A Brief Guide To The Philippines As Your Next Location Independent Destination
Photo by Zerone Eric Ouano
Although I’m a filipina by origin, I’ve only ever been to the Philippines once - and that was to a luxury island resort. So I asked my VA - Alfa Mercado - to put this post together for me.
Here’s what she has to say about the Phillipines as a possible destination for your location independent life…
If you’re one of the lucky few whose job entails plenty of traveling to places all over the globe - or you’re a location independent web worker, the you might find that the Philippines is a worth stop over.
Working in the Philippines
As a modern nomad, you’ll find that the Philippines has a good mix of the urban, suburban and rural. The majority of cities in the country (or at least the cities that you’d want to go to) have reliable infrastructure, with access to dependable (if novel and even strange) transportation and safe but affordable accommodation.
Internet Access
The Philippines is also gradually becoming a wired country, with access to broadband internet available in major cities and suburban areas. Internet cafes are prevalent although if you need some peace and quiet, they may not be ideal as they’re usually filled with noisy kids playing MMORPG.
For low-cost or even free Internet connection, there are lots of wi-fi hotspots in urban areas. Usually, Starbucks coffee shops and large malls have wi-fi. For other wifi hotspots all over the country, check out wifi411. In rural environments, you’ll have to find a phone line, for a dial-up connection.
The Weather
If you’ll be working and traveling while in the Philippines, expect to enjoy a tropical climate. There are only two seasons here: the dry season – which lasts from late November to late May – and the wet season, which starts from June to October.
Since typhoons and heavy rains are often expected in the wet seasons, the best time to visit is the 5 or 6 months during the dry season. However, if you’ll be visiting in March, April or May, brace yourself for the heat. There’s also a peak in travel in December, March and April, so ensure you’ve booked in advance and expect higher costs.
The Language
As for the language, the Philippines has 180+ dialects and languages…but don’t panic! This is an English-speaking country, with American English spoken in many of the places you’ll be going to. However, if you want to endear yourself to the locals or maybe make communication a bit faster, learn a few phrases in Pilipino (the national language) or in the local dialect if you can.
Where To Go & What To Experience
You’ll probably fly in to Manila, the capital city. Manila is the largest city in this country, located on the island of Luzon. This is the center of some of the major cultural and commercial events in the Philippines and is also home to its central government.
Manila & Surroundings
Metro Manila includes several major cities, including Makati - the financial district, Pasay, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Taguig and Muntinlupa. Other cities in the Luzon island that you might like to visit include Baguio, Olongapo/Subic, Angeles, City of San Fernando and if you’re adventurous, Naga in Camarines Sur, where you’ll find the famous near-perfect coned Mt. Mayon.
Further South
If you want to work and travel in the South, specifically in the islands of Visayas, Cebu is highly recommended. Cebu is the perfect getaway when you want to work in a bustling urban area that also happens to be a few minutes away from some of the best beaches and mountain resorts in the region. Also a good place to work and relax in is Cagayan de Oro, a suburban area that offers easy access to the scenic island of Camiguin for some sightseeing and diving.
If you’d like to visit old ancestral homes and pre-war structures, Iloilo is an excellent place to stay in. It is home to truly old yet well-preserved buildings, beautiful beaches and local sweets and delicacies.
If you want a taste of the local culture, cuisine and adventure, go further down south and stay in Davao City. This is a large, sprawling metropolitan area in Mindanao, your doorway to some of the best cuisines in the region. It has an active nightlife, scenic spots, golf, diving and one of the most energetic festivals in the nation.
And if you truly want to test your tastebuds further, try durian, the strong-smelling fruit (Editor’s note: it smells of drains), conqueror of even the bravest visitors, that the locals worship.
Accommodation in the Philippines
There are many five- and four-star hotels in the Philippines to make your stay much more comfortable. If your budget allows it, stay in these hotels where service and facilities are top-notch. They are also generally situated in bustling major areas, highly accessible by taxis, private cars, the light rail transit and even that ubiquitous representative of Philippine public transportation, the jeepney.
For cheaper lodging houses, check out local inns and hostels where you can get clean and safe if simple accommodation. If you’re worried about personal safety, then try and stay in places where other tourists stay.
To get more info about hotels and inns in the Philippines, check out these websites:
Or for more information on rentals and serviced apartments, try these:
The cost of staying and working in the Philippines
Accommodation
If you’ll be around for much longer stays, you could rent out an apartment or condo unit starting at $200 to less than $500 a month, depending on your location. The rent often also includes utilities such as water and power. Gas is available in 11kg individual tanks, which cost less than $15. This should be enough for about 3 to 4 months’ worth of cooking. Rental houses and serviced apartments are more expensive.
Meals & Groceries
For groceries, there are local shops, mall supermarkets, markets and 24/7 convenience stores you can go to. For your first week’s stay, you’ll probably spend around $50, even less, for food and toiletries. You’ll spend more if you buy prepared or health food and extras such as junk food. In major areas, you can even have meals delivered from known food chains for less than $5. Major cities also offer vegan meals. There are also restaurants that offer you a taste of American, French, Italian, Japanese, Thai and Chinese cooking.
If you prefer to cook your own meals, check out the local markets or mall groceries. You could also experience smaller weekend markets organized by people in the neighborhood where you’re staying. In Makati, for example, there’s one that’s regularly held in Salcedo Village every Saturday, where you get to sample local delicacies and homemade cooking.
The Philippines is one of the most interesting and stimulating places in Asia that offers plenty in terms of living standards, varied landscapes and exciting culture. It also has some of the most cheerful people and spectacular views this side of the Pacific Ocean…if you’re looking for somewhere that’s not Thailand, then the Philippines may be the answer!
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Comments
Lea, I’m a British born Filipino who’s often in Manila 
The Philippines is probably one of the easiest places for a modern nomad to get back ‘on the grid’. Internet access can be slow and unreliable but you can find a cafe with DSL even in remote villages. Pre-daid dial-up internet cards are everywhere. Are your mobile operator’s cellphone roaming charges too expensive? Get a local sim-card for less than P300 PHP / £4 GBP / $7 USD. These too are easy to find.
The Philippines is not gradually becoming a ‘wired’ country. Like many developing countries, it’s skipping wires altogether and going straight to wireless. You can get mobile internet almost anywhere there’s cellphone coverage, and I’ve received a signal in the most unlikely places.
Hi Alfa,
I might interest you ogf my blogspot- Is a gastronomical tour of the best- Good Food cheap eats resto in Manila.
http:alyabaquin.blogspot.com
Happy eating,
Aly
Thanks for this Lea…I am actually planning on being in the Philippines after Indonesia this summer, so I’ll take some of your destination advice into mind.
Cheers!
At least some of your information is inaccurate. The Mayon Volcano is not located in Naga City but in fact in Lagazpi City about two hours south of Naga.
I have found the Philippines to be an excellent location to be a LIP. In fact I have photos of me working on my laptop in a cabana on a beach in Boracay! All you need is a SIM-type cell phone from home (go the Tsiange at Greenhills Mall as soon as you get to Manila and have it unlocked then buy a local sim card such as from Globe, and buy a “load” then you will be set). Try to text more than call as text messages are 1P each while calls cost more. The malls in Manila are a dozen times better than most malls in the US (huge, clean, etc), ditto with many new theaters and nightclubs, however American products cost lots more there. I often work in my hotel room in the Philippines (many of which have wireless internet). In smaller towns I use an internet cafe and tell them I will need just the connection cable (not the computer) them hook up my laptop which has the software I need on it. The only drawback to working in PI is that there are so many fun things to do you might put off working!
Hi Greg! I’m from Iloilo and yes, internet connection is readily available in the city including wifi access in hotels and coffee shops. What’s more, it’s only a few hours away from Boracay by land. 
I think Philippines is a great place for vacation…But, I am not so sure for living. Could you please inform me about the job opportunity and salary standard in Philippines?
while i think this was an interesting post, i’m not sure how relevant it is to the LIP. i don’t think internet cafe’s and 4 star hotels are what most LIPs are looking for in a destination.
it would be good to know how easy it is to find longer term (3-6 month) accommodation outside of major cities… and what about getting broadband internet in said accommodation. while it’s great to have an internet cafe down the street for backup, i doubt most of us would want to be conducting business from one on a daily basis.
i’d be interested to hear from any LIPs who’ve spent time in the philippines, outside of the major cities. my boyfriend and i are considering a move to the philippines, however most of what i’ve read is geared to the short term traveller, not the long haul stay, so it can be hard to find reliable information.
I’m a Filipino who will work in vietnam and i need to know more about vietnam. any similar articles such as this? i would tremendously appreciate if you can post it.
Pls visit my blogspot: http:alyabaquin.blogspot.com
Kudos to you,
ALbert ” Aly” Abaquin
@Kelly How easy it is to find accommodation depends on what you’re looking for. For example you can:
* Stay in a ‘condotel’ / serviced apartment for approx. PHP 120,000 / USD$ 3,000 / GBP £ 1,500 per month
* Rent a house for approx. PHP 4,000 / US$ 100 / GBP 50 per month
* Share a private house / apartment - price depends owner
Many overseas Filipinos invest in property in the Philippines for retirement. The owner often rents it out while still working abroad. If you know a Filipino, ask their network and the chances are that you’ll find someone who has something to offer.
The Philippines is usually very bureaucratic so if you need anything installed be prepared to wait, fill out forms and wait. Surprisingly, broadband seems to be and exception and can get broadband in about a week. When I was there at the end of 2007, I got broadband connected in three days using a self-install kit.
Things can move faster or slower depending on who you know.
Hey Anthony, I’m a British born filipino also = ].
As for the prices of the local sim cards, i believe its even cheaper than PHP 300 at the price of PHP 100, 150 max. of anything.
If your looking to spend a relaxing time with picturesque beaches try Palawan. I’m looking to visit El Nido, Palawan in a few months, prices are pretty expensive though but I think it’s all worthit.
There are many sites like manila.craigslist.com.ph where you can find condo’s and apartments to rent long term and short term, but I’ve heard you could probably fnd cheaper if you looked in the papers instead. When me and my boyfriend was here for 3 weeks, we rented out a condo with beautiful interiors in Pasig for 25k a month exc. utilities. If i would of known, I would of found a condo in Makati instead and would no doubt pay an extra 5k since it’s closer to things. Thus, saving travel money, a lot of taxi drivers overcharged us >_
Hi everyone - thanks to some of you for sharing your knowledge. I have to admit I know very little about the Philippines which is why Alfa wrote the post for me. Planning to go there some time later this year though I think so will be able to update this post with relevant info, with any luck!
Keep your insights coming….
Lea
Hello J. Might be interested in a site that I run for British-born Filipinos at http://phil-uk.com
You’re right, taxi drivers are a real problem when it comes to over-charging. Some ‘condotels’ have tie-ups with more reputable taxi firms who’ll charge an agreed fixed rate beforehand. It’s worth asking at the lobby of your residence if this is available.
If you’re staying in Manila, try to find a place in Makati or Ortigas. These are the main business and after-work hang-out hubs. Traffic is terrible so getting into these areas from elsewhere can be a nightmare.
@Lea, let us know how your trip goes
Anthony
am going to check elnido out anyone know a good cheap place to stay around 200 pesos a night??wats to do there?and can u get a boat to coron? wat days?
Hi Alfa! How’s the VA business going?!
I like the sound of Iloilo with its ancestral homes…reminds me of Paraty in Brazil. Is IIoilo colonial in any way? I presume it’s not a major city, in which case do you happen to know if reliable internet connection is widely available?
Many thanks,
Greg