I Looked for My Retirement Home in the Philippines — Here’s Why I Chose Iloilo

I traveled through the Philippines looking for a place I could call home. Before retiring, I decided that Southeast Asia could be part of my next chapter. The Philippines was high on my list, so I began exploring the country—not only as a tourist, but also with the question in the back of my mind: Could I see myself living here? Starting in Manila, I traveled through Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Banaue, Baguio, Clark, and many other places. Each destination gave me something different to experience and helped me understand what I was really looking for. I wanted a place that wasn't too big or too small. A city where I could have access to good healthcare, walk easily, enjoy nature, and still be close to beaches, mountains, islands and the countryside. By the time I reached Clark, I had three destinations still remaining on my itinerary: Iloilo City, Bacolod, and Davao. I traveled to Iloilo first. And something unexpected happened. The more time I spent there, the more I felt that Iloilo had many of the things I had been looking for. The Esplanade became part of my daily life. I enjoyed the walkability, the city, the people, the access to healthcare, and the ability to explore nearby beaches, islands and countryside. I eventually changed my plans from short-term accommodations to a long-term lease in Iloilo. A couple of months later, I visited Bacolod. I enjoyed my time there, but I realized it didn't check all the boxes for me. I didn't feel that I wanted to live there every day. Davao is still on my list. I haven't visited yet, and I still plan to explore it. But I didn't need to visit every possible destination before knowing that Iloilo had become my home base. This is the story of my journey so far—of the places I visited, what I was looking for, what I discovered, and why I chose Iloilo City as my home. And choosing Iloilo didn't mean my travels stopped. Quite the opposite. It gave me a place to come home to while I continue exploring the Philippines and beyond. Thanks for joining me on the journey. 🇵🇭❤️ Chapters 00:00 My Search for a Place to Call Home 00:59 Before I Came to the Philippines 02:41 Arriving in Manila, Philippines 04:18 Cebu 05:38 Bohol 06:34 Dumaguete 07:37 Siquijor: The Healing Island 08:42 A Short Trip Back to America 09:19 Northern Luzon 10:18 Baguio 11:48 Angeles City and Clark 12:28 Arriving in Iloilo 13:09 The Esplanade 14:01 The Checklist 15:08 I Didn't Stop Traveling 15:58 When I Knew 16:42 Life Changed Too 17:27 Why Iloilo? 18:58 The Realization 19:48 Home 20:52 Closing #IloiloCity #RetirementPhilippines #RetireInThePhilippines #LivingInThePhilippines #PhilippinesTravel #PhilippinesRetirement #LifeInThePhilippines