I'd strongly suggest you don't make this a one-way move until you've actually spent some time living in the Philippines. Come for a few months — try Dumaguete, Roxas City, or wherever else you're considering, rent short-term, and see what daily life is really like before you burn the bridge behind you. At 67 there are retirement visa options, including the SRRV, but they come with financial and documentation requirements, so research them carefully before making permanent plans. I also wouldn't recommend arriving with $10,000 in cash because you think that's how rent works. There are much safer ways to access your money, and if you carry more than $10,000 in foreign currency into or out of the Philippines, you have to declare the full amount to Customs. Living on $1,000 a month may be possible if you live modestly, but I wouldn't build your whole retirement around that number without leaving room for rent increases, medical costs, emergencies, transportation, visa fees, and surprises. Safety needs to be taken seriously too. The Philippines is currently under a US Level 2 advisory, with stronger warnings for some areas. What jumped out at me most was when you said that once you leave the US you can't afford to come back and re-establish yourself. That makes this a much bigger decision than simply moving somewhere cheaper. Please do a trial run first. Living somewhere is very different from researching it online, and if this move is truly irreversible for you financially, you need to be as sure as possible before you jump.

No more than 1k a month means living in a province like a local. Dumaguete is overpriced too, and whatever made Dumaguete great is long gone — stop trusting the bloggers blowing smoke. Expect 20k+ for a fully furnished place, especially a dog-friendly one. If it's by the beach, 25k+ minimum. Then electricity runs 2k+ a month without aircon, and up to 10k a month with it. You'll be cooking at home like a local and avoiding imports. The Philippines isn't as cheap as it was 15–20 years ago, and you're better off somewhere cheaper unless you have $1,500+ a month. One major medical bill can really hurt.

I'm Filipino, and at that age and living single, I wouldn't consider living here unless I had family here. The infrastructure is so bad. Dealing with the government means way too much bureaucracy. Getting around is very inconvenient because of the poor infrastructure, so transportation is really unreliable. If you're not rich and can't afford the clean, quiet, orderly neighborhoods, living here would be stressful. Much cheaper than your country, but stressful, and you won't feel secure if you're elderly and alone. Come visit first, explore, and experience it firsthand before making the final decision.

I'm planning to move to Quezon City very, very soon. I sold my home for what little I could get, and I know my Social Security will be plenty for a simple life. I'm not rich, but I can't make it in the United States anymore — prices have gone through the roof, and I don't like the political situation at all. You know Filipino society: very family-oriented. They speak English, and it's basically a Christian nation. I was married to a Filipino for 48 years. They're great people. In fact, they remind me of the Irish.

If you're a Western woman on a budget and worried about safety, you should probably look at Da Nang, Vietnam or Hua Hin, Thailand rather than the Philippines. MUCH safer, MUCH better healthcare, bigger expat communities, and lower costs than the Philippines.