Good afternoon and welcome back to VibePinas! After a week that felt like a month of navigating red tape and city traffic, I have some fantastic news: we are finally, finally heading home to the Ginatilan mountains.
Our last morning in the city didn't exactly start with the peaceful rest I’d hoped for. I was supposed to be up at 6:00 a.m. to edit and publish a video for you guys, but some "lovely" neighbors at our hotel decided that 5:30 a.m. was the perfect time for a 30-minute hammering session on their door. By the time they finally got in (or gave up), I was wide awake and then fell into that heavy, annoying second sleep that leaves you more tired than when you started. So, apologies for the delay, but sleep had to take priority for once!
Before we could hit the road, we had one final, dreaded boss to face: the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue). If you’re in the Philippines, you know that doing taxes for the first time is like trying to solve a puzzle where the pieces keep changing shape. We spent the morning at the BIR office in Talisay, only to find out we still needed a specific clearance from the Ginatilan municipality to ensure our taxes go to the right place. It’s a bit of a "one step forward, two steps back" situation, but the staff were actually quite helpful. We’ve realized we’ll need to make one more quick day trip back to the city next week once we have the local papers, but after that, we should be good!
After the tax drama, we tried to hit a couple of malls on the way out of town, but the "new normal" rules are still a complete mess. At Festival Mall, they wouldn't let Liam in without a mask. He’s a toddler—he treats a mask like a toy, not a medical device! Then, at another mall in Carcar, babies weren't allowed at all. It’s frustrating because every city and every mall seems to have its own set of rules. In the end, we decided to just push through to Moalboal, where things are usually a bit more relaxed for families.
We made a quick "emergency" stop at a mall in Moalboal just before it closed. We needed a temporary cooking solution for the mountain house since our full kitchen setup isn't ready yet. I managed to snag a simple induction cooktop for about 950 pesos (less than 20 euros). It’s perfect for boiling water, making soup, and frying up some fish while we live in the small house. We also grabbed a few essentials—eggs, chicken, and some supplies—because once we're up that mountain, we aren't coming down for a while!
The final leg of the journey was a classic Philippine mountain homecoming. The moment we started the climb, the heavens opened. It was a proper tropical downpour, the kind that makes the roads slippery enough to test even the Kia’s 4x4 capabilities. It’s like the mountains have this way of saying, "Are you sure you want to be here?"
But stepping into the house made it all worth it. We’ve been away for so long—first for my health issues and then for months after the typhoon. Seeing the new, solid roof Jessa’s dad built was a relief. It has a few minor leaks where the old materials were "mushed" by the storm, but compared to what it was, it’s a palace. We have no flooring yet, and the TV is currently just a 55-inch wall decoration, but it’s home.
I’m so stoked to be back. No more hotels, no more city noise—just mountain life, farming, and maybe even a little coconut tree climbing.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
