THE economy of the world has been in chaos since 2007. Now we’re leaving 2009 behind and usher in the Chinese Year of the Tiger. According to my friend Jiryn Encong, the lovely manager of SM City Cagayan de Oro, the Year of the Tiger calls to be resilient. And so, every Westerner in that hemisphere is encouraged to visit Cagayan de Oro. Just visit Cagayan de Oro located in the northernmost tip of Mindanao and feel the place for two weeks. You will never regret what you experience and you’ll find a home here.

There are lots of cozy homes available especially in middle-class subdivisions. The quality of these homes are roughly equal to those homes found in United States suburbs such as in the New Jersey and Virginia areas but the difference is in the price. Because of the very low cost of living here, the price of a middle-class abode in the Philippines and especially here in Cagayan de Oro is equal to the price of a socialized housing for welfare persons in the US. But the quality is definitely high. Real estate companies in the Philippines particularly in Cagayan de Oro are one of the most reliable in the world in terms of quality. They really walk what they talk.

Cagayan de Oro is being groomed as a retirement home for Westerners. The city is the most peaceful place in Mindanao. It is shaped like a basin so it is immune from typhoons. It is not located to a faultline. It has a very active expat community. You will not be alone nor lost in translation here in short. So what are you waiting for? Visit Cagayan de Oro today and feel the difference for yourself.