Part 1: The Beginning
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. It’s officially happening—Jessa and I are starting to build our house in Ronda! Our 1,500-square-meter property is now fully fenced, and we've cleared away all the bushes and weeds.
We're starting with a 35-square-meter temporary shack so we can live on-site during the build. Being here in person is absolutely necessary for construction in the Philippines. We’re also planning a storage unit and a parking area. I’m done with the nightmares of renting; it’s time for a simple, beautiful, debt-free home of our own. See you in the next one!
Part 2: They Keep Lying To Us
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. I just spent my first night camping on our land—literally, the wind blew my tent away! We’re making progress, but dealing with local suppliers is a headache. A hardware store in Ronda lied to us repeatedly about deliveries and even hung up on Jessa. We’re moving on to a more reliable supplier for the main build.
On the bright side, we’ve secured the land with a fence and got water connected. See you in the next one!
Part 3: Delivery At Last?
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. Dealing with local suppliers in Ronda has been a challenge—our original hardware store lied about stock and delivery, so I fired them and got our money back.
Thankfully, a new company from Moalboal delivered everything: sand, gravel, 400 hollow blocks, and cement. We’ve also extended the water pipes and set up "Camp Aksel" on the land for safety. With materials secured and the septic started, our carpenters will begin work this Monday. It’s all about rolling with the punches here in the Philippines. See you in the next one!
Part 4: It All Comes Together
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. We’re two weeks into the project, and things are finally coming together! The roof is up on our temporary home—which will eventually be our laundry room—and the storage unit is nearly finished.
We’ve officially got electricity connected, and I’m stoked to move in soon! Jessa and I are planning a simple setup with a floor mattress and a small office space to keep things functional. See you in the next one!
Part 5: Moving In
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. I’ve finally moved into our "temporary" house in Ronda! It’s actually what will be our laundry and storage room later, but for now, it’s home. I’ve set up my office with a killer view, and Starlink is officially up and running.
Jessa and Liam are coming soon, so I’m busy getting things ready—including doing the laundry! The workers are finishing the "skim coat" inside and waterproofing the roof. We’re keeping things simplistic and functional to save for the main house. It’s small, but it’s ours and debt-free. See you in the next one!
Part 6: I Fired Them All
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. Things took a turn this week—I actually had to fire our construction crew. They were good workers, but they started demanding pay for seven days while only putting in about eight hours a day. It felt like extortion, so I let them go.
I’ve brought in a new, bigger team to finish the job. Meanwhile, I spent hours cleaning up the massive mess the old crew left behind. We’re finally mounting the doors and windows, making our temporary "studio" feel real. We're building debt-free and on our own terms!
Part 7: The Cost So Far
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. We’ve finally finished our temporary home in Ronda, and I’m ready to share the total cost!
It wasn't easy—I even caught workers sleeping and had to fire the first crew! But living here while we build the main house will save us a fortune. We’re "glamping" for now with our temporary kitchen and airflow-focused design (no ceilings to avoid pests!). It’s simple, debt-free, and exactly where we want to be. See you in the next one!
Part 8: A New Road
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. We built a brand new road! The old path was a mess, and this new 40-meter stretch cost about 55,000 pesos—everything included.
It’s a smart investment because it saves us the same amount in labor for carrying materials up later. Plus, we officially bought our own "drive-in" land for 8,000 pesos to ensure permanent access. Next, we’re leveling the parking for our new car and finishing the storage unit.
Part 9: Parking Area And Slamming
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. Things are moving fast in Ronda! We just bought two new motorbikes—red for me and white for Jessa—and we're busy cementing our new parking area. It’s built on solid mountain rock, so while it’s not perfectly level, it’s a massive upgrade for our bikes and the car coming next week.
We’re also turning our land into a puppy sanctuary! Between the new road, the storage unit "slamming," and our growing pack of property dogs, the infrastructure is almost ready for the main house. See you in the next one!
Part 10: Huge Progress
Hey there, it’s Aksel! Welcome back to VibePinas. Today, I’m standing on our new 70-square-meter roof terrace! After two months of serious building with a professional crew, the main house structure is finally taking shape.
We’ve moved past the "temporary room" phase. The storage unit is now a guest room and my office, and we’ve secured the land with a perimeter fence. We’re building "overdimensioned" for strength, ensuring this home lasts. Despite the heat, the progress on the bedrooms and living area is incredible. We’re building our mountain dream debt-free and one step at a time. Thanks for following along!
Part 11: A Real-Life Paradise
In this update on our Ronda Mountain house build for VibePinas, I’m taking you through the latest construction progress. Despite recently being under the weather, I wanted to show you how the interior is shaping up, from the living room and kitchen layout to the custom bedrooms we’re creating for Liam and ourselves.
I also take a moment to address your questions about our solid cement roof, explaining the specialized "elastic" coating and curing process we're using to keep it leak-free. Managing a full build has its challenges, like having to let go of an unreliable electrician, but seeing it all come together—especially with those incredible ocean views—makes every hurdle worth it.
Part 12: Starting To Look Good
I’m excited to show you the massive progress we’ve made over the last two weeks on our mountain-top home in Cebu! In this update, I walk you through the major transformations, from the newly flattened land to the stunning interior reveals.
I’m particularly proud of how the modern kitchen with its marble backsplash and the sleek bathroom have come together. Along the way, I share some of the hard-earned lessons I've learned about choosing the right paints and windows for this unique location. We are finally doing it—turning this vision into a dream home for my family.
Part 13: Almost There:
It's Aksel here! In Part 13 of our Cebu house build, we’re finally in the "Final Push." Our one-story, 75 sqm home is looking solid with those blue-greyish walls finished. I take you through the nearly complete build. I also explain why I chose warm lighting to keep the mosquitoes away and address the "bad feng shui" comments about our door placement—optimized design always wins for me! We’re within budget, and I share some hard-earned tips for fellow expats on hiring the right crew and buying your own materials. We’re almost there!
