Moving and living in Davao City was never part of our plan when we got married.
However due to an uncertainty in my career last 2018, I had to look for another job.
And apparently the opportunity presented itself with a sponsored relocation to Davao City to work at Phoenix Petroleum Inc. HQ as a Data Architect.
This was our first major decision as newly married couple so we listed our pros and cons.
I also shared to my wife how I felt when I first traveled in Davao City around 2014 or 2015. I felt safe and had the desire to live there if given the chance.
Our another major decision factor was because our local church that time has a satellite campus in the city. But sadly after 4 productive years, we had to leave. Here’s why.
Lastly, even though my wife had to sacrifice her career at Citibank for my career, she was very open and very much excited for this new experience in our journey together. 🥰
Fresh start
We didn’t explore much in terms of tourists destinations during our first couple of years.
We just tried to settle down first and just continued serving in the ministry.
Coming from Manila, we loved the mix of the city life and the slow vibes of province at the same time.
We can list down all our cost savings as compared to living in Manila.
It was very good that’s why we loved it here.
Plus it’s just a two hour flight back to Manila to visit family & friends.
However, Covid-19 happened.
Pandemic
We got locked down here.
There was very strict travel restrictions specially for none front liners like us.
And this was the moment that we thought and prayed for our own home as the support for home rental from my company were halted due to this pandemic.
Yes we finally decided during the pandemic to settle down here for good.
Local travel has eased on 2021 for a bit so we can look around the city without heavy traffic. What a blessing!
Settled down
Finally after so many places and houses that we scouted, we were able to assume a house & lot via Pag-Ibig Housing Loan.
However, it was never an easy process but a very good experience for adulting couple like us.
But we will never assume a house & lot again. 😅
I actually got infected by Covid-19 for processing those never ending documents. And then we all got the virus at home. 🥲
Thankfully and by the grace of God, we were able to survive. And just after a few months, even though our new home were not 100% completely renovated that time, we finally moved and officially settled in Davao City last September 2021. 🏡
