LOOKING FOR A HOME TO RENT In The Philippines? Look No Further!

Pea tours a rental property in Dumaguete City with real estate agent Alma Al Montefalco, walking viewers through every room to show what kind of home a foreigner's money can get in the Philippines. The video serves as both a practical property showcase and an introduction to the quirks of Filipino home design that confuse Westerners.

Introduction to Alma, the real estate agent ​

• Alma Al Montefalco has been a realtor in Dumaguete City for five years
• Her clientele is overwhelmingly foreign — she has a few Filipino clients but works primarily with expats
• Pea positions Alma as "one of the trusted real estate agents" in the city and promises to include her contact information in the video description and pinned comment (since viewers always ask for it)
• Alma says she's available "any time of the day" — even when sleeping, she'll reply within two hours of waking up

The property overview ​

• 500 square meter lot area with a 200 square meter floor area
• Available for rent (6-month minimum, renewable for another 6 months) or for sale
• The property has rambutan fruit trees on site — Pea pauses to show viewers the fruit, which is sweet when ripe and turns red

Room-by-room tour ​

• Outdoor receiving area: Open space at the entrance that fits about 10 people for parties or gatherings — no table currently but room for one
• Living room: Newly purchased couch and TV included with the rental; leads into the master bedroom
• Master bedroom: Includes a Mandaue Foam bed frame (locally made, described as "very strong and solid"), built-in closet with two-door push-open design, sliding window with a view of the swimming pool, and a one-year-old split-type aircon unit that's never been used
• Master bathroom: Hot and cold shower with strong water pressure (both noted as important to foreigners). Features a floor partition/divider so the toilet area stays dry when someone's showering — Pea explains this is critical for couples. Also has a traditional Filipino backup faucet at floor level, which Pea explains is bizarre to Westerners ("why do you have that if you already have a shower?") but exists as an emergency water source if the main system malfunctions, used with a "tabo" (dipper)
• Breakfast bar/countertop: Located between the kitchen and living area; described as a space for guests to eat, drink wine, or have breakfast without crowding the main living room. Pea notes she installed a similar one at her mom's house. She jokes about the Japanese "body sushi" dining concept
• Kitchen: Gas range (not electric) — Pea emphasizes this matters because Philippine electricity is expensive and brownouts are frequent, so gas cooking is essential. Cabinets are at a height reachable by Filipinas (Pea is about 5'5" and can reach them with just a slight stretch, unlike some houses with cabinets designed for six-foot-tall foreigners). Standard Filipino plate-washing setup with no dishwasher
• Second bedroom: Comes furnished with a bed, split-type aircon (one year old), and built-in cabinets for clothes. Has its own bathroom with hot and cold shower
• Third bedroom: Slightly bigger than the second, has a queen-size bed with a window-type aircon, enough space for a side table or additional bed
• Fourth bedroom: Smallest room, no bed currently — could serve as a maid's quarter, home office, storage room, or small studio for content creation. Also has an aircon unit (not yet installed)
• General notes on the house: All bedrooms have aircon and closets. White paint throughout makes rooms feel bigger and cooler. Pea contrasts this with many Filipino houses that use different wild colors in every room — "like Mardi Gras"

The swimming pool (the property highlight) ​

• Approximately 18 feet by 10 feet, with depths of 4 feet to 6 feet
• Pea calls it the "masterpiece of the house"
• The shallow end works for shorter Filipinas who can't swim — they can just sit on the edge with feet in the water
• Plenty of space around the pool for barbecue and outdoor entertaining
• Pea jokes that she and Alma can't swim and would just stay in the shallow section

Pricing and terms ​

• Rent: 50,000 pesos per month (~$900 USD at the time)
• Sale price: 10 million pesos (~$180,000 USD) including all furniture
• Rental terms: 6-month minimum, renewable for another 6 months; requires 1 month advance + 2 months deposit
• Property can be reserved in advance through Alma

The humidity factor ​

• Even on a cloudy day, Pea and Alma are visibly sweating during the tour
• Pea emphasizes that aircon in the master bedroom is non-negotiable for foreigners: "they will melt"
• The split-type aircon throughout the house is highlighted as a major selling point

Pea's overall assessment ​

• The house is well-designed compared to many Filipino properties, with thoughtful features like the breakfast bar, strong water pressure, properly reachable cabinets, and consistent white paint
• She frames the tour as showing viewers "how much bang your buck has" in Philippine real estate

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