For this young couple, home is that little piece of heaven where they can truly be themselves.
An often quoted saying goes that our home is our castle. Home is the place that takes us away from business, duty, and stress of work. It is that space where we can unwind and unburden.
This vision of home lies at the heart of Junelyn Buera and Kent Serafin’s journey, and the birth of their own home in Serin East Tagaytay. Both June and Kent work in real estate, and like many young homeowners from the Millennial Generation, their journey began with a dream and an act of faith.
","optimizedContentImg":null,"optimizedContentImg1":null,"optimizedContentImg2":null,"optimizedContentImg3":null,"optimizedContentImg4":null,"message":null,"type":"component9","video":null},{"caption":"","caption1":null,"caption2":null,"caption3":null,"caption4":null,"title1":null,"title2":null,"title":null,"description1":null,"description2":null,"description":null,"optimizedContentImg":null,"optimizedContentImg1":null,"optimizedContentImg2":null,"optimizedContentImg3":null,"optimizedContentImg4":null,"message":"“When I moved here to Manila to study, I was renting for nine years. I soon realized that rather than continue incurring rental expenses, why not have our own property, to both mitigate the rental expenses and have our own property na rin,” said June. ","type":"component10","video":null},{"caption":null,"caption1":null,"caption2":null,"caption3":null,"caption4":null,"title1":null,"title2":null,"title":"","description1":null,"description2":null,"description":"Choosing Tagaytay was easy. The City for All Occasions is a classic summer destination, and an ideal retirement spot for many. It’s far enough away from the city for a holiday, but close enough to some of the best retail establishments in case you need or want anything.
At first, June and Kent weren’t considering buying a property in Tagaytay, but they were soon won over. For them, Serin is their weekend home. On and off, they’ve been staying in Serin for a little over a year, “Noong una, hindi namin siya nakitang option since ang work namin is in Metro Manila. Pero eventually, kailangan mo ng place to unwind, to relax yourself from the hustle and bustle of the metro,” said Kent. “Kumbaga ito yung pahinga namin,” echoed June.
Aside from being a personal place of rest, the unit is also a place for their loved ones to come together. After living in Serin for almost a year, June and Kent say that Serin’s community vibe has proven to be both a practical and quiet alternative that really provides an atmosphere conducive for family. “Ang maganda talaga yung nakakapagpahinga kami, or family gatherings dito kami nag mi-meet ng mga family namin instead of somewhere else,” Kent related.
In fact, they’re so happy that they’ve encouraged their relatives to invest in Avida property of their own. “To be honest, ki-no-convince ko yung mga relatives ko to invest o kumuha ng property din dito sa Serin. Kasi para sa akin, pang family talaga yung vibe niya, kasi you can come together to bond,” Kent said. And June agreed.
“Same din sa mga friends ko. I tell my friends na at a young age they have to consider investing kasi iba na yung generation natin ngayon, at kailangan talaga meron tayong sariling property,” she said. And speaking of property, a peek into their unit reveals the source of their inspiration for design. True to form, our lovely couple took their cue from the current cultural waves that have come to define the current generation: Korea.
","optimizedContentImg":null,"optimizedContentImg1":null,"optimizedContentImg2":null,"optimizedContentImg3":null,"optimizedContentImg4":null,"message":null,"type":"component9","video":null},{"caption":null,"caption1":null,"caption2":null,"caption3":null,"caption4":null,"title1":null,"title2":null,"title":"A Korean-inspired home","description1":null,"description2":null,"description":"Pundits have described Korean interior design as “a captivating blend of modern elegance and traditional charm.[1] Some of its key features are the use of natural materials such as wood, stone, and textiles. Natural light is a big thing too. These elements strive to create an atmosphere of tranquility and warmth within the given space. On a more functional level, Korean design strives to create flexible spaces where occupants can move freely, thanks to generally open floor plans. These played pivotal roles for June when she was thinking about the kind of atmosphere she wanted to create with Kent for their unit.
“Noong na-turnover ito, nagkaroon ako ng idea na why not have a Korean-inspired unit? So yun yung naging inspiration. Pati yung color palette niya, such as yung white and gray, and kahit yung touch of wood, para masunod yung concept,” June said. And whenever she comes home to the unit, a simple line captures it best. “Feeling ko kapag nandito ‘ko para akong nasa ibang bansa. Nagpapahinga ako, nagbabakasyon ako,” she said.
No journey is complete without its obstacles. And Kent and June have certainly had their share. But their home – and their relationship, is proof that every obstacle can be overcome with the right amount of communication, and by being hands-on. “Literally nagbuhat ako ng mga gamit, bumili ng materials at kami yung nag-install ng mga gamit din. And yung challenge doon is i-visualize mo muna, kung talaga bang okay ilagay yung isang bagay. Marami kang iko-consider kasi once nakabit mo na, mahirap nang magtanggal, uulitin mo siya lahat. Pero masaya siyang gawin,” Kent said. But the work pales in comparison to life’s greatest rewards: Peace of mind, and a place to truly call home. Kent’s favorite part of the day is when he gets to kick back, set aside work matters, and unwind. Mix good food, add a little Netflix, with a smattering of good conversation, and that’s always a winning recipe for ending the day.
They both have their favorite spots in the house. One favorite spot for both of them is the living area, since this is the place for them to relax, watch movies or series, and de-compress. June loves the kitchen and dining area too, because that’s the place they get to bond with family.
","optimizedContentImg":null,"optimizedContentImg1":null,"optimizedContentImg2":null,"optimizedContentImg3":null,"optimizedContentImg4":null,"message":null,"type":"component9","video":null},{"caption":null,"caption1":null,"caption2":null,"caption3":null,"caption4":null,"title1":null,"title2":null,"title":"To a Fearless Future ","description1":null,"description2":null,"description":"As June and Kent map out the horizons for their future together, they offer words of encouragement to their fellow millennials, and to anyone to dream of owning a home – embrace the path to eventual ownership with courage, and don’t be afraid. “Huwag kayong matakot. Dahil nasa real estate din ako, ang dami kong na-e-encounter na ka-edad ko na feeling nila natatakot sila, na baka hindi nila ma-sustain yung commitment. Pero kapag nandoon na ang isang bagay na talagang gusto mo, you will find yourself working hard for it. Kasi may pangarap tayo eh. Your dreams will motivate you to succeed and find a way,” June shared.
And true to the work of their own hands, June and Kent joyfully look forward to building more memories and just like their commitment to one another, when they were asked if they found the right place, together, they said “yes.”
So, swing by Serin East Tagaytay. It may just be the piece of heaven you’re looking for.
[1] Jasper Wren “Korea Home Design: Exploring the Unique Aesthetics of Korean Interior Design” COOHOM.
","optimizedContentImg":null,"optimizedContentImg1":null,"optimizedContentImg2":null,"optimizedContentImg3":null,"optimizedContentImg4":null,"message":null,"type":"component9","video":null}],"tags":[]},"recentArticles":{"nodes":[{"id":"9f566257-1cbc-52e9-9a33-b37fadedefd4","title":"Avida Towers Verge: Designed for the Young Professionals of Today","slug":"avida-towers-verge-designed-for-the-young-professionals-of-today","category":"people","datePublished":"October 11, 2025","featuredImage":"https://rbgcms-alb-prod.ayalaland.com/content/uploads/images/1761144341050-7998978-yjj3h88mwva.jpg","optimizedFeaturedImg":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#c8d8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/d163c686ce02fabad81633bf83c12dc5/d5aed/1761144341050-7998978-yjj3h88mwva.webp","srcSet":"/static/d163c686ce02fabad81633bf83c12dc5/df859/1761144341050-7998978-yjj3h88mwva.webp 1752w,\n/static/d163c686ce02fabad81633bf83c12dc5/0042d/1761144341050-7998978-yjj3h88mwva.webp 3504w,\n/static/d163c686ce02fabad81633bf83c12dc5/d5aed/1761144341050-7998978-yjj3h88mwva.webp 7008w","sizes":"(min-width: 7008px) 7008px, 100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":7008,"height":4672}}}},{"id":"884cdfee-e800-544b-aa87-e23dd3682113","title":"Safe at Home: A Closer Look at Avida’s Earthquake-Resilient Developments ","slug":"safe-at-home-a-closer-look-at-avidas-earthquake-resilient-developments","category":"home & design","datePublished":"October 20, 2025","featuredImage":"https://rbgcms-alb-prod.ayalaland.com/content/uploads/images/1760951655655-1754941-2h7s50c3375.jpg","optimizedFeaturedImg":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#88a8c8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/2b07977bd4a8a72424b079c95d1dd751/933c8/1760951655655-1754941-2h7s50c3375.webp","srcSet":"/static/2b07977bd4a8a72424b079c95d1dd751/b4c1c/1760951655655-1754941-2h7s50c3375.webp 1320w,\n/static/2b07977bd4a8a72424b079c95d1dd751/9ed85/1760951655655-1754941-2h7s50c3375.webp 2640w,\n/static/2b07977bd4a8a72424b079c95d1dd751/933c8/1760951655655-1754941-2h7s50c3375.webp 5280w","sizes":"(min-width: 5280px) 5280px, 100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":5280,"height":2970}}}},{"id":"7a1c99ea-af45-5029-8310-2b4bc7d4d7e2","title":"The Essential Things | Avida Towers Cloverleaf ","slug":"the-essential-things-avida-towers-cloverleaf","category":"people","datePublished":"September 10, 2025","featuredImage":"https://rbgcms-alb-prod.ayalaland.com/content/uploads/images/1757467788126-978043-wm23d2fosor.jpg","optimizedFeaturedImg":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#58a858","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/fcd557e256aec4cf32d8299b1e34cb73/a2e54/1757467788126-978043-wm23d2fosor.webp","srcSet":"/static/fcd557e256aec4cf32d8299b1e34cb73/074d3/1757467788126-978043-wm23d2fosor.webp 1240w,\n/static/fcd557e256aec4cf32d8299b1e34cb73/332a0/1757467788126-978043-wm23d2fosor.webp 2481w,\n/static/fcd557e256aec4cf32d8299b1e34cb73/a2e54/1757467788126-978043-wm23d2fosor.webp 4961w","sizes":"(min-width: 4961px) 4961px, 100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":4961,"height":3304}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"id":"6b474956-0a22-540a-b858-e4f310b98740","next":{"slug":"whats-it-like-living-in-patio-madrigal","title":"What's it Like Living in Patio Madrigal?","category":"people"},"previous":{"slug":"fate-finds-the-future-avida-towers-prime-taft","title":"Fate Finds the Future | Avida Towers Prime Taft","category":"people"},"pursuitOfPassionCategories":["people","places","home & design","wellness","travel & leisure","finance","videos"]}},"staticQueryHashes":["3438892364","3635065473","3827149321","65569352"]}