Completely Shocked By Dumaguete! Expected Different 🇵🇭 Philippines

Welcome to "That Philippines Life" - Completely Shocked By Dumaguete! Expected Different 🇵🇭 Philippines. I came to Dumaguete with so many misrepresentations through various comments, I heard its where expats go to get girls at the bars, Filipina girls walking down the streets to pick up guys. Dirty Streets, Horrible traffic! But I found a completely different experience this place is a very livable destination in the Philippines
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[@JimMillsCSLC]

Ive been watching vlogs from Duma for 4 years and you, Mike, are showing me places and giving commentary I’ve never seen before. Most of the expats in Duma have more “sit in one place info” channels. Thank you!

[@keithclunk3125]

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Other youtubers, while perhaps offering decent advice, provide mostly hours of sofa chatting and/or table sitting, just stationary in one form or another. I've seen more and got more of a feel for Dumaguete in the last 30+ mins than I've ever captured before in hours and hours of stationary verbals.

[@tomsewell2462]

I lived in Duma/Valencia for 4 years. DO NOT sell your house back home! The PH "Paradise Syndrome" wears off after a few years and when you return, you coul;d be homeless!

[@mattjoseph2239]

What happens? Squatters?

[@troyelam8978]

@@mattjoseph2239 I think what he’s trying to say is depending on where he lives in America or Canada, the same home he sells now, he will not be able to afford later because of how the prices keep increasing!

[@DaveHcontrarian]

@@troyelam8978 That is assuming that the home prices will continue rising, and that faulty assumption is based on the fact that houses indeed have risen much over the last 40 years, when actually the fact that prices have risen so much is a better case for them declining.

[@pltatman1]

@@DaveHcontrarian There are underlying factors involved, it really depends on where the house is located. Where I live in the United States, there are far more people entering my state than leaving, and that should continue to drive the real estate prices upward for the foreseeable future.

[@DaveHcontrarian]

@@pltatman1 Depends on what the industries are driving that behavior & the industries which will drive the next cycle, if they are there or somewhere else. things change beleive it or not lol

[@KeilikoGreg]

Michael - great video. Interestingly, you showed more of Dumaguete than most if not all of the infamous Dramaguete vloggers show. By and large, they tend to sit around talking about things, interviewing each other and providing good info about getting settled in the Phils. And that is all good for sure. You though, just walking around, looking for interesting things - good stuff!! LOL.

[@limtseho3540]

Road to 100k Michael!! You go over and beyond what most expat vloggers do!!

[@asianight9188]

Yes, the dramaguete bloggers are just old men who rant into the camera and show nothing of the city

[@PACIFICBboy]

This. I’ve watched a lot of KZbinrs that live in that city (I’m sure we’re talking about the same ones lol) but I always leave the videos thinking “yea but what is the city actually like?? Besides the mall lol”

[@user-nw9ox6rw3c]

There are also asian foreign vloggers in Dumaguete too with good content. For example Dial Eleven and Hello Philippines, they're very underrated and should have more subscribers.

[@humminbird6990]

Pretty true.

[@manila_thrilla]

Ever since the breakup video of you and Bianca was released, I thought I would have lost interest in your channel, but I was wrong. Keep positive and stay cool!

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

Thank you

[@Wesna269]

He probably still needs to eat aka earn money

[@josephrobi6806]

Because of his vlog I received my permanent resident. Last year by listening to his teaching on that. Thanks a million times 😅

[@luisjayson]

What it sounds like is that you taught her to be financially independent and when she achieved that she no longer needed you and left you. Seen this happen multiple times sadly

[@robocop581]

I helped my wife to fully develop her career. I said at the beginning of our marriage her career was as important as mine. She succeeded and we're still together after 32 years.

[@wavemaker2077]

But they are still living together. Just not as husband and wife.

[@DeeCebu]

We don't know the whole story. No judging. No blaming. As the saying goes it takes two to tango

[@tryscience]

You don't know their situation. This reminds me of a quote from the excellent movie Good Will Hunting; "...You're an orphan right? [Will nods] Sean: You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist?"

[@luisjayson]

@@robocop581 congratulation You're a statistical anomaly

[@1307scooter]

Mike, I have started watching the ads all the way through to help your revenue. You are one of 3 channels that I let the ads run. I let them run for the Filipina Pea and Simple Living Alaska also. I appreciate creators that put a lot of work and love into their channels. Keep up the good work.

[@zenyjensen2545]

Michael never change. Been watching your vlogs. Don't think I have ever left a comment. Love that you seemed to have your @#$ together. Maturity goes a long way..keeping it real always. Easy as you go. Hope your new life adventure is a success. Hello from Florida..originally from Cebu City..

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

Thank you I appreciate you commenting for the first time

[@user-jz6nn6hl3u]

despite you breaking up with bianca i will follow your two blogs still you seem so humble and i love seeing the different places you show us all take care michael

[@randellt]

I had the same issue Seda Hotel in Cebu. 9k onsite. Made a call to Expedia and picked the same room up for under 6K I've had great success with Expedia... even when there's been a problem they've refunded me or resolved it.

[@chestere.9049]

oh man! I used to be in Dumaguete as a young kid! It's nice seeing the boulevard area again

[@Sana_Balik_Pinas]

Me too, good memories of Duma. I remember my parent brought us on trips to Dumaguete for a family day out, going the Movie… @ the Park Theatre, but before that, we’ll have our lunch at the Oriental Panceteria at San Juan St., that’s before Chin Loong started. Then before going home we will get some merienda at La Cavitenia. Where those days gone?

[@michaelstewart399]

Ayang place to only place to stay in dumagute fantastic swimming pool

[@chiefchick]

Awesome vlog! I have seen plenty of vlogs about Dumaguete and by far, yours is the most interesting! Keep it up! Loving this!!

[@andrepilar5375]

good morning Mike, I'm glad to see your channel is doing well. I know you will have great success building a great channel. I think you will do great on your own. Have fun keep busy. ( South Florida Filipino ) Mike, I know you will make the 25,000 subcribers.and more ! excuse my spelling

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

Thank you!

[@tryscience]

Another great video. Splitting out the interview keeps a good focus on Dumaguete, excellent idea. Top of Valencia looked super peaceful. Glad you are enjoying your visit

[@davegoody9603]

You are very professional and likeable guy , your blogs are great and more so now your doing them solo, Congrats

[@mayg.931]

Good morning beautiful Philippines 🇵🇭 and to you young Man.. don't give up take care now...

[@ahmirdog26]

You look like a real Pinoy now when riding those tricycles, enjoy your travel and be safe.

[@DaveHowTo]

Great video. Better than all the local videos, cos you walk around and actually show what places are like and your personality is excellent for meeting people and explaining. I think you will really grow your channel and be very successful. Keep it up!

[@RetireandGo]

Nice to see the Dumaguete scenery It’s a beautiful little town on the water Very walkable Great video

[@joanna9242]

Your much more interesting since you've gone on your own. Keep this format and I think you'll get more subscribers.

[@danitzm]

It takes a visitor to show us places in Dumaguete that local vloggers don’t think to show us.

[@tomsorrell4918]

Exactly!

[@WhoWouldWantThisName]

Or they want to keep a few places secret for a while.

[@surreycase]

🇨🇦This is your best video so far! I might be a bit biased as I'm in Vancouver but plan to move Dumaguete this year! Perhaps see you there if you come back! 🎉🎉🎉

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

I'll be back with more time and also island hope from here

[@tonykidd7441]

lol, you saw so much in a single day…I applaud your energy. Saw you and Shay pass by me on the street and thought an another collaboration might be coming. Looking forward to the expanded interview:)

[@juliogonzalez4764]

When in Dumaguete The Go Hotel is the best budget hotel.. Clean, under $25.00 (cheaper if you use a hotel app), and next to the mall. Nice staff.

[@kharmencita1654]

You are doing it right Mike! Explore outside of Dumaguete like Valencia , Dauin, Siaton, Island of Siquijor etc...there are lots of beautiful beaches and good affordable foods you will enjoy and there are lots of waterfalls and hot springs to see also beautiful cool mountains.

[@i-am-your-conscience]

I think Dauin would be the better place, younger expats there, and still very fast to get to Robinsons and so on.. And of course, if you want the real vacation vibes, there is Siquijor

[@humminbird6990]

Hello Michael. Love your video about Dumaguete. Great contents you have in a short period of time. There are more to explore next time when you comeback. I can see you pick up more subscribers and lots of positive comments. Cheers buddy.

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

I have one more video to show of this area before I left and I'm already setting the dates to come back to explore just south of there and the nearby islands too.

[@mauibuilder1239]

Aloha from Hawaii! Excellent content...Subscribed! I've watched your videos before and like them because they're like a fun, informative, travel/relocation guide rolled into one video! Keep up the great work! 🏖

[@jomazerud]

Dumaguete and Siquijor are the best places to heal oneself. By the way you know that Every Man Has A Story vlogger. He's a good resource person around there .

[@limtseho3540]

Hes a toxic expat that is known for throwing vloggers under the bus.. Stay far away from mark thorton. From one canadian expat living in bacolod to another canadian expat, stay away 😊

[@wavemaker2077]

I thought Sagada is the place for the soul. Good for those who want to decongest from the rigors of life.

[@philippinesinfulleffect]

Great coverage of Duma. Showed more detail than I've ever seen before. Impressed!

[@trdtacoloversuzuki3822]

Subscribed. I will be visiting Iloilo this next week. Good format and casual adventure video. I prefer the solo style better than the couple style videos.

[@tonymccreath4540]

Mike, you videos and attitude being mature will succeed and flourish! Your x being very young, on her own will not be attractive for your audience to follow. Will be very challenging for her make a go of it. Keep your chin up you will catch your stride and do well!😊😊😊

[@drewnc6196]

Agreed, I do not watch her content, I don't care. It is a Western woman who disrespected her man in a country where her man, who is very good looking, young, tall, will have his pick of women and truly find the one who will love him with all she is and him the same.

[@tonymccreath4540]

@drewnc6196 Young, immature, she will soon regret her decision . She will never gain enough followers to replace previous followers gained while with Mike. Mike will be quickly picked up by a Filipina. Don't wish her any harm, but she will eventually learn and grow, it's part of life.

[@wavemaker2077]

@@tonymccreath4540 What did she do? Mike said that they didn't really do anything dramatic before their separation. They just had diverging interests. It seems that you know the inside story.

[@user-nx9dp5ih5z]

Hi there. Pat here (the TV journalist). Nice to have met you today at Whynot. Let's stay in touch. You said you would like to see my apartment block?

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

Thank you for such a great conversation this morning! I'm looking forward to my return and we can talk more, can't wait to see your penthouse too

[@cherrysheckells9044]

Thank you for sharing. Now I want to go see Dumaguete 😍

[@rosalinashea5493]

I will tell my sister to drive around and show me Dumaguete and my father’s hometown Inalad siaton and sibulan. Which I miss it so much. I don’t go home that much but connecting with my family on fb and social media it helps a lot. I love were I’m was born is negros oriental. Someday I would retired after working for many yrs.

[@JimMillsCSLC]

Great vlog, Mike. Love your channel and your temperament, intelligence, and genuine goodness. Well done and God Bless🙏🏼

[@james.kidsplaygroundandfun6795]

Looks like a nice place to visit

[@radar5464]

Possibly showed more of dumaguete than all the local vloggers

[@limtseho3540]

He sure did!! Thanks Michael!

[@rustynail3630]

He did and it was great. The other vloggers are lazy and just sit down in front of a microphone. It gets boring after awhile.

[@Midwest10]

The vloggers in the PH are old, usually disabled VA and need KZbin videos daily to survive. Avoid them they never have success

[@floren879]

Love Dumaguete! And we did visit Sijuijor at the same time…. Awesome 👏

[@sealanderadventures]

Michael, You are putting the videos, and I'm watching and enjoying them all!❤ I watch you to the land, houses and condo prices. However, equally important to me are the travel destinations. So, I want to say I appreciate your content and hope to possibly meet you in Iloilo city when I'm in town Feb 5 to 10. You are on your way brother to 100K subs on thise channel within 6 months I think. Take care

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

I should be there when you are so definitely hit me up

[@romnickfrancisco5930]

I'm from Zamboanguita It's a 27 km drive from dumaguete. Hey welcome to Negros Oriental. See yah around maybe meet you in person. I'm one of your subscribers. Cheers

[@hange-zoe7810]

I want to visit Dumaguete because of your vlog! Im a Filipina from Bicol region but havent explored much yet of Visayas Region.

[@Raquel_In_Sorsogon]

Beautiful presentation. Museum, waterfalls , sound of nature. ❤❤❤

[@theagelessfactor1980]

I'm Canadian too, Yes that diffidently looked like a hospital!

[@juliuspalamos7863]

Welcome to the City of gentle people, enjoy your adventure

[@Koya_Sipanlog_Express]

More Dumaguete videos please.Especially the night scene. More of the North Point area. Heard so much about it.

[@PH-Aguirre.JVLOG33]

Take care bro God is always guiding you through to your future life God bless you more 🙏

[@madchick70]

Just came across your channel - born and raised in Valencia living in the US for 30+ years (working as a CPA here). Looking forward to retiring there soon. The owner of Limmotakna is our cousin. Glad you enjoyed it there.

[@armandosune3839]

Those ship-like benches and pirate ship ropes look kitschy. It's good for a children's playground, but for a city park.

[@Matthew-gz4oh]

Great to see a younger active guy there, as most vloggers there are older now and don't do much outside home etc...

[@malibu-ken]

Dumaguete, I was there for 11 days... badly polluted city, my first and last visit there, sorry to say. Robinson's Mall there is old and small too.

[@mikeanddeborah]

Hi Mike, my name is Mike also. My wife and I from Canada, we spend 7 months in Bahamas, we have 2 condos here, we go back and live on our boat in Ontario but we are selling the boat and coming to Phillipines for 5 or 6 months instead of Canada, we will always return to our Bahamas home but we are looking forward to spending time in Cebu City and Dumaguete

[@peterkellegher4419]

Thank you Michael for showing us all around the place . So nice to see. Makes a change from the other guys that just sit there so i just joined your channel. Greetings from Dublin Ireland

[@randellt]

Great seeing you traveling.. enjoying. I decided to stay away from Dumaguete due to the heavy expat population but have to say it's looking nice.

[@Midwest10]

Absolutely. The expats living there are nut cases. Run! Come to Palawan

[@free2roam674]

I have been here on and off for months and it is very simple. You can find expats if you want, and you will see very few if you don't want to. Same as Manila and Cebu. If you go to other places like CDO you will see very few expats. One really nice thing about here is that in 10 minutes on a motorbike you can be up in the cooler mountains which I really love. 20 minutes south and you are at amazing beaches. Dumaguete can be exactly what you want it to be, the varied geography gives you more options here than I have found elsewhere. It is all about what each person wants. Cam

[@randellt]

@@free2roam674 Thanx for the great info..

[@philipjosephvanpeel5950]

The "heavy expat population" is grossly exagerated. Most of them live in neighboring towns and just come for shopping or the nightlife.

[@jamesmarchetti3286]

Great video and my first one with Valencia in it !!!

[@poizonflowerx6766]

Nice video like the walk about feel

[@guysavoy626]

Enjoying your vlogs!

[@MALNTV]

I really do appreciate this new format. Thank you for the tour of this gorgeous area! Once you get your finances in order, upgrade to an Osmo Action 4 (much better low light than GoPro).

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

Yea I heard it was much better I'll definitely be looking at it

[@Sammiinthephilippines]

Thanks for sharing this . If ever you looking expat in day time , try to go to ground zero about noon time a lot of expat there. I'm thankful you visited my place. I hope you can meet some vlogers too here so you may know more about Dumaguete City. Stay safe of travel.

[@Deltadawg]

I’ve been to that waterfalls…it’s over 300 steps straight down the cliff, the steps are 10-14” tall….you are required to go with a guide because crossing the river can be dangerous, it’s not deep but the current is very fast. 3 weeks before we did it a British guy fell in the river and broke some bones, it took 6 men to carry him out. It only takes about 40 minutes to get there. It’s worth the hike, it drops over 100’ straight down, incredible pictures….i highly recommend it. I think it’s 200 peso for the guide. She was so good we gave her a 400 peso tip.

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

Definitely sounds like a great deal and something to try

[@davidscott820]

Love that pub you had dinner at...awesome place! Keep em coming mate.

[@juliogonzalez4764]

Spent about 8 days in Dumaguete and Dauin. I met my filipina and spent 9 days in Cebu. Dumaguete is nice but pretty congested and if you ride in a tricycle, wear a mask the exhaust from cars and motorbikes is pretty bad. I am planning on moving somewhere in Dauin, Bacong or Valencia. I'm in Thailand now but will return to Philippines in a week, for the rest of my vacation. The Philippines is a very nice place and I can't wait to retire and move.

[@i-am-your-conscience]

26:32 best come on Sunday, because then you also can do the sunday market, maybe meeting some younger expats also. Dauin also has some younger ones

[@walkwithyan]

silvanas from dumaguete is famous and sold in metro manila. everybody loves it. 😊

[@localtime824]

Yes nice place 🙂

[@graceylifestyle593]

I miss Dumaguete and soon I will be back again🙏thank you for sharing!

[@blackgrandpa7652]

Shout out from a fellow canuck here in Brampton Ontario Canada

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

Hey I lived in Brampton too!

[@Foreverman1962]

I was there 2 months ago. Dumaguete is my favorite city. I'm currently building a house about a 3 hour ride to the north in Mabinay. Lots of caves to explore out there. Enjoy your time there.

[@SuperMaverick4u]

Thank you for promoting Dumagaete Mike…

[@JRINASIA]

Mike, coming from Japan. I visited Dumaguete twice. Great city. Can’t wait to return to Dumaguete. Great video.

[@JDGxyz-t7c]

Beautiful!

[@debralarrabee4530]

Michael, thank you for continuing to show so many wonderful places there. I hope you will be able to purchase some land like you initially talked about.

[@greatwhitenorth3717]

I am from Vancouver and live in the burbs and Mike you are spot on about pricing$$ Staring at retiremt and planning longer stays in the Philippines. I am sure your vlogs will temper my future plans. Keep doing you...look forward to your content.

[@commonsenseisntcommon1776]

You mean Hong-couver?

[@ShikokuFoodForest]

@commonsenseisntcommon1776 Hong-couver is said as a joke, but it is the very sad reality for us present and former Vancouverites. Our government was very negligent allowing offshore investment in Vancouver’s real estate market for many decades while I was just beginning my professional career. Thanks to all the offshore investors from Hong Kong and China, real estate prices remained far out of reach financially and continued rising at a much higher rate than my salary in large part to these offshore investors. My chance at buying into the real estate market of my home city was ruined forever. I’m not racist and have had many Asian friends over the years, but really felt this should have and could have been prevented with protective government policy. All those Asians are very rich with a good life in Vancouver now and I’m forced to retire in the Philippines. I was born into a middle class family in Canada in the early 60s.

[@36handy]

@@ShikokuFoodForest - Victoria is very expensive and its not from the Chinese. Canada in general is very expensive. But that what you get from electing a Liberal NDP government.

[@ShikokuFoodForest]

@@36handy Hello, you are right. I love Victoria and the whole Vancouver Island. I lived there for 7 years and graduated from UVic 2x and Camosun College 1x. Rest of my life, lived in Vancouver. Yes, all of Canada is expensive now - even far up north in the subarctic where I was forced financially to live. I finally left and moved to southern Japan. It doesn’t really matter now why all of Canada is unaffordable for first-time home buyers. All in the past. Even if prices dropped 50+%, which will never happen, still too expensive. Everyone I know back in Vancouver owns houses now well over $1M and many bought in decades ago when prices were ~$200+K.

[@36handy]

@@ShikokuFoodForest - Hey I went to Camsun Collage too. I move back and forth between Victoria and Calgary. Love the place but total costs are killing a lot of people. I took a trip to China, HKong, and Taiwan later year. I was blown away by the area. Going back this year to scout out Thailand and maybe stop over in Tokyo.

[@myrnamorales5683]

Love your content learn history

[@catinthehat5080]

Great video !, good information, I really like what your doing.

[@abcamacho6187]

Yesssss keep the videos going bro!! Good numbers on the last few videos and need to keep that momentum going.

[@karlburkhamer994]

Digging your positive channel. Wife (from Cebu) and I expect to return next year for good. She's happy, been 40+ years except for short family visits. Good info.

[@samquinn6427]

One of the best videos I seen of Dumaguete and adjoining towns.

[@rosalinashea5493]

Thanks for showing all around . Im missed my family already seeing your video… also helps a lot.

[@brettrichards8332]

Video quality is A 1

[@chrissmith9538]

Great video Good info. Thankyou 👍🇨🇦

[@marijolivitzky4336]

We stayed at Bethel when we're there four years ago, it's a very nice and clean place, but the boulevard extension was not done yet.

[@user-xz6dr6yf3w]

Turn the page on Iloilo. MOVE to Dumaguete.

[@user-bw9sh2mj5p]

Great video its beautiful

[@hurleywilson7246]

Nice. You might want to avoid lloilo due to still low power.

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

I've heard so.much about it, I'm hopeful that it will be rectified by today sometime

[@stevewilcox9173]

Great work Micheal.

[@marian-689]

Wow that's beautiful🥰

[@fcaputo2012]

I am enjoying your videos.

[@JulieNamoco-mw3xp]

Enjoy your stay in Dumaguete

[@jhun0427]

Oh my beloved home town VALENCIA..❤

[@jilliebo]

Im from Calgary and now living in Lopez, Quezon and I have to agree about the driving. I wondered about that for a while. Why is the driving here so crazy but hardly any accidents? What you said about it makes total sense.

[@dirtycompass3957]

Wow didn't think I would see a fellow Calgarian on here....cheers from the winter wonderland

[@fenderbend3r]

Great video Michael. Cannot wait to live in duma

[@jamiesimko]

I love Dumaguete. I'll be moving there later this year!

[@floribertosousa2251]

Hi Mike, I just became a new subscriber of your channel. Thank you for showing so much of Dumaguete especially at night. Dumaguete at night looks a lot like Clearwater and Tampa Florida, U.S.A. that I visited a few years ago. Thanks Mike for this great video of Dumaguete and Valencia,..two of my "FAVORITE" places in the Philippines. Take care.

[@user-wo2kr1gu1c]

I just came back from the Philippines, I enjoyed the food but oh my gosh, the sidewalks in the Philippines were horrible, very uneven, you see dog poop all over, paved as if the workers did not care how it looked as long as they can present a side walk done, very disappointing. I am hoping the next generation of local government officials will consider aesthetic everytime they make a project such as a sidewalk. Philippines is truly beautiful naturally except the local and national government had not developed the tourist spots well for tourists to enjoy to the fullest the scenery. Thanks Michael for promoting the Philippines.

[@paulgabriel2898]

Subscribed - just keep vlogging my friend -

[@enroutenegros3391]

Welcome to Dumaguete and Negros. Enjoy ur stay

[@mikelloyd5780]

😅 looks good I will try there in April before I go to Siquijor

[@rolfbertshit]

Yes right, i been in Duma in October 2022 and met up with GIO at the Ground Zero. I think GIO shows more of the surrounding area than Paul old dog. Mike, i have been starting to watch your videos about for the last month. Very good info about most places you travel too. I live in Cabanatuan City.

[@jlmarc01]

I will be traveling to Duma In March. It will be interesting. The University is where u will see a lot of foreign students

[@ThatPhilippinesLife]

It's Christmas/new year's break I think for them this week? Did t really see any students except the gaming centers all across town seemed to be all full all night. The place I stayed at had terrible internet and I went looking at 2am for internet

[@joealley1196]

Welcome to my hometown.