08/03/2025
WHY BUILDING DREAM HOUSES BACK HOME IS A MISTAKE
For many Filipinos living abroad, especially in North America, there’s a common dream: to build a big, beautiful house back home. It’s a symbol of success, a way to show family and friends in the Philippines that all the years of sacrifice have paid off. But more often than not, this dream benefits others more than the person who worked so hard to make it happen.
Take Victoria, a caregiver in Toronto. She left the Philippines in her 30s to work abroad, dreaming of building a big house for her family in her homeprovince of Ilocos Sur. Over the years, Victoria sent most of her earnings back home to construct a two-story, six-bedroom house with a balcony overlooking the fields. The house was her pride and joy, something she imagined retiring to someday.
But Victoria never got to live in that house. Her siblings moved in to "look after it," enjoying its cool breeze, spacious rooms, and fresh paint. Victoria, meanwhile, stayed in a cramped apartment in Toronto, working long hours to pay bills and send more money home for repairs and maintenance.
She visited every few years, but only for short vacations. By the time Victoria was ready to retire, almost 20 years had passed. The house was no longer as grand as she imagined. The paint had faded, the furniture was worn, and cracks had started to show in the walls. Worse, Victoria, now in her 60s, was diagnosed with colon cancer. She passed away before she could even book her flight back to Philippines.
It’s not just Victoria’s story. Many Filipinos abroad sacrifice their present for a future that may never come. Take Juan, another Ilocano working as a warehouse supervisor in Vancouver. He spent 12 years building a nine-bedroom house in Ilocos Sur. He planned to retire there, but in the meantime, his cousins lived in the house. They held parties, enjoyed the comforts, and even rented out some rooms to neighbors.
Juan worked tirelessly, ignoring his health, and delayed medical check-ups. By the time he was diagnosed with lung cancer, it was too late. He passed away at 55, never setting foot in the house he worked so hard to build. His wife and children, who had no plans of returning to the Philippines, sold the property.
So why do we do this? For many Filipinos, building a house back home is tied to pride and societal expectations. It’s about showing the neighbors and relatives that “I made it.” But at what cost?
When you finally return home in your old age, what will you do with a massive house? At 65 or 70, you’ll likely want something simple and easy to manage. Maintaining a mansion—cleaning the rooms, repairing the roof, or paying for electricity—can become a burden, not a joy.
Compare this to retirees in North America. When they grow older, they downsize to smaller homes or retirement communities where life is simpler. Yet many Filipinos choose the opposite: they live modestly abroad and pour all their resources into a house they’ll barely use.
The lesson here is simple. Life is short and unpredictable. Plan for the future, but don’t forget to live today. Instead of building a mansion that others will enjoy, why not invest in experiences, health, or financial security that you and your family can benefit from right now?
As the saying goes, "A good home isn't about being big; it's about being happy with the people living in it."
So, while dreaming of Philippines, don’t forget to make the most of your life wherever you are. Live wisely, live fully, and don’t let your dreams become someone else’s reality.
