If you could pick one place to retire, where would it be?

We all work hard not only for a comfortable life for ourselves and for our loved ones, but also for our future, especially our retirement. Though retirement is far from many people’s mind nowadays, we still dream of places that might be perfect for us to spend the autumn years of our lives. Personally, I see myself still living in Metro Manila where I can continue to be productive, spend time with friends and — most important — be near my loved ones.

Read on as friends share with us the one place they would want to live after they retire.

Manila First District Rep. Manny Lopez

Naturally, in choosing where to retire, you have to consider the basic necessities of late-life living: accessibility to affordable and quality healthcare, proximity to friends and family, fresh air and a clean environment, and all other practical considerations.

In my case, however, I have an additional, maybe different, criterion in choosing where I wish to retire. Given the opportunity, I look forward to spending the last days of my life where it started, where I spent a happy childhood, and where I spent the most fulfilling and productive time of my life. I long to live out my waning days in a place where my grandfather, Honorio Lopez, and my father, Mel Lopez, left their marks with their lifelong service and dedication to the community. And that place is no other than our beloved Tondo. This is the place where I believe I can fully embrace my life after retirement, where I can find acceptance and clarity rather than fear and uncertainty when the time comes for me to reflect on how I lived my life. Then, when that time of reckoning comes, I hope to come to the conclusion that yes, I have lived my life fully; a life of service to my neighbors, the people of Tondo, my countrymen and to our beloved country the Philippines.

Ching Cruz, art lover, businesswoman and philanthropist

I would love to retire in Palawan, on a beautiful island that would be my peaceful enclave and respite from chaos where I could enjoy the incredible scenery and slow pace.

Paolo Martel,businessman

If I had to choose a place to retire it would definitely be the Philippines. This is where my family and friends are. It is nice to travel, but Manila is home and nothing can replace it.

Diosceldo Sy, owner, Ever Bilena Cosmetics and team owner of Blackwater Elite/Philippine Basketball Association

Maybe in Richmond, Canada. I love cold weather, lots of Asian food, the relaxing atmosphere, plenty of nice scenery; but there’s no better place than our home here in Manila so that means back and forth between Richmond and Manila.

Cheska Winebrenner, actress

Definitely one of the islands in Palawan. The slower pace and simplicity of island life has always appealed to me, particularly after spending most of my life dealing with the hectic pace of Manila.

Chuchu Madrigal Eduque, chairperson, Consuelo Madrigal Foundation

There’s no other place I would choose to retire than in the comforts of my own home in Manila. At the end of the day, even if it’s one of the greatest blessings to be able to travel and see the world, there’s no cozier and better feeling than home.

Julius Babao, broadcast journalist

I’ll grow old and retire in a villa somewhere in Tuscany or Umbria. There I would grow grapes and olives and produce my own wine and olive oil. But that’s just a fantasy of mine. In reality I would like to retire in our own country where I can be with my family. I cannot imagine living a life without them.

Bettina Osmena, owner, Gourmet Corner

“Retirement” is a bad word for me but if I had to retire there would be no place like home. I will retire in the Philippines for sure and would like to enjoy my retirement with my family, especially my grandchildren. I will also move to the south where the new developments are currently happening. Bucolic but not too boring, because there are things to do.

Nina Daza Puyat, editor, Appetite magazine

For me and my husband Louie, Baguio has always been our happy place where we spent many childhood summers and where our own family now has built many wonderful memories. We want to retire in a place where the weather is nice and cool, and we can enjoy eating good, healthy food. My dream is to live in a cozy house up on a hill with a beautiful view (that’s senior citizen-friendly!) where I can cook whenever I feel like it, tend to a vegetable garden, practice yoga, and even do some painting on the side. Of course, that depends on where our children will live because we want to be doting lolo and lola to our apos!

Katrina Ponce Enrile, president and CEO of JAKA Group of Companies

As we get older, we get to think where we want to retire. There are really a lot of places that I’m considering, Gotan Beach in Sta. Ana, Cagayan particularly, but I want to retire near my family — where my family is. Because they are the ones who give me the greatest joy and the greatest peace in my life. So wherever they are, that is home to me and that is where my heart will be.

And I just hope that we are all together, near each other; although I love to travel, it would be really nice to have everybody close by. So, I guess that’s going to be here in the Philippines, God willing.

Tracie Anglo Dizon, entrepreneur/artist-designer

I would love to retire in Singapore. We lived there for seven years (both our children were born there) and I really love the quality of life — the safety, efficiency, greenery, medical care and the fact that it is totally First World but still Asia and close enough to home. I also like that it’s an international hub, the airport and their airline is fantastic, and there are flights to almost anywhere in the world. The food in Singapore is also great in terms of variety.