remote worker or long-stay visitor is going to spend thousands a month in the Philippines anyway, giving them a free 1–3 month condo stay could actually make economic sense.

They still spend money on food, Grab, restaurants, gyms, cleaners, nightlife, tourism, healthcare and local services. Some will stay longer, rent the unit afterwards or eventually buy property. An empty condo contributes almost nothing; an occupied one with someone spending locally does.

Hotels already give free nights. Casinos comp rooms. Companies subsidize relocation. Countries offer tax breaks to attract businesses. This is basically the same idea applied to unused real estate.

And it doesn't have to hurt locals. Keep public and social housing completely out of it. Only use privately funded vacant luxury inventory, require a minimum foreign income or spending, cap the free period, and focus on developments with excess supply.

People hear "free condos for foreigners" and immediately take it to mean foreigners are somehow more deserving than Filipinos.

That's not the argument.

The argument is this: if a developer has an empty €150k condo and giving someone three free months brings spending, future rent and potential investment, why insist the unit stay empty just because "free luxury housing sounds unfair"?

If the economics work, I honestly don't see the problem.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Enjoy the birdsong early in the morning, the heavenly aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the scent of a freshly cut rose the dog just peed on, the brand-new Chinese toaster from Lazada that doesn't work, the cat vomit on the sofa, and the cheese you've run out of. Things can always get worse, and then you find out they actually did! So whether things are good or bad, keep a sunny disposition, or enjoy any other 'position' that makes you happy 😃

Has anyone here become a Filipino citizen without Filipino ancestry?

Millions of Filipinos have moved abroad and become American, Canadian, European, Australian or Singaporean citizens. Even Japanese.

I was just curious whether anyone here has become a Filipino citizen without using "jus sanguis," meaning reclaiming Filipino citizenship by blood.