The consul sent her email to just over 40 contacts in and around the Davao area but, she told us, some were bounced back. The guestimate of the Embassy is that only 10% of British ex-pats have actually registered on the LOCATE system. This would suggest that there are two or three hundred altogether in the area - say GenSan through to Nabuntaran. I know of at least six others here in Tagum, and I'm sure there are more.
Like Peter's friend, I don't go out of my way to form friendships with other Brits. Of those I have met, many are not the sort of people I would be great buddies with if in the UK ... the only connection we have is that we've moved to Tagum - not necessarily a good basis for forming a friendship.
There is an ex-pat association in Davao (all nationalities), and a smaller off-shoot here in Tagum (with an Internet mailing list) but, predictably, the majority of the members are Americans. The Davao group meets in Coco's bar/restaurant once a month, and the Tagum group meets in the Golden Palace Hotel once a month - I have not attended any of the meetings.
