Coming Home

Years abroad finally pay off for this family with a stunning home high above the metro.

- Janina H. Bautista

For Albert Calibara, who has been based in Saudi Arabia for over 30 years, working to provide a good life for his family is worth every hardship and sacrifice. “It’s hard to be separated from them. Every year, we only get together twice at most—during the summer break and at Christmas,” he begins. Decades of hard work finally paid off, as he was able to fulfill his long-term goal of financial stability, and build a new home for his family. Albert’s wife Marie currently stays with him abroad, while their two children are based here. With their retirement coming close, they wanted a place where they could settle with their children once back in the Philippines.

The family owns a condo unit in the metro, but Albert wanted their new home situated in a more serene and peaceful environment. He decided to purchase a lot in the hills of Rizal province. “It is a decent and quiet place, perfect for me and my family to settle,” explains Albert. The couple opted to build their home from ground up, to specifically incorporate their design preferences and needs. They enlisted the help of architectural firm Green Ideas, which counted among its projects several other properties in the subdivision.