Araceli Montalla TGFM

For Alzes Tuesday G. Banzon, a 26-year-old Marketing Specialist at Al Salam Community School, Dubai has become more than just a destination; it has become a platform for self-discovery and personal growth.

Banzon arrived in Dubai in 2019 and started her first job as a marketing specialist at a medical equipment distributor. After two years of experience, she transferred to Al Salam Community School to further enhance her career. Despite the challenges of working in the education industry, Banzon finds her job fulfilling and worth the effort.

The decision to work abroad was fuelled by her desire to achieve greater things with her fiancé, Vj. Banzon’s previous job back in the Philippines was as a concept writer and all-around creative in an events management company under Viva Entertainment Corporation. One of her proudest accomplishments was when she was inducted as coordinator and creative head of a non-profit organization, JCI San Juan Pinaglabanan, in 2019. During her time there, she worked on large community projects that benefited the residents of San Juan City. She found that her creative side and multi-tasking abilities paved the way for these opportunities.

She has worked side by side with the chapter president, who is also the niece of former Philippine president Joseph Ejercito ‘Erap’ Estrada. Some of the most notable projects they did were the StreetSmart Youth, which aimed to provide practical skills for out-ofschool-youths; and Project Aklat, a book donation drive for all the nursery schools in the area.

“I can’t say I excel in one specific skill, but I believe the creative side of my work and its multitasking nature landed me those opportunities,” she said.

Working as a marketing specialist

When asked about her future plans, Banzon shared that one day, she wants to help children who are hungry for food, education, and love. Her advice to fellow kabayans who are struggling abroad is to appreciate what they have and to focus on the good things that they possess, even during tough times.

“Whenever I am at my worst feeling, I always tell myself that I am still lucky. I have heard and seen people who were facing the toughest time in their lives, which makes me always come to compare myself and appreciate how blessed I am. We can always find something good we possess that others don’t. Just look for that,” she further added.

Banzon’s life mantra, “Doing something that scares you is a step to achieving bigger things,” is evident in her journey to Dubai. Her bravery to take risks has led her to a fulfilling career, personal growth, and a deeper appreciation for life’s blessings.

Working overseas transformed Bernadette’s personality and pushed her to the maximum to be more responsible, openminded, resilient, and persevering. However, it was not always an easy journey for her. During her first year abroad, she struggled to trust people and felt homesick. Being alone in a strange country far from supportive family and in a different environment and culture built a lot of stress and pressure, especially after a long working hour. However, her husband and children provided the support she needed and encouraged her to overcome all the challenges and battles, especially during the pandemic. Her mother was always her biggest influencer in life, where her moral values of being honest, trustable, and respectful toward others are also her ideology.