Welcome back! Today is the start of a massive new chapter for Jessa, baby Liam, and me. We’ve made the big decision to leave the busy life behind and officially move up into the mountains of Ginatilan, Cebu. If you’ve seen our recent videos, you know we’ve been preparing for this "mountain life" for a while, but actually packing up and making the move is a whole different experience.
Moving in the Philippines is always an adventure, and moving to the "bukid" adds an extra layer of challenge. We had to coordinate getting our essentials up those winding mountain roads, but the moment you reach the top and feel that "free aircon" breeze, all the stress of the move just disappears. The view from up here is absolutely stunning—you can see the rolling hills and the distant ocean, and the peace is something you just can’t find in the city.
In this video, I wanted to give you a tour of our new surroundings and show you why we chose this specific spot. For me, coming from Norway, I’ve always appreciated nature, but there is something so raw and vibrant about the Cebuano mountains. It’s a simple life, and that’s exactly what we were looking for. We’re trading the noise of traffic for the sound of the wind and the birds, and it feels like the best decision we could have made for our family.
I also spent some time talking about the practical side of this move. We’re essentially starting from scratch in terms of setting up our daily rhythm here. It’s about learning where to get our water, how to manage our supplies, and getting to know our new neighbors. The local community has been so welcoming already. There’s a real sense of "Bayanihan" up here—everyone looks out for one another, and we’re excited to become a real part of this mountain barangay.
One of the best parts of this move is seeing how Liam is taking to the fresh air. He’s a "mountain boy" now, and knowing he’s growing up away from the pollution and the chaos of the city makes me very happy. Jessa is also in her element, already planning what we can plant and how we can make this space truly ours.
The reaction from all of you in the community has been incredible. So many of you have commented about how much you prefer the mountain life over the city, and it’s great to see so many fellow Ginatilanons reaching out! Whether you’re watching from Japan, Norway, or right here in Cebu, your support means the world to us as we start this journey.
Thanks for joining us for the big move. We have a lot of work ahead of us to turn this into our dream home, but we’re taking it one day at a time. Stay real, stay grounded, and I’ll see you in the next one!
