Buying Our First Christmas Tree in the Philippines

It’s October, and we’re going Christmas tree shopping—which, in the Philippines, means we’re already a little late. Last year, our townhome didn’t have room for a tree. This year, we finally have the space, and my girlfriend Zolla gets to decorate her first tree of her own. We ride into Iloilo, browse the Christmas displays at SM, stop for Korean BBQ, and get an eight-foot tree home even though we only have a scooter. Along the way, I talk about driving here, learning to accept help, and making room for different Christmas traditions. Life From Here follows my everyday life in the Philippines after quitting my corporate career and embracing a simpler lifestyle.