From USA, this LGBTQIA+ couple decided to settle down in the Philippines with their little family!
Couple Jeffrey Roy Fernandez-Williams and Mack Nel Fernandez-Williams along with their two daughters are currently living their probinsya life in Pinili, Ilocos Norte.
“We always wanted to raise our children here because of the way that the children are brought up, better and safer. It’s an environment that we really admire that they take care of their elders. It’s just really crazy, in the US with the guns these days and so we’re a little afraid. Plus here, you know, we have our ,my in-laws are just wonderful. We have all these aunties that are around to take care of us and cousins,” Jeffrey said in an exclusive interview.
Mack then shared how they loved their life in the Philippines surrounded by few other family members.
“With everything na pinagdaanan namin just to have them it was like all worth it. Parang nawala lahat nung mga kaba ‘yung mga sacrifices na pinagdaanan namin. Parang it was all worth it and fatherhood’s been such an amazing thing you know like journey for us,” he said.
Adding, “You know we have struggles, challenges, but above all seeing our babies happy, healthy and like literally like living the best life that you know, that they have right now, it’s you know, it’s surreal, it’s amazing.”
Mack and Jeffrey first met in a dating app in 2014. After one month, Jeffrey traveled to the Philippines to visit him. Later on, he petitioned Mack to be with him overseas.
In January 2015, Mack and Jeffrey were ready to embark on their new journey as they hope to build their own family in the US.
“We had both agreed that we wanted to have children early on and we decided that we’d wait three years before we start having children. To spend together travel around the world and and see things which we did and we had a great time,” Jeffrey recalled.
At first, the couple wanted to adopt a child. They visited different orphanages in the Philippines.
“Because it’s a much easier process and much less expensive but it was my family, my love of my life’s dream, to have his own biological children and I support that totally. You know it’s not for everybody. We went to Chicago and we got an agency to help us with finding surrogates also egg donors and trying to put the whole process legally together,” Jeffrey explained their decision.
The couple finally found a surrogate mother after nine months. But their pregnancy journey wasn’t that smooth.
“What they do is they try to match you with the right surrogate. We wanted to have twins. Jeffrey donated, we were both sperm donors, and we used the same egg donor as well. We lost Jeffrey’s… the embryos, like around like three I think. 14 weeks I think. It just started, it didn’t develop,” Mack said.
The two welcomed their first baby girl named Maria on May 6, 2019.
“We had the first everything, first touch, first hug, first bottle and everything so I would tell you that was like one of the most like you know emotional magical moment of our lives,” they noted.
But the couple knew that they wanted to have a bigger family. They decided to go for their second baby.
“We froze those two embryos that were left for me. Since I really wanted to have his children as well. So, she [surrogate] donated again for us and unfortunately, even though we already did like a 70-30 split, 70% for Jeff and then 30% of mine for her eggs, unfortunately, it still didn’t work out for Jeff. So what happened is, with our second surrogate mother, they transferred both embryos. [The sperm is] from me,” Mack noted.
They welcomed their second child, Olivia, on October 13, 2022.
Even though they spent almost P20 million to have their own family, they said it was all worth it.
“Our children are our legacy, and we are so blessed to have them,” the couple stressed.
“It’s really good that we have the platform to educate other people, that yeah you know. We may not be your norm like you know your ordinary family that you see every day but we are still a family,” Mack said.
Mack and Jeffrey have a message to fellow LGBTQIA+ couples.
“It’s possible to have your own children if that’s what you desire then work really on that one. Do not let other people dictate what you can, what can’t you do because like I said if we were able to do it you guys can do as well,” they said.
