28 Mar 2024

Philippines: Island Paradise Meets Digital Life

After Indonesia's established digital nomad scene, I ventured to the Philippines to discover how 7,641 islands could reshape my remote work experience. From bustling Manila to pristine beaches and chocolate hills, here's my month-long journey through this incredible archipelago.

Week 1: Manila (5 Days)

Started in the capital to get my bearings and set up a work routine.

Work Setup:

  • Common Ground (BGC)

  • Clock In Coworking

  • Watershed PH

  • Coffee Project branches

Must-Do Experiences:

  • Intramuros walking tour

  • BGC modern art walk

  • Binondo food crawl

  • Salcedo Weekend Market

  • National Museum

  • Sunset at Manila Bay

Week 1-2: Siargao (8 Days)

Surf paradise with growing digital infrastructure.

Work Setup:

  • Loose Keys Moto Culture

  • Cafe Loca

  • Karma Cafe

  • The Nest Siargao

Highlights:

  • Cloud 9 surf breaks

  • Island hopping tour

  • Sugba Lagoon

  • Magpupungko Rock Pools

  • Sohoton Cove

  • Sunset at Secret Beach

Week 3: Bohol (7 Days)

Cultural heritage meets beachfront workspaces.

Work Setup:

  • Bellevue Resort Business Center

  • Bohol Bee Farm

  • Coffee Cat

  • The Buzzz Café

Must-Experience:

  • Chocolate Hills sunrise

  • Tarsier Sanctuary

  • Loboc River cruise

  • Alona Beach work days

  • Balicasag Island diving

  • Panglao night markets

Week 4: El Nido, Palawan (10 Days)

Saved the best for last.

Work Setup:

  • Focus Palawan

  • Happiness Beach Bar

  • Art Cafe

  • Frangipani Cafe

Highlights:

  • Island hopping tours

  • Hidden beaches

  • Big Lagoon kayaking

  • Nacpan Beach days

  • Las Cabanas sunset

  • Weekend scuba diving

Pro Tips for Philippines:

  1. Get a Globe and Smart SIM (coverage varies)

  2. Download Grab and Angkas apps

  3. Join local digital nomad Facebook groups

  4. Book accommodations with backup power

  5. Always have pocket WiFi as backup

  6. Check weather forecasts regularly

Transportation Between Islands:

  • Manila to Siargao: Cebu Pacific flight

  • Siargao to Bohol: Flight via Cebu

  • Bohol to El Nido: Flight via Manila

Budget Breakdown:

  • Accommodation: $700

  • Coworking: $150

  • Food: $400

  • Transport: $500

  • Activities: $350

  • Total: ~$2100

Internet Reliability By Location:

  • Manila: Excellent (100+ Mbps)

  • Siargao: Variable (5-30 Mbps)

  • Bohol: Good (20-50 Mbps)

  • El Nido: Variable (3-20 Mbps)

Digital Nomad Essentials:

  • Portable power bank

  • Multiple SIM cards

  • Pocket WiFi device

  • Waterproof cases

  • Surge protector

  • Cooling pad for laptop

Weather Considerations:

  • Best visited: December to May

  • Avoid: July to September (typhoon season)

  • Always check local weather patterns

  • Book flexible accommodations

The Philippines challenged and changed my perspective on remote work. Unlike Bali's established digital nomad scene, here I found myself creating workspaces in unexpected places - from beachfront bamboo cafes to hillside sanctuaries. The occasional power outages and internet challenges taught me to be more flexible with my schedule, often leading to more productive focused work sessions.

What surprised me most was how the famous Filipino hospitality extended to the digital nomad life. Cafe owners would save "the good workspace spot" for regulars, and local tech communities welcomed remote workers with open arms.

Pro tip: Schedule your most important video calls during early morning hours when internet traffic is lower and power supply is most stable. And always have a backup plan - some of my best work was done from unexpected locations when Plan A didn't work out!

© 2024, Zoe Hartley.

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