New Yorker here, living in the Philippines for 2.5 years now. I get how you feel about the art and museum side. I actually like Manila quite a bit, though I'm in Leyte right now. But I'm not so sure there'd be drawing classes with nude models in, say, Tennessee.. I'd think you kind of have to go to the cities for that. If you're not a city person, I guess you have to make do with what the provinces offer, whether it's culture, vets or anything else. Life is just full of trade-offs.

Too big a city for me, with too much going on. I much prefer Iloilo, the quiet life here and my sea kayaking and island-hopping trips. I go out on the ocean for 3 to 4 hours, come back to the beach, have a San Mig, and have my local driver take me back to where I'm staying. If it weren't for the roosters, I'd probably call it perfect.

I live in Antipolo, in a gated subdivision that's decent (by Philippine standards) up in the flood-free hills. No question the traffic sucks, the rain sucks and the air pollution sucks. I lived in Dumaguete for 2 years but moved here so my partner could be closer to her adult children. We bought a lot and I'm about ready to send out bid packages to contractors. I'm just going to build my own happy bubble here with solar power and PLDT fiber internet.

> the absence of the culture wars and identity politics that plague the US So you're just ignorant of their politics and burying your head in the sand? Duterte vs. Marcos is an all-out war. > I have to travel 10 hours to Manila for a mental health exam so SSI can decide whether I still qualify for disability. Why is it the Philippines' job to help you scam the American SSDI system? > I can't find figure drawing groups in the northern provinces because nudity, even non-sexual, is a scandal. How dare the locals not let you paint them naked.

Manila was once one of the most beautiful cities in Asia, but 90 percent of it was destroyed at the end of WWII, and that wrecked the whole economy too. The financial aid from its ally wasn't enough, so the old master plan was dropped in favor of commercial expansion. Things got worse four decades ago when the country followed the wrong economic policies, which led to massive urban migration and congestion.

I love Manila, but I grew up a city kid. If I spend too long outside a city, I start getting uncomfortable!