Freddie & Sony Palileo: We appreciate Seattle’s diversity in culture
There are many things to love about Seattle, say handsome Filipino couple Freddie Palileo and Sony Rodriguez-Palileo who have embraced the beauty of the place for more than 20 years now with their three daughters and one grandson.
“The four seasons are well-defined in Seattle—stunning summers, beautiful winters with minimal snow, lovely springs and amazing fall colors. While it does rain a lot in Seattle, the rainfall isn’t as heavy as in other states. Washington truly is the Evergreen State,” says Freddie.
“There are many beautiful parks and campgrounds. In our home country, there’s usually an entrance fee to visit nice parks or beaches. We were so excited to discover all the wonderful free parks here! In our early days, we’d often go, bring food and enjoy the breathtaking views. We also loved camping. It was a unique experience to set up a tent and live outdoors for a few days,” Sony narrates.
“We appreciate the diversity in food and culture,” the Palileos point out. “There are many museums, restaurants serving a wide variety of world cuisines, and international markets. We can even find Filipino food items and ingredients at Asian markets, so we can cook our favorite dishes from home.”
But first and foremost, Sony says, “My family is here. Freddie and I were the last to migrate; my mom and sister insisted on petitioning for us, and we’re glad they did. Everyone in our family is here now and that’s the main reason why I love it here.”
“And of course, the health insurance after retirement was a big draw. Sony and I were willing to start over and work for this because we knew we would only enjoy retirement if we had peace of mind about our medical needs.”
The Palileos migrated to Seattle in stages, between 2003 and 2015. They had concerns when they came in. “We were in our 50s, so finding jobs and a place to stay were our primary worries. Although my family offered us a place to stay while we worked, we wanted a place of our own,” Sony states. “Finding a job was more a concern for me than for Freddie, as he had work experience. It was a big relief that age and lack of experience were not barriers to employment, as long as you are willing to learn and work hard.”
Migrating in our 50s was a life-changing decision, the couple explains. “We agreed to start a life in Seattle on a clean slate, meaning no comparisons to our life in the Philippines. We were open to all options and opportunities, and committed to staying strong and united in facing any challenges.”
Both Freddie and Sony worked in retail—in Macy’s and Costco, respectively. Their lovely daughters pursued different paths: Isabel and Bettina are in the medical field, and Lara is in early learning.
“As retirees, we have many favorite activities and simple joys here. We love attending the Cherry Blossom Festival at the University of Washington every spring and the Tulip Festival at Skagit Valley. We enjoy the pedestrian-friendly environment and the freedom to walk to nearby parks. We also love taking short getaways to our favorite places, like Leavenworth and Oceanshores. Seattle’s proximity to Vancouver, British Columbia, offers even more travel opportunities.
“Even when the weather is bad, we find joy in simple things like relaxing at home, cooking comfort food and watching K-dramas.”
Be it ever so cold and rainy, Seattle offers warmth.
