Again Very General
TCINDR - again that is very general, I could write a really long post, but I'll give it a try.
One thing to keep in mind is that I am very gainfully employed in Manila, and only hang around on the beach with tourists on weekends. Due to my work, I automatically come in contact with a well-educated class of people right from the start. In the DR I've never been employed, so I had to make friends and acquaintances through trial and error, and it is not always easy meeting "proper" people during a 3 week holiday - that took me a few years in the DR. I also spend 85% of my waking hours stone sober in the Philippines, and in the DR there is usually nothing holding me back from cracking a few Presidente's every afternoon (morning?). This may have something to do with differences in perspectives but I will try to be as objective as possible.
I also lived in Nigeria for over 3 years before I came to the Philippines, so not many things shock me - culturally or otherwise.
Beaches / Watersports
The Philippines has over 7,000 islands, and therefore more beaches. There are many more small bays and coves to tuck into if you are travelling by water and there are areas where the sea is more frequently calm than in the DR due to the surrounding islans.
The diving in the Philippines is generally better, especially if you are interested in Marine life and/or WWII wrecks. The reefs here are teeming with life for the most part, and facilities are widely available. The DR may be more interesting for diving on old (100yrs +) wrecks.
Fishing. I guess it depends what you are fishing for. Although I haven't been fortunate enough to get one (in the DR), I think fishing for large billfish is better in the DR. On the other hand for Wahoo, Dorado, and smaller Sailfish I definately have better experience in the Philippines. Charter service (at least for proper boats) is much better/widely available in the DR.
For windsurfing / kitesurfing I think Cabarete is the capitol of the world for these sports. Nothing in the Philippines even comes close.
Tourism in general is more concentrated in the DR into a few areas, in the Philippines it is a bit more spread out. Most tourists also come from other Asian countries (if you think Germans or Americans appear to be rude in groups, try hanging out near a bunch of Koreans). I haven't seen an AI yet in the Philippines (thank God!!!), although a lot of hotels include breakfast and have full services should one choose to stay parked there.
Infrastructure
Around Manila the infrastructure is quite good. There is almost always power, although (to correct my OP on prices) very very expensive. Roads are also OK. Outside of Manila I guess it depends. Obvoisly smaller islands will not have their own power plant, and I think the medium sized islands experience brown (note: brown, not black) outs. The farther away you get from large cities, the less extensive the infrastructure, including roads.
Public transport is probably compareable, but much cheaper. I can take a taxi clear across Manila for $US 3.50, and I think a jeepny is probably less than $1. Domestic flights are reasonable with most destinations around $50 one way, Ferrys cost about half of that.
Telecommunication is probably a bit better in the Philippines, but that is something which can change rapidly. I can pick up a wireless internet connection from cell-towers almost the whole way from Manila to Puerto Galera (2 hr. drive, 1 hr. ferry), including out on the open sea between Islands.
Prices
Basically everything here (except electricity) is much, much cheaper than in the DR. I think this may have to do with the fact that the population is 10 x that of the DR and the domestic market is huge. In the DR there is to some extent an irrational pricing system that when the exchange rate goes up, everything goes up. When fuel goes up, everything goes up. Logically fuel and exchange rate can only effect certain cost components of certain goods (ie: if fuel is 30% of the cost component of running a transport business and fuel doubles, prices should only go up 15% and not 100%). Food products that aren't imported shouldn't go up at all when the exchange rate changes, etc.
I think (foreign) tourism is proportionally a much smaller part of the economy here, so if they doulbe the price of beer (just for example), they will price-out 99% of their consumers, as compared to perhaps only 65% (which may account for less than 65% of consumption) in the DR. Don't research these numbers, it's just an example.
Prices / Help
Services are also cheaper, and personell are generally more dependable than in the DR (again, perhaps because of my work situation, I am in contact with different circles of people). This ranges from personal staff like the maid, to the boat boy, to employees at work. They are generally on time, and are generally honest. I've never had 2 centavos missing out of my apartment or the change dish in my car without being asked, and I leave my office at work open all day and have never had a cell-phone or anything else go walkabout.
Also, I've only been hit up once to loan anyone money in the past 8 months - and that was $25 which was paid back one week later although this was a week's salary for the person in question. I've had much different experience in the DR. Lots of things missing off of my boat, out of the house, car, etc.
Safety / Security
Most parts of the Philippines are safe to move around in. I haven't heard of any incident's of petty crime (mugged on the street / house broken into / vehicle stolen) although of course it exists.
There is however the odd chance of bombs going off once in a while from the friends in the south (muslim rebels), or getting kidnapped. This problem is pretty much non-existant in the DR, but I also wouldn't over emphasise that pointin the Philippines, since the odds are small that one is effected if you stay away from Mindanao.
General Law & Order
I think there is a bit more "law & order" in the Philippines. The police are a bit corrupt, but as a foreigner I only see the benefit side. If I get caught in a traffic offense it costs about 5 bucks, and the cop sticks it right in his pocket, which I think is great. They usually only stop you if you are really doing something wrong.
For bigger things though, the police are quite helpful and do their job diligently, which I can also say has not always been my experience in the DR. A friend of mine (foreigner) was involved in a fender-bender a few weeks ago where the other driver (Filipino) was clearly at fault. Everyone rushed around and the police showed up. They made sure my friend got the other guy's insurance info & other details, gave the Filipino a traffic ticket and everyone went their own way. Three days later my friend was re-imbursed from the offender directly because he didn't want to file a claim.
There is a certain amount of chaos, but not so much to impede day to day life.
Real estate
Prices depend on the area and infrastructure I guess, but appear to be reasonable. Foreigners however can't legally own land. A lot of guys I know teamed up with their Filipina Mrs., and in most cases this works out - although I know of one guy right now who's partner is flipping out and trying to clean him out. I've heard of that problem much more frequently in the DR, but I guess "relationships" is a chapter in itself (which I won't get into).
Taxes
This issue is as complicated as each individual's situation. My employer withholds taxes, and I file a return at the end of the year as I would in Germany or the US.
If you run your own small business in the tourism sector (for example), I would say the tax collection system is about as efficient as in the DR, and I'll leave it at that.
Resident Expats
Another thing I noticed, which I don't really know how to categorize is how the resident expats interact with each other. For some reason I have the impression that they are a bit more at peace with each other than in the DR, especially in a "beach" setting. I am in Sabang Beach (beach strip with bars & a lot of dive shops) a few times each month and no one talks bad about others, at worst they say nothing. In Sosua I've had the experience that some (not all) business (read: bar) owners are not shy to intimate visitors with the intrigues of "local gossip" which is usually negative concerning the party in question.
"Culture Shock"
Again, I've lived many places so the "shock" for me is relative. Coming directy from Nigeria and spending holidays in the DR, I am shocked at how dependable and honest people can be. If however, I were coming directly from the US I might perceive that differently.
I am also amazed at how "Americanized" things are (especially in Manila) in the Philippines. Shopping malls, fast food, and almost everything consumers could want are plentiful.
The Philippines is also the third largest (by population) english speaking country in the world after the US and Nigeria, so communication is not a problem if you speak english - even in the villages.
Families are big and close-knit, similar to the DR. Family relationships have a high priority in most people's lives here. The country is also dominantly Catholic. This is clearly seen, but people adhere (or don't) to the "rules" similar like in the DR.
I could go on, but I've finnished my second cup of Coffee and have to get to the office.
