Recommendations: Places to Consider Living

There are many things new people like me need to find out to make a move to the Philippines as painless as possible. For example, I've heard Subic is really nice, especially for Expats. But not sure where to look to get some ideas about amenities and prices. Al;so, how do you get your mail forwarded to your new Philippine address? Setting up a bank account is probably simple. But, what is the best bank? Also, I know there are a couple shipping companies here in the US that send big boxes there for very low costs. Which one is best to use? So, is there anywhere I can go to get some of these answers? I'm planning my move in 2012, maybe late summer. So, I want to be prepared. Thanks to anyone for your help.

HI, Im coming to Cebu on Oct 28th and I need a small apt or house in Cebu for myself and my GF. Looking for walking distance to a beach, A/C, cable,Refrig and cooking area. internet access a positive. any help will be appreciated. thanks

Can anybody tell me the cost of living in the Phillipines for approximately a family of 6 kids?

Here is a cute interactive map of the world with their U.S. expat populations listed.  Philippines is number one in Asia - 105,000 U.S. citizens.  No surprise there.  Asia's cheap, friendly, English-speaking country.  Well, more or less. 

Hello everybody and hope all is good with you..Im an American guy living in NewYork. I am 38 years old and am engaged to a beautifull woman from Ormoc City in Leyte province..We will marry when she gets her visa and travels to me..I have been to the philippines in 2008 and visited Cebu, Ormoc,and Bohol..I had a great time..Im thinking of living in the Phills one day soon and was not sure where to live..I was thinking Cebu, Ormoc, or Taclabon..Im not sure to buy a house w/lot or a condo..Can somebody give me some information?.. Thanks very much..

Dumaguete is where I've spent most of my time while in the Philippines.  It's small enough so that we can live in a peaceful, bucolic setting yet be in the center of town in just ten minutes.

does anyone know about the flooding in cdo? what areas are flooded?

i have also heard that most parts of mindanao are still without power because of the bombing of the central electricity plant. does power work in davao/in cdo?

davao and cdo were the only places in davao that i did consider being safe. davao is in fact the only place where i could live because i do not tolerate pollution and only in davao it is illegal to pollute and only in davao it is also enforced. people get arrested in davao even when they sit outside a mall and pollute. this is excellent. problem is what happens after the mayor retires in 2010 ?

fred