LIFE UPDATE: I MOVED TO THE PHILIPPINES!
When I say that this moment has been a long time coming, I’m not just talking about two years ago when I decided to process the paperwork to make my US/Philippine dual citizenship official and get the passport. Let me take you back a decade to the spring of 2016, where I studied abroad in Florence, Italy and caught a first glimpse of what life abroad could be like. Before that semester, I had experiences traveling to other countries and learning about new cultures. But at the end of those vacations, there was always a flight back home to catch and an inevitable return back to normal life.
This time was different though, because I began to develop a deeper curiosity for what lay beyond the confines of my comfort zone. If I traded the familiarity of living in the states for a completely new environment and way of life, who could I become? What destinations and cultures could I discover? In what ways could I grow? Where could life take me? It was from there that my dream of living abroad was born.
For years, my sights were set on moving back to Florence long-term. However, as much as I loved the version of myself that I found and cultivated there, something bigger (an inner knowing? my future self?) was calling to me. It was quietly but steadily nudging me towards another path.
It was a bit of a full circle moment when I committed to making the Philippines my destination. 30 years ago my parents pursued a new life in
America. And now I get to return home to the motherland with them and write a new and exciting chapter in the travel memoir that is my life. :)
For a bit of context, in the 70s my dad’s family emigrated from PH to the states, settling in San Francisco. Then in the 90s my dad brought my mom and then my sister and I were born in the Bay Area. Fast forward a few decades past moving to the DMV, living life on the East Coast and traveling the world whenever we could to 2024. My parents decided to retire, sell our house in Maryland and move back to PH. At the time, they were building a tiny home on a plot of land owned by my late grandparents (mom’s side), surrounded by a few of my mom’s siblings and their families.
As for what was going in my life, I was enjoying apartment life and city vibes with my sister (we lived in Bethesda, MD which is just a short metro ride from downtown DC). I was nurturing beautiful friendships and family relationships with loved ones and dedicating time to my creative passions. I also worked various jobs that were valuable stepping stones but weren’t ultimately what I wanted the career aspect of my life to look and feel like long-term.
During those years I would try all kinds of things to make progress towards achieving my goal, but nothing seemed to move the needle. At least that was what I thought at the time. Now that I have the power of hindsight, I can understand just how many things were truly working in my favor in order to get on that Philippine Airlines plane and kick off my tropical adventure. Every rejection was redirection. Every connection cut off was protection. Every unexpected opportunity that fell into my lap was propelling me forward. Every gesture of help offered to me was proof that not only is achieving my dream possible, but also that I am not alone in my journey.
Life said, the wait is over, it’s your turn now…
Mapuli na kami sa PINAS!!!
Let’s go to the PHILIPPINES!!!
So much effort and preparation went into this BIG move. I ended my apartment lease and decluttered to the extreme. I managed to fit my life into a 50lb suitcase, plus some balikbayan boxes (Basically a huge package sent by Filipinos abroad to their families back in PH. In this case I stuffed all my ceramics, books and art stuff that were too important to get rid of). I kept myself busy this past holiday season by doing extra side hustles and holding bake sales on top of picking up extra hours at work.
Another much more difficult challenge was saying see you soon (not goodbye, NEVER goodbye haha) to my best friend, who would be staying in the states. This is the first time we will have been this far apart and without knowing for how long (thank GOD for Facetime). I cried a lot. Though I feel at peace knowing that each of us is pursuing the lives that we dreamed of for so long. She got married last summer and became a first-time mom! And I’m traveling the world! Omg, it still doesn’t feel completely real saying that.
It’s been three weeks since arriving in Iloilo. I’m impressed by how much we’ve accomplished to unpack, get over jet lag, organize the house and start establishing a routine in our new environment. And I’m proud to say that I’m adjusting pretty well, given that I uprooted my old life to begin a new one. On the 15-hour plane ride from LA to Manila, I had a mixture of two feelings: “Yes! This is what I’ve been waiting for, I’m on the biggest adventure of my life!” and “Oh my God, what the fuck have I done?” Though the most prevalent feeling is the first one haha.
Honestly when pursuing an unconventional path, or when trying ANYTHING new for that matter, there’s at least some fear of the unfamiliar and not knowing what’s going to happen. But from my experience, that’s simply the moment right before life reveals to you blessings, opportunities, adventures and incredible growth. Come what may, I’m ready for it.
So if I could give myself advice as I navigate this new journey, I would keep it simple and say: be present, take things one moment at a time and believe that you will receive everything that’s meant for you at the right time.
And thank you to you for being here on this journey with me! Can’t wait to share with you my everyday life in Iloilo, island hopping around the Philippines, gallivanting across Southeast Asia, my creative projects and so much more!
