Why We Never Left the Philippines When We Were Younger

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Growing up in the Philippines, living abroad always felt like a privilege reserved for other people. People with savings. People with relatives overseas. People who could afford mistakes. For us, survival came first. Dreams came later — if there was any energy left for them.

Like many Filipinos, our biggest limitation wasn’t courage. It was resources.

We were poor. Not in a dramatic, inspirational-movie way, but in the quiet, everyday sense that shapes how you see the world.

The Lack of Resources

I didn’t have mobile phones until I am already working. During my college years, there were no gadgets to rely on, no safety nets to fall back on. Communication was basic. Life was practical.

During school, I am one of those students who lined up at the accounting office holding promissory notes just to take an exam. Two thousand (€28.80) pesos could already decide whether we moved forward or stayed behind. Tuition wasn’t just a number, it was a constant worry.

Many days, I walked to school. And walked back home. Not for fitness. Not for reflection. Simply because there was no extra money for fare.

I worked wherever I could. As student assistants. In fast-food chains during summer breaks. At one point, even driving a pedicab just to earn a little extra. Whatever work was available, I took it.

We didn’t own a house. We didn’t own land. And traveling outside the country? That was something I saw only on television or on other people’s social media feeds.

We didn’t leave the Philippines, not even for leisure, until we were already in our thirties.

So when people see us now and ask, “How did you end up in Spain?” the answer isn’t simple. Because the truth is, we didn’t arrive here because we were wealthy, influential, or fearless.

We arrived here because the world changed and because Spain quietly opened a door many Filipinos didn’t realize existed.

Dreams often came with a price we couldn’t afford — massive show money, long waiting periods, uncertain outcomes, and years of financial strain before stability even became a possibility.

Spain wasn’t part of that conversation.

And yet, it was Spain through the Spain Digital Nomad Visa (Spain DNV) that made our move possible.

Looking Back Without Regret

Sometimes we wonder what would’ve happened if we had invested earlier — not money, but perspective. If we had known sooner that opportunity wasn’t always about leaving permanently, but about positioning yourself within a system that works.

The Philippines gave us resilience. Spain gave us room to breathe.

And maybe that’s how it was meant to be.

We weren’t late. We were just on a different timeline.

If you’re reading this from the Philippines, or anywhere else, and you feel like you’ve missed your chance, we want you to know this: Spain didn’t ask about our past. It asked about our present.

The Spain Digital Nomad Visa doesn’t reward privilege. It rewards proof.

Proof that you can work remotely. Proof that you can sustain yourself. Proof that you’re ready.

For us , MJ & SEVEN in Spain, this life didn’t begin early. It began when it finally could.

And sometimes, that’s more than enough.

And maybe, just maybe, all the things that didn’t happen in the past were never failures or missed chances at all. Maybe they were preparation. Preparation for the timing, the place, and the life we’re living now.

We didn’t leave early because we weren’t meant to. We arrived when we were finally ready.

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