The Right Place To Live - Is Valencia better Than Dumaguete?

Pea takes her friend Christine on a walking tour of Valencia, Negros Oriental — a small town just 15 minutes (10 km) west of Dumaguete City that's become increasingly popular with foreign retirees. Through on-the-ground footage of the wet market, plaza, sports facilities, and streets, plus interviews with expats and locals actually living there, Pea builds a practical picture of what daily life in Valencia looks like: what's available, what's missing, and whether it's a realistic alternative to the bigger city nearby.

Why Valencia is popular with foreigners: cooler temperatures and greenery ​

• About 200 meters above sea level, making it noticeably cooler than Dumaguete
• Considered one of the greenest towns in Negros Oriental
• Pea used to live here when she started her YouTube channel and never had to turn on her AC — several expats she's known confirmed the same experience
• Big deal for the electric bill, since Philippine electricity is expensive

The wet market: fresh, cheap, and not for the squeamish ​

• A traditional Filipino wet market with fresh produce, meat, fish, vegetables, and condiments — all locally grown
• No refrigeration on the meat — it's just laid out in the open, which Pea acknowledges would never pass a Western health inspection but jokes "we're still alive"
• Christine (from another part of the Philippines) says she's rarely seen foreigners shopping at a wet market in her hometown — maybe once or twice
• Pea's take: if you're adventurous and want to save money, this is the place, just "don't expect too much"
• Water sold in small plastic bags for one peso — Pea demonstrates the technique of biting the corner and drinking from the bag
• No big supermarkets — everything is mom-and-pop, locally managed, no Robinson's, SM, or Walmart equivalents
• If you need something unavailable in Valencia, Dumaguete is just a 15-minute ride away

Practical infrastructure and what's missing ​

• No taxis — transportation is by trikes (called "pedicab" locally, though Pea isn't sure why)
• There's a cooperative bank where locals can get loans, but the ATM likely won't accept international Mastercard or Visa — only works for local cooperative members
• Pea found one working ATM at a hotel that she used successfully with international cards
• There's a church, a school, and a Tourism Center — Valencia also has mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, rivers, and hiking trails
• Busy streets with no traffic lights — you just look both ways and run
• No malls, no big-name stores
• A Korean convenience store called "Seven Monkeys" — Christine gets asked if Pea is Korean because of her eyes, which amuses Pea

Sports and recreation at the plaza ​

• Basketball court where you can play with friendly locals — "Filipinos and basketball and boxing, that's our signature sports"
• Playground for kids (Pea and Christine play on the monkey bars and get laughed at by children)
• Tennis courts available
• Walking around the park in the evening is the primary nightlife

Expat interviews — consistent themes of contentment and simplicity ​

• Rick and wife (from the U.S., married to a Filipina): Been in Valencia for four years, originally came for vacation and never left. Wife is from Dumaguete. They make and sell peanut butter locally. Rick notes the bureaucratic nightmare of starting a business as a foreigner — FDA testing, sanitation seminars, the works. Pea points out that foreigners must marry a Filipino to own a business. They frequently go to Dumaguete for things Valencia doesn't have (supermarkets, malls)
• Unnamed couple (foreigner with Filipina girlfriend): Been in the Philippines on and off for two years. Came for the weather, the people, and his girlfriend. They find themselves going to Dumaguete often for shopping. Nightlife is minimal — "sometimes a little bit but not too much, we kind of stay away from that." Mostly do day trips and wander around
• Tim (American, 2 years in Valencia): Found his apartment through a realtor and it "checked all the boxes." Lives in a quiet neighborhood with no roosters — Pea is incredulous ("are you sure you're in the Philippines?"). Loves the cooler temperature, the greenery, the beauty. His one complaint: poverty and littering — "I wish the Filipino people would understand how beautiful their country is and not litter so much." Socializes with a group of mostly expat friends (U.S., married or with girlfriends), visiting each other's homes for drinks and dinner. Says it's very easy to make friends with locals — tells a story about walking up to a guy carrying a fighting rooster and just starting a conversation
• Amir (from Iran, 20 years in the Philippines): Came originally as a student at Silliman University, stayed, married a Filipina from Valencia. Says foreigners choose Valencia over Dumaguete for better weather, no traffic, less pollution, cleaner environment, and cool people. Speaks Bisaya fluently. Confirms foreigners are happy there — "no doubt"

Christine's observations as a Filipina visitor ​

• Notes that foreigners in Valencia seem more comfortable and at ease compared to her hometown — "they're just walking around and having their time"
• In her hometown, Filipinos stare at foreigners — "it's a wow factor" — but in Valencia the locals seem more used to them
• She's impressed by the food portions — a Spanish omelette (potato, garlic, egg) for just 370 pesos feeds two people easily

The food stop: Spanish omelette at the plaza ​

• Pea orders three Spanish omelettes served by a woman named France — big portions at 370 pesos
• Served with Nola sauce
• The lunch scene is casual and cheap, typical of Valencia's vibe

Pea's overall take ​

• Valencia offers a slower, cooler, greener, and cheaper lifestyle compared to Dumaguete
• You sacrifice malls, nightlife, big supermarkets, and some convenience
• Dumaguete is close enough that the trade-off is manageable for most people
• She signs off recommending it for anyone who wants a slower pace of life as their new home in the Philippines

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