As of 2015, the Philippines was in the top 25 countries in the world to retire, and it comes in third among the Asian countries. In the Philippines, the two provinces of Negros Island  — Negros Occidental to the west and Negros Oriental to the east — have always been cited as some of the ideal places to retire or settle in.

For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), expats, foreign nationals, and locals, the capital of both provinces, Bacolod City and Dumaguete City, as well as the surrounding areas of these cities, fit their needs for a more relaxed lifestyle after years of hard work. I have friends hailed in Manila who now contemplate of moving to Negros during their retirement age.

There are 10 reasons and more why people prefer to settle in Negros Island:

1.) Good Natural Environment

Located in the Visayas region of the country, the sock-shaped Negros Island is rich in natural resources that people have come to love and enjoy. It is the fourth largest island in the 7,107-archipelagic country and has a land area of 792,607 hectares.

Negros has plains, mountains, hills, and coastal areas.

The mountain ranges, the hidden natural resources, the plains, the beaches, the bodies of water within the island, including the beautiful weather conditions, are among the advantages of living in Negros.  It is also strategically located within the Philippine territories, sandwiched between Panay and Cebu islands.

2.) Nice Locations and Easy-to-Acquire Real Properties

There are many options when it comes to Negros Island Real Estate. According to E. Gatanela Realty Co., in its post Top 5 Reasons Why Foreigners Should Invest In Properties In The Philippines, “while the law prohibits them to buy their own land, it is possible for foreign nationals to acquire condominiums.” But apart from foreigners, Filipinos living abroad or OFWs also come home and settle in Negros, not to mention those who are from other major cities who prefer the quiet life in less busy cities like Bacolod and Dumaguete.

There are many properties to choose from in Negros.

You can rely on E. Gatanela Realty Co. because the company is a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered realty services company since January 3, 2007, and offers a full range of services to real estate owners and buyers in the Philippines, especially in Bacolod City and the Negros Island Region.

You can choose from condominiums to subdivisions within the cities, or properties in more remote areas, with various real estate developers in the Philippines that E. Gatanela Realty Co. supports, like Ayala Land, Inc., SM Development Corporation, Megaworld, Suntrust, Vista Land (Camella), and Sta. Lucia Realty.

Photo from the E. Gatanela Realty Co. Facebook page.

E. Gatanela Realty Co. can also help you find properties in Negros Occidental because the company is also an accredited real estate broker of MLD Realty (AKINA), Ferti Acres, Philippine Diversified Developers, Alunan Realty, Bantug Realty, and South Homes Realty, to name a few. The company is also accredited by banks such as BDO, BPI, Security Bank, China Bank, and Maybank, for their home loans financing.

Photo from the E. Gatanela Realty Co. Facebook page.

It can help you when it comes to Real Estate Appraisal, to know the fair market value of your property and determine its highest and best use and to maximize your income potentials; Real Estate Brokerage and Marketing, which includes free listing of your property for sale, promotion and advertising to find buyers, and actual sales transactions; and Legal Counseling and Advisory Services on real estate, which includes settlement of estates, cancellation of liens and encumbrances, including litigation to protect your rights as property owner.

3.) Low Cost of Living

Daily commute, commodities, home rental, food, and other basic needs are cheaper compared to living in the capital or in a major metropolis. The money you have saved up and the regular allowance received during retirement may be enough for your day-to-day budget if you live in any city or town in Negros. There are malls as well as small boutiques and stores that are found sprawling in various cities in the island.

Local cafes and stores are still around to serve your needs.

4.) Welcoming People

Filipinos are known to be kind and hospitable people. Negrenses, in particular, have the reputation of being the sweetest people in the country. I’m not sure if this is because they live in sugarlandia, but being happy and sweet seem to be innate to people living in Negros. Language is not even a barrier because most of them can speak and understand English.

Negrenses are happy and sweet. Even with the way they speak.

5.) Available Facilities

Respectable universities, good hospitals and medical facilities, water and electricity providers, banks and financial institutions, and other major facilities are found in the province. You are sure that there are amenities for your emergency needs and basic essentials at very affordable rates compared to their counterparts in cities in other countries.

Advanced medical facilities are available in the province.

6.) Healthy Options

What’s good about Negros Island is that it is known to be an organic island. The local government pushes for both provinces to support farmers and businesses that are into organic farming as well as enterprises that are into organic food and products. Not only that, since Bacolod and Dumaguete are not too congested, the air and atmosphere are still fresher than those in more urbanized cities.

One of the organic farms in the province.

7.) Relaxed Way of Life

Life in Bacolod City or Dumaguete City or the other towns and cities in Negros are not as fast-paced and busy as life in capital cities. People still have time for their families, for recreation, and for other things. While economy continues to thrive, the absence of too much traffic and work pressure that are usually present in head offices allow people to enjoy quality of life and balanced living.

You can drive all you want here.

8.) Lots of Opportunities

There are various economic, social and altruistic opportunities in the island. Business-wise, many OFWs and foreigners married to locals, have found their own niche in this thriving economic environment. Some have even come up with social enterprises that help support local communities. Small and medium-sized enterprises still flourish in Negros, despite the influx of national and multi-national companies and brands.

Local businesses have been in the area for decades.

9.) Many Recreational Activities

You can ride a horse in a ranch, hike to the mountains, swim in hot springs or beaches, go on a road trip, eat in local restaurants, have a picnic at a resort, or visit a cottage industry or a charitable institution. There are many things to do in Negros. Art, culture and history is abundant in this region. All year round, festivals are celebrated in many towns and cities. Sports activities are also lively here. From golf to soccer to basketball, you can enjoy them in Negros.

Go horseback riding in the ranch.

10.) Various Enjoyable Sights

Negros Island is home to Mt. Kanlaon, the highest peak in the territory and is an active volcano. There are numerous mountains and hills that are also found in Negros. There are also rivers crisscrossing various towns. And when there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls, which are aplenty in the island. Negros is also rich in beaches and hot springs and there are so many things to see. Believe me, I have come home almost two years ago after two decades of absence, and I still haven’t explored Negros and its surrounding islands.

There are more places to explore in Negros.

The list can go on and you can even add to what I have pointed out here. So, if you are or if you know of someone who is interested to settle in Negros, you can definitely make this your home. And if you plan to do it for the long term or permanently, you can scout for areas where you can live in Negros Island, may it be acquiring real estate in Bacolod City or nearby areas.

The E. Gatanela Realty Co. office.

For more information on properties in Negros Island or Bacolod real estate, check the EGatanelaRealtyCo FB page.  For more updates and inquiries on available properties, you can contact them through:

Gatanela Realty Co. office
Suite 4, 2nd Floor, LD Centre,
7th-Lacson Streets, Bacolod City, Philippines
(above Chowking-Lacson, in front of Capitol lagoon)
or e- mail them at gatanela.realty@yahoo.com,
or call (+63 34) 468-0314.

The buffalo statue is a landmark in the Negros Occidental capitol lagoon.

Sources:

http://internationalliving.com/2015/01/the-best-places-to-retire-2015/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/01/best-places-to-retire-abr_0_n_7483644.html
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/36708/news/ulatfilipino/negros-occidental-eyed-as-retirement-haven-for-ofws
http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/01/14/dumaguete-among-worlds-best-places-retire