@ant - yes, I meant it as what you understood - that I wasn't really surprised that he could speak regular non-Aussie slang English. I know it's just his way of talking in the forum.
I've met Terry in BKK, BLD in Laos, Aging One in BKK and Bettyboo in Manila, in that order. All were top blokes.
@JP - yes, I know what you meant by looking non-Igorot. Your youngest daughter (the new doctor) looks more Filipino than Caucasian, if you don't mind my saying so. Or she could pass as Latina. (I have a pure Filipina friend, curly haired, who looks a bit Latina. She now lives in the US and ppl always mistake her for Latina/Mexican and speak Spanish to her.)
I've been to Roxas and Iloilo cities in Panay island, also to Bacolod in Negros island. For me, they are provincial cities. Maybe like Udon Thani in TH? I don't know, but that's the closest that I can think of. I didn't really get to see a lot of Udon Thani, just a bird's eyeview.
Re: the province, yes it can get very rural, very provincial. Lack of public vehicles (even trikes), lack of electricity, lack of running water inside the house. Don't even think about internet, as that would be a luxury, especially in remote mountain villages. Kids in the mountains have to walk several kilometers to reach the govt/public schools. My dad's hometown is like that, very rural, but I grew up in a slightly more progressive town, and I cannot live in very rural conditions. Short holidsys to visit my relatives are OK, but to live there full time, nope!
And re: the rainy season, yes it can be brutal, depending on your location. We get an average of 20 typhoons a year. Earthquakes & volcanic eruptions once in a while. Taal Volcano eruption was just last January 12th. Pacific Ring of Fire, as y'all know.
Lots of problems in the PI: lack of infrastructure, corruption, natural calamities, overpopulation (104 million and counting!). Now there's the threat of the coronavirus, for which the health care system is not equipped for (that's in another thread).
Anyway, despite all these things, as we say here: it's more fun in the Philippines!