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JUNE 2021 | ISSUE 14

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Turn your work experience into an actual college degree

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Kristine Liday-Tabita FROM HR ASSISTANT TO DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER

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TABLE OF CONTENTs EDITORIAL BOARD GABRIEL JOHN RIMANDO Publisher RYAN NAMIA Editor-in-Chief ALLAN CARAGAO Senior Graphic Designer ORLI GAYETA Sales & Marketing Manager TREBB GOMEZ Technical Correspondent THAN DUMAS Multimedia Manager FIND US @THEGLOBALFILIPINOMAGAZINE.COM

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An international fashion icon, a Dakilang Bayani Awardee - Michael Cinco How this shy Filipina becomes an office manager of big business solutions in UAE - Elaine Kristine Madugay Dubai-based Filipino helping building world-class architectures in Middle East - Romeo Duque Jr Achieving dreams regardless of how high the hurdles may appear - Grace Banghal-Callister The video editor behind Movlogs is this Dubai-based Filipino - Chad Elegado 10-year-old Filipino in UAE conquers America’s stage - Peter Anthony Rosalita Domestic worker becomes the voice of OFWs in Malaysia - Ester Mercado Native Ilongga making waves in UAE - Bevily Ardina Villeza Meet this OFW of 15 years who has been growing multinational companies in UAE - Francis Crisologo OFW who’s getting AED1,000 monthly salary before now successful make-up artist - Arcel Pablo Manalo Domestic worker supports children with learning disabilities in Malaysia Genevieve Regato Soliven ‘Filipino Institute’s free online courses help me showcase my competency in work’ - Monalyn C. Rivera

From HR assistant to Deputy General Manager - Kristine Liday-Tabita

Multi-awarded Filipino leader takes active role in friendship program in Saudi Arabia - Homer R. Impas A leader, a fighter, and a survivor - Jonald Aranez Roxas Filipino physiotherapist reaching greater heights in UAE - Michael Salazar Gulapa OFW dares to start own companies to watch his visions transform into reality - Christopher Marasigan Filipino pageant enthusiast helping distressed OFWs in Saudi Arabia - Julius Cabrera Espinosa Taking the gamble with high hopes of better opportunity overseas - Engr. Rafael Lontoc A passionate Covid19- response nurse with a big heart for her hometown Krizzel Dayne Ong Macaraig

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Michael Cinco

An international fashion icon, a Dakilang Bayani Awardee

orld-renowned Filipino fashion icon Michael Cinco emerged as 2021 Dakilang Bayani Awardee, the highest and most prestigious award given to overseas Filipinos by the office of the Philippine Consulate in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

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He was chosen due to his ‘selfless commitment to serve the expat community and whose global contribution elevates the collective pride of the Filipinos.’

Cinco is the second Filipino from Samar province to receive such an award. Dr. Bacarra was the first Samareño to be honored with the award in 2017 and has been continually striving to promote education globally. Members of the selection committee were Consul General Cortes, Vice Consul Aleah Gica, Dr. Sergio, Dr. Bacarra, Dr. Lebig, Dr. Decenorio, and Dr. Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes. According to Dr. Bacarra, Cinco, who is also a presidential awardee, ‘is one of the exemplary Filipinos chosen this year for his magnanimous contributions to the world of fashion, the elevation of Filipino identity, and for serving as an inspiration to generations of Filipinos.’

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Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes appointed Dr. Rommel Sergio from Abu Dhabi School of Management, Dr. Rex Bacarra, campus academic head and director for administrative services at Southville-RAK, Dr. Ben Lebig Jr., and Dr. Nino Decenorio of Bath Spa University to spearhead the selection process of Dakilang Bayani Award.

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Elaine Kristine Madugay

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more time with her mother. She said that it can be a struggle to start a new city and be a thousand miles away from home, Madugay is blessed to have her mother who guided and supported her while she was settling in Dubai.

After months of pondering on what to do with her future, and through the help of her family, she came back stronger. In 2015, she went back to Dubai and decided to pursue a different job which led her to her career growth as she became the office manager in a consulting firm that partakes in the business development and management of their office in Dubai. In 2018, their firm had collaborated with some of the biggest business centres in the UAE where she was given a chance to manage the portfolios of their clients and properties in the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. Madugay, who has been working in the same company for five years now, said that she had a few offers to join other firms but decided to stay ‘probably because there’s always a room for growth and opportunity in my field.’ “It feels fulfilling knowing that you can extend help to other people from different walks of life and they inspire me to do my best in what I do,” she added. Asked about her activities she was involved in which are out-of-work that benefit other people, she

said that she has been supporting causes relating to animal welfare, health, and environmental sustainability. Aside from being a member and volunteer at the Animal Kingdom Foundation, she has also been participating in awareness initiatives, including Run for the Planet by Nike, Run Wild by Adidas, and Beat Diabetes initiative by Landmark Group. She has also signed up for Dubai Cares and Emirates Nature WWF, hoping to promote awareness and a more sustainable future. “These might just be little acts but I believe that if you want to change the world, you have to start with yourself,” she added.

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She recalled arriving in UAE in 2013. She thought that she must have carried a lot of courage in her pocket then being it was her first time to travel alone and abroad. “But thinking about it now, I may have just been so thrilled and had high hopes for what the future holds,” she said. After graduating in 2012, she was contemplating whether to pursue a career in the Philippines or abroad. Since her mother has been working in the UAE for almost half of her life, she has decided to choose the latter option because apart from the reason that there are more opportunities overseas career-wise, she would also get the chance to spend

Having a degree in Information Technology, she first worked as an administrator for a local company in the education and logistics industry where she was able to utilize her knowledge and background in IT. After finishing her first contract, she decided to go back home for some time off because of the toll it took on her health. Madugay considers it as one of the lowest points of life because she had to start all over again and she was aware that there was no point of return then. “We all have internal battles that we have to face at some point in our lives and I am lucky that I didn’t have to face them alone because my family was there to back me up,” the Filipina said.

Madugay said that one of her future plans is to own a firm where she can continue the advocacies that she supports, especially in animal welfare and environmental sustainability as she aims to do something not just to help society but also to help future generations to experience clean air to breathe, clean waters to swim, and green mountains to climb.

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efore working as the Office Manager of MENA Consultancy, an innovative business solutions in UAE, Elaine Kristine Madugay was just a timid and shy lady. Comparing how she was when she first started, she said he never would have thought that she would come this far--playing a huge part in a huge corporation.

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How this shy Filipina becomes an office manager of big business solutions in UAE

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Romeo Duque Jr.

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Dubai-based Filipino helping building world-class architectures in Middle East

products for the outer shell of the building. He said that he is always fascinated when he sees unique buildings cladded with glasses of different shapes, colors, and patterns.

A licensed engineer in the Philippines and one of the top-notchers in the 2004 Civil Engineer Licensure Exam, he arrived in Dubai some 15 years ago to work as a draftsman in one of the biggest facade manufacturing companies in the world. The core business of the company is the facade or building envelope. Today, he is the Chief Engineer of the same company catering to projects, not only here in the Middle East, but also in the USA, Europe, Russia, Asia, and Australia.

“Our company has a lot of talented Filipino engineers and architects. I always take pride and honor to collaborate with my fellow countrymen on foreign soil and help produce world-class buildings,” he added.

“I consider myself fortunate to work here in the Middle East which some consider as the ‘architect’s playground’, this is evident in the diversity of the shapes and sizes of buildings in Dubai’s skyline,” he said. Throughout his career, Duque was involved in a number of notable buildings here in the Middle East like the Aldar Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Hamad International Airport in Doha, the iconic metro station in Riyadh, and most recently, the Mobility Pavillion in Expo 2020 Dubai. “I am always proud to be part of these landmark projects, and what makes it special is that I can always tell my children that their dad is a Filipino who persevered and helped build world-class architectures,” he added. Most of the buildings he had worked on are from traditional shapes and can be considered as the forefront of architecture. The company that he is currently working at, Facade Engineerings, produces

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As the eldest among three sons, Duque has decided to work abroad to help his aging parents financially and send his siblings to college. “Being an OFW, away from loved ones, is not that easy, and is only temporary, and the only way I can ensure that the fruits of my sacrifices would last is when I see my siblings attain their college degrees, so they too can make a living for

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ailing from the town of Camiling, Tarlac, Romeo Duque Jr. studied Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the prestigious University of Santo Tomas.

themselves,” he shared. A father of three wonderful kids, during his free time he plays badminton and fishing. His wife is working as a teacher. The couple serves in a family ministry in their church in Jebel Ali. The religious group where they belong teaches children to enhance the relationship of parents to children and inspire kids to make a difference, among others. Early days Duque’s mother was just a simple chicken vendor in their province. During college semester breaks, he used to help her mother to sell chicken to finance his college tuition in Manila since he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. “I always remember during the Christmas season, while my peers are busy attending Christmas parties, I would spend the holidays assisting my parents in the market. These experiences taught me how to value the hard-earned money of my parents,” he recalled. He said he was not among the brightest students when he was in high school, however, sooner he realized that he needed to study more diligently during college as they could not afford to pay for remedial in case he failed a subject. While excelling in the academe, he developed a passion for teaching his peers. Duque led a small review group with his classmates for the exams. His diligence paid off in the end because he started being a consistent dean’s lister. Currently, he is pursuing to be a chartered engineer in Australia.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Grace

Banghal-Callister, CHRP, CHRM, CICSP, CILDM

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Achieving dreams regardless of how high the hurdles may appear

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race Banghal-Callister describes herself as a ‘go-getter’ who is very passionate about her dreams. Regardless of how the hurdles may appear to be before she started, she sets out to achieve them. Owner and director of iQuBETS, a training and professional certification company based in the Philippines, with a presence in Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, Nepal, and Timor Leste, Callister is also a course director for the HR and Training certifications of the American Certification Institute, USA and Global Ambassador and Vice President for Fame Times International Excellence Awards (FTIEA). Her professional life started at Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils Inc. in the city of San Fernando, Pampanga when she was fresh out of university in 1999. She started as a secretary for the Plant Operations Manager and eventually became the Technical Assistant for the Northern Luzon Area Logistics team. Before she left for the UAE in 2005, she was Materials Section Head for the Coca-Cola San Fernando Plant. Callister, looking back, realized that she was being prepared for her current business as early as 2005. Her career in the UAE started in a technical training company in the capital as a Contracts and Planning Supervisor where she learned many things that she found valuable as she builds iQuBETS in the Philippines. The former OFW is not only business-minded-she also writes, in fact, she has a novel that was internationally published in 2008 titled ‘Santa Carmela’ that tells a fictional story about two friends. While she was in Dubai, she was a member of The Unified Filipino HR (TUFHR), an organization that aims to help Filipino HR professionals in the UAE in advancing their careers and making a difference.

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Evolution of professional life Her professional life evolved within three corporate functions--Human Resource, Quality Management System, and Logistics. The job she held in Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils. Inc. leaned more towards logistics and physical distribution. Although, she was an HR intern in the same plant before she got hired. She also had a brief experience handling a warehouse in Sydney, Australia. In Abu Dhabi, her jobs had a combination of logistics and HR functions. She was able to recruit an unprecedented number of professional training instructors from all over the world in a period of one year. Callister’s succeeding job was as the Logistics Head for an advertising and exhibition firm in Dubai where she organized the existing warehouses and digitized their inventory management. She developed and implemented an efficient system of acceptance and pullout of materials and personally opened three of their new warehouses. She also established a racking system for the exhibition materials and equipment. When she was hired as Project Coordinator and Office Manager for the Design Department of Aldar Laing O’Rourke, she started having Human Resource functions and with instructions from the Corporate Administration Director, she created a testing system for admin position candidates which composed of computer, communication, and writing exams. She was the first interviewer for the admin applicants and was tasked to filter out the more suitable candidates to send them for the Administration Director’s interview.

In 2009, Callister was hired as QES Representative for Mott MacDonald Middle East. When she joined, their division achieved unprecedented high internal audit scores and three external certifications where no non-conformance was found. Due to this success, the management assigned another division for her to look after and she was able to help boost their internal audit performance scores and managed to lead them successfully on their external audits. During this time, she was concurrently the Business Development Manager of the Water and Environment Division wherein she was able to help win some of the biggest projects the division had. By 2016, she was then hired as a Group Human Resource and Administration Manager for a hospitality company in Dubai which has outlets in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the UK. There, she established the Group’s HR and Administration Department, creating sub-sections that cover all facets of the HR Operations. When Callister came back to the Philippines in 2020, with the help of her family and friends, she puts up iQuBETS Human Resources and Organization Development Consultancy. She said that she is privileged to be the only Southeast Asian to become a Course/Program Director for the Americal Certification Institute, USA and a Global Ambassador of the FTIEA. “HR has evolved greatly in the past 2 decades. But somehow, many organizations in the Philippines and Southeast Asia are not yet up to speed with the developments in this field. The challenge is not just to assist these organizations to be on par with global trends and practices by educating their HR and L&D people. The bigger task is to make them see the worth of the changes that need to be done. Like for instance, in the aspect of HR automation, many organizations are yet to be convinced of its benefits,” she added. The seasoned HR professional said she will continue to strive to build iQuBETS to become one of the best professional training and certification companies in Asia. “Through iQuBETS, I endeavor to encourage more Asian professionals to obtain international certifications so we can be more competitive on the global stage,” Callister said.

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Chad Elegado The video editor behind Movlogs is this Dubai-based Filipino

“I learned the ins and outs of the business and finally it prospered. I have set up another one and brought it to other places and events,” he further added. Elegado’s business went smooth so he decided to take another degree, which was Marketing Management, as he thought it was the only thing that he lacked and he was planning to penetrate the franchise scheme.

“When I couldn’t handle the expenses anymore-from employee salaries and maintenance--I decided to give up and sell it,” Elegado said adding that he continued his journey in Singapore hoping to earn more money and get exposed internationally to acquire new business ideas. Elegado admitted that he struggled in Singapore when he couldn’t find a suitable job for him. Still hopeful, he flew to Dubai and followed his sibling. Hoping to get a bigger opportunity, he failed once again. He worked unpaid jobs in an effort to establish connections. He asked his partner if they could purchase a laptop so that he can pursue his hobbies at work. A month after doing editing and graphics design, he still couldn’t find a job. He then enrolled himself in a Document Control course at the Filipino Institute so he could work for his brother’s company. After finishing the short-term course, he wasn’t still accepted as the company needs someone who has

Until one time, after attending a mass, he got a call from a friend saying that Mo Vlog saw one of his works and was interested to hire him. His journey with the social media star, who has more than 10 million followers, started. “The best thing about my work is meeting rich people who are friends with Mo. Whenever I see successful people, it’s as if my entrepreneurial spirit rekindles. I get to perceive their insights into their business. And I also love my work because I get to ride in luxury cars such as Rolls Royce and Lamborghini,” he said. When asked about his advice for his fellow Filipinos abroad, he said that they should invest in themselves and level up their skills. Elegado added that one should also sacrifice ‘wants’. “Another thing, broaden your social circle, look for the people who can help you eventually,” he further added.

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“I worked in hotels and restaurants. After that, I thought of setting up a business that isn’t in the market yet-which was a food truck business. My father used to have an old car and he gave it to me. I have it customized to look like a food truck that we often see in western countries,” he said adding that after setting it up, he saw how the idea was loved by his customers.

studies, his business started to collapse along with his dreams.

four-year relevant experience.

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Unlike many overseas Filipino workers, Elegado’s reason why he opted to work abroad is to ‘learn more’ after failing at business. While he was taking a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management, he started attending seminars concluded in top universities in the Philippines and listened to CEOs’ motivational and inspirational speeches until he adapted the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’. Two years after getting the hang of it, he has decided to study Culinary Arts as he thought cooking was his passion.

Busy with his

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had Elegado, for the last five years, has been working as the video editor of Mohamed Beiraghdary, popularly known as Mo Vlogs on social media, after failing to secure a job in Singapore. Elegado, who is also the social media manager of the social media influencer, said that his current job is far from what he had planned although video editing was already his hobby before. He couldn’t believe until now that his regular activity that was done for enjoyment before would be his bread and butter today.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Peter Anthony Rosalita

-10year-old Filipino based in Abu Dhabi is all set to conquer the sixteenth season of the esteemed Americas Got Talent.

Meanwhile, the term ‘a small boy with a big voice’ came from those people who witnessed his ability in singing. Before joining the international competition, he joined several local competitions first in the UAE. Hd joined the two-week spring camp in Cadenza Music School in the capital and after that, he was contacted to join talent competitions together, with their other

His journey in singing started when he was just six with a thought on his mind that he likes to get a medal.

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Born and living in the capital of the UAE, at an early age, his family noticed that he preferred watching cartoon videos that usually have musical scenes and sing along with them even though he could not utter the words clearly.

students, and thereafter his parents enrolled him in vocal classes. From 2018 to 2021, Rosalita joined talent search in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which was usually during school breaks. He participated in Almaty Kazakhstan where he ended up as the Grand Prix winner and in an online competition during the pandemic, First Gulf Musician Idol, which was hosted by Music School in Bahrain. The latter competition was participated by various students from UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

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Known as ‘a small boy with a big voice’, Peter Anthony Rosalita’s first performance and appearance went on air last June 1, during the premiere episode of the American talent show on NBC Channel in the United States of America.

The boy recalled asking his family if he can join his school talent competition. In preparation, one of his aunts let him watch a video of a boy singing the Whitney Houston classic Greatest Love of All. They practiced the song although he couldn’t pronounce some words properly, however, his voice was already noticeable. He got his medal landing third place on his first attempt.

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10-year-old Filipino in UAE conquers America’s stage

Although he’s already competing internationally, Rosalita is still just a normal kid who loves to study, play, and attend vocal classes. “We always make sure that he prioritizes his studies and we are proud to say that he is a consistent honor student. He is having his vocal class twice a week, which is over the weekend,” one of his guardians told The Global Filipino Magazine.

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Ester Mercado

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Domestic worker becomes the voice of OFWs in Malaysia

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To make ends meet, she has decided to work overseas as a domestic helper and choose Malaysia as this country was ‘nearer’ to the

decided to work overseas and face the hardship of being a housemaid. My obligation was to send money every month and make sure my kids study. Meanwhile, my husband was just a pedicab driver and had a major accident,” she said adding that her husband had suffered a brain disorder after the accident. During day-offs, her employer, a trading company owner, would bring her to his office to help with administrative tasks. Her employer learned that she knows how to use a computer. To further enhance her skills in the program, she took Microsoft Office 2000 while working as a full-time domestic worker. She studied Basic Computer 1 and 2 and Microsoft Office 2000 from 2006 until 2007 at the Filipino Workers Resource Centre (FWRC) and graduated

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With no parental guidance, she married at a very early age. Mercado and her husband struggled to establish their own family as both of them are inexperienced.

“At that time, I have four growing children so I have

with flying colors. A few of her notable achievements while studying overseas and enriching herself was when she became one of the best students in a private institution ran by a Filipino married to a Malaysian in 2004. Her story was headlined in the Malaysian newspaper The Star: The People’s Paper.

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“It was a very sad moment in our lives,” she recalled. At that time, she and her sister were just 15 and 16. To survive, they sold vegetables. Determined to finish her studies, she secured a scholarship from the Gregg Business College in Manila. However, the time and money she needed did not suffice.

Philippines. Since 20 years ago, she works as a fulltime housemaid and prioritizing looking after her employer’s son.

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ster Mercado has been working as a household service worker (HSW) for 20 years now in the same employer in Malaysia. She grew up in a less fortunate family, her parents died when she was only one year old. Merca, along with her three siblings, had no choice but to live with their grandmother, who died due to cancer when they were about to finish secondary school.

She then became the voice of OFWs in Malaysia, writing about their stories in the newspaper ‘Ang OFW Ngayon’. She claimed that she had always born a writer and that all her pieces were a product of her life’s love and experiences. She has already published 22 stories in the publication. In 2016, Mercado was hailed as the Outstanding Employee for Bagong Bayani; and a Presidential Awardee in 2018.

Mercado, now 62, plans to settle in the near future and live a simple life with her husband and grandchildren and put up a small business that would sustain their daily expenses.

“Always pray, be honest, loyal, and sincere. Set a goal and do it. Plan for the future and God will do the rest,” Mercado said when she was asked about her advice to her fellow Filipinos abroad.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Bevily Ardina Villeza

native Ilongga with a heart of Batangueña, Bevily Ardina Villeza, fondly called ‘Chef B’ is making waves abroad through being a fulltime gym trainer and receptionist in Supergym. Apart from having arduous work, she is also a trainer volunteer in Filipino Institute, sharing her knowledge in Culinary Arts and Baking courses for four years now.

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Chef B, who was born in Dumaguete but raised in Marawi City, hails from a family of athletes and educators. She graduated Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Mindanao State University and soon after secured a Master in Business Administration in Southern Mindanao Colleges. Before joining the OFW tribe, she was a college professor for 10 years at the University of Batangas and a Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) assessor. For her, working abroad has always been a ‘dream’. However, working in the Middle East was not her first pick. Chef B landed a receptionist job in a training centre in Dubai Healthcare City. She then worked as a teacher assistant in GEMS international school for two consecutive years. The single mother with two sons now works as a gym trainer which she enjoyed it ‘because I don’t feel like working.’ “Working in the gym is like working out every day. I am an athlete, so being in the gym 7/24

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is like a home for me,” she said adding that during her day off, she volunteers as a trainer for Culinary Arts and Baking courses, sharing the knowledge she had learned from college. Chef B said that growing in a Muslim community in the Philippines makes it easier for her to adjust to UAE. “Living there for 20 years is no different. Waking up hearing prayers from Mosques which I memorized from kinder to college is a very usual atmosphere. I grew up seeing women wearing hijab and men wearing kondura. We used to wear it during high school,” she said. Living alone in the UAE for six years now, Chef B said she fought many battles along with the guidance of the Almighty. She said that being alone with no one to depend on was ‘very depressing and lonely.’ She considered her first year in the country as the toughest times as she felt lonely, stressed, and even pitied herself for sharing a small bed space room with over 10 strangers. “I cried every night. I talked to my sons to get it off my chest and thought of the main reason why I am working here,” she said adding that she thought that having a degree and a Master’s would have been sufficient. “But no, you need to fight, be competitive and ‘madiskarte’. You also need to have a fighting

spirit, trust in the Lord,” she added. When asked about her plans after working abroad, she said she couldn’t wait to be reunited with her sons in the Philippines, however, according to her, she will never stop sharing her knowledge, “I love teaching,” the seasoned Filipina educator said. “I won’t stop sharing my knowledge. I love teaching and I have so much to share. Filipino Institute has become an instrument to share my acquired skills,” she said. Now that the Filipino Institute has produced more than 100,000 graduates, Chef B said she is proud to touch the lives of many people through the training institute.

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Native Ilongga making waves in UAE

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Francis Crisologo Meet this OFW of 15 years who has been growing multinational companies in UAE

Just like many Filipinos, Crisologo has also started his career here in the UAE as a normal employee. In 2006, he was just a normal retail bank officer for a UAE-based bank. After 18 months of solid performance amongst peers, he was promoted to a Team Leader where he managed eight sales officers of different nationalities. Two years after, when he had a career break, HSBC Middle East recruited him to join their Corporate Banking as a Business Banking Officer. “It was a new environment for me especially coming from retail banking of a local bank to now corporate banking of a leading international bank,” he said. A year after consistent effort and delivering results, Crisologo was promoted to Business banking Manager and was recognized by HSBC’s Middle East CEO for two consecutive years as Employee of the Year. Because of his dedication to his craft, he was then invited by Arab Bank PLC, one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East, to be part of their organization in 2013 for the role of Corporate Relationship Manager. Crisologo is the lone Filipino staff in this giant company which has 600 branches, spanning five continents. On the side, it has been his passion to conduct financial literacy talk and wealth management coaching to several Filipino organizations in the country. “It is one way for me to preach OFWs on why it is important not to depend only on a single source of income,” the Filipino who has been extending

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rancis Crisologo is currently working as a Senior Corporate Bank Manager at the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF). Part of his work is to manage and grow the business of multinational companies with AED400 million annual turnover. With this role, he takes pride in helping client’s businesses, seeing them grow from newly incorporated to a well-established corporate entity.

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assistance by way of teaching them on what kind of investment instruments they may place their hardearned money said. “I believe having international exposure can further develop your skills. Given the presence of different nationalities, you are obliged to coordinate and interact with them which gives you an opportunity to learn from them and gain more experience. This is beneficial for OFWs and as well for our country, considering whatever experience we have gained from abroad may implement and share locally in the Philippines,” he said. When asked about the best part of his work, he said it’s the opportunity to meet start-up companies and help them grow by effectively managing their bank accounts. Fighting alone Crisologo recalled coming to the UAE in 2006 at the age of 22. At that time, he didn’t have his family with him. He said that a lot of adjustments have to be made as he needed to be independent. “I’m glad that I was able to overcome those challenges and surpass them. As for my banking experience in the UAE, it was a challenging time considering I was new in this role and do not have connections at all in the market. It was hard to close deals given it was economic recessions at that time and Filipinos are restricted from the bank I worked with. As the saying goes, tough times never last, but tough people do. This has been my mantra in life, which I believe helped me to overcome those challenges,” he said. The -38year-old said that he plans to retire at the age of 42 back in the Philippines--build his own business, teach residents on how they can create opportunity from nothing, and how they can maximize their resources

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Arcel Pablo Manalo OFW who’s getting AED1,000 monthly salary before now successful make-up artist

rcel Pablo Manalo, at the age of 23, came to work as a sales associate in a retail company in Fujairah with a starting salary of AED1,000. She was directly hired through an agency and was part of the first employees of the retail store, and tasked to arrange the whole store. She said that during those days, despite getting a small amount every month, she treasured new experiences. For five years, in the same company, she learned how to deal with different nationalities, embrace and respect other’s cultures.

mother and brothers with my nephews and nieces because it has been already a long time that I didn’t see them,” she said adding that she also intends to put up her own beauty or food business back home. “The best advice that I can give to our fellow Filipinos is to never give up on your dreams and pray harder. In this current situation, everyone struggles. Remember that you are not alone in this battle--don’t give up on your dreams, do good to others, and always be optimistic,” she said.

After gaining more experiences and friends, a better future started unfolding. She then secured a new job as a sales advisor in the beauty industry. As her manager noticed her work ethic and after exuding what is expected of her, Manalo was promoted to be the retail sales supervisor of the company. According to her, climbing through the ranks was not easy as she had to learn to work professionally, learn how to manage the back office, as well as be a consistent top seller every month.

artists, influencers, and conducted a series of training for new artists,” she said.

As more and more properties erected in the emirate, she was then given an opportunity to be one of the make-up artists of Al Shaya Company for the international brand MAC. This stint paved the way for her to land a job in Dubai.

As the eldest child, Manalo aims to be successful in her chosen field. She said that when she was young, she saw how her parents struggled to raise them so she decided to work abroad and helped them financially.

“Being a make-up artist has always been a dream. Working with MAC has helped me to learn new techniques and enhance my skills in the industry. Through my work, I get to meet and work with professional artists and get to experience working backstage with our senior and international make-up

Considering that she was very attached to her family, she faced the pang of homesickness during her first years in the country.

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Today, Manalo is working in one of the biggest TV networks in Dubai as a TV presenter make-up artist. “My work today is even way better because I am given a chance to work freely and step up my career. I joined studios and outdoor shoots. I enjoy it so much because it’s my dream and passion and I get to learn new things every single day,” she added.

“Once I fulfill my goals overseas and save enough money, I will be settling to the Philippines with my

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“Although I missed my family back home, I always tell myself as a reminder ‘for whom am I doing this?’, then I feel better,” she said.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Genevieve Regato Soliven

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Domestic worker supports children with learning disabilities in Malaysia

widower with two children, Genevieve Regato Soliven has been working as a domestic worker in Malaysia. She works abroad to support his kids’ education so that they become ‘better persons.’ She recalled working at 12 years old to help her parents earn a living. She was making hopia for a bakery back then.

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As an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), her greatest frustration in life is when his kids need her the most, especially when they are seeking and longing for her love. Her love for her children is her inspiration to go in life.

Awardee, Soliven accepted an additional job as a reliever at the University Malaya Medical Clinic as a caregiver after acquiring more knowledge from three universities in Malaysia, namely The College of Allied Educators, Asia -e University, and FTMS Global Academy. Despite being a volunteer for the hospital, the quality of her job as a domestic worker was never compromised. Soliven’s employer, Mr. Abdel Baset Mohamed

While working overseas, she perseveres and educates herself in order to achieve her goals in life and alleviate the plight of her family and her loved ones. Soliven was allowed to train and study to obtain basic skills through the Filipino Malaysian Cultural Sports and Welfare Society Basic Skills Workforce Training Program. She then took another course, this time in Physical Therapy. She also acquired a diploma in Learning Disorder Management and Child Psychology. A 2018 Bagong Bayani Outstanding Employee

Elnabawi Abdel Hamid, also allowed her to take another job as a shadow teacher for a school in Malaysia where she provides additional support to children with learning disabilities. Her employer himself, who has a child with special needs, is very pleased with the initiative Soliven was participating in.

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She is indeed living a very colorful and active life overseas. Soliven, in her free time, joins hundreds of participants in marathons where she secures medals. Just recently, she finished the -5km at the Olympic Council Malaysia. “Don’t stop learning. When you stop learning, you stop growing. We have failed, but we found success because we were able to stand back up and try again,” she said.

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Monalyn C. Rivera

onalyn C. Rivera, a Duba-based secretary, thanked Filipino Institute for giving courage to overseas Filipino workers, like her, that they can still gain knowledge while working. Rivera, 38, completed the free programs Research Skills-Basic Training and Developing Your Executive Presence for free.

“I am really impressed to know that there is such an institution in the UAE that offers a variety of courses to help people like me as an OFW to gain additional knowledge while working,” she said. “I am so glad to feel like a student again. I feel happier that moment I received my certificate because I can be assured that I’ve got the highest quality of learning since Filipino Institute is a licensed educational institution,” she further added. This year, Rivera tried looking again for another opportunity to pursue her goal in order to learn for the well of her career development. This time, she preferred online seminars and training due to the pandemic.

me a good schedule according to my available time. After I completed the course, I thought I was not eligible to request a certificate because it was a free course,” she said. After taking the course, she was ‘astonished’ by knowing that she could request a certificate in accordance with her completed course that can be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Knowledge of Human Development Authority ( K H DA ) .

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She recalled taking the HR and Admin Basic course in 2016, however, due to her workload, she stopped taking another short course in the following months and years.

“I’ve checked a lot of sites via Google and while browsing, I saw the website of Filipino Institute. The institution offers more courses than before and to my surprise, there were courses that are free. I was being curious. At first, I thought the sites only provided brief information and that’s all. But I was astonished that the free courses are profoundly informative and would help me showcase my competency in my workplace,” she said.

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‘Filipino Institute’s free online courses help me showcase my competency in work’

She then proceeded and took her second course-Developing Your Executive Presence--as she believes there are various ideas that she needed to learn.

Rivera, who has been living and working in the UAE now for six years, said that after taking the first free online course--Research Skills-Basic Training--she learned that not all websites available online are credible, ‘and the Filipino Institute provides a list of sites that are currently authentic and reliable.’ “I am so thankful for having this course which gives

“God is so amazing for using Filipino Institute to be the channel of blessing to OFW like me who want to learn and helping me for my career growth. I would say it is FREE BUT WITH HIGH QUALITY. A big thank you to all who are part of this institution for giving the courage to every student you have that we can still gain knowledge while working, thanks for this favor. For me, you don’t make your students become intelligent instead you train them including me to become wise in our lives. You are highly recommended!” she added.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

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ristine Liday-Tabita is saddled with dozens of tasks as she plays the role of being the Deputy General Manager of MAD Middle East, a business consultancy firm that assists entrepreneurs who intend to invest in the UAE and the rest of GCC, for the last three years. Aside from being the Deputy General Manager of the firm, she is also playing an equally huge position as its HR director. Kristine has more than one decade of HRrelated experience in the country.

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Kristine Liday-Tabita From HR assistant to Deputy General Manager

Kristine recalled coming to Dubai in 2008 when everything in the place was just a diamond in the rough. For various companies, she worked as an HR assistant, assistant to PRO for a manufacturing company, among others.

“The best thing about this work is that these businesspersons depend on the services we provide that deal with compliance and legalities,” she said. For the seasoned HR professional, opportunities need to be created. “You can create your own opportunities wherever you are,” she said. Kristine , who completed Preschool Education major, said that if she wasn’t the Deputy General Manager today, she would have been an owner of a childhood learning centre for Kinder 1 as she used to work as a preschool teacher. “I always have a positive personality. When I work in a toxic environment, I get burned out. I never liked a toxic environment. The productivity should be there. As an ambitious person, if you work with me, I expect you to be as ambitious as I am,” she further added. She revealed that being an ambitious person is one of her positive traits.

people,” she further added. For nearly seven years, Kristine has been a volunteer trainer, sharing her expertise in HR, personal branding, business and management consultancy, UAE labor law, and personality development, among others. A very straightforward person, she would always tell her students to love themselves first. In every class she attends and conducts, she would always ask her students the reasons why they are working overseas. Her students would always respond ‘to help my family financially’. “That is reasonable. However, they should understand that they should also prioritize themselves because how can you take care of them if you don’t take care of yourself?” she asked. She also highlights the importance of personal branding and communication skills. “I am working at MAD Middle East right now, but whenever someone contacts me, I believe that they reach out because of my expertise,” she added. Kristine, whose mantra in life is to never give up, plans to continue sharing her knowledge in HR, personal branding, business and management consultancy, UAE labor law, and personality development, among others, with her fellow Filipinos abroad.

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The company that she currently belongs to also assists entrepreneurs in opening corporate bank accounts, product registration, and other things that need to be registered in the country, including cosmetics, e-cigarettes, books, and food, among others. Additionally, they also develop and manage company portfolios, social media accounts, business cards, logos, corporate brandings, and recruitment.

She said that her being a very competitive person is a ‘bad habit’. “I am a very competitive person. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care whatever you feel, as long as I’m winning, I have to. However, I am in the process of learning how to work as a team--because now, I am managing

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Homer R. Impas Multi-awarded Filipino leader takes active role in friendship program in Saudi Arabia

ut of his work as the assistant supervisor in Al Ahsa Hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Home R. Impas plays a vital role in the Filipino community in the host country. The -51year-old achiever and inspiration is a volunteer and one of the founders of Saudifriendship and Filipino Consultant in Saudi Arabia, a culture, heritage, and tourism program.

Despite all the struggles he was facing, he managed to complete his education. He obtained a diploma in X-Ray Technology from Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College in 1992. His ‘very chaotic’ marriage with his ex-wife triggered him to work abroad. “The last word I told myself that I will be back unless I am a rich guy and can show off to my former wife,” he said.

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Impas, who is also a CT-scan technologist and picture archiving communication system administrator, is currently the president of the United Filipino Community in Eastern Region (UFCER) whose goal is to unite all Filipino organizations with common goals with utmost pleasure without personal interest. He is also the president of Community Investigative Support (CIS) in Al Hasa Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a group that supports the Philippine government in preserving peace and order among the community.

“There are things that people look up to in life which think success which they think would make them popular. For me, the most important is knowing your goals and purpose in life. What matters are the things you do to your life, your friends, family, neighbors, and to God,” he said. The Filipino worker is not only excelling in work. He received multiple awards and appreciations from various organizations. The most significant award he received was the Outstanding Migrant Workers Award in 2019 which was conferred to him by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also immersed himself in sports activities, including tennis.

Born achiever

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While abroad, he converted to Islam. “I was amazed at everything. My question in my mind is answered right away by Allah, the most forgiving and the most merciful God. He called me to the right path and now I am alright and now I know my purpose,” he added. Impas, who could not ask for more in life, found a new partner to share his life with.

For him, the most exciting work-related project that he had partaken in was when he traveled to the UAE and availed of the cultural and heritage tours before he established the Saudifriendship Program. The overseas Filipino worker was sent by Sheikh Hesham Khateeb, a person who he considers ‘a very good friend’. The latter is one of the founders of the program as well.

At a very young age, Impas experienced hard times. His father, an undergraduate engineering student, was forced to work in Manila. The latter was not able to finish his studies as his mother died due to an illness. “At that time, I suffered a lot of pains. I remember selling kakanin and kalamay on the streets. My mother used to cook banana cues and I was the one helping her sell it,” he said.

X-ray technician at the Saad Specialist Hospital in Al Khobar from 2000 to 2002. A year after, he moved to Al Ahsa Hospital and was with the company since then.

In the region, Impas also hosts a radio program that helps and informs his fellow Filipinos about news and policies that concern them.

His first overseas work was as an X-ray and PACS

“Money is nothing, after all, we will die soon. Having good deeds is the most important in our lives. We cannot carry our wealth and everything we possess in life. Only the good deed will remain and listed,” he concluded.

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Jonald Aranez Roxas A leader, a fighter, and a survivor

A senior contracts administrator and senior quantity surveyor for a project and construction management service provider in Qatar, the -45year-old said that since childhood, he knew he will be successful in life as even the people around him were expecting ‘too much’ from him after consistently showing how responsible he was both in the academe and at home, and oftentimes he excelled in every endeavor he was dealing with.

“We may not be rich at that time, but we are blessed with very loving and caring parents, who never forget to guide us and teach us to be a good person,” he further added. Since he was already a youngster, he was already dreaming to be a scientist in the future. After finishing high school, he became a government scholar in Batangas since he was a salutatorian and ended up taking a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, which was not even his first choice. His relatives, upon knowing his situation, helped him to enroll in the college of chemical engineering in one of the universities in Pampanga. However, the university decided to close the course. He then took the Civil Engineering course which he learned

Roxas said that that being the eldest child and the only child who managed to graduate from college and earn a degree comes with so many expectations, not from his family, but from people surrounding them, including their relatives and neighbors. However, he said that he was not pressured by them. But, what was concerning back then was how to earn big, to have a bigger salary since he was only a newly graduate with no valid working experience, “I worked in Manila, rented a room, everything was expensive, so from there, I’m already thinking of moving forward, to have an alternative plan. But I never imagined it will be pushed the earliest because my father died a year after I graduated from college,” he said, noting that after the death of his father, he instantly became the family’s breadwinner and was tasked with bigger responsibilities. “I promised my father that I will do everything to help our family, that I will work hard, and I am willing to sacrifice just to give our family, especially to our mother, the best life which they deserved,” he further added. Working abroad, for Roxas, gave him multiple opportunities to realize his dreams for his family and for himself. “I can’t say that we are rich now, but we are far better, much better than before, from nothing, we have several properties now. I managed to provide all the needs of my family, to have a good and happy life,” he said, adding that today, he has one house in his province and one in a city, two cars, one is a luxury car, purchased multiple lots, and supported his siblings build their own dream houses and nieces and nephews with their education. Roxas is born a leader as he always stands up and sets a good example to others. He is also a fighter and a survivor, experienced many highs and lows in life, including being affected by economic inflations, retrenchments, recessions, and recently, the Covid19- pandemic wherein he was put to ICU for days.

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Like an ordinary individual, he, too, suffered a lot, including a lack of financial support. Roxas was not born in a not so materially comfortable family. His father was a policeman and his mother was just a plain housewife, who did everything to support her kids by selling fish, putting up a small carinderia, and tried small businesses just to earn money. When he was young, they had no permanent home so they kept on transferring from one place to another, renting a small room, sometimes in a nipa hut and in a market. “It’s hard to imagine, but we are a happy family, for as long as we are living together, my happy childhood memories are still here in my heart,” he said.

to love along the way. Although it neither his first or second choice, he was a consistent dean’s lister.

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eing a strong team player, communicator, leader, problem-solver, and decisionmaker with excellent ability to bridge the gap between technical and nontechnical persons are just some of the words that best describe Jonald A. Roxas, a civil engineer by profession. He is also an individual who keeps on dreaming and aspiring to be the best version of himself each day.

“My goal is to enjoy life like what I am doing right now because life is short. I will continue to explore the other side of the world, to travel, witness, and experience different cultures and traditions, places, among others. I may not be that rich but I will continue my passion in helping others, in my own little ways, and my capabilities. I will teach them the importance of being passionate about everything you do, to take care of our welfare, to establish a good reputation, and to continue to be of concern not just to our kabayans but to other nationalities as well,” he concluded.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Michael Salazar Gulapa

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Filipino physiotherapist reaching greater heights in UAE

ichael Salazar Gulapa visited UAE in 1986 when he was only 10 years old. He lived and went to school in the country for a time when his parents brought their whole family overseas so that they could all be together. His two older brothers came a few years before him. Unfortunately, his father, who started working in the host country in the 70s, retired from his job almost a year after he and his entire family arrived. They then moved back to the Philippines.

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Their life in the Philippines had not been as good as his family expected and they were in financial difficulties after a few years of poor business decisions. Having raised in a wealthy family, he said that he never experienced money problems until he got to college. It was during his last years in college that he experienced the taste of poverty: he sold street food, and homemade detergents, among others, in an effort to support his family. After graduating from college and gaining about three years of work experience in the Philippines, he returned to Dubai in 2004 to meet one of his older brothers. During his first months, he had an appendectomy, a major abdominal surgery. At that time, he was penniless and still on a tourist visa so he had to borrow cash from his friends. Waiting tables was Gulapa’s first job in Dubai. He worked for a few days in five-star hotels in Sheikh Zayed until he was hired as a customer service staff in a company that sells therapeutic bed massagers. After almost a year working in customer service, he moved on to selling water purifiers that knocked on people’s doors. It was in this job that Gulapa experienced being scolded at and being slammed in the face by doors. It was also during this time that he accumulated eight exit stamps from Kish Islands and four from Qeshm Island. “Having experienced all of this in some ways, there is something in me that tells me that I have good

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fortune here only if I try harder and be more patient. There were days when I felt depressed, I would go to the rooftop of my brother’s villa just to look up and see the beautiful lights of the towering buildings on Sheikh Zayed Road and dream that I am living here with my family once again,” he said.

dream and I guess I have fulfilled it. I didn’t dream of buying a fancy house for myself. Knowing their old age and poor health, what I wanted is for them to live life with me once again here in this beautiful country. Perhaps my greatest treasure was our memories together here,” he said.

Finally, after trying for over a year, he got his first full-time hospital job. It was at the NMC Specialty Hospital in Al Nahda, Dubai. As a physical therapist by profession and a graduate of pulmonary therapy

Presently, Gulapa is working in the UAE’s largest private hospital, Fakeeh University Hospital, and in charge of the physical therapy section of their home health division. During the recent rise in numbers of Covid19- in the UAE, he was stationed in the ICU department to look after patients afflicted by the deadly virus. During the course of his stay there, he lost some patients, some had been close and known to him. “It was tremendously sad to see the severity of the disease in those affected, but I suppose that for those who successfully battled it, the joy of seeing their patients take their first step again after a long and hard battle is the epitome of success from the perspective of a physical therapist and, of course, the same goes for the rest of the healthcare team,” he added.

graduate, he worked there for two years and then moved to the International Modern Hospital where he worked for more than three years and was promoted to a senior position. After quitting his job at the hospital in 2011, he had his biggest opportunity by being part of a semigovernment-run medical facility. In just a couple of years, Gulapa was promoted to supervisor and then manager. It was early 2013 that he was able to afford to bring his parents back to Dubai to live with him, though they were already in their 70s. Unfortunately, his father passed away in 2017, and his mother, too, in 2020. “But I did what I should have done. I followed my

The Filipino physical therapist said that depending on the current world situation and travel restrictions, he intends to move to another country. For Gulapa, life is an adventure, and that there still many new opportunities somewhere where he can explore and reach greater heights. “My little piece of advice is that nothing is permanent, as the saying goes ‘The only permanent is change’. We may all be living through an unprecedented moment in our lives right now due to the pandemic, but remember that you are still free to dream and that nothing is impossible to achieve. When asked, Sir Edmund Hillary said why he climbed Mount Everest, he replied ‘because it is there’,” he concluded.

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Christopher Marasigan OFW dares to start own companies to watch his visions transform into reality

“I believe school is just a beginning of learning. True learning will start outside the school. I never stop learning how to achieve my goals. With faith and perseverance, my dreams starting to become a reality,” he said. Today, Marasigan is the founder CEO-managing director of Storyteller in Qatar, and Exosphere Inc. in the Philippines. His companies specialize in creative production and digital solutions, conceptbuilding, original content, photo or video shoot, website, digital gimmicks in VR and AR.

“It’s crazy because they want me to in Doha within a week. The feeling was strange because there’s a new opportunity knocking on my door. That made me think about what it’s like to work outside the Philippines? I’m starting to get bored with my job because I felt like my career is not growing anymore,” he recalled, adding that he felt the intense feeling inside and pushing him to go outside of his comfort zone. Unfortunately, it didn’t materialize at that time. He stayed in GMA Network for a couple of years because instead of bringing him to Qatar, they outsourced the project with him in the Philippines. A year after, when they put a new company, they decided to bring him to Qatar. He thought that his career in GMA as an art director and motion designer was not growing anymore. “I want to try a working environment with different nationalities. I want

There, in Qatar, he started working with them as an all-around artist--doing motion design, videography, video editing, and graphic design. In his first year, he didn’t feel like working because the amount of work and the stress were less compared to the Philippines. With this, he has a lot of time to learn and research all the things he needed to make his dreams come true. He learned to simplify things, learned to work smarter, not harder. After working with them for five years, he finally dared to start his own company and do it full-time without any financial capital to kick start Storyteller. “I choose to become an entrepreneur because I want to watch my vision transform into reality while doing it in my own time and space. I have the freedom that encompasses the liberty to create something unique and create opportunities for others. The most satisfying thing about being the founder CEO of a startup company is that I can change lives by introducing a service or product that people use. However, chasing my vision for the company is a vast responsibility that pushes me to finish the goal even if it’s hard because my team trusted me to lead them into the bright future,” he further added. For him, working overseas is eye-opening because he gets to work with different nationalities, cultures, and beliefs. He said that the dynamics of mixed races in the working environment are beneficial because he learns more about the different ways of thinking and discipline. “Also, working overseas made me realize why I’m afraid to dream big when I was in the Philippines because they will judge you on your mistakes and laugh at you to the point that it will become a ‘meme’. They will criticize you, and they never tell you how to correct your mistakes. Instead, they will grab you down and will lose the motivation you pursue,” he said. After years of working overseas, he grew and learned because of his mistakes. Marasigan said that mistakes are proof that one is learning. First struggle When he started his company, his first struggle was he started with no financial capital, which is a big challenge to convince someone to join the risk

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Marasigan, who has been working abroad now for nearly one decade, said that ever since he never thought of working overseas as he was happy and satisfied with his career in GMA Network as an art director and broadcast designer in GMA Pinoy TV and GMA News TV International. He also had two retainer jobs in an agency and some freelance jobs. But, one day, he received a sudden job offer from Qatar, an hour after he uploaded his first online portfolio out of curiosity about sharing his works in the community of creative people.

to test how far I can go with other nationalities. I want a new journey, something beyond my comfort zone,” Marasigan said.

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hristopher Marasigan is a work-in-progress self-though entrepreneur with an ENTJ personality, a person who loves momentum and accomplishment. A kung fu practitioner since 1998, Marasigan did not finish his visual communication course at the University of the Philippines Diliman because managing his time between work and school was always a big struggle. However, this didn’t stop him from achieving his dreams as he had a clear vision of what he wanted and what he needed.

of building a company. The company’s greatest struggle started when the Covid19- pandemic hit the world. They almost come to the point that they want to close the company because of financial difficulty. Because of this, they restructured the company, while acquiring new business skills. Marasigan started learning how to do acquisition and company valuation for investors to survive his company.

“For my kababayan who›s struggling abroad, you can rest for a while if you are already tired. There›s nothing wrong with it, but don›t stop. You can look back to learn from your mistakes but don›t stay there for long. Keep moving forward. Inside of every difficulty lies an opportunity. If you don›t know how to see the opportunities behind problems, ask for help. Two heads are better than one. Most importantly, pray and have faith,” he concluded.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Julius Cabrera Espinosa Filipino pageant enthusiast helping distressed OFWs in Saudi Arabia

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t is a common notion that if one works overseas, he or she seeks better job opportunities. True enough, this was Julius Cabrera Espinosa’s goal when he embarked on an overseas journey some over a decade ago. A fifth child among eight children, he is a Business Administration graduate and a fitness enthusiast who loves to share the same vibes with others. Currently, Espinosa is working as the office manager in the Riyadh Sales Office Branch of Zamil Steel PEB Co. Ltd., one of the biggest preengineered steel building manufacturers in the host country. However, Saudi Arabia wasn’t the first overseas country he worked in. For over two years, he worked in Dubai and moved out for Qatar hoping for a greener pasture. Unfortunately, the latter was not the place heaven wrote for him. Prior to working outside the Philippines, the -40year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia has worked as an admin specialist for five years in Tri-Phil International in Muntinlupa, a company that manufactures genuine leather bags, baseball gloves, and lacrosse gloves for export. In his free time, he makes sure he immerses himself in a healthy lifestyle which is going to the gym. Espinosa also regularly joins Filipino community activities, including outreach programs, talent search, and pageants where he

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was discovered by a talent agency to represent the FilCom KSA last 2019. However, prior to representing the organization, he needed to achieve some requirements and worked hard for it, especially on the personality aspect. Later on, he traveled to Thailand to represent the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, he emerged as Elite Mr. Asian International 2019 and a special award being the first runner up on Best Physique. His pageant journey skyrocketed--he then worked with various photographers and later featured in magazines based in India, New York, Germany, and New York. Espinosa was also an endorser of one of the leading telecommunication companies in the host country, got a project from Western Union, featured in a book in the Philippines, received an award from Ganap TV online as Best Pageant Episode for Male.

an international title holder, featured model in international magazines, and a face of a giant telecom company abroad?” he said. Espinosa added that working abroad contributes to his personal growth as he has the opportunity to interact with different races and nationalities, experience their vibrant cultures and languages. “I enjoy living independently, although being nostalgic is inevitable, especially during those sick and hard times, however, it’s the same thing that will build a resilient personality in you,” he further added. In the future, he plans to build his dream house, sets up a gym as he wants people to engage into a healthy lifestyle.

The pageant enthusiast whose heart is to help his fellow Filipinos abroad has once organized his own outreach projects for the distressed OFWs in the country.

“You need to learn the art of enjoying and loving your work. Save for your future, know the difference between needs and wants. Trust your capabilities. Get in touch with your loved ones as much as you can. Most importantly, put God first,” he said when he was asked about his advice to his fellow Filipinos abroad who are currently struggling.

“Being an OFW doesn’t mean you need to work endlessly. Sometimes, engaging in things outside your work zone will bring you extra milestones in your life. Who would have though that a guy from the Philippines working abroad can be

Image Credit: Lee Palma Assistant: Cee Jee Wardrobe: Jesser Valois, Alford Espinosa, Allen Evangelista

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Engr. Rafael Lontoc

Taking the gamble with high hopes of better opportunity overseas

When Engr. Rafael Lontoc arrived in the UAE in 2006 after his brother invited him to work overseas. However, the latter warned him about the gamble that he will take and may end up working on a job that is not related to his profession as an engineer. So, Lontoc took the gamble with high hopes of better opportunity. Upon moving to UAE, he worked as a Design Engineer for a manufacturing company in Jebel Ali where he oversaw product design and development whilst doing CAD designs and 3D simulations. It was his task to evaluate products against British and other international standards. This job gave him the opportunity to travel to Africa to provide technical training to partners and resellers of their products. By professional, Lontoc is a professional electronics engineer since 2018. He is also a registered ASEAN engineer, ASWAN Chartered Professional Engineer, and a Certified Technology Specialist, an award given by AVIXA, a leading resource for AV standards, certification, training, market intelligence, and thought leadership.

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The highlight of his career was the time when he was promoted to his current post from Systems Engineer in 2015 when his company entrusted him with the management and administration of service operations here in the Middle East region. “Working in the professional AV industry is exciting because the industry is so dynamic. New technologies are always coming up, which I need my skills to be updated from time to time. This is important why I enjoy my work as a Service Manager in the ProAV industry because of the dynamic nature of the technologies involved,” he said. “Aside from that, given the responsibility to lead a segment or section in our company I could say gives me both a challenge and a compliment. It gave me the chance to grow and boost my confidence. The job is tough as

He said that with his current job, he is contented as the industry is related to the course he took in college.

Working overseas makes in more financially independent he’s able to save for himself which he can use when he returns to the Philippines to invest in some properties and start his own empire.

“Moreover, working overseas enabled me to support my parents and my siblings in the Philippines. By working here abroad, I was further given the chance to broaden my horizons and grew more professionally having the chance to interact with different people, motivated after dealing with pressures and issues and able to solve it,” he said. Lontoc recalled looking for a job in 2006 and the journey was composed of multiple hurdles-including taking chances of walking in from building to building under the scorching heat of the sun, public transport was not yet that convenient at that time, many unsuccessful interviews, low salary offers, and depleting allowance. He also did a part-time job as an IT assistant in one of his friend’s offices to sustain his status as a visit visa holder. Though he secured a job five months later since arriving in UAE, it was still not the ideal job that he was praying for yet.

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Presently, he is working as a Service Manager for Cyvis AS, a Norweigian AV/IT company with a Middle East branch cashed in Dubai. Here, he oversees the service and support operations in the region which include deployment of engineers, repair and system recovery, and remote support for their clients. Before the pandemic, his responsibility includes traveling across the GCC region and other countries like Pakistan, Lebanon, and Iraq to perform maintenance visits and system health checks of installed AV systems of their clients outside the country. To be able to do his duty as a Service Manager, he needs to be equipped with technical knowledge and skills requirements especially that the product he is dealing are technology-based.

I deal with concerns and issues from different companies and there is a need to give them immediate solutions. At the same time, I find fulfillment in getting appreciative feedback from them,” he further added.

He also encountered financial struggles during his stay abroad as he could not cope up with payments of dues with his salary at that time and became reliant on credit cards. Unknowingly, he was already in so much debt that when he got his monthly salary, most of it will be paid for credit card dues, car loan, housing rent, and his regular remittance to the Philippines. With the help and advice of his friends and former colleagues at work, he was able to manage and pull out himself from that burden, and gradually recover from it.

“Never give up on your dreams, whether to be successful in your career, family life, or business which you need to take courage to pursue. Success usually does not come right away or may come only after a couple of times of retries before achieving it. You may even see yourself drowning in problems but never lose hope. Consider these problems as a source of lessons to build up yourself and to stay strong. Learn to get inspiration from your peers, friends, and family members in the Philippines who are always your strength even when you are far away from them,” he said.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

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Krizzel Dayne Ong Macaraig A passionate Covid19response nurse with a big heart for her hometown

hroughout history, nurses have been playing major roles in stepping into times of crisis and providing care. Krizzel Dayne Ong Macaraig, a registered nurse by profession studied and finished Medical Coding in 2019 and recently passed the Nursing Licensure Examination in the United Kingdom. Today, she is a Covid19response nurse in the UAE under the Aspen Medical UAE company.

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The -30year-old Filipina nurse is one of the team leaders of World’s First Phase III Clinical Trial of Covid19- and one of the elite nurses selected to do UAE UAE International Mission for Vaccination. Macaraig is the first nurse in the host country awarded ‘Best Nurse of the Month’ during the Phase IV Covid19- vaccination program. Just recently, she is one of the few nurses sent to Jordan to vaccinate some 12,500 Syrian refugees in the camps of the Hashemite under the generosity of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and Emirates Red Crescent. “Through my chosen field, I am able to serve humanity. Being part of the UAE Covid19- Vaccination Program is a privilege and an honor for me because it prevents people from getting severe Covid19- symptoms and it means extending the life of a human. From the moment that the World’s First Phase III Clinical Trial of Covid19started, I dedicated my heart, blood, sweat, and all of myself in order for this project to be successful. I can about human life, and I count the small things that I can do because that small thing can still make a difference and that difference can touch someone’s life,” she said, noting that joining ASPEN Medical UAE opens a lot of doors for her when she’s able to show her capabilities as a leader, a nurse, a woman, and as a person. Macaraig said that working overseas made her see real life. She was tested when she arrived in the country last 2017, in the middle of Ramadan, when finding a job was a real struggle. She opted to work

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abroad when she hit the lowest point of life. Through determination and persistence, she landed a market researcher job in an international company. Although it wasn’t in line with the healthcare industry, Macaraig excelled. She was responsible for what was happening in the market across the globe, prioritizing 41 countries.

spearheaded another drive called Tulong Kabayan San Francisco Charity which aims to help the people in her hometown grappling to survive in the middle of the pandemic. “There are thousands of people affected by the pandemic and I could not afford by watching them suffer,” she said. So she thought of a way on how she can send bigger help. Gladly, the company that she is currently working at opened a program called ‘Matching and Giving’. As she registered her Tulong Kabayan, she was granted AED7,500 which is equivalent to some P98,000.

Along the way, she understood that achieving her goals and dreams was difficult to achieve, however, she knows that it was all going to be worth it. Having physical endurance and mental fortitude, and after working overseas for four years, she’s able to deal with challenges, find her purpose, acquire new skills, set new goals, and live a life that was once a dream. Serving humanity The frontline hero has also utilized her personal Facebook account to assist an old woman to have her sick son checked in her hometown in San Francisco, Quezon. In 2018, she also posted a needy family who has a family member who belongs to the people of determination sector. Through the power of social media, the family received a massive amount of help that even local TV networks reached out to them and lend them a hand. In the same year, she joined an organization for nurses from Quezon called Quezon Millennials UAE. They regularly organize drives where proceeds are sent to the Pediatric Department of the Quezon Medical Centre. Macaraig, during the onset of the pandemic in 2020,

said.

“I might be a thousand miles away, but I would like my people to know that there is someone out there thinking about them.vOut of all the help I had given to the charities I participated in, I did it because wholeheartedly I chose to serve humanity. Serving humanity is an opportunity of serving God and I will not get tired of serving both. God and humanity,” she

Macaraig said that since entrepreneurship runs through her veins, she will probably build her own empire. “My advice to my fellow kabayans who struggling abroad is that never give up. Life is hard but it is harder when you quit. Keep the faith and surrender your burdens to God. Chasing your dreams and chasing the successful life you wanted is not easy, but it is worth it,m” she further added.

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Filipino Institute conducts first FIdol--The Search for the Next Singing Idol Dubai-based bartender Erick John Dizon is FIdol winner Erick John Dizon, 35, won the first-ever FIdol–The Search for the Next Singing Idol, a singing competition organized by the Filipino Institute. Dizon, a bartender and mixologist, battled it out with five other Filipinos who were equally soulful singers during the 123rd Philippine Independence Day celebration on Saturday, June 12 at the Gerry’s Grill Burjuman. Currently, Dizon is currently jobless due to the pandemic and bars in the UAE are still gradually recovering. Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management ordered the closure of pubs and limit other activities in the emirate in mid-April after virus cases spiked. Clubs were reopened in May, however, performers, and entertainers should be vaccinated against Covid19-. He said that he is waiting for a job opportunity by August so he has time to compete in singing competitions around the country and earn from it to make ends meet. During the event, Alzes Banzon was hailed as the first runner up; Angelo Marana as the second runner up; Kristine Molina as the third runner up; and Patrick Aldamovar as the fourth runner up.

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Dubai’s Philippine Consulate recognizes outstanding OFWs through Dakilang Bayani Awards

he Philippine Consulate General in Dubai recognized outstanding Filipino expats in Dubai and the Northern Emirates in this year’s edition of the Dakilang Bayani Awards. The awarding ceremony was held at the Consulate on 11 June 2021. The event is in line with the Consulate’s celebration of the 123rd Anniversary of Philippine Independence in honor of modernday heroes. The title Dakilang Bayani (Noble Hero) is the highest award conferred by the Office of the Consul General to an overseas Filipino. The award is in recognition, not only of talents, abilities, and achievements but most importantly of selfless service to the community. This year’s rigorous selection identified seven new modern-day heroes as bearers of the prestigious title:

The selection was based on the nominations submitted by the Filipino Community which identified the awardees’ achievements and contributions to society. Due to the substantive nominations received this year, the screening committee decided to recognize as well five deserving finalists for their equally notable good works to the community. They are: 1. Ms. Emelina Parcia 2. Mr. Francisco Boton 3. Mr. Ion Gonzaga 4. Ms. Lou Parroco 5. Mr. Richard Zulueta Awardees and finalists each received trophies and plaques of appreciation.

Aside from the awarding ceremony, another highlight of the celebration was a tribute prepared by the Filipino community to Consul General Paul Raymund P. Cortes in honor of his meritorious service and achievements during his tour of duty in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Awardees and attendees of the event were serenaded by the Consulate’s very own Ms. Larisse Isabel Lausingco. Members of the screening committee namely, Dr. Rommel Sergio, Dr. Rex Venard Bacarra, Dr. Benigno Lebig, and Dr. Niño Decenorio, educators by profession and earlier awardees themselves, were also recognized with plaques of appreciation for their volunteer work in the past six years in organizing and facilitating the Dakilang Bayani Awards. The Dakilang Bayani Awards started in 2016 to inspire Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates to actively engage in serving the community while working for a successful life as an overseas Filipino.

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1. Dr. Mary Jane Alvero, a multi-awarded global business leader and CEO who actively helps her fellow Filipinos in various platforms; 2. Ms. Lalaine Chu-Benitez, an advocate of Championing World Class Filipinos; 3. Mr. Michael Cinco, an internationally acclaimed designer who brought pride, glory and honor to the Philippines; 4. Ms. Josie Conlu, a Community Champion known

for showcasing successful Filipinos in various social media platforms and helping distressed Filipinos; 5. Ms. Fevie Laurilla, known for her volunteer work including empowering women, holding financial literacy and mental health seminars; 6. Mr. Ace Lester Quijada, an active community leader and public servant in heart and deed; and, 7. Mr. Angel Tesorero, a multi-awarded veteran journalist known for chronicling developments in the Filipino community.

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Filipinos in UAE pen farewell note to Dubai’s outgoing Consul General As Philippine Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes prepares to leave his post at the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) pen note to the outgoing Philippine’s top government official in the emirate TGFM | JUNE 2021

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uring his six years of service, Cortes assisted almost 680,000 Filipinos. He will leave his post in August after serving his countrymen during the most difficult time last year.

From 2016 to 2021, he facilitated the repatriation of over 1,000 distressed Filipinos. Under his leadership, the Consulate was also awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs with the following accolades: Best Organization in 2017, Best AssistanceTo-Nationals in 2018, One of the Best Performing Units in 2019. Cortes was also conferred by President Rodrigo Duterte the Gawad Mabini Award with the rank of Dakilang Kamanong (Grand Cross) in 2018 for his meritorious service. Dr. Rex Venard Bacarra, campus academic head and director for administrative services at Southville-Ras Al Khaimah, took to Facebook to post a lengthy appreciation for Cortes. He suggested that there is probably no Filipino Consul General, at least in his version of history, that is so well-supported, so

well-defended, and so-well loved than Cortes. “It is not because everyone likes him, but it is because most love him. It is not because he is accommodating, but it is because there is warmth in his accommodation. It is not because he doesn’t commit mistakes, but it is because his mistakes are punctuated with humility. His humble heart shines through against the pride of the many,” he wrote. “He understands that for every decision he is about to make, not everyone is bound to agree. This is the burden of leadership: to decide what’s right for the majority and listen with patient understanding to the howls of the minority. The truth is, it is always the empty can that shouts angrily. It is always unreasonable that produces the loudest noise,” he further added. The seasoned educator described the official as a ‘great man, a happy man, with an incredible intellect.’ “He is a great soul of matchless courage with a heart that keeps on giving– and when he leaves us sometime this year, we bow down symbolically in respect to his achievements and with utter regard to his incredible character,” Bacarra said. Dubai-based Filipina Cathy Rivera said she couldn’t agree more with Bacarra’s note. She said that Cortes has a great soul of matchless courage with a heart that keeps on giving. “Love, like the fire in his heart, is unquenched. His mission, like the power of his will, is entrenched. Nothing disturbs the peace of a man who understands his purpose. One thing is certain, wherever ConGen will be, he will always awaken the desire of the people around him to do something,” she added. OFW-based in Dubai Arlene Abe Pulido, on the other hand, said that Filipinos are blessed and grateful to have a father figure in Cortes. “I have personally experienced your untiring support and dedication to serving us during the Ateneo LSE days. Thank you so much for everything. We love you and take care always. Mabuhay ka Sir,” she said.

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Turn your

work experience into an actual college degree

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Good news for Filipinos in the Middle East who wish to acquire a bachelor’s degree at a lower cost! The Filipino Institute has partnered with the Lyceum of the Philippines UniversityBatangas Inc. to offer Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), which is a comprehensive educational assessment program at the tertiary level that recognizes, accredits, and gives equivalencies to knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values gained by individuals from nonformal, informal educational experiences, and relevant work.

he program, which fits with those overseas Filipino workers who didn’t finish and wasn’t able to start their bachelor’s degree, is being implemented through deputized high education institutions that shall award the appropriate college degree.

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Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program

ETEEAP

During the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Wednesday, April 28, through Zoom Meeting, present are Mr. Gabriel John Rimando, founder and president of the Filipino Institute; and Dr. Peter P. Laurel, president of the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas Inc., along with Mr. Frederick C. Badillo, Senior VP Finance; Dr. Cecille Pring, Vice President for Academics and Research; Dr. Abigail I. Manzano, Director for ETEEAP and Scholarship; and Ms. Josefina P. Laurel, Treasurer. ETEEAPbeneficiaries must be Filipinos who are at least high school graduates. Citing the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) rules on the program, candidates must have at least five years in the field or industry related to the academic program they are obtaining an equivalency. They must also be able to show proof of proficiency, capability, and thorough knowledge in the field applied for equivalency. “As promised to our fellow Filipinos, we are bringing this good news to you. Gaining a bachelor’s degree to rise through the ranks has been imperative, especially if you’re working abroad. The ETEEAP program is an alternative program for working professionals who were not able to finish their college education or were completely unable to step into college to earn a bachelor’s degree without going through traditional schooling methods,” Rimando said.

Undergraduate Programs ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management (BSIHM) Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCR) Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT)

ETEEAP Admission Requirements > Comprehensive CV > Certification of Employment > TOR or Copy of Grades > ETEEAP Application Form Learn more about this program, contact Ms. Isabel at 1518 452 54 971+ or email her at bachelorsdegree@filipino-institute.com

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Filipino U Institute inks partnership with Cyprus Institute of Marketing to offer three-year Bachelor’s degree

AE-based training centre Filipino Institute has recently teamed up with Cyprus Institute of Marketing to offer threeyear Bachelor programs with separate certificates and diplomas each year. Cyprus Institute of Marketing is a pioneer and world-leader in distance-learning education with over two decades experience of in delivering highquality degrees through correspondences.

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Filipino Institute, now an approved tuition centre and examination centre, continuously explores opportunities globally for its growing number of students.

Through the partnership, Filipino Institute is now an accredited centre to offer a three-year Bachelor’s Degree wherein at the end of each year, students will be rewarded separate certificates. On successful completion of Year 1, students will be awarded a Diploma; on successful completion of Year 2, students will be awarded an Advanced Diploma; and finally, upon successful completion of Year 3, students will be awarded a Bachelor Degree. Each certificate may be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the UAE that can be used for employment or migration purposes. Each year is composed of two semesters. The three-year program may be optionally conducted through the following schemes: Face-toface, Online, and Blended-learning. For face-to-face, students will meet students five times per week; whereas, in a blended learning program, students will meet their professors twice a week in person, and thrice online. Under homebased schooling, students will meet teachers once a week. All the offered courses involve closed-book and written examinations. The start of classes is scheduled for August 2021 ,29.

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Below are the programs that students may take: •

Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management

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Bachelor of Science in Marketing Science

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Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

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Bachelor of Science in Shipping Management

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Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management

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Bachelor of Science in Financial & Computer Management

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Bachelor of Science in Banking Management

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Bachelor of Science in Insurance Management

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Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Man ag emen t

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Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design & Business

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Bachelor of Science in Psychology

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Bachelor of Science in Logistics

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Bachelor of Science in Interior Design & Management

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• Bachelor of Science in Finance

Requirements include a High School Certificate or Foundation Certificate, Passport copy, and two pieces of passport-size photos.

To enlist or further inquiry, please speak with Miss Isabel at bachelorsdegree@filipino-institute.com.

The Global Filipino Magazine | Issue 14 | June 2021