I’m retiring in my 30s because ang sarap maging tambay.

Alam ko na ang feeling ng tambay… walang ibang iniisip, gigising ng maaga kasi tama ang body clock, upo lang sa kanto, hawak isang tasang kape, higop-higop… nood sa mga kapitbahay na gumising ng alas-sais para bumili ng Sunsilk sa tindahan, tapos aalis bago mag alas-siyete… at kahit maaga na nga, sisiksikin pa rin sa MRT… o standing ovation sa bus, at kung sinuswerte ka that day you’d be dramatically pressed against the wind shield.

Pero ayaw kong maging tambay lang, gusto ko maging tambay na mapera!

When I had a miscarriage, I had the luxury of a 2-month paid leave. Amidst the healing, that break gave me a taste of absolute freedom. For the first time in my entire life, I wasn’t rushing. I realized right then that early retirement wasn’t just a dream—it was a necessity. That was about the time I started FIRE. I was inspired, I did better at my job, and within a year, I became a peso millionaire. Now, almost half of my salary goes straight to investments.

But if you see me, you wouldn’t think I am one. I own just a pair of rubber shoes, a few nice blouses on repeat and I don’t carry a luxury bag over my shoulder… on purpose!

Although undeniably, there are things that change in you once you get that first million… it’s almost humbling. You lose the desire for new and fancy things, showing off becomes cringe, and making other people think you don’t have money, when you do, becomes almost a kink.

As a Filipina from a humble background, I know how lucky I got. In this lifetime, I’m not a panganay breadwinner, nor a stay-at-home wife completely dependent on a husband. I got a spot in a high-earning, male-dominated field—and you best believe I will take one for the team and actually FIRE.

​Because I finally saw that employees are living in a trap they made for themselves. How come most of the money you make goes right back into sustaining said source of income? See, there’s time and money spent on looking good, pakikisama among colleagues, and commuting to actually be present at work. When you don’t have to work, you’d be surprised how much cheaper your living expenses actually get.

When you lose the desire to impress people who didn’t care about you from the start… life becomes simpler.

And when life is simple, your investments may just be able to afford your living ’til the end of your days!

​I want my time back. I want to take my holidays any day, without needing to time long weekends or carefully rationing a 15-day leave credit across a span of a year.

I’m retiring in my 30s. I’m in a rush because I no longer want to be in a rush… I want to be present in my body, I want to be a present mother to my child, and spend more time with my hubby. It’s possible in the Philippines… you just need the right resources and to be surrounded by the right people.