If You Dream Of Migrating, This Filipina Moved To Japan In Her Early 20s—Here's What She's Learned

"When you're young, you're full of dreams," goes the saying. Sadly, some dreams are set aside, left in the shadows of life's demands. At some point, reality hits hard, and chasing those dreams begins to feel like an impossible shot in the dark. Maybe it's because of financial struggles, family responsibilities, health issues, or countless other obstacles that make the journey seem out of reach.

But for this Filipina who migrated to Japan in her early 20s, youth wasn't a barrier; it was the driving force that propelled her to pursue independence. Instead of letting challenges hold her back, she embraced her age as her greatest asset—a time to take risks, make bold moves, and fight for the life she envisioned.

"I think I was in a very comfortable place [in the Philippines].. I just want to explore more I want growth I want to challenge myself more," says Errica Buenconsejo, a Filipina who migrated to Japan in her 20s, said in an interview with Cosmopolitan Philippines. She's a project manager and co-founder of AE Media, a talent management and media company.

"I've always been a believer that the more scary it is, the more I have to do it," she added. 

Unlike many who dream of moving to Japan due to their immersion in Japanese pop culture—like anime and manga—Errica's connection to the country was quite different. In fact, she had little exposure to Japanese culture and had only visited Japan once as a tourist. 

Yet, Errica and her partner decided to fly to Japan with only three months to prepare. While it may have seemed like a "sudden" decision, Errica wouldn't trade it for anything else. Here's how she did it:

For Errica, one of the most rewarding aspects of deciding to move and live in Japan was embracing new experiences. 

"Another thing that I prepared myself is yung transition... Just for context, I didn't have any type of exposure to Japanese media [or] to Japanese culture," Errica recalled. "So I was preparing for that because alam kong malaking adjustment siya for me," she added. 

During the three months of processing her documents, Errica and her partner enrolled in a Japanese language class to help ease the transition.

Errica emphasized that making any big decision, even if it's not about moving overseas, requires preparation for discomfort. She encouraged others to never be afraid to explore what works for them and to try different things, especially while they're still young.

In every decision you make, especially those that come with significant costs, never underestimate the importance of proper financial planning. Errica encouraged those looking to make moves—whether it's leaving home or relocating overseas—to prioritize building an emergency fund.

She also highlighted the reality of major expense cuts, particularly when chasing *big girl* dreams. Errica shared how, in preparation for her move to Japan, she had to cancel her planned trip to Singapore and the Taylor Swift concert she was excited about.

"We knew that we had to be more practical. We had to save. We only had three months to save. [And] we need to shell out for the whole application process," Errica emphasized. She acknowledged that sacrifices are inevitable, but assured that they are always worthwhile in the end.

Errica admitted that homesickness and culture shock can take a toll on anyone living abroad. Even before making the decision to move, the process of preparation can be overwhelming, especially when you factor in things like informing your parents and saving up. She stressed the importance of self-care and seeking help when needed, particularly during those challenging moments.

One key aspect that helped Errica throughout her journey was reconnecting with her "why." When things got tough, she reminded herself of the reasons she chose this path in the first place.

Now that she's settled in Japan and actively pursuing her dreams, Errica continues to face challenges. From adapting to a new culture to dealing with the language barrier, she and her partner were essentially starting from scratch in a country with its own set of bureaucratic processes. She encouraged others not to underestimate the power of preparation, which includes mental readiness.

"Na-realize ko na Japan really is super romanticized. As in sobrang romanticized siya. In a way na 'Gusto kong tumira sa Japan,' especially [if you're] coming from the Philippines, which I understand," Errica recalled.

She also highlighted the significance of self-care in the midst of it all. It's not just about handling responsibilities but also doing things that make you feel good. For Errica, walking 10,000 steps a day became an important part of her routine. While it may seem small, these little actions gave her the space to reflect, recalibrate, and keep moving forward.