RustyC

Seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of place, with those I know split roughly 50-50. It's not as instantly likeable as Thailand or Malaysia and has a certain grot factor that some people can't get past, especially in places like Manila but also in some pretty drab secondary towns (Kalibo outside the festival could be the pits). With exception of Boracay it's hard to fly to a beach, with some of the better regarded ones still taking effort to reach.

It's easy to get depressed by the increased hassles, greater visible poverty or less creature comforts, but the human element and friendliness and factors like that can slowly grow on you.