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DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

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‘Filipino Institute

Meet Emirati singer breaking barriers in UAE:: Alira UAE

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has been an excellent avenue to fulfill a long-held ambition’

Maryam Delim The woman behind the ladder of many successful Filipinos

Orli Gayeta

Sales and marketing guru making waves in UAE

T G F M TABLE OF CONTENTs EDITORIAL BOARD GABRIEL JOHN RIMANDO Publisher RYAN NAMIA Editor-in-Chief ANGELO DUMAG Associate Editor ORLI GAYETA Sales & Marketing Manager-Dubai & Northern Emirates JOEL LARA GENOVE Sales and Marketing Manager-Abu Dhabi ALLAN CARAGAO Senior Graphic Designer THAN DUMAS Multimedia Manager-Dubai

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TGFM | DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 34 38

Working overseas to maximize potential in the professional field of nursing - Dr. Jordan Tovera Salvador Passionate Digital Marketer: A Story of Independent Young Professional - Dr. Rolando G. Combas Meet the first Filipino to work in a gov’t entity in Abu Dhabi - Emmanuel Nick B. Carbonell ‘Pandemic had pushed me to start building my dreams’: Former OFW now a businessman - Jason Roi Bucton Filipina in USA an advocate of quality education - Bianca Nicole Vinoya OFW in Qatar connects, inspires, motivates fellow through running activities - Rossyle B. Ayuro Fulfilled nurse finds home in UAE - Nicollette Anne Ubas From being a simple barista to becoming an e-commerce manager in Dubai - Renz Ryan Magsombol Making a difference through a smile - Ian Rowe Giron Once a lady guard now sleepwear business owner in UAE - Noralyn Marasigan Santos Finding the right formula: Former ‘pabigat’ now successful entrepreneur in Taiwan - Von Axl P. Lameyra Filipina helps single moms, youngsters gain skills to be successful entrepreneurs - Ronalin Lontoc Adolfo

The woman behind the ladder of many successful Filipinos - Maryam Delim

From planting crops to harvesting success - Jeanly Balaga

Life of a goal-digger in fitness - Dexter Bartolome

Orli Gayeta hailed as Filipino Institute’s Employee of the Year 2021

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Dr. Jordan Tovera Salvador Working overseas to maximize potential in the professional field of nursing By Ryan Namia

ne of the main reasons why Dr. Jordan Tovera Salvador chose to work overseas is to maximize his potential in the professional field he has chosen— nursing. He also wanted to gain international experience in teaching and showcase competency and expertise to different races and cultures. On top of that, he believed that working overseas is the greener pasture for many Filipinos’ wanting to uplift their families and loved ones’ state of living and wellbeing in the Philippines. In the Philippines, he graduated magna cum laude with his nursing degree at St. Francis of Assisi College in Las Pinas in 2007. Ever since he obtained his bachelor’s degree, all he wanted was to work overseas, be rich and famous. However, this plan suddenly changed when his mother was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). So, instead of pursuing his dream to work abroad, he practiced his profession as a nurse at AMOSUP-Seamen’s Hospital in Manila, wherein the facility provided all his mother’s needs, including her maintenance medications and hemodialysis, and other hospital services.

While working full-time, Dr. Jordan was given

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an opportunity to be given a full scholarship granted by the hospital’s continuing education program. He took his Master of Arts in Nursing, Major in Nursing Administration at the Philippine Women’s University in 2010. After graduating from the prestigious university with flying colors, he was promoted to the unit manager of the intensive care unit. Since he excels in critical care nursing, he immersed himself in various in-house and extracurricular activities to develop his competency. He started conducting training and workshops and attending inter-island conferences as both speaker and participant. The year 2014 is very significant for Dr. Jordan. This year, he started his educational stint as an assistant professor in the Nursing Education Department, teaching courses like Nursing Management and Leadership, Pediatric Nursing, Nursing and Informatics, and Teaching and Learning Skills. In the same year, he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Development degree from Philippine Women’s University in Manila with a general weighted average of 1.0 and dissertation grade of 1.04, making it one of the highest dissertation ratings in the history of the university. Now 35 years old, Dr. Jordan is currently working as the assistant vice-dean for Development Studies and Community Services in the College of Nursing of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, the flagship university of the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. After a year of hard work and expertise in the total quality management system, he was promoted to the college’s Quality Assurance and Accreditation unit chairperson. Dr. Jordan is proud to share that their university is one of the few educational institutions granted with the international Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and national certification, including the National Commission for Academic Accreditation and Assessment. Among his significant accomplishments include the following: 1. Agnes Marshall Walker Foundation Research Grant Award 2019 – United States of America 2. Oud Consultancy Research Grant Award 2016 and 2018– Copenhagen, Denmark 3. University of California San Francisco STTI Leadership Development Grant Award 2018 – United States of America 4. Edith Anderson Leadership Grant for Asia and the Pacific 2017 – United States of America 5. Watson Caring Science Institute Research Grant Award 2016 – United States of America 6. Excellence in Quality Assurance 2015 to 2017– College of Nursing, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University 7. Best in Scientific Achievement Award for College of Nursing 2017 - College of Nursing, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

His current work opened vast opportunities for his personal and professional development. When he first came to the university, he was the youngest assistant professor joining hundreds of equally talented and promising nurse educators from the UK, USA, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, India, and Saudi Arabia. Although he was naïve during his first year, he had to step up his game and be the best version of himself despite the cultural differences. His passion for nursing and research was seen through his work and actions. Dr. Jordan had been invited as a conference speaker and presenter in various countries holding international and local conferences like Jordan, South Africa, Armenia, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Japan, France, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, USA, Ireland, UK, Turkey, and the Philippines. “I am glad to share and discuss my research projects and advocacies,” the nurse educator said. Among his research works published in internationally peer-reviewed journals and books include Filipino Elderly Advocacy called ‘HOPE (Holistic Outlook for Pinoy Elderly) Beyond the Aging Lines’, Teenage Pregnancy, Nurse Bullying, and Phenomenological studies about expatriates nurses in different parts of the world. In addition, he has also published his articles in various international peer-reviewed journals with research topics involving Geriatric Nursing, Emergency Care Nursing, Maternal, and Child Nursing, Nursing Administration, and Nursing Research. As one of the youngest achievers of this generation, he’s often featured in numerous nursing journals. Aside from experiencing financial freedom while working overseas, Dr. Jordan traveled to 83 countries in five different countries during his seven-year stay in Saudi Arabia. “The best advice I can give to my kababayans is to love and believe yourself even if others do not. Working abroad is like the Netflix movie Squid Game – survival of the fittest. You must learn to teach yourself how to catch a fish without others helping you. People will come and go. Remember to put all these lessons and discernments you have learned from these people in mind and grow from them,” he added. “With all the ups and downs we are experiencing as OFWs, let us be akin to our life principles. Be the planner of your blueprints because you are the captain of your ship. As I say to my students, BE SMART – by being S-Specific; M-Measurable; A-Attainable; R-Realistic; and T-Time-bound,” he further added.

cases of Covid-19 virus. He vividly recalled when he started working in April in a hospital in Ilocos Sur and managed the Covid ward.

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“It was manageable at first as cases were mostly with mild to moderate symptoms,” he said.

Dr. Rolando G. Combas ‘Covid-19 in the Philippines cultivated and pushed me to be the best doctor I can be’ By Ryan Namia

or more than half a year now, Dr. Rolando G. Combas has been practicing as a general practitioner. He started working last April this year, four months after passing the Physician Licensure Examination last November 2020. Philippine-based Dr. Rolando’ first job was in a district hospital in Ilocos Sur, with a one-month stint working as a part-time doctor in a private hospital. Initially, he was supposed to look for nonhospital-related work due to the Covid-19 pandemic and wait for the surging cases to subside; however, he decided to plunge himself as he is the family’s breadwinner and the healthcare workforce was in dire need of medical professionals. Following his calling, he thought it was a challenging time; especially when dealing with Covid-19 patients. During the outbreak in the country, the hospital where he was practicing was converted to Covid-19 hospital facilities catering suspect, probably, and confirmed

Dr. Rolando, whose father is a carpenter and farmer and mother is a plain housewife, added that during the months of August to October, the Delta variant of Covid-19 struck the Philippines, propelling a sudden surge of cases, with almost all hospitals catering Covid-19 patients reaching their full capacity, including the hospital he was working with. While moderate to severe cases increased with the Covid-19 ward was not easy to be managed, the Filipino doctor got infected with the virus with mild symptoms. He spent about 10 days in the hospital’s Covid-19 ward and was eventually discharged by early September. As he recuperated from the virus that killed millions of people around the world, he went back to work only to be welcomed by significantly increased number of severe cases of Covid-19, with a total of two mortalities during his tour of duty, most of which were elderlies with comorbidities and unvaccinated. “It was painful for me as a doctor seeing my patients dying on their bed despite exhausting all possible means to treat their diseases and save their lives. The experience made me question myself and my capabilities in managing patients. ‘What did I do wrong?’, ‘What should have been done in advance?’, ‘How will I manage patients next time?’ At the end of the day, it was a painful realization that, as a doctor, no matter how hard I try, not all patients will be saved or will recover. These collective experiences as a doctor cultivated me and pushed me to be the best doctor I can be,” he said. Currently, Dr. Rolando is working in public health as Medical Officer III in City OfficeSan Fernando, la Union. He started his new job last November this year, focusing mainly on implementing health projects in the city, for instance, Covid-19 health-related projects like vaccination drive towards achieving herd immunity. When asked what he enjoys about working as a medical practitioner, he said it’s the satisfaction of being an instrument to heal and treat sick patients and educate people that brings him happiness with his profession. Having been born in a brood of nine in the province, Dr. Rolando has become thoroughly acquainted with how people in the rural area struggle with their daily living, especially in terms of health. According to him, these scenarios inspired him, together with his endless pursuit of knowledge, to take up Medicine and become a full-fledged doctor. He

also finds joy in imparting medical knowledge to his colleagues, especially his patients. Hence, he takes time to explain to patients the nature of their disease, the treatment plan, and the purpose of prescribed drugs. “I believe that taking time to explain these to patients will encourage active participation in the treatment course, leading to faster recovery. Moreover, as a newly-licensed doctor, I wanted to explore the different fields of being a medical doctor,” he said. Struggles in life and in the industry Among every day struggles he faced in the industry include the risk of being infected by communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and the infamous Covid-19 virus—which he had both—the mental and physical fatigue due to overwhelming hospital and administrative work as a doctor, the sleepless nights because of the 24-hour duties, the constant challenge to keep up with the growing database of medical information, among others. A promdi himself and seventh among the nine siblings, his described his family as not materially comfortable. He remembers her mother frying eggs and dividing it afterwards just to feed the whole family, or when he gathered carabao dung to sell as fertilizer to a nearby neighbour, or the times when he spent countless hours with his kerosene lamp just to study his lessons at night. “It was a struggle, but I only know one thing— to fulfill my dreams and escape from the pangs of poverty,” he said, noting that during his elementary and high school days, he was always graduating with flying colors. While in high school, he was able to land a full scholarship grant in De La Salle Health Sciences Institute after he and his teammates won a science quiz bee competition. He took the scholarship grant and studied Bachelor in Science in Radio Technology. He was supposed to receive the Latin honor Cum Laude but couldn’t do so because of his leave of absence to complete his pulmonary tuberculosis treatment. In his fourth year, he decided to pursue Medicine and applied for a scholarship program by the school. He then secures a 100 percent scholarship grant including books, meals, dormitory, and medical instruments. “My advice is to never give up on your dreams and always remember that setbacks are temporary, that there will always be a silver lining. People say that not all are privileged enough to have similar opportunities like the others, and they use it as an excuse not to achieve their dreams. While luck may play a factor, I believe that the intensity of your desires affects the outcome of your life,” Dr. Rolando concluded.

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Emmanuel Nick B. Carbonell Image Credit: Supplied

Meet the first Filipino to work in a gov’t entity in Abu Dhabi By Ryan Namia

othing is far when one wants to get there. UAE-based Filipino Emmanuel Nick B. Carbonell believes in this adage. Working in a foreign land for over a decade now is not easy but exciting for him. He always works his heart out and makes the most of it, putting his best foot and praying. Before working overseas, Emmanuel, an electrical engineer and a license ISO 9001 auditor, used to work as a professor, teaching computer science to third and fourth year students at San Sebastian College in Manila for almost a year and immediately got employed at the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Product Standards (DTI-BPS). His teaching experience enhanced his public speaking and exposure to many people. While working with the DTI-BPS, he was trained in quality and safety standards requirements and regulation, compliance to local and international laws and policies, and being an ISO lead auditor. Having a degree in engineering and being an ISO lead auditor helped him swiftly secure a job in the UAE. His first overseas job was in a government entity—Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL)—as a test engineer, testing electrical household appliances according to safety standards. After three years of service and determination to succeed in work, Emmanuel was promoted one grade higher; however, he still wanted to give more of himself, so he applied to a higher office in the federal government in Dubai.

Emmanuel then applied for Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council after meeting the director for consumer safety and undergoing TGFM | DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

an interview with the big bosses. Persistent to be a part of the organization, he got employed in 2011, making him the very first Filipino to work in their organization. Currently, he is working as the senior analyst for consumer product safety, taking pride in making Abu Dhabi safe by ensuring that all regulated products being sold and distributed are safe to use. “Being in the government in the UAE, Dubai, and now here in Abu Dhabi, has always been a privilege. Doing public service to all kinds of nationalities living here is the most satisfying thing that I have ever done,” he said. He is also taking part in the Abu Dhabi mandate in establishing the Quality Infrastructure of Abu Dhabi towards the 2030 vision. When asked about what he liked about working in the government sector, he said it’s the opportunity to learn from various cultures and an opportunity to be recognized and bring the Filipino piece to the table. Struggles abroad Emmanuel admitted that there were several struggles he had to go through while working abroad. First was the passing of his father with the promise that he would be able to give back to him while he was still alive. When his father died, he was only starting his career as a test engineer in DCL and was still starting to settle all his debts in the Philippines he used to fly abroad. The second was the indifference resulting from his previous marriage because they were trying to push their dreams and stopped

dreaming together. The third was the struggle to go through legal separation, resulting from their indifferences. “Alone abroad and away from my family was the most challenging part. Lastly was bearing the pain of being away, of not being beside his ailing mother as she went through the battle of colon cancer. He said that despite all the mood swings, probably from all the challenges he was facing, one person stayed by his side: his second wife—Analyn Tabilang Carbonell. “She listened to all my nonsense, stood by my side when I was upset, she comforted me as I was going through grief and difficulty. She was there when I had nothing and stood by me while I was trying to put my life together,” he said. Working in the UAE for 13 and a half years now, Emmanuel, now 51 years old, looks forward to a meaningful retirement. “Since I have grown my family, I only realized one time: Family is everything. I have set aside enough savings for my daughter’s education and future needs. I made sure that the quality of life that my wife and I would enjoy would be maintained,” the responsible husband and father said. “Remember, working abroad is a chance not given to all, be sure of the steps you make and always have a plan. And if it is time to come home? You can always do, without fear or apprehension,” he said when asked about his advice to his fellow Filipinos abroad.

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Jason Roi Bucton ‘Pandemic had pushed me to start building my dreams’: Former OFW now a businessman By Ryan Namia

ason Roi Bucton had worked for 13 years in the UAE as an architect and interior designer in the same company. Though he has been working overseas for over a decade, Jason said he has not prepared for his personal career development. “Though it has been planned to settle down in 2020, this pandemic had pushed me as well to start building my dream,” he said. Being a global architect has prepared him to be competitive as he’s exposed to UAE’s cityscape and various architectural solutions, concepts, ideas, and possibilities. Deciding what’s best for his two kids, who have been locked inside their flat for more than eight months, they have decided to go back home despite having a comfortable life.

“Here in the province, we get to enjoy still the balance of life. The kids can play in our backyard with their cousins, breathe fresh air, go to the mountains, live a simple and practical life, stay in our resthouse (bahay kubo) over the weekends, eat fresh food, while they attend online classes, and stay away from the threat of Covid-19,” Jason said, adding that every weekend, they get to bond as a family in which they cannot do in the UAE during the Covid-19 pandemic. There, he started fulfilling his dreams. “Our place had flourished to be a competitive city in the country. I see the need for people to help them realize their dream house, or dream building, their business, be it in public or private entities. Nowadays, compared to the past, people start to get acquainted with my profession,” he said. Jason, who was the chairman of Kalayaan and Bayanihan Festival 2020 in Dubai, has recently set up the Bucton Architecture, a startup that provides architectural-related services in his city. His wife, who is fond of baking and has enrolled in baking classes in Dubai, after figuring out that bread has been a commodity to Filipinos in their province, has started a bakery business for all-time Filipino favorite bread. Later on, the Bucton family ventured into a convenience store called ‘Mamita’s’ in honor of their mother.

When asked about his long-term plans despite being fresh in the industry, he said that the ultimate goal is to build their brand to be passed on to the next generations. “And if time permits, go national and international,” he further added. TGFM | DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

“I see our businesses branch out from one location to the other. My architectural firm to design edifices not only in my hometown but also in other places in the country, or hopefully, even abroad,” the Filipino architect said when asked about how he sees himself creating a change in the company. Jason, after working overseas, has helped his parents financially to complete his siblings’ college education, build their family house, prepared his family’s future by building his personal savings. “Reintegration in the Philippines is possible if you prepare for it. It has been our aim abroad to prepare for our future so we can be with our family back home,” he concluded.

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Bianca Nicole Vinoya A

n adventurer woman like Bianca Nicole Vinoya proved that it is essential to enjoy the process to make it happen in chasing dreams. This determined woman is a 27-year-old achiever and currently working as Institutional Partnership Manager in New York, United States of America (USA). Bianca’s working life always revolves into service. She always makes sure that her growth as a professional is integrated into her passion which is to give communities who do not have access and resources for opportunities. She gets to explore places and experience different cultures at a young age, which makes her enjoy life while working overseas.

Filipina in USA an advocate of quality education By Angelo Dumag

advocate of education that helps low-income students in New York City to have resources and opportunities for quality education. She started her journey in the USA as a nonprofit and development studies student. She took a Master’s in International Political Economy and Development at Fordham University in The Bronx, New York. Bianca was awarded with the Presidential Fellowship, which covered all her tuition costs and provided her with a stipend to study and pay for her living expenses in New York. “I feel fortunate to have been selected because of how selective the program in itself is, and even more so with the fellowship I received,” she said. According to her, her career highlight would be managing to work with various organizations in New York. Her experiences in the Philippines helped her to succeed in the USA. Although full of achievements, Bianca also experienced struggles when she transferred to New York and adjusted to the culture, environment, and work.

Work of Passion Bianca is currently affiliated with Breakthrough New York, and she is responsible for managing corporate and foundation relations for the organization. Breakthrough New York is an

“I also had self-doubts, which I think a lot of professionals struggle with, but I proved to myself and others that I do have expertise in the field and I can make things happen for organizations,” she added. Bianca chose nonprofit management & development as her primary work because that can be the best leeway to advocate for specific causes. She wants to help others to achieve their dreams and goals in life.

“My dream is to have a world without poverty, and while this seems like a faraway dream, it serves as my North Star. I only work for causes and organizations whose missions I truly believe in--one of the main reasons why I work for Breakthrough New York,” Bianca uttered. Aside from helping the organization that she is with now, Bianca also plans to train soon her fellow Filipinos and Asians, especially students, in nonprofit management and development. This woman of passion loves to reach out to people and make a viable career for professional development. She likes to work with more Filipinos in the nonprofit industry. Lastly, she would like to emphasize the importance of hope and joy. “It’s okay to relax. It’s okay to have fun! It’s tough when you feel you have a responsibility to your family--but you’re allowed to enjoy and be happy,” she concluded.

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Rossyle B. Ayuro Image Credit: Supplied

OFW in Qatar connects, inspires, motivates fellow through running activities By Ryan Namia

ossyle B. Ayuro was earning enough back in the Philippines prior to working in Qatar; however, she never had a single penny left in the bank. As a single mother, this prompts her to look for better ways and means to support her child. She decided to work abroad at the expense of happy times with her family back home, missing special occasions, not being able to witness how her kids grow. She left her NGO work that gave her enormous experience traveling and developed in her a compassionate approach to various civil society groups, private, and government sectors. Rossyle landed in Qatar in 2014, her first time working abroad. She worked as a medical insurance billing staff—working 10 hours a day for six days with only one day off. “Working in an office set up is like you are being boxed. For me, there’s seemed to be no life at all. Dealing with papers every day, the routine of wake up, take breakfast, go to work, go home, sleep and get up again the next day then repeat, gave me an impression of a boring life,” she said. Despite the tight working, she tried to find some ways to at least change this routine. Rossyle managed to take extra time to go out and run until it became part of her lifestyle. From then, running turned to passion, it also brought her a new meaning and a purpose. “This I considered a highlight of my career more than my professional career,” she added. She was also one of the team members of Desert Roses, the first group of females to circumnavigate Qatar on foot to raise awareness, inspire women, and engage

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them in challenging, arduous activities. She believed that whatever she does can also be done by anyone—specially her fellow Filipinos who are known to be extremely resilient, she said. Armed with this belief, she initiated the foundation of Kabayan Runners in Doha (KRID) last January 2020. It’s a local running club created to all Filipinos in the country with the goal to connect, inspire, and motivate each other through running activities. Just recently, Rossyle launched the fundraising drive called ‘Sponsor A Child Program’ by participating at the 90km Qatar East to West Ultramarathon race in December with her alma mater, The Sisters of Mary School, as the beneficiary. Taking the leap Being stuck to seven years of 72 hours working on desk drove Rossyle to take the leap to look for another company that can meet her terms. Currently, she is working as a logistics coordinator cum administrative staff with Nascent Qatar, a leading trading company in Qatar. “Having a supportive management and an amazing team in the office is what made me enjoy my current work,” she said. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters in Development Communication at the prestigious University of the Philippines— Open University. “Working in a wider range of individuals and different nationalities with a multicultural discipline, gave me a window to practice my

interpersonal skills and improve my personal development. And of course, opportunity for higher income and send these blessings over to my parents in the Philippines,” she added. If opportunity permits, Rossyle would consider the world of academia in the Philippines. Ultimately, be able to write, author, and launch her own book that she believes may inspire or make a difference in someone’s life. Just very recently, Rossyle won the gold in 90K marathon, beating her own records: 8 hours 22 minutes, beating her record last year 9 hours and 7 seconds. An OFW advice When asked to about her advice to her fellow Filipinos abroad, she said they should learn to adjust and embrace changes. “Honestly, there was last minute sudden fear in me as I boarded the plane heading to the Middle East 7years ago. I questioned the uncertainty of whether I will be safe or whatever what comes next because of what I’ve read about traumatic experiences and unsuccessful OFW stories in the internet. I had no idea what fate would await me. Which one of those will I be? Rather than worrying, I focused instead on the positivity and thought of the reason why I chose this path. Just be brave,” Rossyle said. On their finances, Rossyle said OFWs should be mindful of how much they earned. “Save, invest and spend your hard-earned money wisely. Being an OFW is temporary. Develop network of friends also to prevent homesickness,” she further added.

Nicollette Anne Ubas Image Credit: Supplied

Fulfilled nurse finds home in UAE

icolette Anne Ubas, 30, has been working as a homecare nurse for four and a half years in Abu Dhabi, UAE. A registered nurse, she is considered a hero as she serves as a medical frontline.

By Angelo Dumag

Currently, she serves as a homecare nurse and is in charge of the total care from feeding, elimination, hygiene, monitoring, medications, and activities of daily living of her patients in the comfort of their homes.

Back in the Philippines, Nicollete assumed various roles in nursing and became a school nurse, staff nurse, training supervisor, and assistant director of nursing. She also had her Master’s Degree in Nursing (MAN) and presented her studies at international conferences.

struggle. But God will send people to help you cope. I am grateful for the friends that I met along who somehow alleviated the sadness and being naïve,” she uttered. She also advises her fellow kababayans on educating themselves and being aware of financial management. Nicollett said that working in the UAE can help overseas Filipino workers provide food at their families’ tables back in the Philippines. Still, it is also essential to reflect on a long-term goal because it can make happiness and fulfillment at the end of the day.

“I work closely with people developing programs and activities that can improve the nursing situation in the company I work at. I was also actively involved in a charismatic organization in our church that helped in my spiritual growth,” she said.

Lastly, “Don’t let your day go by just making it through the day. Remember, who you will be in the next five years is a product of the decision you make today. Make count today by doing something worthwhile,” she ended.

Giving up a growing career in the Philippines Despite having a successful career in the Philippines, Nicollete still decided to work abroad to grow and learn life lessons, achieve independence, and make wise decisions. The moment also allowed her to learn a lot of technological advancements and health protocols that made her prouder to be a nurse. Aside from practicing her profession, she was also given a chance to be a part-time instructor in the Filipino Institute. “This opportunity gave me a platform to also share to others the learnings that I have acquired for the past ten years in the nursing profession,” she said.

Sense of Fulfillment She believes that UAE is one of the best countries where Filipinos can work. The government has been very caring and generous to all expats. She even named her daughter Abbi after the emirates of Abu Dhabi. “Like any other first-time OFWs, my first year was unfortunate, having no family members here. Also, the adjustment to a new culture and getting used to living alone added to the

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Renz Ryan Magsombol Image Credit: Supplied

From being a simple barista to becoming an e-commerce manager in Dubai By Ryan Namia

orking overseas was not Renz Ryan Magsombol’s top priority before; however, he felt that it would make him more independent, even if it meant staying away from his comfort zone, living alone, and staying thousands of miles away from his family and loved ones. As a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management Major in Cruise Line Operations graduate in 2013, Renz’s parents expected him to be on a cruise ship and become a fulfilled seaman. In an unexpected turn of events, he applied for Starbucks Coffee in the Philippines as a barista, which he has dreamt of doing despite paying him low. Although he was only hired part-time, he was still grateful for getting the job. He was regularized three months after. In 2014, Renz decided to look for better opportunities. While he was getting his final pay from the coffee shop’s head office in Makati, he saw an ad on the streets of a particular firm looking for a barista to be deployed abroad. He tried his luck and got the job offer on the same day. He accepted the job even though the salary was only AED1,250 or just around P17,000–a salary one can earn in the Philippines every month. “It was tough, but I believed that that will be my stepping stone to achieving my goals in life,” he said.

The Filipino risk-taker continued as a barista at Costa Coffee in Abu Dhabi. After that, he worked for many firms in the country, including in gyms, restaurants, bars, and took TGFM | DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

part-time jobs when he was terminated from work. Working abroad, according to Renz, was never easy as expected. “From working in the F&B, doing extra hours of work, standing all day long, and attending closing shift to morning shift the next day–it was exhausting, and it will drain you mentally and physically. Getting dismissed from work because everyone didn’t like you just because of envy about how much are you getting more than them and looking for a job during your visit visa stay was one of the most challenging parts of my OFW life,” he said. Renz recalled doing odd jobs, including being a dishwasher in a restaurant in Al Wasl Road, to extend his visit visa and continue his journey in the emirate. “There was even a time when I was working in a restaurant, and I had fried fish (Galungong) for lunch. They bullied me, telling me I couldn’t eat it inside the restaurant as it smelled so bad. I ended up taking my lunch inside the comfort room; I was crying,” he continued. Renz said he swallowed all his pride for his dreams, adding that those experiences humbled him and made him a better person than he is today. He considers God and his family as his source of strength during those tough times. Today, Renz is now an e-commerce manager for Protein Bakeshop, a shop built to help sugar addicts live better and happier lives. When asked about what he enjoys about

working as an e-commerce manager, he said getting to know people and sharing his knowledge and strategies that make online transactions possible. “More than me being promoted as an e-commerce manager, my fulfillment with my team who excel is different; I am so grateful and fulfilled. The most fulfilling part for me as a manager is when I come across people, and they come to me and say ‘thank you for your guidance’ that’s what makes me emotional because it validates my purpose as their manager,” he added. Renz advised his fellow Filipinos abroad always to do the right thing and always be consistent as time will come for them to shine. “Never settle for something that it’s not making you happy, and always believe that God has a better plan for you. Learn how to value your job and always be grateful regardless of how big or small you earn. Always save your money in case of any emergencies. As living alone overseas will be a struggle if you don’t think about the future,” he said. He also thanked their CEO and Co-founder, Saad Umerani, who has always been there for him, giving him pieces of advice when he needed them. “Lastly, keep the faith and always give your 100% in everything you do. No job is easy but always keep going! Filipinos are very well known worldwide as one of the most hardworking people and persistent in what they do. We are the best in every single way! Remember that,” he added.

Ian Rowe Giron Making a difference through a smile

man of greatness like Ian Rowe Giron is undeniably motivating and inspirational. This man of enthusiasm is a 31-year-old administrative coordinator of Cybersecurity. For the span of four years working abroad he developed his sense of responsibility and maturity in setting his aspirations.

and to provide financial support to his family.

Aside from being part of the 900,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ian also joined Man of the Philippines-UAE, which helped him to build his network, create new circle of friends and enhance his corporate stability.

These past job experiences helped him to be a smart professional in his current company. Ian’s determination and intelligence creates a leeway for him to be successful and happy in his work. Aside from that, his current job makes him grow professionally with the help of his colleagues who are working in various fields.

Ian’s career as pageant king never stops with creating connections. His core values and advocacies keep him moving towards change and youth empowerment and quality education are his core advocacies that encourage him to work hard and inspire others. Smile of Success Integration of passion and service are part of Ian’s personal mission. His personal success is obviously mirrored towards his smile. This man is currently based in Abu Dhabi and pursuing his job for three years in a Cybersecurity company working as a coordinator. Achieving an administrative position for Ian has never been easy. Before, when he was in Dubai, this man also worked as a Document Controller of a construction company.

Image Credit: Supplied

By Angelo Dumag

Several years ago, this young man also worked in the Philippines to gain ample experiences TGFM | DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

“My career in the Philippines was also Administration-related and Customeroriented jobs particularly with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII and with Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank),” he narrated.

One of the most iconic marks of Ian is his love for fashion while integrating his love for work. Ian, as a professional model, loves to bring some fierceness in his clothing when entering the office. Overseas Filipino fighter Working overseas for Filipinos is a huge opportunity. Many Kabayans created their success story abroad and eventually uplifted the life of their families in the Philippines. Like any other business-minded person, Ian also plans to build his own business that will help him mold his future and the lives of the people around him. “I am planning to build my real estate business after working overseas. I will also continue my advocacy in the Philippines about Youth

Empowerment and Quality Education, particularly in my hometown of Sarangani Province,” he said. Although life might be challenging at times, Ian believes that every individual should dream higher. Empowering oneself can bring fulfillment and a brighter future. “Being an OFW is challenging, especially at first. However, being surrounded by positive people has motivated and encouraged me to keep on thriving in my career abroad,” he uttered. This man of honor and professionalism always believes that every Filipino abroad is worthy of success. “We may stumble seven times, but we will rise eight times. Let us trust the process, learn from those challenges and keep the leap of faith that we will always be destined for victories,” he advised.

Noralyn Marasigan Santos By Ryan Namia

oralyn Marasigan Santos lost her job due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She vividly recalled being advised to ‘standby until further notice’. At first, she thought it was not for long that it would be back to its normalcy; however, the truth sank into her when days became months, and months became a year—that she was officially jobless. Getting paid a minimum salary would not even help her survive in Dubai, although her husband lives with her. There were house rent and bills to pay. They were piling up. Noralyn, who went to Dubai 12 years ago with a plan to roam around the city for two months only, used to work as a security lady for Gulf Fidelity Security Services and was assigned to Central for Health Care Planning and Quality at the Dubai Health Care City. After a year, she worked at the Emirates Flight Catering as a QA inline at Food Point for two years. After that, she was again allowed to work as a security lady in Transguard Group.

As most residents in the UAE worked during the pandemic, Noralyn saw it as an opportunity to showcase her sleepwear business. She inquired how to obtain an online business license. She didn’t have enough funds to acquire one during that time but was already eager to legalize it. She used her husband’s credit card for the license and told him that she would repay him monthly even though she knew it was unnecessary.

Image Credit: Supplied

Once a lady guard now sleepwear business owner in UAE

Despite all the challenges of setting up a business in the UAE, she continued her small business; this time, she is now armed with the learnings she acquired from Mr. Orubia. As days pass, her business grows continuously and gains a lot of customers through recommendations. To equip herself more, she invested in studying, listening, planning, and executing how much more she could develop her business.

The total lockdown was implemented in Dubai around March last year to curve the surging cases of Covid-19 all over the country, including shutting down airport operations. It was so surreal for Noralyn because it was one of the busiest places on earth. Investing AED600 for business Noralyn started with a AED600, a gift from her previous manager. She used it to purchase a set of sleepwear that she could sell to some of her friends and somehow make ends meet. She could not just stay at home and wait for her time to get wasted, so she delivered the sleepwear to them together with her husband, and from there, she saw a potential for it to grow. “Slowly, I began to get excited every day as my sales increased daily, and I know there are lots of things to improve and develop,” she added.

Noralyn said that working with the Transguard Group was one of her most significant achievements. She was given an opportunity to apply and pass all the necessary tests and requirements to qualify as ETD staff at the Dubai International Airport. From 2018 until earlier 2020, she worked there before the Covid-19 pandemic.

She browsed the internet, sought ideas on how to start and grow a small business without having much capital on hand. There she met the business guru Mr. Arvin Orubia. Noralyn saw a video of Orubia tackling how to start a business with minimum capital. At first, she thought it was impossible for her because she initially believed that a company required a lot of money to thrive.

“I never thought that this opportunity would come so sudden. Working in the airport is tough and requires a high level of security training. I am always thankful, as it happened to me at the Dubai International Airport, which sets their bar high for the security and safety of every traveler coming in and out of the airport. I must conclude that airport is one of the happiest and saddest places on earth. I witness people coming in and bidding goodbyes to their families, friends, and relatives,” she said.

“I’m looking on the things that I don’t have to start a business rather than a thing that I should start with. I have found myself so attached to his every video and teaching. I kept repeatedly watching until I was fully soaked into his words; it reminded me that it is not about money; it is about how big our dream is and how passionate we are to execute it. It became my greatest turning point to start my very own sleepwear business,” she said.

“I wanted to have that kind of mindset for me to push myself to work harder because I have a responsibility to look after paying it. Little by little, we also started buying equipment that suits within our budget frame for online business,” she added. As it grew, she hired a freelancer to do liveselling on Facebook, but the person she hired could not make it on the scheduled date. So, Noralyn forced herself to sell her products online, although she felt awkward doing it because she was not used to it. She said it took a ‘quantum leap of faith’ to do it. Since her husband and her sister were full-time workers, they could only help her after work. On Facebook, she’s on her feet for at least two to four hours, doing all things alone—writing all their orders, answering all queries, among others. She also prepares customers’ orders and books online to be dispatched the next day. Today, Noralyn is also catering worldwide deliveries after obtaining approval from DHL. “Everything still feels surreal for me. I never thought that the response on my sleepwear business would go beyond boundaries through live,” she added. Noralyn has multiple customers in UAE, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines. “As my business grew, I was able to accept Reseller who wanted to earn while working, and that is one of my main reasons I am working hard, and it is to help my fellow Kababayan’s earn while working abroad,” she added. “To all my fellow Filipinos, I would advise you to pursue your dream. Dream big! Discover your core gift! Execute whatever comes to your mind. Do not be afraid to try new things if you have faith in God and yourself. There is nothing too hard to achieve,” she further added.

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Image Credit: Supplied

Von Axl P. Lameyra T

aiwan-based Filipino entrepreneur Von Axl P. Lameyra is proof that anyone can prosper in life after being buried with multiple problems, failures, and bad decisions. The 29-year-old machine operator for three years overseas believes that everyone has a second or third chance in life to give their best shot. Despite working on 12-hour duty at a fiberglass factory, he finds time to operate his business in Taiwan and the Philippines. Today, Von spearheads his ready-to-wear shop Taichung Branded Embroidery Overruns, supplying local shops in Taiwan and the Philippines with his products. He also provides hundreds of chicharron baboy to various shops wherein he and his partner started selling apiece. A life story of a man who had no direction in life Before working overseas, Von was jobless for three years. He was just a bystander, got addicted to alcohol and cigarettes, and even tried drugs. “Halos sira na ang buhay ko dahil sa pinaggagawa ko. Sobrang pabigat ko sa bahay dahil sa sobrang katamaran ko, ni-ultimo hinigaan ko ay nanay ko ang nagtutupi at siya din naglalaba ng lahat ng damit ko, napakabait ng nanay ko,” he recalled. He considers himself as ‘a jack of all trades, master of none’ because he dabbled in many skills rather than gaining expertise by focusing on one. Von initially chose the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology course; however, he did not finish not because they were financially incapacitated but he was lazy to finish it. He already worked for his friend’s uncle, who owned a cellphone repair shop and software downloader at an early age. However, the business did not thrive, so he had to start again and look for another job until he got scammed.

He gave the school another chance, this time TGFM | DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

Finding the right formula: Former ‘pabigat’ now successful entrepreneur in Taiwan By Ryan Namia he chose the Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BSHRM) course because it has fancy ‘uniform.’ “Napakababaw ng dahilan, ganun pa din, third year lang ay nag-drop out na ako. Ayoko talaga mag-aral. Gusto ko nang magtrabaho lang,” he said. With this in mind, he went to study an automotive course because he believed that it would pay a lot of money. Unfortunately, Von had short patience. After one day, he dropped out of the class because he said ‘the subject matter was complicated.’ After giving up on the course, he worked for a factory. However, three months after, he was removed from his post following his feud with one of the security guards in the company. Trying to find his purpose, he went to study once again in a training institute; this time, he studied the housekeeping and plumbing courses. Though he completed both courses, he was not allowed to take the exam as he did not follow the dress code. “Ayaw ko na ulit. Gustong gusto ng mga magulang ko na makakuha ako kahit certificate man lang,” he said. To fulfill his parents’ dreams for him, he studied tile setting in the same training centre, and this time, he successfully finished it though he believed it was his because of his aunt’s connection in the school. Von decided to work in an SM supermarket and signed a six-month contract job. A month before he finished the contract, he was fired after getting involved in a group of workers that discretely smuggled goods out of the supermarket. “Nung mga panahon na yun, wala na akong pera kaya naman nag backride ako sa jeep ng kaibigan ko para may pangtustos sa arawaraw habang naghahanap ng bagong trabaho hanggang sa nakapasok ako sa amusement park,” he said. He learned how the machine worked in a

short period. He would invite his friends over to the park and play games without shelling out tokens and money, which caused his immediate termination. He only worked there for 10 days. After experiencing failures, he did not work for three years. “Tinanong ko ang sarili ko kung ganito na lang ba talaga ako, kung paulit-ulit na ganito ang gagawin ko ay same result lang din ang mangyayari sa akin. Kaya naman nakapag desisyon ako na magpakalayo-layo. Doon na ako nag-apply pa-abroad,” he said. It was 2018 when he arrived in Taiwan full of optimism. Although he had already promised to change his direction in life, he still brought his vices to Taiwan. “Inom dito inom doon, nakakapadala naman ako sa pamilya, pero hindi ako nakakaipon,” Von said. Finding the right direction in life Von found his purpose after meeting the three people who changed his perspective on life. His friend Jose Zelu Bulabos encouraged him to read books until he learned to value money. He further found the meaning and direction of life after meeting his life partner, Joy. And ultimately, meeting Arvin Orubia who coached him to be a business-minded person and guided him in the world of business. He also wants to give thanks to his father, Allen, who he looks up to since he was a child. “Para sa mga kabayan ko abroad, maging mahusay sa pag-manage ng pera at oras. Hindi habang buhay ay nandito tayo sa abroad. Dadating ang araw na babalik tayo sa bansa natin. Huwag natin hayaan na pagbalik natin ay wala tayong dala,” the successful Filipino entrepreneur whose mantra is ‘If you want to change the fruits, yu will have to change the roots’, said.

Ronalin Lontoc Adolfo Image Credit: Supplied

Filipina helps single moms, youngsters gain skills to be successful entrepreneurs By Angelo Dumag

onalin Lontoc Adolfo believes that perfect timing comes with perfect opportunities. This woman of creativity and hard work is a 41-year-old owner and creative director of Oweavers Mill Handwoven Fabrics Manufacturing. Working abroad for the 13 lovely years made her a great professional and a passionate business-minded individual. Ronalin learned that prayers and actions work effectively in a world where everything is a rush. Foundation of dreams A great foundation will always be the key to a successful business. For Ronalin, her experiences set as a foundation for her plans. Before having an opportunity in Dubai, Ronalin worked as a service crew in a fast-food chain and department store during his college days in the Philippines. She also worked as a receptionist in the Bankers Association of the Philippines Credit Guarantee Corporation in 1998. “I’ve learned to face customers and to work in a team and lead a team during those times. It helped my people skills to improve and shaped my passion for helping people,” she uttered. She worked with Al-Futtaim Automotive for seven years, from 2008 to 2015. She considered this opportunity one of the highlights of her career life. She also gained a lot of connections and learned a lot of lessons, having transitioned from sales to marketing. After settling down with her husband in Dubai, she decided to move her family to the

UAE. She realized that more opportunities were ahead for her family to stay together. “It was my husband who came first to Dubai, and after a year, we have decided to move here as a family. We have seen that our plans will be realized sooner if both of us will work here and our kids will get a good education in their forming years,” she said.

the future. I’m excited to sit in my office at Oweavers Mill to help my team create more textiles and find wider uses. I’m looking forward to coming home and helping more women to be empowered and to reclaim their best self,” she added. For Ronalin, aside from working hard, a person must put God first.

Although settling down in Dubai is a stroke of luck for her, battles and trying times test her trust. “I was a teenage Mom, I used to be inferior about it, and it held me back from being best for a long time because I was too scared to be judged and too shy of my wrong decisions in the past,” she remembered. Nothing is impossible Given all the experiences that Ronalin gained, she is running a start-up company based in Manila called Oweavers Mill Handwoven Fabrics. This business was funded under iForward Philippines Program under the Department of Science and Technology. According to Ronalin, the primary purpose of her business project is to help young single mothers and the youth gain new skill and training to be successful entrepreneurs one day. “I’ve already started my plan for www.theglobalfilipinomagazine.com

Maryam Delim The woman behind the ladder of many successful Filipinos By Angelo Dumag

umility and kindness are the key attributes that can describe Maryam Delim, a Filipina living in UAE for 37 years. This woman created her destiny and helped Filipinas and other women around the world to be successful. Maryam’s life experiences from childhood aided her to become a woman of greatness today. For three decades of staying in UAE, she witnessed the vast progression of the country from a deserted place until it became a center of business of the world. Love moved Maryam’s destiny to Dubai when she met her Emirati husband in the Philippines. She raised her three children in Filipino and Arab cultures, which led her family to preserve respect among races. From the mountains to the desert Maryam is from the Cordillera Region in the Philippines, where mountains, jaw-dropping sceneries, and cool weather are tourist attractions. Her loving mother raised her. Maryam experienced great sadness at a young age when her father died when she was 11. Having no father made her longing for a dad figure during her teenage years. In 1984, she met her Emirati husband in Baguio City through her friend. From then on, they constantly communicated until she was offered to be with him in UAE. They got married and built a family. “Wala akong naging problema sa asawa ko, napakabait naman niya. Ang nagging problema ko lang ay hindi ako marunong mag-Arabic, kaya kapag nakikipagcommunicate ako sa mga relatives niya ay in English,” she said. Her success in married life continued when she had three supremely kind and intelligent children. Aside from raising her kids in Arab

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culture, she also makes them feel the Filipino spirit through her care and love. “Hindi ko na-feel na may gap between saakin at sa family ng asawa ko, napakabait nila saakin. Wala yung dahil Filipino ako. Kahit sa mga anak ko mabait sila,” she remembered. “Yung mga anak ko may mga stable jobs na sila at hindi sila naging pasaway, ang mga ugali ng mga anak ko, parang mga Filipino din,” she added. She always believes that her husband takes a significant part in their family life. According to her, she is so lucky to have a good husband, which she can also consider as her feet and hands in business and at home. Sadly, last March of this year, her husband passed away because of COVID-19. And for her, it has a considerable impact not only on their business but on her life. Building business for Filipinos Maryam currently owns the Ted-beer service recruitment agency. She is legally recruiting domestic helpers from different parts of the world to help uplift their families’ lives back in their home country. Serving over 30 years of helping Filipinos and other nationalities working in the UAE becomes a stepping stone for many to succeed. Maryam’s service to her fellow countrymen is very heroic and incomparable. Through that sharing of grace, many people love and respect her much. “Para saakin, mas makakatulong ako sa ganitong paraan [recruitment business] para makuha din nila ang mga panilya nila. At para yung hirap nila sa buhay ay gumaan,” she said. Together with her late husband, they started

the business in a small space and eventually became a recruitment hub. According to Maryam, her late husband plays a significant role in the industry because he resolved all the issues and problems of the company. But now, she is the one managing all of the glitches. “Very supportive ang husband ko sa family ko, from day one hanggang nung nawala sya. Wala na din ako mahiling kasi binigay na din nya saakin lahat, napakabait niya,” she said. She added that everything became worse when her husband died because she was now alone in the business and considered him her strength. “Hindi niya ako pinababayaan, kapag may problema sa family siya na ang nagreresolve ng lahat, parang kung pwede hindi niya na ako ilagay sa alanganin, lahat na iyon ay nagagawa niya para saakin,” she emotionally said. Advice to all Filipinos overseas This woman of strength always takes her husband’s advice in learning to say no. Maryam considered herself a giver; she loves to help people as much as she can. “Ang maipapayo ko saakin mga kababayan dito sa Dubai na kung meron ka, i-share mo naman ang blessings mo at wag magging masyadong mataas. At kung ano man ang mga pagsubok na dumating sayo, kailangan natin itong tanggapin at life must move on,” she advices. Indeed, this generous woman impacts the lives of many and never forget her roots as a Filipino. As she stayed for more than three decades overseas, she helped many of her family members in the Philippines and other Filipinos aiming for a successful life.

Image Credit: Than Dumas

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Jeanly Balaga Image Credit: Supplied

From planting crops to harvesting success By Angelo Dumag

at a very young age. She needed to help her mother and brothers plant corn, tobacco, and other crops in the fields. Luckily, she can still attend school despite her fate at that moment. “I remember how hard our life was, especially the day when I finished high school and got my results of the college entrance examination, and I ran home to tell my mother the happy news. I was heartbroken to see my mother’s tears since she could not afford to send me to college,” she said. After seeing her mother’s pain, she decided to make it on her own. As an elected youth leader, she obtained a full scholarship in the university. She managed to work while studying to help her mother financially.

earless Jeanly Balaga is a 31-year-old office manager in a commercial and financing broker company in Dubai. Her two and a half years stay overseas allowed her to grow as a courageous individual and a professional worker.

After a successful journey in college and a few years working in Manila, Jeanly decided to work in Dubai with the help of her cousin. Although a college graduate, when she arrived in Dubai, she still decided not to halt her academic life and continued to develop her credentials by taking up a certified nursing assistant course at the Filipino Institute.

A goal-oriented woman and the family’s breadwinner , she started working for her family to provide food on the table at a young age. She even experienced working in different industries that helped her become bolder and brighter in all fields.

Happily working

Education is a treasure

“My first five months in the company is very challenging because I frequently don’t understand them. Some are Arabic and mostly are British, so their English pronunciation

Jeanly’s life is full of ups and downs. She came from an impoverished family and lost her father TGFM | DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

According to Jeanly, she enjoys her current work because of the diverse culture and nationalities she encounters. She is the only Filipino in her current company.

is different from ours, and I’m not fluent in English. But in 5 months, I overcame it,” she said. According to her, there were also challenging times that she encountered; and it was the time that she was working while studying. The hardest part of her situation was budgeting her salary for all her expenses. Even though she finds difficult to do it, she was still motivated to finish the course with patience. She always believes that all of her sacrifices will be worth waiting for. “Poverty is not a hindrance to education even if you are not the smartest person in this world. If you have patience, perseverance, and faith, you can do all things; you will be successful in life,” she said.

Alwahda Mall. Working as a fitness enthusiast Working in the fitness industry since 2006 helped Dexter become a goal-oriented individual and an inspiration to his clients. His primary expertise includes assessing his clients’ goals and designing meal plans and programs. Dexter started as an assistant fitness manager in Fitness First and became a Fitness Manager of Golds Gym UAE and eventually an operation manager. Aside from being a fitness consultant, he is also an instructor and a mentor in physiology and anatomy of health and wellness for fitness trainers. Self-discovery is one of the primary purposes of Dexter in traversing the work and life balance abroad. “I want to see what are my special capabilities of knowledge that have been hidden in me and shared to the world,” he said. Another reason is to enhance his skills in fitness and explore better opportunities to share his knowledge with all of his clients.

Image Credit: Supplied

Dexter Bartolome Life of a goal-digger in fitness

“Being part of my client’s journey to reach their health goal and seeing them learn the good healthy habit and apply it in a long, is the most satisfying feeling for me,” she said. Healthy future Dexter loves to work in UAE because of his environment and his family. His local clients and friends are very down-to-earth, and they treat everyone equally. Dexter also experiences struggles in life, but he always believes that challenges are like working out in the gym. It might be hard at times, but it is worth it after all. These struggles can make someone more muscular, leaner, and healthier.

By Angelo Dumag

fitness consultant like Dexter Bartolome always believes that success is something we sweat for, not something we claim. His working life revolves around creating people’s bodies fit and healthy. Dexter has worked in the UAE for 17 years and is currently a fitness consultant and fitness manager of Big and Fit Sports Nutrition in

“Failures after failures after failures; these experiences brought me a stronger me which every lesson I took constructively,” he said. Soon, he is looking forward to opening an educational institute and sharing all his knowledge and experiences with those who have the same interest in fitness. Lastly, he wants to remind his fellow kababayans that never give up; life is a book to read.

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Orli Gayeta Sales and marketing guru making waves in UAE By Ryan Namia They say the best marketers are always creating relationships with customers, brands, and other marketers. Orli Gayeta, the sales and marketing manager of the Filipino Institute and The Global Filipino Magazine, for over two years now, has been selling relations, innovative stories, and magic to various companies in the UAE.

to conducting online games for Filipino Institute followers.

He said working in the frontline of the institution’s marketing department is giving him the opportunity to meet different people and know lives, inspiring stories, high-caliber network-based every day.

One of his dilemmas in life was not witnessing his youngest daughter grow up as he left her when she was only 2 and rejoined when she was 9. “This is mainly the life struggle of an OFW,” he added.

Before embarking on a UAE life, Orli had stayed in Israel for six years where his family is based until now. As their eldest daughter continued studying in the Philippines, they went back home. However, he has also worked in other countries like Saipan, Macau, and Hong Kong. Recalling his first arrival in the emirate, he said: “I traveled with my daughter in 2014 to assist her with her employment abroad until I enjoyed my two months stay as a tourist and planned to return to work for good here, yet I value the kind of OFW life I have here.” Apart from meeting potential clients on a daily basis, Orli does Facebook Live–from discussing various promotions, reviewing the latest restaurant addition to Dubai,

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“This work has also given me the chance to explore Dubai and other emirates. I enjoy the rich lifestyle with exceptional healthcare and hospital amenities here. I feel safe here,” he said.

“Another thing, saving money can help you become financially secure. I am always impressed with all our kababayans who have this routine of saving since Dubai is providing so much urge about items on sale from left to right, and if you are extravagant, you will nothing in your pocket,” Orli said. Orli is also spearheading the company’s production team that has been sought to review many restaurants and feature many brands in the country. As he covers a vast spectrum of duties, he was recently awarded the Employee of the Year 2021. “Love what you’re doing. And never stop believing in yourself, I know you can do it,” he said.

Image Credit: Supplied

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By Ryan Namia

wo Filipino children in the UAE are using their talents in painting to help those victims of typhoon Odette in the Philippines which brought torrential rains, violent winds, floods and storm surges to the Visayas and Mindanao Islands.

can make their day). We pray as a family and prayers for other people are included in it. We raise them to be thankful for what they have and be mindful of the needs of others too,” Allanie told The Global Filipino Magazine.

Filipino students Bhlaine Joseph Canlas, 7, and Francis Bhrielle, 4, use canvas and different colors of fluid acrylic paints. They mix and play with the colors to create an abstract that the parents sell online to help those Odette-battered residents in the Philippines. Their project is called Be A Rainbow like their vibrant paintings with a message of hope to those who need it most.

The mother recounted two years ago when they were in Al Ain they gave food packages to those who lost their jobs and the kids were part of it.

According to their mother, Allanie Canlas, the kids love colors and have been even more than favorites thus when they tried it they are in awe as a little tweak can change the final product.

A few weeks ago, she recalled, Bhlaine collected chocolates and water bottles in a park in Abu Dhabi. The mother asked her son why.

Both of them are currently enrolled in a Philippinebased school and are doing online classes. Bhlaine is a Grade 1 student while Francis is a Nursery 2 student. They are doing online academic lessons from Edulinks Learning Centre in Cebu, Philippines. Born in Abu Dhabi, the brothers visited the Philippines a few times already.

Image Credit: Supplied

Filipino kids in UAE using talent in painting to help victims of typhoon Odette

“UAE has blessed us with so much from work to affordable simple lifestyle. Our kids know the value of money and are happy with simple things (1 candy

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“That was their first donation drive and Bhlaine said that it felt so good. Every time we go out and see a cleaner on the streets we share our blessings and the kids are observing it,” she added.

“”There is a cleaner here, I will give this to him”. Indeed when the cleaner came back he gave it all,” Allanie said. Their original plan for Christmas this year was to recycle water bottle caps that they and their friends collected to make a bin, fill it with food, and give it to cleaners on the street. However, typhoon Odette hit the Philippines including Allanie’s hometown and Bhlaine’s teacher in Cebu. “I showed the sad aftermath to the kids and we brainstormed on how to do our part. We came up

with this painting idea, tried one and the rest is an amazing experience. It is a play of colors and both are having fun. They even have names for each masterpiece that they make,” she said. The mother revealed that she and her husband are not into arts but the kids show interest in it. “We just support and let them do what they want to create. We observe it is just a natural talent for both kids to create an artwork out of their imagination and interest,” she added. The first batch of eight paintings has already been sold and a few pieces are left in the second batch. “We are not rich financially but with family and love we are. Being a parent is always a challenge but we are rest assured that Bhlaine and Bhrielle will grow up knowing the value of empathy. This would come out naturally to them and we have witnessed it many times,” the very supportive mother said. She described her sons as ‘very understanding kids’ and that they are thankful and proud that their ways reflect them. “We hope to nurture their love and compassion for humanity in need, we pray that our kids will embrace the world with kindness and generosity of spirit. Because today we their parents help them build a future of caring individuals,” she added.

Image Credit: Malou Prado/Facebook

Malou & Roberto Prado, the Filipino couple behind the award-winning travel company in Dubai By Ryan Namia

A Filipino-owned travel and tourism company in Dubai has recently clinched a gold award from a reputable award-giving body for the best travel company category this year.

Magazine.

Spearheaded by Dubai-based entrepreneur and couple Malou and Robert Prado, MPQ Travel and Tourism has won the gold award for Best Travel Company during the 7th Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards by the Hozpitality Group.

“This is really a proud moment for me and my entire team. It would never be possible without their consistent support for the last 8 years since we established our company to ensure personalized service,” she added.

“We are very honored to have been chosen as a Gold Winner. This proves that hard work and providing consistent quality service always pay off. This is also proof that by working as a team, we can achieve many incredible things,” Malou told The Global Filipino

The businesswoman said that their award is dedicated to all Filipino business owners around the world who, amid the pandemic, strive harder.

MPQ Travel and Tourism is the only Filipino-owned company awarded at the event.

On November 29, he did 10km swim and bike for 140km; bike for 250km on November 30; and run for 100km on December 1. Puncia, the only UAE-based ultraman athlete and Race With Purpose advocate, was supposed to be competing and representing the UAE and the Philippines last November in the Ultraman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, where he would swim 10km, bicycle 423km, and run for 85km.

The awards are being given to recognize top industry organizations which have shown skill, creativity, ingenuity, and success in the Middle East North Africa’s hospitality industry.

Image Credit: Supplied

By Ryan Namia

Romeo Puncia III, a swimming coach and sports advocate in Abu Dhabi, created a challenge called 500km Ultra Challenge to honor the UAE for its 50th national day. Through this challenge, he managed to swim, bike, and run for a total of 500km from November 29 to December 1.

“We receive this award because we keep our customers happy. We believe that we are doing our jobs well to receive such an award. Our clients believed in our capability to deliver their requirements with accuracy and promptness, thus voting us for this award,” she concluded.

When asked about her plans, she said they plan to

Romeo Puncia III Filipino swimming coach and sports advocate honors UAE A UAE-based Filipino emergency medical technician has taken an ultimate challenge for the UAE Golden Jubilee and to honor the country.

find more ways to better their service, improve their products, and continuously train their team to give the best customer service.

The event was moved to next year due to some Covid-19 restrictions in Hawai. If the event was pushed through and if he had successfully finished the race, he would make another history again in the UAE and Philippines as the first UAE-based athlete to finish one of the toughest triathlons like what he did in Ultraman Florida in 2019. Puncia said that he challenged himself in the ultratriathlon he created to honor the UAE National Day and celebrate his achievement as he was featured in the generations project for the UAE pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai as a resident for 11 years now.

He will also launch a special project for Katribo Charities and Race with a Purpose advocacy by building a training and youth centre for the indigenous and tribal communities where athletes and people that need refuge are welcome. Puncia’s team will also open doors to empower the young generation to get into sports like they did for the Apex Endurance Community.

“I thank the UAE for recognizing my talent, skills, and contributions,” he said.

Besides excelling in sports competitions, the OFW has also won several awards, including Pride of Abu Dhabi last 2018; Dakilang Bayani, 2019 Award for Contributions to the Health and Welfare of Children, and one of the 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf, among others.

By completing the project, he and his team will donate special Christmas treat for indigenous and tribal communities in the Philippines while raising awareness in the UAE sports and residents.

He is also the founder and team manager of Apex Endurance which is one of the biggest endurance sports clubs in the UAE which helps many residents to get in to sports and healthy lifestyle.

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1mxdubai/Instagram :Image Credit

After being deprived of live concerts for almost two years due to social distancing, Filipinos in the UAE have finally relived the feeling of being inside a packed concert hall through 1MX Dubai 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Centre last Friday, December 3. This year, it features some of the biggest and up-and-coming artists in the Philippine entertainment industry, including Bamboo, Moira Dela Torre, Gigi De Lana, Ez Mil, BGYO, and BINI. As early as 4pm, several Filipinos have already been queuing to watch their favorite singers and catch the 1MX Manila concert which was also streamed at the venue. The Manila concert featured AC Bonifacio, Angela Ken, Carlo Bautista, Fana, Jayda, Jeremy G, Kritiko, Lian Kyla, Nameless Kids, Sab, and Tricia Denise. Although new to the industry, both P-Pop bands BGYO and BINI stunned the live audiences with their harmony and synchronization.

Bamboo, Moira, Gigi, BGYO, BINI, EZ deliver impeccable 1MX Dubai 2021 show 1mxdubai/Instagram :Image Credit

By Ryan Namia

Taking over the stage next was Philippines’ latest pop-rock diva Gigi who rose to fame due to her stint as a contestant on Tawag ng Tanghalan on It’s Showtime. Wearing a white sequin gown paired with chic pair of boots, Gigi then belted a very powerful rendition of her original song Sakalam. It would not be completed if Gigi did not perform her version of Roselle Nava’s Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita which just went higher and higher each time she sang the chorus part. Next on stage was the white-skinned boy that the internet can’t seem to stop talking about, Ez Mil, who also rendered a compelling performance through his impressive rapping abilities. Ez Mil performed Idk and his original Panalo song which took the audience on their feet to dance on the beat. After the uplifting performance by Ez Mil, Philippines’ Hugot Queen Moira Dela Torre took over the stage to sing some of the heartbreaking songs that really pierced through the audiences’ hearts. She performed her originals Tagu-Tuguan, Ikaw at Ako, Tagpuan, and Paubaya. Bamboo’s performance, on the other hand, was probably the concert highlight as the crowd went wild as he walked the audience down memory lane with Tatsulok, Kisap Mata, Hinahanap Hanap Kita, and Hallelujah. The crowd was also not expecting Bamboo to share the stage with Gigi and Moira, belting compelling songs. The crowd went wild as Bamboo ended the show with Awit ng Kabataan which also took them on their feet.

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Image Credit: Than Dumas

Boyce Avenue makes the stage rip-off; Michael Learns to Rock is still a killer By Angelo Dumag It has been more than a decade since the Youtube sensation Boyce Avenue captured the hearts of many people worldwide through its song covers. These brothers were pioneers in the Internet industry and set a standard for fantastic acoustic music. But before Boyce Avenue’s breakthrough, there was the alltime-favorite and killer Michael Learns to Rock (MLTR), who happened to serve the music industry since the 80s. MLTR was known for their Paint my Love, Sleeping Child, Out of the Blue, and many more. Last December 2, during the celebration of UAE’s 50th Anniversary of National Day, Boyce Avenue and Michael Learns to Rock smashed the Dubai stage in Festival Arena. They had their fantastic concert with Alira, an Emirati singer, as a guest performer. Since it was a holiday and some offices were closed, fans from different Emirates were gathered to witness the incredible performances of these International musicians after two years of no concerts due to the rise of COVID-19.

The event started at eight in the evening with tons of fans in the arena, singing along and grooving with the Boyce Avenue hit covers like; So Wake Me Up, Every Breath You Take, and A thousand years. The great and classic songs Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Unchained Melody mesmerized each person’s ears in the arena. The performance of Boyce TGFM | DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE 20

Avenue ended with the song Iris which has more than 17 Million views on Youtube. After the alluring performance of the brothers, An Emirati singer and performer Alira gave a “Beyoncé feels” performance during the event as he launched his single album entitled Take Flight. The total performer gave a fantastic opening song to all his fans as he sang. This is me. People in the arena were all spellbound with his great production and powerful vocals. The most awaited moment was worth waiting for when MLTR stepped up on the stage. Festival Arena’s roof was blown when this 80s band opened their performance with Complicated Heart, followed by the phenomenal Sleeping Child; a karaoke hit Out of the Blue, Take me to Your Heart, 25 Minutes, and The Actor. Killing the song and the audience’s hearts happened when Love Will Never Die, and That’s Why You Go Away bust the concert’s microphone. After two years of no concerts and parties, the world is finally slowly adjusting to the new normal and events. People are currently enjoying once again the gatherings and joyful moments without fear. The concert was brought by Creative Minds events.

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Dubai-based OFW creates platform to inform, educate OFWs about flights to Philippines

Mr. Salatan currently seats as Manager-Sales and Clients Relations for Airlink International. Over the years, he broadcasts relevant travel updates and airline promotions through his two personal Facebook accounts, that have already reached the 5,000 maximum friends, and through WhatsApp that are received by more than 10,000 Filipinos in the UAE. Witnessing how the pandemic hit the travel and airline industry which he thinks beyond imaginable, he pondered on how to expand his target crowd. He then came up with the idea to create a page that will expound on other relevant topics for OFWs like ticket restrictions, rebooking, refunds, penalties, and a lot more.

A Filipino travel expert in Dubai has created a platform wherein he informs and educates returning overseas Filipinos Workers (OFWs) and overseas Filipinos (OFs) about flights between UAE and Philippines, evolving protocols and procedures, among others. Mr. Geoffrey Salatan posts travel updates on his Facebook page Geoffrey Salatan. He is known as one of the most trusted and distinctly recognized Filipino travel agents in the UAE. The award-winning OFW started his journey in 2006 when he was hired by Airlink International, a company where he is still connected up until now. “Travel industry is one of the fascinating fields, especially in UAE, being an open country to a multitude and diverse nationalities,” he said.

Image Credit: Supplied

Meet Emirati singer breaking barriers in UAE: Alira

Image Credit: Supplied

By Ryan Namia

Since the page was published publicly on December 10, it has already accumulated more than 2,000 followers. Having spent almost two decades of his career in the travel industry gave him great perspective in handling challenging situations. He said that he earned ample remarkable good as well as bad experiences dealing with flight disruptions due to force majeure, airport closure, flight delays, among many other reasons.

“By spreading awareness to the maximum number of Filipinos in UAE that my page can reach, I aspire to extend an extra helping hand through simple and reliable information. Knowledge is power and power is greater when put into good works,” concluded.

Emirati singer and songwriter Alira has carved a career in the UAE with his rare musical talent: he is a countertenor or male soprano who sings in high range with six vocal octaves.

usually train in the toilet or when no one would be around,” he said. It was his search for intercultural music that led him to start writing his own songs when he was just a teenager.

Born and raised in Dubai, Alira developed his love for global music at a young age, with the influences of different musical styles from around the world. His eclectic taste in music includes genres like pop, jazz, blues, ballads, rock, country music and classical music.

His self-titled debut album, Alira, and his first single, Take Flight, is nothing short of transformational and is as novel as his unique singing talent. Alira’s debut single, Take Flight, is available on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, Amazon Music and Anghami.

“Growing up, I have always been around music, whether it was a Disney movie soundtrack or one of my family members playing a certain tune. Some of my main musical inspirations are Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston who were known for their timeless ballads. Additionally, some of the honorable music influences are Regine Velasquez Alcasid, Andrea Bocelli, Assala Nasri, Laura Pausini and Yolanda Adams,” Alira said. Alira realized that he wanted to pursue music professionally when he reached his teens. “I have always had a special connection with music, ever since I was a little kid I would run up and stick my ears to the TV, listen carefully and imitate the song being played and it would move something in me. I decided to take music seriously when I was 14 years old,” he said. At first, he practiced singing in private. “I would

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“What we are currently facing is inevitable, but my goal is to assist our kabayans through viable information that may come in handy when they finally plan up their next trip. My page aims to help on their bookings; it should enlighten them in deciding which option to select from the lists provided by their respective agents or airlines,” Mr. Salatan said.

Truly a global artist, Alira not only sings in his native Arabic language, but he also sings in Indian, Filipino, English, French and much more. As he begins the next chapter of his musical career, Alira is looking forward to creating music that connects people. “I have connected and touched so many people through my music and they became part of my family, and I am ready to welcome the world with open arms,” he said. “The values that I stand by and want to share with the world include motivation, acceptance, strength, unity, love, peace, and hope,” he added. What can fans expect from Alira’s music? “My fans are in for a treat; they should expect the unexpected. I will surely take them through my life’s journey and experience the story that lies behind every song I have written,” Alira said.

‘Filipino Institute has been an excellent avenue to fulfill a long-held ambition’ By Ryan Namia

With the goal to develop Filipinos’ personal and professional career, Filipino Institute has served as Romina G. Ubalde’s avenue to fulfill her long-held ambition which was to finish her dream course.

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Just recently, she took the online course Customer Service, a course she never finished due to ‘unforeseen events in my life.’ “I may not be able to accomplish my dream course due to unforeseen events in my life, but the Filipino Institute has been an excellent avenue for me to fulfill a long-held ambition,” she said.

“The Filipino Institute’s free online education program provided me with information that was beyond my expectation,” she added. Ubalde said that the self-paced training provided her the confidence to dream big and pushed her to better herself. At first, the Filipina thought it would be impossible for her since she was working and studying at the same time, coupled with a lot of duties and priorities would hinder her. “But thanks to the Filipino Institute for encouraging me to try my best [and finish it],” she said.

Chief engineer in UAE thanks Filipino Institute for allowing even non-Filipinos study online for free By Ryan Namia

Filipino Institute, for over six years now, has been founded to help Filipinos in the Middle East achieve their goals in life by providing quality but affordable education and uplifting their career forward. Over a couple of years, it has also realized dreams of non-Filipinos that also get the same quality.

Image Credit: Supplied

One of the non-Filipinos who has taken the educational institution’s free online course is Sinan Adnan Alaboudi, a UAE-based chief engineer. He revealed that after seeing his fiance studying through Filipino Institute’s online portal, it interests him to register and try how it works. “While working as a chief engineer who’s always been the in-charge person in our hotel

projects, I’ve found a sustainable course,” he said, referring to Project Management Fundamentals. According to him, despite working as a chief engineer already, the course has provided him the necessary detailed information that he found helpful and interesting to make their projects successful. “It is indeed a great opportunity that Filipino Institute provides free online course to Filipinos and other nationalities like me. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Filipino Institute for providing one-of-a-kind online courses to the working individuals that will contribute to our career growth. Continue to support and inspire everyone to achieve their goals to learn and improve their knowledge,” Alaboudi said.

The Global Filipino Magazine | Issue 20 | December 2021