They left the US and moved to Spain—now they're helping other Filipinos do the same as digital nomads

What if the path to a new passport started with a YouTube search?

- By JAYVEE FERNANDEZ

Paul and Bea didn't just move to Spain. They built a thriving life in Valencia after leaving behind their successful wedding videography business in the US. Now, they're showing others how to do the same through their YouTube and Instagram accounts, offering invaluable advice for Filipinos navigating the journey to European residency.

I met Bea a lifetime ago when she was still working at The Picture Company and I for another publishing company for a shoot. Decades later I was introduced to her now husband Paul, as I married into their high school barkada. During one of their holiday visits to Manila, we sat down to talk about their journey from the US to Spain and their fast-growing online presence using a combination of skills they learned from a successful wedding photography business and scaled with AI.

What started as a simple documentation project is now a lifeline for aspiring digital nomads and remote workers from the Philippines.

Who are Paul and Bea? "Hi, we're Paul and Bea! We run a YouTube channel called Everything is Boffo, and we now call Valencia, Spain, our home."

I asked Paul what 'Boffo' meant and he said that it's a classic American slang that translates to "extremely great" which in a way is bittersweet and poetic, knowing what they went through as an immigrant couple. Their story resonates with thousands of Filipinos who wanted to pursue opportunities outside the country despite the country's weak passport standing.

Their journey is one of grit, guts, and major life pivots. After spending 13 years in the US and building a reputable wedding video business in Southern California, they hit a wall: despite their success, the green card never came. Then came the pandemic. With work on hold and uncertainty looming, they watched a YouTube video on the best places to live. Spain popped up.