About SoloPhilippines

My name is Steve. I first arrived in the Philippines in November 2010, landing in Manila and flying on to Davao Oriental just before the Christmas holidays, and I lived in the Philippines for two years, including time in a condo in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig, Metro Manila. I returned to the United States when family responsibilities called me home, but the Philippines never left me. My wife, Cirila, is a Filipina from Lupon, Davao Oriental, and together we are working on a plan to build a seasonal retirement home on Samal Island, not far from her home province.

Steve in a white cap and Cirila smiling together in a shopping mall. — Steve and Cirila

Steve and Cirila smiling close together in a selfie at Market Market at Serendra. — Steve and Cirila

I came to open a private office that provided financial marketing to the brokerage community in the United States. After about three weeks in Davao Oriental we decided to go to Manila, where internet was faster and more modern. The recently built city of Fort Bonifacio was a perfect fit, with many of the biggest tech and banking companies and staff readily available to hire. I hired and trained a staff of Filipino citizens, and working side by side with them taught me a great deal about the country and its people.

Cirila and I met on an online dating site, and I’ll share that story in more detail here. I’ll always be upfront about it, including if we ever recommend a service. Cirila is my guide to the culture. She understands people, and many of the lessons on this site came from her.

I didn’t come with a perfect plan. I had to learn how daily life actually works there, how to navigate the culture, the paperwork, the relationships and the unexpected challenges that no travel blog fully prepares you for. Some lessons came the easy way and many came the hard way. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

What amazed me most from the very start was the people, the smiles and the laughter, even in times of great poverty for many. That spirit is a big part of why we are planning to return for part of every year.

I’m a former PADI Scuba Instructor and Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and I believe everyone deserves an oasis. I caught a glimpse of mine in 1992, teaching scuba on Kaanapali Beach in Maui. That place is gone now, and I’m still searching for the next one. Cirila and I are working toward it on Samal Island, close to her family. If the plan changes, I’ll tell you here.

Why SoloPhilippines

This website is our way of sharing what we have learned, so that other people considering solo travel, a longer stay, or even a move to the Philippines can make better-informed decisions than I did when I first arrived. It comes from time spent living there, the mistakes I made along the way, and now the real planning that goes into building a seasonal retirement home on Samal Island.

Whether you’re planning your first solo trip, thinking about spending a few months in the Philippines, or wondering what it takes to retire there, our goal is to give you practical, honest information based on real experience.

You’ll find guides on safety, timing your visit, itineraries and the things I wish someone had told me before I landed. Some of the content will be straightforward and practical. Some of it will come from the personal lessons that only time can teach.

If you’re standing at the edge of a big decision the way I once was, I hope something here helps you take the next step with clearer eyes.