Keys to Freedom: How Homeownership Empowers Young Filipinos

Happy Independence Day, Philippines! Today, as we celebrate our country's hard-won freedom, I find myself reflecting on the quieter, more personal kinds of independence we each strive for.

- Nix L. Lañas REB

For me, that first real taste of freedom came when I moved out—powered solely by money I had earned on my own. I still remember the thrill of those early paychecks from projects I hustled hard to land. The amount wasn't life-changing, but the feeling was. For the first time, I could buy my own meals, pay my own bills, and carry my own weight. I wasn't just earning—I was standing on my own.

But as I would soon learn, financial independence is only the beginning.

LIVING UNDER ONE ROOF (THAT ISN'T YOURS)

That period right after college is tricky. You're technically an adult, but often still living under your parents' roof. If you're lucky, they'll let you stay rent-free—but that can come with a strange kind of guilt. Either they cover everything, or they start asking you to chip in when you're barely getting by.

You're trying to build something, but working from home means getting interrupted with random errands like banking and bill payments, calls for help like fixing the wifi or sending an email, grocery runs, meal preps, and even claiming someone's Shopee delivery.

Living rent-free doesn't always mean living freely. That realization pushed me to find my own space.

THE FIRST MOVE TOWARD FREEDOM