You need to decide what you want, you can either be in the middle of the city or outside the city for a little bit more relaxed and rural life.
Getting around Manila is a bit of a pain, but if you live near the MRT/LRT lines it makes life a million times easier as that shuttles you past all the traffic to most places that you need to go.
We lived in Marikina which is named the cleanest place in Manila, and is just on the outskirts of the city so easy to get to all the nightlife and fun, with some well priced apartments available.
Have a look at google maps, look on www.sulit.com.ph for apartments and try to choose what kind of lifestyle you want.
