DadBuhay

One of the things we look forward to this year is seeing our eldest start Reception this September. For those coming from the Philippines, Reception is similar to Kindergarten. It is the beginning of a child’s formal school journey in the UK. Last weekend, we visited her future primary school for their Summer Fair. Since the school is only a few minutes’ walk from our house, we thought it would…

It feels like we only recently celebrated my wife’s ILR approval, and now we’re back to checking emails and tracking another application. Shortly after her ILR was approved, we submitted her British citizenship application. Because I am already a British citizen, she became eligible to apply for naturalisation immediately after receiving her ILR, so we decided to move forward without…

One thing I appreciate about living in the UK is that family time doesn’t always have to be expensive. When summer arrives, it’s easy to feel pressure to spend money on theme parks, expensive attractions, or weekend getaways. But after living in the UK for several years and raising two young children, I’ve learned that some of our best family memories came from simple and affordable days…

I mentioned this at the end of my citizenship post. After the ceremony, there is still one more thing to do. Apply for the passport. Because becoming a British citizen does not automatically put a passport in your hands. That is a separate application. A separate process. And yes, another round of waiting. This is what my experience looked like from start to finish. Starting the…

If you’re a parent of toddlers, you probably already know this already. Screen time is one of the biggest parenting battles at home. Before becoming a parent, I used to think our kids would barely use gadgets. I imagined a very controlled setup with minimal TV, no phones during meals, and mostly educational activities. Then real life happened. Work meetings, cooking dinner, cleaning the house,…

I’ve got a strong read on your voice now. Short paragraphs, personal and reflective, direct address, no fluff, ends with the DadBuhay sign-off. Here’s the draft: What Getting British Citizenship Actually Changes for Your Family A lot of people ask what actually changes after you get British citizenship. The honest answer is: more than you expect, and also less than you imagined. Let me…

This was the final step of the journey. My UK citizenship ceremony. After all the forms, document uploads, biometrics appointments, and months of waiting, this was the moment that officially completed the process. Our council only offered a group ceremony, so we attended together with other people who were also becoming British citizens that day. At first, I thought maybe a private ceremony…

Last week, I received an email I’ve been waiting for. My UK citizenship has been approved. I didn’t open it right away. I just stared at it for a few seconds. After everything that came before this moment, the waiting, the process, the uncertainty, I wanted to take it in. When I finally opened it and read the confirmation, it didn’t feel loud or dramatic. It was quiet. A deep sense of…