(Photo courtesy of PNA)
DARAGA, Albay — What began as a search for a quieter life turned into a journey toward self-sufficiency for millennial couple Gerald and Maric Fuentes, who traded urban conveniences for an off-grid home in the uplands of Masbate.
In 2024, the couple left Bulacan and relocated to Masbate City, hoping to embrace a slower pace of life. However, frequent power interruptions and an unreliable water supply soon pushed them to consider a more independent lifestyle.
For Maric, a freelance video editor, prolonged electricity outages were particularly challenging because her livelihood depended on a stable power supply and Internet connection.
“Some power outages lasted one to two days. They affected my work and made basic household tasks difficult. Those experiences pushed us to explore how we could establish our own systems,” she recalled.
After six months of renting an apartment in the city, the couple decided to move to an upland barangay about an hour from the city proper, with their nearest neighbors approximately a kilometer away.
Building a self-sufficient home
Today, the Fuentes family lives on a three-hectare property where they have gradually developed a small farm with poultry facilities, vegetable gardens, and independent water, electricity, and Internet systems.
Their journey toward off-grid living was not an overnight transformation but a series of practical decisions shaped by their experiences.
“We built what we could afford, learned from living with it, and saved for the next step,” Maric said.
Initially, the couple simply wanted a farmhouse where they could enjoy a peaceful environment.
However, difficulties with basic utilities encouraged them to explore solar energy, independent water systems, and food production.
“Each problem encouraged us to learn something new and look for a practical solution,” Maric explained.
For the 34-year-old mother, who spent most of her life in Manila, living on a farm fulfilled a long-held family dream.
Her husband Gerald, a Masbate native who had always wanted to study agriculture, also found an opportunity to pursue his passion for farming.
Beyond personal fulfillment, the couple hopes their lifestyle will teach their six-year-old son, Khyler, valuable lessons about food production, responsibility, and appreciation for nature.
“We want our son to understand where everyday necessities come from. We want him to experience planting food, caring for animals, and seeing how much effort goes into the things we sometimes take for granted,” Gerald said.
The challenges behind off-grid living
Despite the peace and independence their lifestyle provides, the couple acknowledged that living away from established utility networks requires substantial financial investment, careful planning, and sacrifices.
“We love our life here, but we want to be honest about what it requires. The peace we enjoy comes with adjustments, responsibilities, and sacrifices,” Maric said.
Installing solar panels, establishing a reliable water source, and maintaining their systems required significant expenses.
The family also had to adjust to limited access to supermarkets, restaurants, and other conveniences commonly available in urban areas.
“On the farm, we have to plan our groceries, supplies, and trips to the city. Sometimes a craving simply has to wait, or I have to learn how to cook it myself,” Maric shared.
Gerald said one of their biggest concerns is access to specialized healthcare services, prompting the family to establish emergency plans for medical situations.
Rebuilding after a destructive storm
Their commitment to off-grid living faced a major test in September 2025 when Severe Tropical Storm Opong, internationally known as Bualoi, severely damaged their farm and independent utility systems.
The destruction forced the family to temporarily leave Masbate and spend two months in Manila while recovering from the experience.
Despite the setback, they eventually returned to rebuild their home and continue the life they had worked hard to establish.
“We came back because even after Opong, we still wanted the life we were building in Masbate. Our farm, our community, and our dreams for our family were still there,” Maric said.
The experience reinforced their determination to continue developing their property despite the risks and responsibilities associated with rural living.
A step-by-step journey
For families considering a similar lifestyle, Gerald advised starting small and gradually building the necessary infrastructure before making a permanent move.
The couple began by securing land, planting trees, preparing poultry facilities, and developing their farm.
They later established their water supply, installed solar power, and secured an Internet connection to support Maric’s work.
Only after these essential systems were operational did they fully commit to living off-grid.
Maric emphasized that self-sufficiency does not eliminate every challenge and that maintaining independent systems requires continued financial and physical effort.
“Of course, living off-grid isn’t the solution to everything. We’ve spent a lot of money building our own systems, and maintaining them comes with responsibilities, too,” she said.
Nevertheless, the experience changed how she views conventional living arrangements and the possibilities of creating alternative solutions.
“But it made me realize something. Just because we’ve gotten used to a system doesn’t mean we shouldn’t question it. And just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way.”
For the Fuentes family, off-grid living is more than an escape from city life. It is a continuing journey of resilience, independence, and building a future centered on family, sustainability, and a deeper connection with nature.
