Seven Oaks residents Karla Gutierrez and Marl Masacote crossed continents, chased careers, and conquered long-distance love—all to build the life they dreamed of. Now they’re raising their son, healing hearts as Nurse Practitioners, and living the American dream one joyful, grateful day at a time. 

 

Today, the Masacote-Gutierrez family is thriving in Highgate, where karaoke nights meet cardiac surgery, banana bread meets biking marathons, and love always leads the way. It’s been a life of adventure, fueled by dreams of a happier tomorrow. And Karla and Marl will both tell you that dreams do come true.  

 

Their life began miles away from Bakersfield in the Philippines. They never would have guessed they have the life of opportunity that they have today.  

 

“We were both born in the Philippines,” Karla shares, “then we moved to Dubai and lived there for five years. My husband and I got married in 2014, and in 2017, we moved to the U.S.” After landing at LAX, Bakersfield became their new home base, thanks to a visa application that had been sitting patiently in the pipeline since 2009. The global recession put their dreams on hold until eight years later. They saved up their money to make the move halfway across the globe. 

Was it worth the wait? Without a doubt.  

 

“When we arrived and saw the American flag, I cried. After nine years of hard work and waiting, we were so thankful,” she recalls. “America is where we wanted our child to grow up.” 

 

Their son Markus, now nine and entering fourth grade at Highgate Elementary, was born in Dubai but has embraced American life with joy and energy. “He loves sports and says he wants to become a nurse or a surgeon,” Karla smiles. “He even has a kit at home to practice suturing, and I teach him how to listen to heart sounds with a stethoscope!” 

 

It’s no wonder—both Karla and Marl are Nurse Practitioners, with a shared foundation in nursing that stretches back to their 2006 graduation. Karla works in primary care at Omni Family Medicine, while Marl specializes in cardiothoracic surgery at Memorial Hospital. “We were long distance before we got married—he was in Kuwait, and I was in the UAE,” Karla recalls. “Once we reunited, we did our master’s programs and became NPs together.” 

 

Their journey brought them to Highgate in 2019, when they purchased their first home. “We saw the future of Highgate—the school, the community, the events—it was perfect for us,” says Karla. “Moving to Highgate was one of the best decisions we ever made. It’s quiet here and we feel safe.” They also love the park and the basketball clinic for Markus.  

 

When they’re not working, the family makes the most of their time together. Fridays are sacred family nights, and weekends are filled with food, fun, and a little well-deserved rest. “We cook and bake a lot—banana bread and traditional Filipino dishes. My husband is the better cook, though!” Karla laughs. “He loves to barbecue and experiment with different recipes.” 

 

They also unwind by visiting the clubhouse, relaxing in the jacuzzi, and watching kid-friendly movies with Markus. They love their pet fish, Nemo. “Markus is allergic to cats,” says Karla, “so a fish was the perfect compromise.” 

 

While Karla loves music and performs at concerts—including a Highgate holiday event—Marl prefers the great outdoors. He’s a marathoner and avid cyclist. Although they have different hobbies, they are united by their values, their work in the medical field, and their love for family. “We also like to travel to different places together,” says Karla. 

 

Karla recently launched an entertainment company and hopes to continue growing it here in Bakersfield. “God has guided our journey since the beginning,” she says. “We’ve lived in different countries, saved money, and made sacrifices to get here. But America as the land of opportunity is really true—we are so grateful. We have good health, a wonderful community, and we’re living the life we prayed for.”  

 

They couldn’t be happier here in Bakersfield, living the American Dream — one beat, one blessing, and one beautifully baked banana bread at a time.