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JULY 2021 | ISSUE 15

Filipino Institute to start K-12 program for SY 2021-2022 on Aug 29 Filipino institute’s first ReINA ng Eskwela is Miss Frilla Bada OFW passes three Filipino Institute’s free online course despite channges

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Finding a purpose in the middle of the Covid19- pandemic

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

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

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8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Filipino Institute make-up graduate now regular make-up, hairstylist at local TV show - Jessie Magcamit Balodong Award-winning Filipino wound care nurse specialist shines in UAE - Julius Ray Palma Inso Emerging Filipino artist in Abu Dhabi secures UAE’s 10-year golden visa Roberto Aytona Filipino digital entrepreneur in UAE propelled by Covid-19 pandemic Russel Baquial Filipina medical doctor in UAE granted 10-year golden visa - Dr. Daffodils Guevarra From marketing executive to pandemic hero in UAE - Christine Joy Yap Ta-Ay Former family driver for a local family now owns a company in Dubai Cashmer Buenafe A true Filipino outstanding overseas migrant worker - Remegio “Adel” J. Merino Pinay in Hong Kong helps fellow domestic workers avoid getting into trouble - Rodelia Villar From online seller to general manager of an advisory company in UAE Christine Joy Agonos Albaniel ‘Never let failure stop you’: Former service crew now expediting, inspection officer in UAE - Julie May Gancayco De Guzman Filipino dentist gets UAE’s 10-year golden visa - Dr. Marvin Adame Felix

Finding a purpose in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic - Donna Carpio

Much trusted and distinctly recognized Filipino travel agent in UAE - Geoffrey Salatan Suffered a lot in life, former housemaid still inclined to succeed in life - Ruth O. Gawili Filipina accountant in Abu Dhabi leading an active lifestyle - Ruby Jane Giagonia-Caspe ‘Conquering fears and becoming stronger each day’ - Imelda Santos Capuchino ‘If you can do better, then do better’ - Matthew Munoz - CPA, AFM, CFM Filipina cashier for 5 years woks hard to fulfill dreams for family - Cherish Coton Sergantes Filipino dentist, medical director granted 10-year UAE golden visa - Dr. Ian Victor M. Aquino

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

JESSIE MAGCAMIT BALODONG

fter taking the basic and advanced make-up classes at the Filipino Institute, Jessie Magcamit Balodong has finally found more stable and secure employment as a regular make-up artist and hairstylist for a local TV show based at Dubai’s Media City.

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Filipino Institute make-up graduate now regular make-up, hairstylist at local TV show

In a May 23 Facebook post, Dubai-based Filipino Balodong revealed that it was his first day of work–and was tasked to groom one news reporter and TV host in a morning show and a news reporter in an afternoon show.

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Aside from taking the basic and advanced classes for the course, he also took a professional hairbrush program in the same institution. “I am really happy and thankful to my talented mentors, especially to Ma’am Jane and Ma’am Jacquelyn Merano Adormeo as they really help individuals like me to pursue this career,” he further added.

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“I enrolled myself in the Filipino Institute because I want to explore my knowledge and skills in the make-up industry and to become a professional make-up artist,” he said.

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The Global Filipino Magazine spoke with Balodong about his experience with the Filipino Institute who she feels he is indebted.

Before working in Media City, he was working for a salon for three years. Balodong said that when he was just a Grade 4 student, he dreamt of working overseas. In 2018, this dream became a reality, and pursue another dream which is to become a professional hair and make-up artist and to be able to provide her family a comfortable life. “To my fellow Filipinos, don’t give up on your dreams because a dream is a picture of possibility and we need a strong mind and determination, positive mindset, and ultimately, faith in God. Believe in yourself and show to the world that you can do it,” he added.

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Award-winning Filipino wound care nurse specialist shines in UAE

ulius Ray Palma Inso initially started working as a general nurse before becoming a Wound Care Nurse Specialist in Healthpoint, a specialty hospital in Abu Dhabi with world-leading medical experts. His previous employer offered him to study International Interprofessional Wound Care Nurse under the program of Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto from 2014 to 2015. “Becoming a wound care nurse specialist is the highlight of my career working abroad,” he said. As a wound care nurse specialist, Inso is responsible for treating complex and chronic wounds and as a resource person by providing advice and recommendations to other caregivers. He has also organized a wound care education program for the staff nurses in their facility to ensure that their wound care decisions are standardized and evidence-based to guarantee that the best practices are delivered to the patients. The patient advocate was awarded the prestigious DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses. The award-giving body is an international recognition program that rewards and celebrates extraordinary compassionate and skillful nurses. Established in 1999, this program has been adopted by over 3,000 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing worldwide. In the same year, the extraordinary Filipino nurse has also received Healthpoint’s iCare Award for Excellence and Quality for his dedication in the field of nursing. “Becoming a wound care nurse specialist is the high point of my career here in the UAE. For many years after I arrived here in UAE, I can say that I reached the plateau stage of my career. Everything seemed routine and predictable. But when I became a wound care nurse specialist, I felt like I have moved out of my comfort zone and was on an edge of a cliff feeling the thrill and excitement again in my career. It was

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JULIUS RAY PALMA INSO

a great leap of faith--I didn’t have the knowledge and experience of being a wound care nurse nor the confidence in dealing with different patients and wound care specialists from different countries around the gulf but I was driven and determined,” Inso said. In his mind, this opportunity comes only once. He believed that everything can be eventually learned with the right attitude and mindset. “So, I took the course and eventually became a wound care specialist. Looking back to this experience, I realized how much has changed just because of my simple ‘yes’ to one opportunity. I didn’t let my hesitation nor the lack of experience hinder me from taking on that challenge in my career. This undertaking has opened for me a lot of great opportunities from being a wound care educator to becoming a patient advocate and instrument towards patient empowerment in managing their difficult circumstances,” he further added. Prior to working overseas, he worked as a cardiovascular nurse in Southern Philippines Medical Centre (SMPC). During his last year in the organization, he was elected as a Nomelec officer for the SMPC Nurses Association where they organize training and seminars for the staff nurses to update their knowledge and skills with the latest evidence to promote patient safety. In the capital, he is an active member of the Filipino Nurses Association in the Emirates (FNAE) and has participated in the organization’s various activities that promoted Filipino nurses’ welfare and camaraderie in the host country. In 2019, Inso became the first recipient of the Excellence of Care Award and Excellence in Nursing Practice Award by FNAE. Like many overseas Filipino workers, Inso opted to work overseas in the hopes to secure better

opportunities so he can provide a better life for his family. “I think most Filipinos, if not all. Dreamed of providing for their families and working abroad is our way of making this dream a reality. Working abroad is a sacrifice. We are constantly facing homesickness and depression but being able to provide for our families at home will make everything worth it,” he added. “Working abroad is a journey to learning and selfdiscovery. I think the best part of working overseas is the self-realization and adventures of doing new things. Working here has forced me to step outside the comfort zone that taught me of my strengths and weaknesses and undergoes a new experience which has helped me build a valuable skill both personally and professionally,” he added. Although he has no plans yet to settle in the Philippines, he plans to earn more money and launch a scholarship program for less privileged students in his hometown in Davao as he understands the struggle of getting a good education in the Philippines. Career-wise, Inso wants intends to pursue his master’s in wound care in the United Kingdom, get his US certification in wound care and move and work there for better opportunities for him and his growing family. “Be a risk-taker and do not be afraid of failure. Most of the successful OFWs I know are insistent in setting high standards and as a result, they are over concern when committing mistakes. I, on the contrary, believe that failure is a necessary part of life and should be viewed constructively. Failure is an inevitable part of working abroad but this should not discourage us but rather motivate us to learn and improve because the only way to reach our full potential is to take a risk, push our limits, go out of our comfort zone and definitely not fear failure,” he concluded.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Emerging Filipino artist in Abu Dhabi secures UAE’s -10year golden visa

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ROBERTO AYTONA

bu Dhabi-based emerging Filipino artist Roberto Aytona has recently secured the UAE government’s golden visa, a longterm residence visa exclusively given to investors, entrepreneurs, and those with specialized talents and researchers in various fields of science and knowledge, and bright students with promising scientific capabilities.

myself qualified in applying for the golden visa. I got the visa by immediately applying at the Dubai Cultural and Arts Authority,” he told The Global Filipino Magazine.

Aytona, who hails from Sorsogon, is a known artist in the UAE, showcasing his arts to different prominent personalities in the country, doing artworks in different mediums such as caricatures, portraits, oil painting, murals, and others, to satisfy the drawings and artwork desires of the spectators.

The Filipino artist is the owner of the firm Art Attack UAE which caters to different kinds of styles of art, murals, and pictures of known local people and expatriates alike.

He works primarily with 16 mediums in arts, depicting realism for 25 years. “Being an artist in different mediums, I consider

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Citing the UAE’s government portal, it noted that creative individuals in culture and art must be accredited by the Ministry of Culture and Youth.

Before embarking on an entrepreneurial journey, he worked for two years in Dubai where he worked as an editorial cartoonist in Kabayan Weekly, the first Filipino newspaper in the UAE. He also worked as an artist in Showart for about two years. He’s been based in the capital for the last five years. Prior to working

in the UAE, Aytona also worked as a mural artist and airbrush artist in Qatar for six years. “Chances back home are difficult and limited. Working abroad is better than working in the Philippines. Why? We have too many jobless artists in the Philippines and competition among us is very hard compared to the opportunities abroad,” he said. He added that the best thing about living in the UAE is security and personal safety. In a report published by analytics firm Gallup, the UAE is ranked ninth on the overall Law and Order Index behind countries including Austria, Switzerland, and Singapore. Regionally, the UAE was second. “One of my greatest achievements here in the UAE was when I had the chance to showcase my art to different prominent personalities in the UAE,” he said.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

RUSSEL BAQUIAL Filipino digital entrepreneur in UAE propelled by Covid19pandemic

ilipino digital entrepreneur Russel Baquial said that to become truly great in business, one has to take risks. A risk-taker, the Covid19pandemic has propelled her into the digital economy which has allowed her to help her fellows by providing them job opportunities.

promotional and discounted prices. The digital entrepreneur, whose mother was a former overseas Filipino worker, also sells things on Amazon, Google, Apple, iTunes, and Audible, among others. Baquial said that being a boss of her own is both liberating and scary because she can’t assure of if she’ll be successful or not. “Despite that, I believe that as long as you have mentors who will guide and encourage you in your projects, it’s worth it. My mentor was the one who put me on the path of digital and online businesses. We are in the era of the internet, so we have to move our operations online and be successful,” she said. She added that since full normalcy hasn’t been restored yet, it’s still difficult to open a traditional brick-and-mortar store. “It’s challenging, expensive, and risky due to the ongoing pandemic. A traditional business may not even be sustainable because we don’t know when the pandemic will end in the country,” the digital investor said. Currently, Baquial is more focused on her digital enterprises because it gives her the freedom to do whatever she wanted to do with her life. She can also bring her job wherever she goes, be it in the UAE or in the Philippines. Another good thing is she can outsource her employees remotely and can support her fellow Filipinos. Through her businesses, she helps raises her fellow Filipinos up. “Being an entrepreneur sounds pretty lonely at first, but it isn’t. You don’t have to isolate yourself to be successful--in fact, having supportive colleagues is important to success,” she added.

Baquial’s life may seem very great now, but the story behind it shows that success is made through a lot of stress and sacrifices. Before being a business owner, she used to work in a retail store in the airport, where she managed a staff of 20 to 30 people from different nationalities. When the pandemic struck, the airport needed to let her go. While other workers decided to leave the host country, she and her friends decided to stay in the country to set up their own general trading business. An OFW for 21 years, Baquial said that she didn’t want to go back home yet as she has still a staff of freelance employees who were working for her. She also opted to stay overseas as she still wants to support the World Vision program, which aims to support children in at-risk communities by providing them funds for their health, education, among others. For six years, she’s supporting six kids with the aim to increase that number to 50 by December 2022. Her current mission and advocacy are to help other OFWs build passive income streams through digital business by guiding and teaching them how to start up their own business, be it online or traditionally. “With my experience, I’d tell my kabayan this: Surround yourself with the right people and try to get other sources of income while you still can. I’d also advise them to save a portion of their income as much as possible. The idea is for you to start building up a habit of saving up money so that you can invest it into a business later in life. Businesses are like successes: they take time. Avoid getting involved with get-richquick schemes or investments, and don’t start your own business without doing market research. Always be patient and find a knowledgeable mentor who is willing to guide you through the realm of investments and enterprises,” Baquial said.

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Early on in the pandemic, she, together with her business partners, realized that online commerce is getting more and more important for regular consumers and thought that they, too, should move with the times. In the digital era, people need digital stores, so they opened their own website where they sell products made in the UAE through Fincres. Their goal is committed to bringing products made in the UAE to neighboring countries and all over the world. The company supports manufacturers and their main distributors in terms of selling online, market their products within the UAE mainland and even

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DR. DAFFODILS GUEVARRA

Deira.

Filipina medical doctor in UAE granted -10year golden visa

Aside from treating patients, she is also actively conducting community-based lectures about topics such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, dyslipidemia, and back pain.

ilipina medical doctor in the UAE Dr. Daffodils Guevarra is among the expatriates in the country granted the -10year residence visa, a type of visa exclusively given by the UAE government to investors, entrepreneurs, and those with specialized talents and researchers in various fields of science and knowledge, and bright students with promising scientific capabilities. A resident in the UAE for 14 years, Dr. Guevarra is currently working as a General Practitioner and Branch Manager in Prime Medical Centre in Reef Mall

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“When the UAE decided to release information about the Golden Visa, I read through the eligibility requirements, and I initially thought I wouldn’t pass the criteria. However, my doctor colleagues in Prime Medical Centre still encouraged me to apply. I went to inquire the UAE Immigration and Naturalization Department, and after showing my documents, the officers told me I was eligible for the Golden Visa,” she said, quipping that she almost fainted upon hearing the news.

She said that the best part of her career in the UAE is the fact that she gets to interact and treat her fellow Filipinos on a daily basis. “One thing I realized is, we are all a part of a big Filipino family here in the UAE. A big percentage of my patients are people I have known for years now, and they have become friends and second family to me. And we, Filipinos, are known to help each other out,” Dr. Guevarra said. “During the pandemic, most of my patients told me that they have actively joined support or help groups to help other Filipinos who have been displaced by job loss, and for me, to be part of this dynamic

group who help others in their own little ways, that, is the highlight of my career--to be part of the Filipino Global Community in the UAE,” the seasoned medical professional further added. Dr. Guevarra previously worked as a doctor in a clinic in Jumeirah for two years and then worked for Prime Medical Centre from 2009 onwards. She revealed that she did not have any plans to work overseas as she was busy practicing as a Specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine in the Philippines and actively practicing as a doctor in various clinics in Manila. She considers being a doctor to her fellow Filipinos in the UAE as her greatest achievement. “I think it is both an honor and privilege to be treating and interacting with fellow Filipinos in the UAE,” she said. “I want to take this opportunity to thank the leaders of the UAE for making the UAE a safe, peaceful country to live in. The leaders have done an excellent job in creating a place where all nationalities can harmoniously live with each other- where health, safety, and happiness are major priorities. I have told patients that in this pandemic time, the best and safest place to be in is here in the UAE. The UAE leaders have created a very efficient health infrastructure to battle the pandemic, and with a very robust vaccine rollout program, one of the best in the world, I would like to say thank you UAE for keeping all of us safe, healthy, and happy,” the Filipino physician said.

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opinion of my loved ones and without informing them at all as I know they will not let me join for the mission. Unlike any other war, our opponent is invisible,” she said, adding that being a Covid19- response nurse is the highlight of her professional career in the UAE. While playing a crucial role to flatten the curve in the UAE, she also assisted a friend who is active in helping displaced Filipinos. Ta-ay also provided food to various food banks and distribute food baskets within their community where she used to stay. “What I enjoyed the most about being a Covid19response nurse is when you finally say goodbye to your patient with a happy face and being grateful to what you have contributed to them until they become well. For me, this is the most satisfying part of my career and maybe the reason why God, in just a snap of a finger, brought me back to the professional that I have ignored and disregard for years. I can definitely say that being a nurse is a calling,” she further added. Ta-ay said that after her mission in the country, if there’s an opportunity to pursue her passion, she might consider working in another country, or better yet, go back to the Philippines for good.

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“For now, I’ll enjoy the things I have and will work on it. I will try to build my resources for the meantime, then I’ll work on planning once I have all the resources ready with God’s grace,” she said.

CHRISTINE JOY YAP TA-AY From marketing executive to pandemic hero in UAE

Ta-ay, who started working as a customer service representative in the Philippines, initially worked as

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According to her, she was encapsulated with feat at that moment as she has obligations to fulfill, including bills to pay. “I was wondering how to sustain all of it having no salary for the next three months and might even extend further due to the world’s situation,” she added. Until one day, Aspen Medical UAE was hiring nursing graduates and nurses to join them and help fight against Covid19-. Although she was frightened, she submitted herself to be part of the Covid19- response team. Aside from having an attractive offer, she said that it’s a privilege to be part of the UAE history in the future as one of the Covid19- warriors to help flatten the curve in the country. This stint, according to her, was a ‘comeback’ after being out of the medical field for years. “I secretly joined the mission without asking for the

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hristine Joy Yap Ta-ay decided to work overseas nine years ago with a goal to provide her family back home with a comfortable life and make them proud. One of the reasons why she opted to work in the UAE is due to its topnotch healthcare system.

a marketing executive for a private company that deals with fit-outs and exhibitions. For four years, she excelled in this field and became its top seller and marketer during her stay in the company. Soon after, she transferred to a new company that deals with the same services. Ta-ay stayed there for almost three years until the Covid19- pandemic strikes. They were placed on unpaid leave for three months as events, their bread and butter, were put on hold due to the ongoing pandemic.

to step your best foot forward,” she said. “Some days you get sales, some days you don’t. With the current market situation, it is really a challenge for businesses to survive. As for me, I am trusting the process and leaving it all up to God. For in his guidance, you will always win,” Buenafe further added. Only a few may have known it but Buenafe was one of the founders of barter groups in Dubai that helped a lot of displaced Filipinos in the country. Regardless of her own struggle, she was doing her best to reach out and help in food distribution in her community and contribute to food banks as well. For her, these kids of charitable activities made her feel better and helped her forget her worries in life. In her free time, she writes informative content about food, hotel stays, and tourist destinations. When asked about what does she like about living in Dubai, she said it’s from the simple comfort of the handheld bidet in toilets, free and fast Wi-Fi connectivity in most areas, and the security it gives to citizens and expatriates. She added that only in the UAE one can get a five-minute response time from the authorities after a 999 call, which she previously experienced. “Also, the use of advanced technology in most aspects-from healthcare to roads and transportations. People are treated equally with respect no matter their race or ethnicity. It is highly organized and the leaders lead by example,” she further added.

CASHMER BUENAFE

ost Filipinos venture abroad for the same reason--a brighter future. Cashmer Buenafe has been living in UAE for 12 years now. She is a food blogger, a company founder, and a family supporter. She embarked on an overseas job to save money to fund their existing business in the Philippines. She was working in a BPO company in the Philippines, dealing with sales, and making sure she’s always topped the rank. Upon arrival to the UAE over a decade ago, she initially worked as a family driver for a local family. This gave her the advantage to be familiar with the Emirati culture and knowledge of the UAE whereabouts most locals only know. Being young and carefree, she almost completely forgot her purpose until the first company that hired

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Former family driver for a local family now owns a company in Dubai

her gave her a chance to get back in the corporate field. This gave her more reasons to push forward. She worked as inside sales and worked her way up to the sales management level in the IT industry. She remembers the ‘good old days’ where she needed to knock on doors daily, call rigidly and follow up gracefully until she was closing deals with wellknown enterprises with amounts she couldn’t even imagine she’d achieved. Today, Buenafe has her own company called Customized Craft Designs, a licensed agency that offers impeccable art customization on various materials. “Managing a company is tough, you need to be fully ready financially, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It requires a lot of focus and high organizational skills. A system needs to be followed and you always need

Buenafe also mentioned the possibilities of traveling abroad are limitless. “It is cheaper and the process is easier coming from Dubai. Development is fast-paced and it seems to never stop, buildings after buildings, which means the country is doing well,” she added. She also credits the government’s massive effort in its vaccination program across the country. However, despite the glittery image of Dubai, she still struggled especially when she arrived in the emirate alone and no one guided her. She said she made expensive mistakes in the past. “Mistakes that lead to a lot of people turning their backs on me. The minute you’re on top, the next day you are not. The world is round, so always keep your feet on the ground,” she said. She also experienced sleepless nights, traumas, and was silently fighting depression for over a year. “But I never questioned myself why I got into this. Instead, I fought my own battle and talked to God. I am forever thankful to my family, partner, and friends who never left my side during the hard times. And then, there were strangers sent from heaven extending support. So, keep the faith,” she said. “To my fellow kababayan, we all fight our own battles. It’s a matter of how you deal with it. It’s normal for humans to make mistakes. What’s important, you’ve learned from it and made it your guide to become a better person,” she further added.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

REMEGIO “ADEL” J. MERINO

emegio “Adel” J. Merino has been working and living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the last 27 years now. Currently, he is assigned to the Information Technology department of Marafiq Company Jubail Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The -59year-old communications specialist is working in the same company for the last 18 years.

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A true Filipino outstanding overseas migrant worker

He’s involved in management consultation, team building, professional development, strategic implementation, and company collaboration, specifically on Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) Data and Voice Communication. According to Merino, he stayed in the same company as his employer recognizes his work and skills.

Aside from excelling in his work, he is also making his time worthy in the Kingdom by immersing himself in various Filipino activities. He is actively involved in the following organizations: a volunteer for Islamic Jubail Da’wah and Guidance Centre; founder of the United Filipino Organization in Jubail, Eastern Region, KSA; vice president for political affairs for OFW CongressEastern Province; PRO at the Association of Filipino Community & Sports Commission; president of the Community Investigative Support; a volunteer at the Philippine Embassy on Wheels from 1997 to present.

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Furthermore, he also extends help by shelling out his personal money to the needy ones. In 2014, Merino was awarded as Outstanding Overseas Migrant Worker of the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Kingdom. “Thus, my advocacy in helping my fellow OFWs did not end there because of this award. It gives me a reason to continue helping my fellow OFWs who are in need or distressed,” he added.

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The pressure of his responsibilities to his family back home urged him to work overseas. In the Philippines, he worked as a messenger for the Pacific Banking Corporation, a reputable bank in Manila. “Thus, such meager income could suffice to meet the basic needs of my family coupled with my goals to give a better life to my children. I decided to work abroad hoping that my dreams will come true. True enough, I was able to give a better life to my family, send my children to school and be able to build our dream house,” he said.

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Working overseas, he added that it increases cultural awareness, expands his professional network, becomes more valued by employers, gains new work experiences, earns a higher salary, offers more job opportunities.

With his current savings, Merino plans to indulge to an income-generating activity that would help meet his daily needs with his wife as it would also make him a busy person. “I would advise my fellow kabayan to save money for the future and going back home to our country, for good. Since we have savings, we can indulge in any income-generating activity that would meet our basic needs,” he added.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

T G FM RODELIA VILLAR

as a Sunday school teacher at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and at POLO where she received Volunteer Recognition in 2019. In the church, they started the Help Desk Committee where they help individuals who suffer from work-related problems, among others.

ilipina domestic worker Rodelia Villar has been staying in Hong Kong for nearly two decades now. She founded a group called Domestic Workers Corner in an effort to help her fellow domestic workers who were victims of romance scams, sexual harassment, and termination of contracts. She said that in this organization, she wants to focus to help members avoid getting into trouble.

Patience, perseverance, and compassion are her driving forces. She finds solutions for the issues that affect her fellowmen.

Villar, who hails from Western Visayas, considers Hong Kong as her second home. Her passion for building a network for the enrichment and education of the Filipino community has been her motivating factor in creating the organization. Her connections within the Philippine Consulate and Philippine Overseas Labor and Office (POLO) in Hong Kong and several private companies have helped countless OFWs in their plight.

Due to her excellence and initiative, she was nominated by the Pathfinders and won the prestigious 8th Spirit of HK Award for Spirit of Community. Villar becomes the first-ever Filipina to clinch the Lion Rock People’s Choice award and was recognized for the support she provided the domestic worker community through her group. Villar applied as a domestic helper at the age of 22. She said that she’s lucky to have a very kind employer.

Her vision to support her community grows. She gained her knowledge by attending workshops and seminars since 2015 and with these, she’s able to correctly guide her members. She launched her own hotline wherein she gets more than a hundred inquiries a day. She knows how, when, and where to seek legal assistance if the need arises.

Before working overseas, she worked in the Local Government Unit of San Remigio, Antique as a casual employee soon after she graduated from college. She was assigned to the accounting department. There, she develops her computer skills.

She also spearheaded the Know your Rights talk to assist her fellow Filipinos who are facing problems in the host country. During her day-offs, she volunteers

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Villar pens her advice for her fellow Filipinos in the following aspects:

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Pinay in Hong Kong helps fellow domestic workers avoid getting into trouble

On Money - Nasa ugali na natin ang maawain pero isipin mo lagi paano kung bigla kang iwan. Pera minsan ang ugat ng depression dahilsa pangako ng taong tinulungan. Isipin muna ang sarili bago tumulong. Huwag ibiggay lahat dahil kaya nga tayo nag-trabaho para sa pamilya, ngunit minsan ang pamilya hindi na mabigyan dahil sa pagtulong sa kapwa. On Work - Huwag kalimutan basahin ang kontrata dahil nandiyan ang lahat. Alamin ang karapatan dahil ang Hong Kong ay isa sa mga bansa na protektado ang bawat empleyado. On Finances - Mag-aral ng financial literacy dahil ang pera madali maubos. Maraming scams online, business na nakakaakit at sa isang iglap nawala na ang ipon. On Love - Maraming love scam victims. Hindi maiiwasan ngunit isipin ang sarili sa bawat sitwasyon. True love waits kahit sa online man nakilala ngunit huwag magtiwala agad-agad. “We work for our family, dream to give our children a better life, but trials and temptations enter our way and we need to focus. Pray for God’s guidance and this can help us have a better life,” she added.

CHRISTINE JOY AGONOS ALBANIEL From online seller to general manager of an advisory company in UAE

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hristine Joy Agonos Albaniel decided to work abroad when she was only 22 years old as she believed there are not many opportunities for young individuals in the Philippines. She believes that some companies back home tend to favor those with years of experience and those who had their Master’s degree over what an employee can actually do. Albaniel arrived in the UAE in 2013 as a tourist with borrowed pocket money from her parents, including airfare tickets, among others. In the same month, she secured a job at one of the biggest British financial consultancy firms in the world in their Abu Dhabi office. There, she started as a team administrator, handling two teams with around eight financial consultants per team. She said that the work environment and work culture were very different from when she was working in a bank in the Philippines as she had to work hard and learn the job and just cope as they didn’t provide proper training. After a year, one of the consultants she was working for got promoted to area manager. She was asked if she would like to work for him as his personal assistant. Albaniel believed in him as he considers him the most hardworking person. Her immediate supervisor’s team continuously grows and was once promoted again to run their office in Qatar. Despite the job opportunities that were knocking before her, she decided to come to Qatar with her boss. They arrived in Qatar with an office full of

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consultants but no admins. She had to handle all the consultants in their remote office all by herself while working for her boss. Albaniel played the role of the senior administrator and became responsible for training every back-office staff in their Qatar office. Albaniel decided to go back to Abu Dhabi in 2018 when his boss started his own financial consultancy company. “It was a big gamble as the company we were working for is already well established. In fact, it was one of the biggest with a global presence in 28 countries. I still decided to stick with him as he is the best. It was tough at first because there were only two of us. We were working at his dining room table at home,” she recalled. She was involved in all internal forms and reports for the company. She also set up all workflows and internal processes of the company, trained the administration staff, played a part in the development of their internal software, and became the HR and accountant of the company. Fast forward to 2021, the company that she helped from scratch has now almost 300 employees and has offices in Dubai, UK, the USA, and Australia. Today, Albaniel is the company’s general manager and head administrator of Hoxton Capital Management. “It is a very humbling and awesome experience to be very involved in this journey. Hard work, persistence, and loyalty indeed pay off,” she said, thanking her

boss for trusting her. “I enjoy being able to be part of the company’s management team. My opinion and thoughts are very much valued. I am trusted with everything. However, it is also very challenging. With great power comes great responsibility. I have never imagined we will grow this fast. We only set this up in 2018,” she added. The struggles of a Filipina fighter Albaniel recalled working odd jobs to sustain her college education. She purchased garments in Divisoria and sold them online. Some of her classmates would tease her for bringing a plastic bag full of stuff she’d sell on Facebook. “I didn’t care at all. At least, I have my own money and I buy the things I want using my hard-earned money. Through this, I was able to pay for my last semester’s tuition fees,” she proudly said. In the Philippines, she worked as an ATM assistant, bank reconciliation employee, and bank teller. Working overseas, away from loved ones, gets tough from time to time. Despite working nonstop, she still feels the angst of homesickness. “Being in a country where you don’t know anyone, it’s crazy. I overcome it because I am working for my family. I always make sure I send some money to my parents,” she said.

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T G FM JULIE MAY GANCAYCO DE GUZMAN ‘Never let failure stop you’: Former service crew now expediting, inspection officer in UAE

or the last eight years, Julie May Gancayco De Guzman has been working as expediting and inspection officer for SAIPEM Contracting Netherlands BV, a world leader in engineering and drilling activities. Here, she enjoys the challenge of coming in every day and trying to figure out how she’s going to resolve all the delays in delivery management. She also feels a sense of accomplishment when she’s up against a deadline as they only have one shot to get it right. De Guzman said that she has many reasons why she opted to work abroad, one of them is to help her family, especially her mother who has been working alone to provide them good education and life. Other reasons include fulfilling her dream of working in an international company, experience a new and better life abroad, and developing her cultural intelligence. The eldest among six siblings, De Guzman was the first family member to work abroad by 2009. She started her career in the UAE as a service crew on a fast-food chain. She chose this career as she was a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant Management. At the age of 20, she would never have thought that she

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would be leading a life away from her family, work until 12 hours, and get a minimum salary. She already experienced working on a sleepless duty hour at an early age, carried and washed heavy frying equipment, and cleaned dirty washrooms. “But I never lose my hope. I worked hard and harder every day,” she said. Her passion and dedication to work have paid off. She got a promotion after promotion and was fortunate enough to move into office-based work. “Every experience in my life, whether good or bad, I consider them as my training. With all these experiences, I grow and become more mature as I face people even other nationalities. If only we see the positive side of all these challenges, we will be able to value them and realize the worth of each challenge on our lives,” De Guzman said. She added that there is no way to quite describe how debilitating it feels carrying a crushing load of stress, sorrows, struggles, and uncertainty when working abroad. She considers these hurdles as a tool to achieve her future goals and plans. “When you have

no other choice but to move on, you will, and you will come out stronger and more successful. Nothing teaches you more about getting through your selfdoubts than forcing yourself to get through them. Motivate yourself as no one will do it for you,” she said, thanking her mother for always being with her the entire time, motivating her always, and believing in her capabilities and abilities. The Filipina inspection officer is also very passionate about events and marketing, sports, and crafting. This leads her to open her own events group in the UAE. When asked about her future plans, she said to pursue her and her husband’s passion for the events industry in the Philippines. “Never let the failure and distractions stop you from reaching your dreams. Always remember why you are dreaming in the first place and for who you are dreaming. It’s ok to lose. It’s part of the process. Losing teaches us to stand up over and over until we win. No matter how many unsuccessful attempts you’ve had, there’s always another way of looking at things or doing things and you’ll find it if you don’t give up,” she said.

DR. MARVIN ADAME FELIX Filipino dentist gets UAE’s 10-year golden visa

graduate of Manila Central University in the Philippines and a school dentist for 12 years, Dr. Marvin Adame Felix is among the latest Filipinos to secure the -10year golden visa, a long-term type of residency visa recently introduced by the UAE government to investors, entrepreneurs, individuals with outstanding talents, researchers, medical professionals, and those within the scientific and knowledge field, and remarkable students.

restoring natural teeth, or replacing missing teeth or oral structures with artificial devices such as dentures.

Felix has been working in Dubai for almost six years now with respective and well-known dental clinics catering or accommodating not only Filipinos but other nationalities. Currently, he works as a GP Dentist for Helix Medical Centre, a dental centre based in Crystal Business Center, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed St, Dubai. His tasks include promoting oral health and disease prevention, diagnosing oral diseases, creating treatment plans to maintain or restore the oral health of his patients, diagnosing and correcting dental and facial irregularities,

He also commended the health authority’s initiative not only for its citizens but also for expatriates.

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He added that one of his greatest achievements was to pass the licensure examination to legally work in the emirate. “Working here as an expat is exciting and excellent because you will deal with all the people with their different outlook in life,” he further added.

Journey to secure a golden visa The Filipino dentist said that one of his colleagues told him about the golden visa which could better help him with his residency in the emirate. He inquired how to obtain one so he can continue to help his patients with their dental needs. Felix went to the immigration office in Jaffiliya regarding the requirements and

so he gathered all the requirements, including a professional license certificate from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), medical certificate, tenancy contract, health insurance, passport and visa copy, Emirates ID, and the cancellation paper from his current clinic. From there, he proceeded to have all his documents collected to apply for the golden visa. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced last year that medical professionals are included in the list of professions that can apply for the golden visa as they can help the country to better cope with the pandemic and meet the shortfall of medical professionals in the host country. “I congratulate the leaders of the UAE for the upcoming Expo 2020 and for the 50th anniversary of the UAE. Keep on dreaming and keep on inspiring the people to have a better future here in the UAE,” Felix said.

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Donna Carpio Finding a purpose in the middle of the Covid19pandemic

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Image Credit: Dennis Dalisay

onna Carpio came to Dubai with an ultimate goal to support her family in the Philippines and be responsible for her whilst exploring and living in the host country. She has long admired the diversity in the UAE and the endless opportunities it gives every individual to pursue their dreams. “It was very exciting for me to leave my comfort zone and discover a new country, find opportunities and see what I can achieve,” she said.

After finishing her college degree, Carpio arrived in the country in 2013 and started working as a recruiter in one of the recruitment agencies in Dubai. There, she recruited for multinational companies that gave her great exposure and the chance to develop herself and her skill set. Due to her successful relationship with her clients, she was moved to Business Development where her task was to find new clients and manage their requirements. Her task is to find the right person for her clients as to what skill set or qualification they are looking for and make sure the candidates› overall profile was in line with the company’s business objectives for a successful long-term placement. “I am grateful for my previous jobs because they gave me the experience in all types of and levels of recruitment from hiring one executive position to mass hiring outside the UAE and had worked with private and government clients that equipped me to be ready for my recruitment venture,” she added. With enough knowledge and after working for several agencies, she started Smart Hiring, a boutique recruitment agency, in October 2020. “I work in a bespoke approach tailored to every client and every requirement. It is not industry-specific but rather specialized in headhunting the overall type of candidate the client is looking for. I deliver end-to-end solutions to my clients from shortlisting candidates, arranging interviews, salary negotiations, and providing support with onboarding of the successful candidate,” she added. Carpio said that during the pandemic, she found an opportunity and understood that companies are still in need of quality employees but they may not be willing to pay the normal agency fee as everyone is cutting costs so Smart Hiring was born to offer affordable services without compromising the quality of candidates and service.

Due to the Covid19- pandemic, several establishments in the UAE have been affected. Recruitment agencies saw a hiring freeze and Carpio didn’t have a job for over six months and it was one of the challenging times. She stayed on a visit visa, took odd jobs out of desperation, and ended up not getting paid. It was that period where she was trying to make it day by day despite her personal and work-related struggles. Meanwhile, her family wanted her to go back to the Philippines but she knows that once she gives up, she’d lose. A high-spirited individual, Carpio didn’t want to end her overseas career because she believes that despite the ongoing crisis, she is still in a country full of opportunities for people who seek and work for it. “I always tell myself that it’s what I do about my situation that matters, not what happened and I always knew that it was just a matter of time before I’ll get back up on my feet because I believe in my abilities,” she said. Despite the fear of meeting people outside due to Covid19-, she was attending meetings after meetings with her old and new contacts like she was a regular employee doing business development. All the pieces just fell into places for her as if the stars aligned. Fortunately, every meeting turned out to be an opportunity for her and started working on some projects that have allowed her to apply for a free zone license and to have a residence visa. “When you do your best and you are confident in yourself and your abilities, people are you will see through your character, potential, and ambition. Some will be willing to support and push you to achieve all that you want in life. I am grateful to have people around who have supported me, who believe in me and treated me like their family,” she said. When asked about her plans, the entrepreneur said that the goal is to establish a stable and secured life in the UAE so she can have her family back home to come anytime and experience what Dubai is like and bring her nieces and nephews and support them find a good job in the host country.

Image Credit: Dennis Dalisay

The seasoned recruiting expert said that she gets to enjoy connecting with people and grow her in this field. “The most satisfying thing about my job is the reward I feel being able to touch people’s lives by matching them with a good company and also supporting my clients in hiring the kind of talent they require within their organization. I enjoy and find it interesting being a recruiter because I get to know all types of job positions, their role within the organization, and the type of person that is suitable for the job,” Carpio further added.

Overcoming Covid19- struggles

“My advice for my fellow Filipinos is that life is not easy so you need to challenge yourself to discover your greatest potential in life. Let your pain and struggle be the drive, and don’t stop until you are satisfied,” Carpio concluded.

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GEOFFREY SALATAN

In 2006, he was directly hired by Airlink International UAE to be one of the Business Travel Consultants. He was only 24 years old at that time. Young as he was then and energetic with a burning passion to excel in life, he handled a handful of corporate accounts and was in charge of travel requirements like air tickets, hotel bookings, tour packages, Marhaba services, airport transfers, car rentals, visa processing, travel insurance, among others.

Much trusted and distinctly recognized Filipino travel agent in UAE

Salatan, a highly dedicated and result-driven professional with a proven history of career growth and expertise in the travel industry, started to focus and shift from corporate into the retail business in 2012 as he saw the Filipino community grew tremendously in the country. Amidst all the challenges, with consistent perseverance, he was

eoffrey Salatan earned his degree in Tourism at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Right after graduating from college, he started working as a passenger sales executive for Cebu Pacific Air in Manila and eventually joined Thomas Cook Philippines, one of the leading travel agencies during that time, as a reservation and ticketing staff. There, he was forged to be well-rounded during his early years, handling top corporate clients and walkin passengers. Eager to improve himself, he enrolled for a post-graduate course Masters in Educational Management degree, major in Supervision and Administration; and major in Curriculum and Instruction at the same university. Before embarking on an overseas journey, Salatan has already received a teaching offer from one of the most prestigious universities in Manila. However, he felt the challenge to soar his wings abroad and opted to pursue something he never dreamt of.

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able to establish a strong network. He reaped the fruits of his dedication in 2013 when he received his first promotion as Philippine Support Desk Manager. This indeed marked the milestone of his budding career. With the support of the company, Philippine Support Desk was established and more Filipino travel consultants were hired to fulfill and upkeep their vision to help Filipinos as well as to expand the operation of the company. “Discipline, patience, and determination are the key factors that my grandparents helped me develop as a young kid. Although my mom had to work abroad, being a lone child, I learned to be independent and I learned how to balance my studies and career to living my dreams,” he said. Just before Covid19- disrupted businesses operations across the globe, Airlink International UAE appointed him as Retail Sales Manager. This new position challenged him to tap different markets.

“The pandemic has badly impacted the market in general, breaking the spirit of mostly everyone. After lamenting the situation during last year’s lockdown, I gathered my energy to divert back my thoughts on how to rise back,” he said. Salatan endeavored to be productive and helpful to his fellow Filipinos through his broadcasts about airline updates, new government protocols, and other valuable information concerning Covid19-. His heart is filled with gratitude for the company he has been serving for over 15 years now for recognizing his total contributions to the organization. He currently seats as Manager-Sales and Clients Relations, ensuring sales growth, customer retention, and client acquisition both

in corporate and retail. “I am proud to say that my simple profession has turned into a passion and resulted in a multitude of opportunities and blessings to me and to others that I have helped along the way. I endeavor to raise our flag in the simple ways that I can,” he further added. He added that one of the best things about working in the travel industry is vividly seeing the satisfaction on his client’s face. “Being in the travel industry for a long time, my passion lies in this field and I envision pursuing my career much further,” he said. “A negative mind will never give us a positive life. Don’t fear change. We may lose something good, but we may also gain something great. Never let worries cloud our hearts. There’s always something to be thankful for. Train our minds to see the good in every situation and always look on the brighter side of life. God’s plan is always more beautiful than our desire,” Salatan further added.

RUTH O. GAWILI Suffered a lot in life, former housemaid still inclined to succeed in life

uth O. Gawili, 39, is a proud Igorot. She is currently working as a secretary for Geap Group of Companies. Before settling in and working as a secretary, just like the majority of Filipinos abroad, she, too, was tested in life and had to go through the eye of a needle. Gawili, who was an orphan, started working at an early age. While finishing her two-year Computer Secretarial course, she was covering two shifts-working at a mall from 3pm to 8pm and 8pm until dawn for a Korean bar and restaurant. The pension she was receiving from her foster parents was discontinued as she was no longer a minor.

in life. She had to back to the Philippines emptyhanded, with piles of unpaid debts. “The only people I can count on that time were my brothers and sisters which I am very much thankful for having,” she added. She had to leave for Hong Kong in 2011 after her son reached one year old to work as a housemaid and nanny. “It was distressing. The feeling of leaving your son behind… was heartwrenching. I felt being homesick. With the challenges and struggles, all I had to do was to remain strong, stand firm, and have faith in God,” she added. She stayed there for four years before coming back to UAE to work as a secretary. “I guess this was the start of my career growth in terms of knowledge, personal development, emotional control, financial education, as well as self-esteem,” she said. She added that she felt lucky that she got back to the UAE after five years despite having a good employer in Hong Kong. She thought that ‘destiny’ brought her back to this land. “What I am happy about with my current job, is being able to apply the things I learned from my previous careers. At the same time, I also enjoy it because it is a different industry where I can learn more, as well as meet other people whom I can be trained to progress. I believe employment is also a process of continues learning,” she further

added. Currently, Gawili is an advocate and international promoter of the FRICH Revolution, a group of Filipinos that empowers OFWs across the globe to free and rich. “I am very grateful to be part of this organization in helping my fellow Filipinos to have financial freedom through investing. For those Filipinos who have also suffered like me, investing and saving is a good thing,” she said. Entrepreneur in the making Gawili took a Business Management course at Filipino Institute in an effort to start her own family business. She is taking baby steps, with the help of her niece, as she is also into baking. They are planning to sell baked products online as Covid19still spreads. According to her, she has already shared an amount to purchase baking tools as well as raw materials to start with so they could take bulk orders. “This is one of the main things that I will be focusing on because I want to be with my son after he graduates from the elementary level and also as part of my advocacy in the future is to share my blessings to homeless children,” she said, adding that she also thinks of putting her own foundation centre to further help them.

She was able to handle her studies and working schedules as she was in her last year of completing her vocation course and the only major subject was stenography. Upon completing the short-term course, she decided to quit at the restaurant and continued to work at the mall. Though she didn’t dream of working overseas, she was convinced by a friend. As the process of application went on, there were tangled incident happened until she had no choice but to travel alone because of the debts she borrowed from her relative. She even got scammed by an agency, however, backing out was not an option. Her debts incurred interest that reached up to half a million pesos. In 2007, she arrived in Dubai and her job was a cashier in a supermarket. Her adjustments as a firsttime overseas Filipina worker (OFW) were handled in a short span of time. “It was probably because since I was 10 my mother died, and so I and my other siblings grew up independently,” she said, adding that a year after she graduated from high school, her father died. She recalled waking up early in the morning to cook, washed her own clothes, and prepare for the school where she walked to and from for two miles, five times a week. Before landing a supermarket job overseas, she had to do part-time jobs in catering and hospitality on various events so she would survive. After three consecutive years, Gawili went back to the Philippines due to an unwanted pregnancy. For her, this was the most painful part of all her struggles

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RUBY JANE GIAGONIACASPE Filipina accountant in Abu Dhabi leading an active lifestyle

uby Jane Giagonia-Caspe is described as an outgoing person, easy to be with, and a fun and loving individual. A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Mindanao in Davao City, she arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2018, and in a short period of time, she was able to secure a job as an accountant at Al Naser Electrical Construction Est. under the Receivable Section. The Filipina accountant, 41, who is also a parent, said that the mere reason why she opted to work abroad is due to her three children and seek for a better opportunity. Way back in the Philippines, she worked as an administrative secretary for the Philippine Heart Association-Davao Chapter. Caspe had a colorful and active career in the Philippines. She had also a freelance stint as a travel coordinator. “Being a travel coordinator was a version of myself that is close to my heart. Not only was I part of our clients’ journey to exquisite places, but it also helped me in managing all the stress, from handling my clients’ demands. At the end of each tour, nothing can beat the fulfillment of satisfying my clients as they discover beautiful destinations. All the stress was always worth it,” she added. Although she is a graduate of accountancy, this is her first accounting work. Until the present, she still finds it challenging. However, these challenges equipped her to be able to adjust not only to the nature of her work but also brought out the best in her. “I love what I am doing and it brings out the passion in me. It is most gratifying, especially when I am able to make use of my hard-earned salary for providing for my children,” she added. For her, Abu Dhabi is a liveable city as it offers plenty of opportunities, including the availability and ease of transportation and the multiple shops and parks to hang out. “I feel safe and secured here. And what I like most about this city is that there are a lot of available leisure activities for someone who has an active lifestyle like me,” she added.

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Caspe is also an active dragon boar paddler. She participates in triathlon, marathons, and obstacle courses once in a while. According to her, these activities are her stress reliever as it gives her more courage, strength, and motivation in life. “I may have started getting into these kinds of undertakings a bit late for my age but I am proud to have surpassed them all,” she further added. Her involvement in a lot of fitness activities had also made her a good influence on her friend because, in turn, she encouraged them to try and discover how beneficial, and at the same time, enjoyable, being into fitness is. Before coming to UAE, her goal timeframe to stay was only five years. She thought that was enough for her to be able to send her children to college, and then settle back in the Philippines. Considering that life is unpredictable, Caspe said that a lot has changed, including her plans. She said that a realization had crossed her mind and something in her made her want to go after an opportunity to help her go further and level up in life. “I want to take another milestone. I want to go to Europe and work there,” she said. This thought made her decide to take a caregiver course from the Filipino Institute as she saw it as a stepping stone to pursuing and making her dreams come true. “Life is a continuous process. Being determined and hardworking can help us uplift our lives. We should always keep ourselves reminded of our goals and the reasons why we are here: we strive hard for the benefit of our loved ones, and for us to live in the most convenient way. Our sacrifices will be rewarded, and lest we forget, we can always see the fruits of our labor, through the good lives of our loved ones. Let us also be careful in trusting people. Saying ‘no’ is not a crime especially when the effect is giving you difficulties. Always protect yourself at all cost,” she said.

IMELDA SANTOS CAPUCHINO ‘Conquering fears and becoming stronger each day’

melda Santos Capuchino landed her first job in Singapore, where she worked as a nanny and housekeeper for two years from 2015 to 2017 for an Indian family. Her main reason why she opted to work abroad is to enhance the living condition of her family in the Philippines and to gain knowledge which could later be used when she relocates back home. She said that working overseas was initially challenging as everything around her was totally strange. Learning to adapt and relating to total strangers, for her, was a bit challenging at first but she got over it when she made some new friends. Capuchino then moved to Abu Dhabi to work as a bus coordinator and assistant nanny for a training centre. She then decided to work as a tutor and nanny at the same time in the capital for a ‘very

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supportive family’ and according to her, they are ‘one in a million.’ “There are a lot of things to enjoy about my present job. First and foremost, the family that I work at is loving, caring, and very supportive. They treat me like a family member and not as an employee. They are one in a million. Secondly, the most satisfying thing about my job is it gives me the opportunity to impact positively the lives of children from their formative stage in life. I have the privilege to inculcate values, morals, discipline and contribute my quota to the teaching and learning process of these young ones,” she added. The Abu Dhabi-based Filipina is also thankful to the UAE for giving her the opportunity to meet different people from different countries and get introduced to their unique and varied cultures. Capuchino, who has been in the country for three

years now, has recently taken a caregiver course from the Filipino Institute. When asked about her long-term plans, she said she wants to pursue a career as a caregiver and become a registered nurse in the future. She also plans to open her own caregiver health facility in the Philippines to provide services to the adult and sick for free. “My advice to all my kabayan who are living and struggling abroad is to be of good courage as Rome was not built in a day. They should work hard, be diligent in whatever little that is. More so, they should strive to add value to themselves in the form of enrolling in short courses to improve. Also, they need to save and pray. Always put God in the centre of whatever you do and always remember that it’s never too late and never too old to reach your dreams,” she added.

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workplace somewhat easier – For example, I don’t have to deal with a boss who is also my sister’s Ninong and a colleague who is also the cousin of my friend’s brother-in-law. Here, work is nothing more than work and I prefer it just like that,” he said.

MATTHEW MUNOZ CPA, AFM, CFM ‘If you can do better, then do better’

athew Munoz, a chartered financial modeller, is the senior manager at Hitachi Rail, heading its global bid financial modeling team. The company he currently belongs to provides end-to-end rail transport solutions around the globe. His team is responsible for the financial modeling function covering the company’s bids and project proposals. In this job, a simple error could cost his company millions of dollars. “With stakes like these, I have to be on my ‘A-game’ or it’s my head. Sure, it can be stressful at times, but the upside is that it is never boring,” Munoz, who is also a certified financial manager, said. “Financial modeling is still an emerging discipline, so I quite enjoy being a pioneer of sorts and teaching my team members everything I know about this field, and in the process of doing so, learning new things for myself as well,” he further added. Working overseas is not new to him. His first overseas job was as a chief accountant for the Oman branch of a UAE-based construction company in 2009. This was at the height of the Dubai financial crisis. He would have been out of a job after only two months of joining, fortunately, one of the company directors liked the work he was doing and offered him a post in the company’s corporate headquarters in Dubai. He’s been in the emirate ever since. “From the perspective of a corporate professional, working abroad affords you the unique position to evaluate how your competencies stack up compared to people from around the world. I see that as an opportunity to improve and grow. This is especially true when you work in a global melting pot such as Dubai. Compared to working in the Philippines, I find being in a multi-national

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Before holding a managerial position, Munoz held various jobs in a number of companies and industries over the years in the Philippines, mostly in the fields of finance and accounting--auditor, university instructor, finance manager, chief accountant, quantity surveyor, finance analyst, among others. “Going to work overseas is a big step to take for anyone – and like all big steps, there’s always bound to be a pain at the onset. The thing I found the most difficult to deal with during those first few months was being away from family and friends knowing that I will not be seeing them for a long time. The sudden change in culture and climate was also incredibly challenging at the beginning,” he said. For now, Munoz hasn’t made any concrete plans as to what he will be doing after working overseas as he has been very cautious in making any long-term plans for several reasons, including the ongoing pandemic. He said he prefers to focus on his efforts on what he can control--what he does here and now. “For now, my career plan is to continue working diligently for the foreseeable future. To do that, I am keeping myself as healthy and as fit as possible,” he said, noting that he recently embarked on a weight loss journey. In the fitness journey, he discovered the vegan or plant-based lifestyle and its many benefits towards personal health as well as on global warming and climate change. The senior manager personally reaped the benefits of this lifestyle, among them losing 12 kilograms in three short months and rediscovering his long-lost fitness. Because of this, he found himself quite excited to spread awareness about veganism and plant-based dieting especially to his fellow Filipinos in the Middle East so he plans to put up a few social media channels to do just that. Since he is also deeply passionate about food and cooking, he has vague aspirations of setting up a vegan and plant-based restaurant in Dubai. “If you focus on knowing your job and doing it well, the benefits will follow. Get rid of the “pwede na yan” mentality at work. If you know you can do better, then do better. Take pride in the quality of your work. Many jobs I landed in the Middle East are direct results of referrals by former colleagues. Learn how to speak up. Know your value and always stand your ground. I observe that many of our fellow Filipinos are quite timid and passive in the workplace which may be a reason for being overlooked for promotions and career advancements. Many would also oftentimes prefer to congregate with fellow kabayans rather than focusing on developing beneficial workplace relationships. Remember that the workplace is a place to work and grow your career – nothing more, nothing less,” he added.

CHERISH COTON

SERGANTES Filipina cashier for 5 years woks hard to fulfill dreams for family

cashier for five years in a hypermarket in Abu Dhabi, Cherish Coton Sergantes works hard to fulfill her multiple dreams for her family in the Philippines. As a cashier, she is responsible for scanning items purchased by customers, received payments through cash or card, and answering customers’ questions and complaints. She opted to work overseas as she believes it offers greater opportunities, higher salaries compared to the Philippines. Way back home, Sergantes used to work as a factory worker. She also worked at a plastic injection company as a machine operator and quality controller at the same time. Despite applying for several companies abroad, she got hired in UAE. Sergantes applied as a household

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service worker in the Kingdom of Saudi of Arabia. “Ilang beses na akong muntikang makaalis pero hindi natutuloy. Siguro kasi hindi ako para doon. Heto yung binigya sa akin ni Lord sa mga dasal ko sa kanya. Blessing ni Lord hetong trabaho kong ito kaya mahal ko ang work ko,” she said. Through her work, she gets to immerse herself in various people of different nationalities and cultures. In this work, Sergantes learned how to interact with people, and learned to be patient. “Madami akong natutunan. Dito na-boost yung communication skills ko and self-confidence. Dito nakilalala yung mga kaibigan ko ngayon,” she added. The Filipina cashier also commended UAE for having a good healthcare system. She said what she likes about UAE is that if one gets sick, that person won’t feel the burden of paying a large amount of money, especially if he or she has health insurance. In Covid19- times, she also applauded the government authorities in the capital for having a free swab test every 14 days. “If nag-positive ka sa Covid19-, wala kang gagastusin sa isolation. Sagot ng UAE government at libre vaccine dito. Second is the cultural diversity. It is also one of the safest countries in the world with less crime rate. Yung tipong kahit umuwi ako ng late in the evening at maglakad mag-isa pauwi, feek ko secured ako,” she further added. Struggle abroad Sergantes won’t forget the time when she was a newbie in UAE and their landlord, who is also a Filipino, took their one-month rent away. The building owner, according to Sergantes, did not

consider the situation and ordered them to leave the place. “Sobrang struggle kami ng mga kasama ko noon kasi wala pa kaming sahod at nagsisimula pa lang kami dito. Pinalugitan pa kami na dapat alisan na namin yung flat bago magkatapusan kung hindi, babayaran namin yung excess na araw ng 25 dirhams per day,” she recalled. Their internet and electricity were disconnected. She thought: ‘Ano ba tong kamalasan nangyayari samin?’ “Walang wala kaming pera noon kasi nagsisimula pa lang kamin dito sa Abu Dhabi. Sobrang stress namin kung asan kami hahanap ng pambayad sa kalahating buwan na upa namin sa bahay at para sa bagong bahay na kailangan namin lipatan,” she recalled. Sergantes remembered carrying their heavy home equipment, including their mattress, because they could not afford to hire a car lift. She said that experience was unforgettable as she didn’t expect a Filipino would trick her fellow. To further develop herself, the Filipina took a Caregiver course at the Filipino Institute where she graduated with flying colors. According to her, she plans to work in a European country to seek greener pasture. “Sa mga OFW na nag-struggle ngayong panahon ng pandemic, huwag kayong mawawalan ng pag-asa. Sa mga naapektuhan ang trabaho, sa mga nawalan nang trabaho--laban lang, kapit lang--makakaraos din tao,” Sergantes said.

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THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

DR. IAN VICTOR M. AQUINO

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Filipino dentist, medical director granted -10year UAE golden visa

r. Ian Victor M. Aquino, a dentist and medical director in a Dubai-based private clinic, is among the latest individuals who were granted the UAE’s -10year golden visa, a long-term residence visa given to special categories in the country. Aquino joined the golden visa club after a colleague of his and her friend applied and told him that they were applying for the long-term residence visa. He revealed that it took him to apply due to his busy schedule in the clinic. “I made sure that all the requirements needed are completed before I went to apply. It was a smooth transaction, thanks to the helpful people and staff in Amer and immigration office,” he added. A Filipino dentist in Dubai for 14 years, he got his golden visa in just a span of one week. Aquino, whose expertise is in cosmetic dentistry, said that the highlight of his career in the UAE is when he renders his service to well-known personalities of various nationalities just to give them a better smile. Before working in the UAE, he was practicing in their clinic in San Pedro, Laguna for seven years and teaching in the College of Dentistry of Perpetual Help-Laguna for almost four years. After having heart surgery in 2006, he decided to work overseas to seek better opportunities and show his skills and talents globally. “Dubai has all the best things. You will never be bored living in the UAE, something new happens here every day,” he added. For him, helping his fellow Filipinos and nonFilipinos through his service is his greatest achievement. “In this pandemic time, we give appreciation to the UAE government for keeping all of us staying here safe and healthy. We thank UAE for giving us the best healthcare benefits and facilities. We

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thank them for the best vaccination program for all nationalities living here in the country. And also for recognizing and appreciating our skills and talents and giving us the opportunity to have the golden visa,” he said. “May Allah continuously bless all the leaders in the UAE and their families,” Aquino further added. The long-term residence visa is granted to talented and experienced professionals in the fields of arts, creative industries, economy, accounting and finance, literature and culture, heritage history and cognitive studies, among others.

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Filipino Institute to start K-12 program for SY 2021-2022 on Aug 29 The Filipino Institute, in collaboration with Garden Angels Integrated School, Inc, will start its K-12 program for the school year 2021 to 2022 on August 29.

nder the Department of Education (DepEd) curriculum, the Filipino Institute offers three learning methods: Regular Online Class (5 times a week), Alternating Online Class (3 times a week), Home-based Online Class (Teacher meets up with students once a week, online). The UAE-based training centre offers the program to kids residing in UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The entire 12 years of rigorous education are composed of six years of elementary education, four years of junior high, and two years of senior high school. Through this program, learners will be prepared and equipped with the skills needed for employment, entrepreneurship, middle-level skills development, and higher education even if they plan to do so after graduation. According to Mr. Gabriel John Rimando, the founder and president of the Filipino Institute, the lessons within every lecture are connected explicitly to the DepEd standard information

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Kids

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K12 and core learning standards which are aligned through the study of a range of media text sorts, developmental writing, collaboration, descriptive arguments, student-building information, and communication skills. “The program is designed to fulfill the requirements and capabilities through interactive, self-paced, and offers customized education to students through a range learning methodology, bringing these standards to life, through careful designing, instruction,” he said. Mr. Rimando further added that each course of study is meant to boost the essential skills in core and minor subjects. The partnership with the Philippine-based ecumenical learning institution embraces

English, Filipino, Math, Science, Social Studies, Values Education, Music, Arts, Physical Education, Health, ICT (TLE). To know more about the program, visit their website: https://figais.edu.ph/k-12-admission/ Meanwhile, Filipino Institute regularly holds program orientation every Friday at 2pm and Saturday at 11am and 2pm. Aside from offering the K-12 program, the Filipino Institute also offers Learning Camp that caters to youngsters ages 3 to 16. It covers subjects that are considered essential for the youngsters, including reading, writing, counting, arts and crafts, robotics, public speaking, and dancing.

To enlist your kids or if you require more information, you may contact Teacher Laisa or Teacher Hubert at +971568671569.

ZIMBABWEAN ASHLEY TARIRO MASVIKEPI This Zimbabwean chose Filipino Institute Dubai to achieve her dreams

Filipino Institute was initially established to help Filipinos in the Middle East acquire quality and affordable education at the same time. As the years pass by, its services and programs are also embraced by nonFilipinos. Words come out that it’s producing not only competitive graduates but also well-equipped ones. Zimbabwean Ashley Tariro Masvikepi has recently graduated from Filipino Institute’s Nursing Assistant course. The former housekeeper from Transguard has been living and working in the UAE for more than a year now. And since businesses across the country felt the tremor of Covid-19, she, too, was displaced from her work. In an interview with Filipino Institute, Masvikepi said

that after getting displaced from work, she transferred to a hospital wherein she met a nurse that encouraged her to take up the nursing assistant course. “I actually had a good experience despite the fact that I was the only African in our class. My trainer and classmates were very helpful whenever I face difficulty in class,” she said. Masvikepi said that after taking the course, she plans to work as a nursing assistant, a position she considers a ‘first step’ in taking a bachelor’s degree course– Psychology. She thanked and family and her best friend for fully supporting her endeavors in life.

ana Marielle M. Alejandro, a 24-yearold senior marketing and digital media executive at ADEMM EVENTS, had completed a total of six online courses being offered by the Filipino Institute for free. A bachelor’s degree holder, the Dubai-based Filipina, while working full-time, took the following courses that are related to her field: Basic Internet Marketing, Selling Smarter-Basic Training, Marketing and Sales, Entrepreneurship 101-Advanced Training, Business Process Management, and Developing Your Executive PresenceAdvanced Training.

Jana Marielle M. Alejandro, 24-year-old Filipina in Dubai takes 6 Filipino Institute courses at the same time

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Having moved to Dubai just before the start of the pandemic, she had the chance to see how her education in the Philippines will benefit one of the most modern countries in the world. “Looking at the various markets and inhouse projects I realized I need to update my education and knowledge base. I started searching for educational institutes in Dubai which specialize in marketing, web design, graphic online marketing, and found Filipino Institute,” she said adding that the training institute seemed to have all the courses she

needed. However, upon checking the courses of her choice and their schedules, the majority did not meet her work schedule and she decided not to pursue it. Later on, she checked Filipino Institute again and discovered its free online courses. Ecstatic, she enrolled in six different courses relevant to her current job profile. “Initially, I was in doubt how much information will be provided in free courses but I was surprised with the range of subjects and course materials being offered in each syllabus at Filipino Institute. Due to the flexibility offered in these free courses, I was able to juggle working full-time and doing the course during my free time,” she said. Alejandro said that after taking the courses, she has learned a lot and has already been using the knowledge she learned in her dayto-day work activities. “I have more confidence that I will be able to manage and grow the business and giving me the opportunity to move higher in my career,” she further added.

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‘Iiyak ako, pero hindi susuko’: Nanny continues studies despite caring for infant 7/24 Marilyn Malaca Gavino, 40, lost her work at a restaurant in Malaysia due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. She decided to try her luck in Dubai. However, considering the current situation brought about by the pandemic, Dubai, too, was affected by it. The moment she arrived in Dubai, there were no job openings, and nearly every establishment was either closed or not hiring. Fortunately, she met a British family in March 2020. At first, she was anxious about not doing a good job since most of her previous work experiences have been in a restaurant setting. However, Gavino reminded herself that she can do it for her children. “I accepted the job as a nanny and began caring for their newborn infant 4 hours a day, six days a week. It was really difficult, but I am doing my best. My boss is really nice, supportive, and considerate,” she said.

Gavino said she was delighted that she found Filipino Institute on Facebook since she’d like to continue her studies as she didn’t have the opportunity to attend college due to life’s difficulties. But this did not cause her to give up hope. She enrolled and graduated with a professional diploma as a Nursing Assistant. While the infant she’s caring for is asleep, she was motivated to complete the Basic Marketing course from the Filipino Institute’s free online course program. “It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I did it, especially knowing that I got what I wanted. Sana marami pang katulad ko na hindi sumusuko o nawawalan ng pag-asa. We are never too old to learn and earn knowledge. Never stop learning. Sabi ko nga sa sarili ko, “iiyak ako, pero hindi susuko”. Salamat, Filipino Institute. Napakagandang opportunity ng Free Online Courses niyo. Well done, and God bless,” she further added.

OFW finishes two short courses from Filipino Institute without paying anything Before Covid-19 has spread globally, Abu Dhabibased OFW Kristine Joy Bustamante always wanted to take a crash course to gain additional knowledge and for her career advancement as well. However, juggling work and school was not an easy thing–time was hindered her to study again. With the free online course programs offered by the Filipino Institute on its website, Bustamante was able to finish two short-term courses without actually paying anything. A Bachelor of Science in Accountancy undergraduate, she completed Accounting Skills for New Supervisors and Procurement & Purchasing basics programs. Bustamante, who has been working as a Document Controller and Site Admin for five years now, said that the Covid-19 pandemic has made people realize many things. “The pandemic has limited the students across the globe their access to school and universities. But this situation also gives a chance for many people to discover new things, potentials, and know themselves even more,” she said. Since the certificates of completion she received

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after taking the short-term courses can be attested by the Knowledge of Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), she said that it will be much easier for her to shift to another job and industry related to the course she has taken. “It has also broadened my horizon on finding the next job that would best suit my qualifications. I have now a certificate to support my accounting knowledge and previous study. Bustamante also showed interest in Filipino Institute and Lyceum of the Philippines-Batanggas’ Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) which fits those with those Filipinos who didn’t finish and wasn’t able to start their bachelor’s degree. She is just waiting for the assessment formalities to get enrolled. “I salute the Filipino Institute for extending their efforts to provide Filipino students and other expatriates a quality education and a venue to hone their skills and knowledge,” she further added.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

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Filipino Institute successfully conducts graduation ceremony at Radisson Blu Hotel The Filipino Institute Dubai campus has conducted another successful graduation ceremony on Friday, July 9 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Deira with nearly 200 attendees from various programs and courses. The graduation rite took over four hours and saw students from short certification courses and professional diploma programs from virtual and face-to-face classes. During his speech, Mr. Gabriel John Rimando, founder and president of the Filipino Institute thanked graduates for trusting the training centre which was founded almost six years ago to help Filipinos in the Middle East acquire quality and affordable education. He also thanked the adjunct trainers, who he considers one of the pillars of the education institution, for imparting their knowledge and wisdom to the graduates and for continuously supporting the Filipino Institute’s goals. “Ang gusto lang talaga naming mangyari ay maging gabay niyo kami,” he said.

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Dubai-based housemaid uses free time to upskill sales, business management A Dubai-based full-time nanny, tutor, and household service worker used her free time to upskill her education in sales, customer service, and business management fields through the free online education program by the Filipino Institute. Jeniffer Almario Hipolito, who has been working and living overseas for five years now, said that despite having full-time and tiring work, she chose to educate herself in various fields. “I’m so grateful that I found these free online courses at Filipino Institute. A lot of fascinating topics and courses to take and share with all my Facebook friends,” she said.

Filipino Institute MBA trainer Dr. Castillo is 2021 UNIFFIED outstanding leadership awardee Filipino Institute Master of Business Administration (MBA) trainer and seasoned international educator Dr. Fermin Castillo has been selected as one of the United Federation of Fil-Am Educator’s Outstanding Leadership Award 2021 honorees. The award is only given to leaders who have made a positive and notable difference during his or her career in education, community service, and public service. With the theme ‘Empowering Educators for the Challenges of the 21st Century’, the virtual awarding was conducted on July 17. UNIFFIED is the largest and non-profit Filipino-American Education Association, a multi-service organization based in the US and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Philippines. “This is my second time winning the international award under UNIFFIED and I would like to share this award with the real and genuine people helping and serving the community and society in general. In this age of social media, we have seen many hype types of people using this platform for their own gain and advantage and even use their fame for their own business interest and agenda,” Dr. Castillo told The Global Filipino Magazine. He added that community service is about

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helping others and not about fame, nor not about losing or winning awards contrary to other’s beliefs. “In helping people there is no competition. It’s public service for the better of the next generation of people and society. I salute UNIFFIED for helping people across the globe,” he further added. The Filipino educator spent half of his life teaching undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and the UAE. Dr. Castillo holds a post-doctoral degree in Total Quality Management in Higher Education and has almost 20 years of teaching experience both in the Philippines and abroad. He’s known to the best youngest Filipino professor with the academic rank of Associate Professor in the UAE and the first Filipino to date to teach at the University of Sharjah. Dr. Castillo is also the first Filipino who completed the Case Teaching Method offered at the Harvard Business School. From 2012 to 2013, he received four international recognitions in teaching and research are given by various organizations in Hong Kong, UAE, and Singapore, while at the University of Fujairah, he was given recognition by TURNITIN, namely: Business School Leadership Award and Global Innovation Award.

The business-oriented Filipina said that the program helped her to boost her confidence and a sense of preparedness for her Master in Business Administration (MBA) dream. “Thank you, Filipino Institute! More power and continue to inspire more OFWs around the globe!” she added. Avail Filipino Institute’s free online education and get a certificate that can be attested by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS, THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

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Caregiver student Miss Frilla Bada was hailed as Filipino Institute’s first ReINA ng Eskwela. Garnering 94 percent from the pool of judges, Miss Bada stood out among the strong-willed five finalists during the coronation night on Saturday, June 26 at the Manhattan Restaurant, Avenue Hotel Deira, Dubai. In a pageant-like program, the ReINA ng Eskwela was part of the Filipino Institute’s commemoration of the 123rd proclamation of the Philippine Independence Day with the theme ‘Unity Amidst Pandemic.’ Miss Bada competed against her fellow Filipino Institute students: Miss Gerladin Atienza, Miss Shirley Galaura, Miss Nenita Macalinao, and Miss Kessielyn Dela Cruz. A set of judges is formed to rank their beauty, confidence, and wittiness. The set included CEO of Smart Hiring Donna Carpio, Unoo’s owner Razzeil Maravilla, Filipino Institute’s newest ambassadress Riza Mae Cruz, Avenue Hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing Michelle David Menor, and Filipino Institute’s Vice President and CEO Madamme Camille Rimando.

Filipino Institute’s first ReINA ng Eskwela is Miss Frilla Bada

OFW passes three Filipino Institute’s free online courses despite challenges

Atienza was hailed as the second runner up, and Dela Cruz as the first runner up. Meanwhile, Dela Cruz took the Best in Sportswear and Best in Talent awards. Atienza was the Best in Long Gown and the Miss Friendship award went to Macalinao.

Despite working as a full-time employee, challenges she was having, and work-related issues, Lydel Grace Demon was still able to pass the three free online courses she availed from the Filipino Institute’s self-paced program. Demon took the Conference and Event Management Training, Selling Smarter-Basic Training, and Customer Service Training-Critical Elements of Customer Service. “I used to be a bid dreamer when I was younger,” she said, noting that being a lawyer, broadcaster, and politician were her dreams. Her hopes, however, remain a dream. Due to various circumstances, she did not complete college. At the age of 21, she took the risk of becoming an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in UAE, to seek for better work opportunities that would allow her to follow her aspirations and achieve her life goals. “There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits,” she added. She said that she enrolled in a Professional Diploma in Business Management program in the same training institute. While taking the course, she discovered that they are providing free online courses that may be used for other employment prospects. “I gave it a try, and I can’t believe I passed the three courses despite working full-time, challenges, and work-related issues,” she said. “After that, I realized that you shouldn’t wait until you’ve accomplished your goal and to be proud of every step you’ve taken to get there,” she further added.

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