Issuu

JANUARY 2022 | ISSUE 21

Covid19lockdown in the UAE creates opportunity for this stranded

Filipina nurse

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Keeping up with the changes: Filipino doctor achieve independence working overseas Staying strong amid a lot of rejections

SKYRELIANCE Filipino-sibling entrepreneurs turning dreams into reality

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 | JANUARY 2022 | ISSUE 21

8 9 10 12 13 16 17 19 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 32 33 35 36 38 39 40 41

The senior manager for procurements and contracts at Expo 2020 Dubai is a Filipina - Judy Ann Siddique

Filipina helps farmers become ‘agripreneurs’ in the Philippines - Justine Lynn C. Limocon A super-achiever Filipino nurse in UAE - Nelson Bautista Madiskarteng rakitera in Singapore: The road to success is not easy to navigate Connie Villaviray Filipina senior insurance development manager educates fellow about getting insured for their loved ones - Angelina Santos The OFW multimedia artist’s journey in the creative industry - Eljhon Sanchez Covid-19 lockdown in the UAE creates opportunity for this stranded Filipina nurse - Hazelwin Gabriel ‘Never stop dreaming’: Former receptionist now business development manager in UAE - Saudie Reyes

Skyreliance Filipino-sibling entrepreneurs turning dreams into reality

Former musician in South Korea discovers another talent in photography - Ronnie G. Dayo Young ASEAN, APEC engineer conquers Saudi Arabia - Engr. Rodel Buena Docot Former waitress works her way up until reaching the peak of success - Girlie A. Bitanga Keeping up with the changes: Filipino doctor achieves independence working overseas - Alzacar T. Jadjuli Moving out of stagnancy in life, OFW in UAE finds love in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Flory Maganda Macaso Filipino chief accountant and renowned photographer conquers Saudi Arabia Armando Barangay Simpliciano Meet this OFW in UAE who rescues and feeds over 400 stray cats - Jonathan Corporal Sibol Filipina small business owner in UAE donates percentage of sales to feed hungry families - Rosanna M. Najal Staying strong amid a lot of rejections - Kriscell Masancay

Filipina in Dubai discovers her path to success - Anna Carmelia M. Bautista

‘Life is easy if you love your job with passion and dedication’ - Jacquilyn Octaviano

‘Hard work is always rewarded–so keep fighting’- Rose Lily Buquing Valdez

Judy Ann Siddique The senior manager for procurements and contracts at Expo 2020 Dubai is a Filipina

orking overseas allows one to meet people of different nationalities and cultures. It makes one appreciate and respect other peoples’ beliefs and traditions. The main reason why Judy Ann Siddique opted to work abroad is to help her family financially, aside from exploring career opportunities.

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Today, Judy Ann works as the senior procurement manager at the mega event Expo 2020 Dubai. Her work entails crucial attention to detail and dealing with suppliers within and outside the country. She may be reaping what she sowed; however, it took some time and a lot of hard work to reach this far. The Filipina embarked on her OFW journey at 19 and a fresh graduate. She did not even get a chance to work in the Philippines as she had already flown to Dubai after college graduation. She was then hired at a well-known and highly established company in Dubai as an office administrator. Due to her work ethic and dedication to work, Judy Ann was promoted to one of the company’s coordinators within a year. Despite being the youngest coordinator in the firm, she had to keep up with the challenges. “Even at an entry-level, I’ve always put my best foot forward and tackled all the challenges. In this part of the world, especially in this industry, it is important to build your connections and strengthen your work ethic. This will bring you closer to your goals,” she said. “Despite the various challenges along the way, what is important is that you know how to go above and beyond yourself. To strive to be better each day,” she added. Conquering Expo 2020 Dubai Before she even got to where she is today, she had taken the initiative to improve herself in the industry. The Filipina professional took courses and took her masters while juggling work and

family. Judy Ann revealed that she endured long hours of work and studies but all the struggles paid off when she secured her international MBA degree from a UK university and got her most soughtafter position. “The most satisfying part of my work is having to see all my hard work coming to life. From the infrastructures to seeing everything come to life in Expo2020, I can’t help but be amazed,” she said. She considers working at the world’s greatest show as the highlight of her 12-year career in the UAE. “I consider the UAE as my second home, and that makes me even prouder for the hard work that I have put into this project,” she added. The 35-year-old Filipina’s goal for her two wonderful sons is already set. She is now looking to settle for a permanent residency somewhere that may provide better education and a fresh start for the entire family–and perhaps new career opportunities to conquer. “To my Kabayans, you are all heroes to your families. Don’t let them down. There will always be struggles, but what is important is that we rise above the challenges; we are resilient. Always find ways to develop yourself, and don’t be afraid to try and try. Learning is a life-long process, and thus, open yourself to new learnings through education. Manage your finances properly - be wise and always save for the rainy days. And lastly, be grounded,” she concluded.

Justine Lynn C. Limocon Filipina helps farmers become ‘agripreneurs’ in the Philippines As of October 2021, the organization has a total of 112,213 members in 54 branches operating in the Visayas region. “Over the years, this project has dramatically improved the lives of our farmers, testimonies coming from our farmers are really overwhelming, they are now able to send their children to schools, renovate their house, purchase service vehicles and even become a dreamer themselves,” Justine, who is a registered nurse in the Philippines, said.

or years now, Justine Lynn C. Limocon has been helping local farmers in the Philippines become ‘agripreneurs’ or farmers who are not just experts in production but also business skills. Through the Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative (LMPC), the Filipina business development centre department head manages to help improve small enterprise performance among coop membership to achieve high economic growth and employment, reduce poverty, and meet social objectives. The farming industry in the Philippines is considered to be the poorest sector in the country. According to Justine, the direction of the cooperative with the collaboration and convergence of the private organizations and government agencies is the reduction of poverty and wealth creation by providing the farmers a series of training towards sustainable production, supervised financing, and facilitating market linkage to institutional buyers such as hotels, restaurants, schools, and resorts.

The 32-year-old supervises the subsidiary coop under LMPC, the Lamac MPC Youth Planet Laboratory Cooperative, commonly known as the Coop Youth Planet (CYP), composed of five components as a blueprint: the Aflatoun, C-Build, Hub, Gender Equality, and Sustainable Agricultural Program. Aside from teaching the value of thriftiness, according to Justine, these components enhance their capabilities, talents, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills. Her exposure to serving the marginalized farmers and the youth inspired her to pitch her dream to the youth that they will also fall in love with farming and realize that agriculture is sustainable or profitable. In 2016, she had the opportunity to attend the first ICA Asia Pacific Youth Summit held in Bali, Indonesia, with the project ‘Youth Engagement to Sustainable Organic Farm Tourism.’ Her project benefited the 12,000 young members of the CYP and all the youth in the country who want to engage in agro-enterprise. Among 17 countries, she won the pitch contest; and when she came back to her coop, she was able to re-echo the project to the leaders.

Indeed, her passion becomes her profession. From a registered nurse into a full-time and proud cooperator, manager, leader, agripreneur, trainer and assessor, healing not just wounded patients but also taking care of the lives of women, farmers, and youth. “As a leader, it has always been a challenge on how to practice what you preach or walk your talk and be the role model for the farmers and your fellow youth. The most satisfying thing about my work is that I am able to help one farmer, youth, or woman at a time to realize their dreams,” she said. Currently, Justine owns a farm where she raises free-range chickens to produce chicks for meat and layer-type brown eggs. When asked about her struggle as a leader of the team, she said the fact that being the youngest member of the top management. This has become a challenge for her to prove her worth. Although she is a nurse by profession, it didn’t stop her from being competent at work. She always does her research and study to gain more knowledge on the new specialized projects they develop and look for more partners to implement them successfully. “In my advocacy, I always wanted to teach to the young minds and my fellow kababayans that there is money in farming. You can have a stable income if you become an agripreneur. You don’t need to leave your lands idle. Let us help you cultivate them and make them sustainable and profitable. We are an agricultural country. Let’s become proud agripreneurs!” she concluded.

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These necessitated urgent recruitment and training of new Covid responders and upskilling sessions for current staff. “Without appropriate preparation, supervision, and support from the nurse educators, these novice practitioners were liable to place patients and other health care professionals at further risk. I am proud to have been part of and continue to be of support to this global battle against this invincible enemy,” he further added. On top of his role as a nurse educator, he also works as the editor-in-chief of Nursing Matters, the official nursing newsletter of the hospital he currently works for. He is presently the chair of an Abu Dhabi-wide well-being committee with representations from the different government hospitals in the capital. Like most overseas Filipino workers who tried their luck abroad, his main reason for leaving the country is his family. For him, it was never easy to throw himself out in a place where he didn’t have friends or relatives.

Nelson Bautista A super-achiever Filipino nurse in UAE

elson Bautista was only 24 years old when he took his chances of improving his family’s life by working overseas. Life was difficult then, so he would do something to turn things around. When he was starting his career overseas, he had to do many things to prove his capacity as a nurse. Being in a foreign land takes a lot more to get noticed to reach his goals. “But as I always say, if you have the guts and belief in yourself, nothing can put you down. I always believe that some things happen by chance in this life, but most things happen because we make them happen. We need to take bold steps to achieve what we want out of this life,” he said.

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“You are basically on your own creating a new life for yourself and eventually for your family back home. When you don’t come from a well-off family and have experienced rock bottom when you were younger, you get to have that drive to make life better,” he said. The high-spirited Filipino first worked in Saudi Arabia as a nurse in ED and Ambulance and Casualty. He moved to a bigger hospital two years later to specialize in neurosurgery, ENT, and oromaxillofacial surgery. Five years later, he moved back to the Philippines to work as a clinical instructor in hospitals and as a board exam review lecturer. After some time, he felt the need to grow professionally, so he flew back to the Middle East, this time to the UAE, where he now works. Nelson started as a staff nurse for a surgical unit and moved his way up the career ladder. Presently, he works as a clinical nurse educator for Tawam Hospital, one of the largest and leading hospitals in the UAE. Working as a clinical nurse educator, Nelson said he gets to do what he’s passionate about–teaching. With nursing, he gets to touch lives positively and make an impact on someone else’s life and their family. “With being a nurse educator, I get to leverage my knowledge and skills to nurses, and with this, I get to touch more lives through the nurses I train or attend my workshops. They, in turn, touch lives by practicing their knowledge and skills directly on their patients every day. For me, that’s already a career-high. It makes me feel satisfied that I can do something impactful to the community,” he said. As the world struggled to address the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of nurse educators is highlighted with the rest of the healthcare workers. The pandemic created an urgent need for more frontline direct-care nurses.

As he consistently climbed the ladder to success, Nelson has received several accolades, including Best Employee Award (Technical/Nurse Expat category) and the Tawam Stars Awards in 2018 and 2019, respectively; and a nominee for the Nurse Leadership category at the 2019 Nursing Awards organized by the Filipino Nurses Association in the Emirates (FNAE). This year, he also competed in the 7th International Best Practice Competition in New Zealand to represent his team. He also earned the hospital a four-star rating for their work on staff well-being. His work is now included in the best practice database at The Best Practice Improvement Resource (bpir.com), a membership-only website for best practice case studies, benchmarks, tools, and expert opinion to achieve productivity gains and business success. Nelson, now 46, is also an international conference speaker, having spoken in many international nursing conferences over the last few years. “Success is never achieved overnight. Always pray for guidance and be grateful for small and big blessings. Raise your flag by simply doing what is morally and legally correct and passionate about whatever work you do. Let us prove to the world that we are world-class, and let’s continue making a mark by always giving our best shot,” he said when asked for his advice to his fellow Filipinos abroad.

Connie Villaviray Madiskarteng rakitera in Singapore: The road to success is not easy to navigate

ne trait that best describes Filipinos is being ‘madiskarte’. Amidst multiple challenges, they are creative in finding opportunities to learn new skills, survive, and improve their lives. Singapore-based Filipina Connie Villaviray’s top priority in life is to support her family’s financial needs. When she was young, she promised to give back to her family to secure a stable job. As the youngest among the siblings, she witnessed how her parents struggled. Her father was an ice cream vendor, while her mother was a simple housewife. Despite the hindrances in life, she graduated, from high school to college, with flying colors. After taking the Mass Communication Major in Broadcasting course, she immediately worked for her college dean’s office as a secretary. There, she provided administrative support and managed students and faculty staff schedules. With her enthusiasm to experience the ‘real world,’ she decided to find a job in Manila. She worked as a cashier in a mall for six months. “There was nothing on my mind but to get a job, even if wasn’t aligned in my course,” she said. To seek greener pasture, she decided to explore career opportunities abroad. When she was only 23 years old, she worked as a receptionist in a high-quality casual dining restaurant. “To my surprise, that was indeed the taste of ‘reality’! I was able to work with different nationalities. It was a totally different culture and environment in the Middle East. I realized that I was an OFW, and it wasn’t that easy,” she said. Connie worked hard and proved that her stay

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in Kuwait was worth it. In the Gulf country, she was assigned to work as host and barista and received an Employee of the Month award for her dedication to work. She finished her two-year contract and decided to go back to the Philippines.

with a positive attitude and I believe that person’s attitude will always shine through. And being the first image of the company, I am able to build good impressions and provide exceptional customer service,” she said.

“At that time, I felt that the Middle East was not for me. Perhaps, I was too young, and all I wanted was to be with my family again,” she added.

While working for a company, she also invests her time doing freelance jobs, including selling goods and fashion accessories, beauty products, herbal supplements, cooking Filipino traditional food to sell on weekends, etc.

The year 2012 was when she decided to work overseas–this time it was in Singapore. She initially worked as a receptionist in a Chinese restaurant and as a newbie in the Asian country. She was challenged to learn their language to adapt to the environment quickly. She didn’t waste time to improve herself; she observed how they work, how they deal with customers, the workflow, and anything that needed to be learned.

In the Philippines, she opened her shop Conzepto Home Decor last year. Although it was still pandemic, she risked opening her business. “I am a rakitera, bubbly, goal-oriented person with a can-do attitude. I don’t like spending my off days without being productive,” Connie said.

In what she considered a significant career move, she joined a new organization two years later to work as an assistant manager for a French bakery and cafe. However, after nearly three years, she was laid off.

When asked about her friends how she manages her time despite her busy schedule, she would always reply: “You won’t get tired if you like what you’re doing. I have a consistent performer in my full-time, and also to my side hustles.”

Devastated but still optimistic, she returned to the Philippines as she couldn’t find a suitable job. When she arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), her work pass just got approved.

Connie grew up in a charitable and merciful family; hence, she actively participates in outreach and donation drives.

Connie, when she was given another chance to continue her overseas journey in Singapore, worked two more jobs before she became a corporate guest relations executive for a private foreign bank. “I love to interact with people, whether over the phone or meeting them in person. I am a person

“I would like to be an inspiration to everyone, never to give up and focus on the positive. The road to success is not easy to navigate; it takes a lot of hard work, determination, and commitment. Also, know your purpose, don’t give up easily,” she said when asked about her advice to her fellow Filipinos abroad.

While in the Philippines, Angelina worked as a secretary and sales agent for insurance at Insular Life. She excelled in her chosen field as she loves selling and helping people by providing them with the right insurance coverage.

Angelina Santos Filipina senior insurance development manager educates fellow about getting insured for their loved ones

ngelina Santos knew that she would excel in the field of sales as she had sold products and services from credit cards, portable cabins, and many more. From then, she was consistently generating revenues and smashing targets.

Her husband was given the opportunity to work in the UAE as a project manager in a manufacturing company, and they decided to move to the country as a family. She launched her career in the country as a simple secretary for a private company in early 2000 while juggling being a mom to three kids. Two years after, Angelina ventured into the sales career. She loves interacting with people and closing deals. She said that the compensation for doing well in sales could be very rewarding. Her passion for selling and helping people led her to work for one of the largest companies in the UAE–Al Futtaim Group, making her the first Filipina to join the Life Sales Department at Al Futtaim Orient Insurance. The determined Filipina initially applied as a sales agent; however, due to her innate talent in the field of sales, it did not take long to get herself promoted to sales manager. She also recalled struggling back in the days when she had to leave her home for work at 4am from Sharjah to be on time at the office in Jebel Ali site at 7am. At that time, she had to endure three hours of travel time going and coming back from work, but she never gave up for the sake of her children. On top of that, she was always outdoors and exposing herself to the excruciating heat in the sandpit–but she kept pushing until she made it. Today, Angelina has been working in the same company for eight years now and counting.

“My current job in Orient Insurance enables me to reach out to our kabayans to educate them about the importance of getting insured for their loved ones and for securing their future,” she said. When asked about the best thing about working overseas, Angelina said it’s being able to help people provide them with life insurance benefits and educate them about protecting themselves from financial risks. “I like working overseas because it is only in this country that I was able to find the right opportunity to make my family’s life better, being able to provide more than what my family needs. I was able to send my kids to the best schools, and I am proud to say that they are now successful in their chosen careers. I was also able to invest my hard-earned income, which I would not have earned if I stayed in the Philippines,” she added. Angelina plans to set up her own business, perhaps a consultancy firm for insurance. Otherwise, she will help her eldest child, who is now a lawyer, build her law firm. “I also plan to travel more and go to places I have always wanted to see, especially the US,” she added. “Strive harder to achieve your dreams. Always exceed expectations and never give up, always find your “why” when things get tough so you will be reminded of your goals and why you are even here in the first place. My “why” has always been providing for my family and to give them a brighter future. Always find that purpose to keep yourself moving. No one had it easy,” she concluded.

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Eljhon Sanchez The OFW multimedia artist’s journey in the creative industry

he journey for an artist can be challenging, much like for an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Both challenges have been suffered by the Dubai-based creative leader Eljhon Sanchez. Every time he’s tested by fate, he looks up to God and his sister, who has defied all the odds to guide him, to get through it. In the Philippines, Eljhon tried different types of work before landing a proper job. During his high school senior years, he started working as a draftsman in their drafting department, where he learned to create custom typography for stage setups to be used on school events. He also tried working as a ‘used oil collector’ when helping his classmate’s father, who also helped him land a job in a fast-food chain in Quezon City. “This was one of the experiences that taught me to be grateful with every opportunity that comes along the way. And in every place you’ll be in, and with every person you’ll meet, there will always be a thing or two that you’ll learn from them,” he said. In his first and second years in college, he limited

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himself from working part-time jobs to prioritize his studies. Each project he was assigned opened new opportunities for him, from doing silk screen printed shirts for college organizations and creating visuals for textbooks. He secured more projects when he was introduced to digital imaging software Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

ake calls and working with sales representatives in the United States of America. “I’m grateful for being hired on this company for so many reasons, but the top of the list was this company being the platform that enhances my communication skills. We were trained for a couple of months to pass the US standard of communication,” he added.

While balancing his school, in 2009, he secured a job as a graphic artist at a shoe manufacturing company in Marikina. There, he was assigned as one of the company’s junior artists to design lifestyle shoes for leading department stores and clothing brands. The company has also opened doors for him to attend overseas work.

Since the shifting schedule didn’t work well for him, he returned to being an artist as a graphic designer for a client servicing company that handled giant firms, this time.

After graduating college and getting his advertising degree, Eljhon became a regular employee for the said shoe manufacturing company. A year later, he secured a new job in one of the most extensive food and beverage companies, exploring new software. He made some 3D renders for visual merchandising and company events in the company. He was also lucky enough to win the grand prize when they participated at the largest retail store convention in the World Trade Centre in 2010. In the same year, he was also introduced to photography. However, he was only able to shoot a couple of events due to a conflict with his schedule and could not afford a DSLR at that time. Before he left the company, he was proud to have his first billboard hang in EDSA. In 2012, Eljhon bid farewell from his comfort zone and took a new career path. He worked in a new environment and discipline. He worked as a virtual artist wherein he was responsible tot

His career in the creative industry boomed until 2016 when he started his overseas career in Kuwait and further developed his talent in his craft. The multimedia artist and photographer worked for an automotive shop specializing in fabricating custom exhaust systems. His job exposed him to a new setting that tested his skills and personality. When he returned to the Philippines in 2018 for his vacation, he received another offer from his Kuwait employer to set up their satellite branch in Dubai. “I chose to be part of my current work, mainly because of the respect & trust I got from my employers. On top of that, I feel I’m not working at all. I’m getting paid to do the things I love,” he said. Once everything is settled, the talented Filipino artist aims to teach people who aspire to venture into the creative industry. “Not just theories, the standard, and discipline. But everything that I learned from the best teacher– experience,” he added.

Hazelwin Gabriel Covid-19 lockdown in the UAE creates opportunity for this stranded Filipina nurse

t was January 25, 2021, when Hazelwin Gabriel visited Abu Dhabi to be with her husband, sister, and brother-in-law. She was not planning to work in the UAE as she had already thought of returning to the Philippines for good; however, the National Sterilization Programme happened, which restricted public movement. Working overseas was not new to her. In 2006, Hazelwin embarked on her first overseas journey in Saudi Arabia. She worked as a staff nurse in an Armed Forces Hospital’s emergency department until she was promoted to head nurse. There, she did some hospitality supervisory duties and concurrently acted as the quality nurse and then quality facilitator. In the same hospital, she experienced a once in a lifetime moment when it declared Code Black due to the war from the neighboring country. Stranded in the UAE due to travel restrictions, her finances are dwindling. By chance, she saw an ad that sought Filipino nurses. Although she thought that the salary package was too good to be true, she sent her CV, thinking she’d got nothing to lose if she tried. The response was quick; she was asked to send her documents, so her Covid-19 response nurse in the country began. Journey of a Covid-19 response nurse Before getting deployed in G42 by Aspen and 24 other nurses, she had to undergo a series of training conducted by the health authority in Abu Dhabi. During their first day at work, their initial mission was the taxi companies in Musaffah. They managed close to a thousand drivers and company staff on their first day.

After a month, they underwent training for the Quantlase machine from the company that invented the rapid blood check for Covid-19. A month and a half after, the team was transferred to Al Ain hospital; this time, only a few from her original team was deployed as others were assigned to a different facility. When she was assigned to the ICU of the hospital, it was then she realized how serious their work was.

A family-oriented person, Hazelwin plans to be reunited with her family when her journey in the UAE ends and help her husband with their newly opened business. “I wish to spend time with my daughter as I know that few more years and she’s graduating college, and soon she will have plans to explore on her own, and before that happens, I hope I can have time with her first,” she said.

“It’s not just about swabbing anymore. I was back in a hospital setting, but the scenario was totally different. Code Blue was an everyday scene, and it broke my heart because it made me helpless despite me being a nurse,” Hazelwin said. Months have passed, and she was moved to ADNEC to participate in the trial vaccine. The team started with the nasal swab, and as weeks passed, they became busy, and their station became the country’s first vaccination center. “It was a thrill, seeing all kinds of people, including well-known personalities,” she said. After four months, it was time for her to move again–back to her first journey, the G42. At that time, it was much different as there were more missions to go to. Hazelwin was then assigned as the team leader for Aspen nurses and senior nurse for G42 at the same time. “Being in G42, I got to meet different people–from laborers to Sheikh and Sheikhas, CEO, chairmen of government and private entities, and I am having one of the times of my life as a nurse. I came to realize that being a nurse is not just being inside a hospital or clinic,” she further added. www.theglobalfilipinomagazine.com

Saudie Reyes ‘Never stop dreaming’: Former receptionist now business development manager in UAE By Ryan Namia

signed, she decided to go back to the Philippines to pursue her newly acquired career, knowledge, and experience. There, she was hired in an insurance firm as a sales and business development manager in a manufacturing and stock brokerage firm. During that time, Saudie developed a strong background in corporate sales and business development.

“My advice to all my kababayans is to never stop believing in yourself–you can do it! Your purpose why you are here, the sacrifices away from your family or loved ones. All issues in life have an expiration, there’s always a solution. Never stop dreaming,” she said.

Coming back In 2013, the Filipina decided to go back to UAE. She said that despite having a managerial position, she noticed she was not earning enough for her family. Using a tourist visa, she reentered UAE to work at an insurance firm as an insurance broker. Her career was doing well until Covid-19 happened. The business was severely affected, while most of them were told to work remotely in response to the spread of the virus.

audi Reyes vividly recalled when she went to UAE to work as a receptionist in Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton. Although she was only 21 when she arrived in the Gulf country, new culture and language barriers were only her issues. While she was starting her career, she was assigned to meet their VIP members, wherein she developed self-confidence and business communication. Soon after finishing the employment contract she

While working from home, she took the opportunity to take a professional diploma program at the Filipino Institute. Today, Saudie is now working as a business development manager for Oneroad Auto Service, wherein she sets goals and develops plans for the company. “I love the great degree of control within my job in terms of the progress of the company,” she said. To settle and live somewhere with her family was the ultimate plan. Saudie also wants to extend support to the people who were there when she needed them the most.

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Filipino-sibling entrepreneurs turning dreams into reality Many of us would like to start up a business with someone we can trust fully in terms of our assets. In the same way, people also tend to look for a partner who can bring spark in every plan and decision. The situation happened to Filipino-sibling entrepreneurs like Mardolf and Marcel Velez Oyson, raised in a business-minded clan in the Philippines. Currently, they are managing their growing company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mardolf and Marcel were both raised in Makati, Philippines, with their mother, who is also into business. Marcel stated that their family in the Philippines is heavily involved in the real estate business; both Marcel and his brother participated in it at some point in their lives.

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The start-up stories It all began with a positive relationship. Both of them are close to one another. Even though Marcel is six years older than Mardolf, they always make memories solidifying their deep bond as siblings and business partners. According to Mardolf, “I was spoiled, but at the same time, I am very blessed to have my family, especially my mother and my sister. I enjoyed my life of being spoiled, but at the same time, day by day, they gave me motivation on what I should do in life. My family gave me the drive that it is never too late.” The notion of starting a business in a humble beginning is not new for both of them, especially to Marcel, who used to work in their family business back in her college years. It seems that business for both of them is part of their blood and innate. Having their current company is concrete proof of nurtured skill. The decision to setting-up Skyreliance was an idea of Mardolf. According to Marcel, the company starts as a luxury concierge in the travel sector. Skyreliance is passionate about people and travel. This passion moves them to create their services uniquely in customized- tailored-made travel solutions. Skyreliance: reality

Making

dreams

become

Skyreliance is approximately one year in the market, and its vision has become very dynamic because of the people who trust its services. It started amid a volatile moment where a pandemic hits the world, and all businesses went through inflation. In that sense, Skyreliance’s philosophy started with creating the futuristic mindset that in there will come a time that everything will be back to normal and the world of travel will never sleep again.

The sibling’s business philosophy helps them understand their employees, networks, and clients. They always make sure that every transaction should be hands-on and will end with smooth results. “I should be hands-on with the company; I need to know the understanding of each person and traveler as well. Dapat kasi hands-on talaga, I need to learn from each traveler and at the same time to discover my ways for this company to work,” Mardolf said. “As a managing director, I see to it that the three arms of Skyreliance are properly managed: Luxury segment, sustainable travel segment, and scope business. I take as much role in business, aside from travel segment helping and setting up a business, company formation and branch relocation in UAE, we are global-business connectors. We connect organizations and business entities,” Marcel added. Integrating the Filipino spirit According to Mardolf, the company tries to understand that they should help travelers enjoy their trip on a particular budget. They always make sure that Skyreliance can lead their clients to more affordable and competitive processes in airline ticketing, transfers, and tours worldwide. “Every modern traveler now, they are entitled and empowered to dictate exactly what they want. You are more empowered now as a modern traveler because you have the power to dictate your itinerary. Skyreliance can give their clients tailored-made option within the budget,” Marcel uttered. Lastly, Mardolf and Marcel advise that a person should always see the positive light in every situation because anything is possible. Everyone can step forward and make the impossible possible.

“The business sets to be like a breathing dragon that is about to conquer,” Marcel persuasively said.

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Ronnie G. Dayo

Ronnie may be excelling in photography, but he, too, had a fair share of struggles during his stay there. It started in 1999 when their daughter was still a toddler, and they were paying off the house mortgage.

Former musician in South Korea discovers another talent in photography

or nearly two decades, Ronnie G. Dayo worked as a pianist in a hotel in South Korea and his wife, a singer. In South Korea, the Dayos build a family. Their daughter grew up in the country and studied until college. The 52-year-old Filipino said he enjoyed working in South Korea, especially when he discovered a new talent–that is, in photography. His curiosity about cameras started when his wife gifted him a digital camera as a birthday present. Apart from working as a musician full-time, taking beautiful pictures has also been his hobby. Since he was in South Korea, he enjoyed taking photos of the beautiful sceneries in the country, from traditional and historical sights to go-to places of visitors. “I didn’t need to go to other places in Korea to take beautiful pictures because the place where

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we worked has lots of awesome places to take beautiful places,” he said adding that during his stay in the country he joined local and international photography competitions where he won some awards.

“I still remember back then, my wife and I had almost no money left. The only money left was for our daughter’s milk, diapers, and essentials. But despite the struggles, sacrifices, and so many years of paying, my wife and me are so grateful to God because he did not abandon us. Finally, we paid our house fully in 2007, and at the same time, we were able to bring our daughter to school from elementary to college,” he said. When Covid-19 began to spread like wildfire across the world, the hotel where he and his wife were working had temporarily halted its operations. The situation pushed them to settle back in the Philippines.

The highlight of his career overseas was in 2014 when he won the grand prize for the United Nations Environment Program’s (UNEP) Focus on Your World photography contest in South Korea. Ronnie’s entry photo was entitled ‘Fire’ which was taken in the Philippines during their vacation. His piece was published in various newspapers in South Korea, the USA, Japan, and even by Philippine-based media outlets.

From working with musical instruments every day in South Korea, Ronnie now works with cameras and as a photojournalist at the Pond News Asia. This is where he graduated with a photojournalism course. The company was established at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, which aims to become a community for photojournalists. To date, he has already published more than 50 photos, and some of them were even carried by leading newspapers in the country.

His achievement paved the way for him to be recognized by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, South Korea. With this, he was consecutively awarded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as the Ani Ng Dangal awardee in the Visual Artist Category in 2015.

“Whatever struggles or trials in life, always remember that it is included in our lives. Strive harder to be better in all you do and at whatever you want to be in the future. Make your family and loved ones your inspiration in all battles in life,” he said.

Engr. Rodel Buena Docot Young ASEAN, APEC engineer conquers Saudi Arabia

eep going. This is the mantra of Engr. Rodel Buena Docot in life. The 34-yearold engineer was born to a farming couple in Bato, a town in Camarines Sur.

With seven siblings, he obtained a degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic State University of Bicol in 2009. He began his career as a project-in-charge for constructing a mall in the Philippines. From there, he worked with major construction companies in the Philippines. In 2015, Engr. Rodel ventured to Saudi Arabia to work as a project cost control engineer in project management and construction. Since then, he has been working as a project cost control engineer and concurrent as project structural inspector under the engineering department of the Technical Design Section in King Fahd Military Medical Complex in Dharhan, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the most modern medical institutions among the Armed Forces Medical Service Hospitals in the region.

He is also considered one of the youngest registered ASEAN and APEC engineers in his alma mater. He was elected thrice as one of the Board of Directors in the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers-Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. He was named Chairman of Publication and Information in 2020 and 2021, Honors and Awards in 2018. He holds membership in the Federation of Professional and Expatriates-Association of Chiefs of Police of the Philippines (FPEX-ACCPI), Philippine Institute of Quantity Surveyor (PICQS), and National Master Plumber Association of the Philippines, Saudi Arabia (NAMPAP-SA). “I have learned that champions aren’t just born; champions can be made when they embrace and commit to life-changing positive habits. According to Lewis Howes, it is the positive habits that make me and everyone a champion in their endeavor,” he said. Engr. Rodel’s advice to his fellow Filipinos abroad is to value their hard-earned money and spend it wisely while keeping some of it, then start a business as soon as possible ‘so that you will not spend the rest of your life working away from your family.’ functional teams in civil, structural, architectural design-specific areas. He is a highly creative individual with strong technical expertise and a proven track record of identifying and implementing process improvements to deliver committed projects within the timeframe. Thus, three years of challenging works as an overall project-in-charge for construction (from civil to finishing works) plus seven years of intense and exciting experience in structural design and construction.

“Don’t watch the clock: do what it does. Keep going. What makes me stay in the financial stability that I can get to finance my property like housing loans and other family expenses. Here abroad, I fulfill my dreams and live a comfortable life and travel with my family from time to time and enjoy,” he said.

“Earning for a living together with the career achievement is actually two difficult activities to be doing at the same time. While supporting my family’s financial needs, I aim to continue studying through undergraduate studies, but these do not work out unluckily. But for me, it is not the end with another opportunity comes I instantly grab it like registering in ASEAN and APEC registry,” Engr. Rodel, a registered civil, ASEAN, APEC, and master plumber, said.

He considers the construction of hospital buildings and their facilities as his significant achievement because “it is far more different compared to building construction such as med-rise & high rise building projects” which he is familiar with, not to mention the appurtenances, medical equipment’s, specifications and the applicable standards. The dynamic Filipino leader has more than 10 years of experience guiding and motivating crosswww.theglobalfilipinomagazine.com

Girlie A. Bitanga Former waitress works her way up until reaching the peak of success

irlie A. Bitanga is described by her friends as someone who is very determined and a strong believer that God makes everything beautiful in His time.

A hotelier by profession, Girlie said she loved the Philippines; however, she handed her fortune card so she could help her family and other Filipino hoteliers. She flew to Jordan and started working as a waitress. Pressed with responsibilities in life, she managed to work harder and gain her employer and colleagues’ trust. Girlie said she enjoyed dealing with people from different races and cultures, and for her, it’s very

fulfilling to delight each guest after a long and busy day. “It’s the most challengingly yet rewarding job ever,” Girlie, who has been working in Jordan for 12 years now, said. Due to her dedication coupled with perseverance and determination, she is now working as the director of restaurants and lounges at the Amman Marriott Hotel in Jordan. She is responsible for directing the daily operations of the restaurants, ensuring compliance with company standards in all areas of operation,

including product preparation and delivery, customer relations, restaurant maintenance and repair, inventory management, among others. Now that she’s gradually fulfilling her dreams for herself and her family in the Philippines, she plans to establish and invest in something beneficial not just to her but to other people. “Just keep going! Life is indeed beautiful when you know how to live,” she said when asked about her advice to her fellow Filipinos abroad.

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Alzacar T. Jadjuli Keeping up with the changes: Filipino doctor achieve independence working overseas

he road of life takes an unexpected turn, and one has no choice but to follow it-and end up in the place they’re supposed to be. This was the case with Dr. Alzacar T. Jadjuli several years ago when he did not intend to work overseas. For him, his overseas Filipino worker journey just ‘kind of fell on my lap.’

assigned to different sites, clinics, and types of patients.

He recalled when one of his close friends worked as a nurse in a hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, who informed him about a job post and eventually became the bridge of his application as an ophthalmology registrar for a huge university hospital.

Last year, Dr. Alzacar moved to UAE to work as a general physician for Al Hana Modern Medical Centre, a polyclinic based in the Al Jaffiliya area in Dubai.

“Like many OFWs we opted to work abroad in search for a greener pasture. But it always comes with a heavy price…being very far away from your loved ones,” he said. Prior to accepting the job, Dr. Alzacar was undergoing his residency training in ophthalmology at Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Centre. He flew to Jeddah to work as an ophthalmology registrar. However, it was only for a year then he returned home to work as a general physician and ophthalmologist in the Philippines. While serving patients, he joined a mountaineering group that concluded a series of medical and surgical missions to the less fortunate residents who needed their help. In 2014, an overseas opportunity knocked again. A recruitment agency contacted him and offered him a general physician position in Oman. There, Dr. Alzacar was assigned to desert oil rig camps and shipyard of dry dock. He considers his stint in Oman as the highlight of his career as he was

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“It always varied, so I needed to keep up with the changes,” he said. Moving to UAE

“Being a doctor, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a GP or a specialist/consultant, if you’ve vowed to do this profession because you have the passion to care for the sick, especially the needy and poor patients, it doesn’t feel like a job, but a vocation. Money only comes in second. Don’t get me wrong, money is important… but one should give highest regard to happiness and contentment. If you’re not happy and content with what you are doing, it feels like just a job!” he said. The Filipino doctor said that he achieved independence for over five years of working overseas while it made him more mature in his decisions, financially, career-wise, and personal life. Before landing in Dubai and from his previous jobs abroad, like any other medical professionals, he needed to pass the licensure exam from each country he worked in. While it can be as easy as eating peanuts for some, for him, he needed months to prepare, gather review materials and books, and look for a study hall to review away from home. He revealed that he could not review from home because he would end up sleeping.

Ideally, every OFW wants to go back and retire at home with their families. However, Dr. Alzacar doesn’t see this happening for him in the future. “Realistically, life is hard back home. Most doctors even need to strive harder to live comfortably. At present, my wife & I are still waiting for our application abroad which has been halted due to pandemic,” he said. A doctor’s advice “We have all the power to choose what to do with our lives. But we should bear in mind, before we do something, especially here abroad, ask yourself these questions: Will this make me happy and be proud of this action? Will I make my family proud? And most of all, am I pleasing my Creator? Because at the end of the day, we will all return to Him, and we shall answer for our actions,” he concluded.

Flory Maganda Macaso

hile enjoying her work as a regional bid and management specialist in an American multinational engineering firm in the UAE, Flory Maganda Macaso also leads a very active life. After her work, she trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) at night, which she feels very rewarding. Her passion for Brazilian martial art and combat sport led her to win multiple awards. Born in Manila and spent most of her childhood between Caloocan City and Quezon City, Flory was brought by her parents to the UAE along with her son and now ex-husband in 2022. Dubai, since then, became their home. When she moved to the emirate, she planned to work, save up for her son’s educational plan, and expand the buyand-sell business entrusted to her by her very supportive ex-parents-in-law. In the city, they get to live and bond together as a family, an activity they could not do back home since her parents were often outside the country as migrant workers. Her father used to work for Etisalat, while her mom worked for an IT company. Flory started to work as a receptionist in the company where her mom used to work. As a person who always seeks growth career-wise, when she gained experience, she moved to another job until an international company temporarily hired her to administer their satellite office in Dubai. She thought that opportunity opened better career doors for her, given the name and size of the company and the experience she gained from them. Her experience and expertise revolve around managing cradle to grave proposals and bids for projects involving crisis response, close protection, personal security details, private security, mobile security services, demining, risk assessment and analysis, construction, design, engineering, and project management, among others. The Filipina revealed that she felt stagnant for most of her adult life, but she was always fascinated by martial arts or fight-themed movies.

Moving out of stagnancy in life, OFW in UAE finds love in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu She recalled watching several Filipino action films that involve fighting and martial arts stunt. Flory also remembered the time when her uncle and grandmother used to teach her some karate moves when she was little. “Life happened,” she said, but her interest in martial arts did not vanish; however, it became the very least of all her priorities. As years went by, she became busy juggling life happenings and events– work, family, death of a parent, breakup, raising her won son, etc. She became unhealthy, gained an unhealthy weight, and even set aside her physical and mental life while balancing work and life. “I was always anxious and depressed. I get easily angry and upset. I took meds for several conditions, including hypertension, borderline diabetes, fatty liver, and hyperthyroidism. I have unexplainable pains in my body. I was always seeing a doctor monthly for various reasons,” she said. Opening a new chapter in life It was 2018 when she stepped into a gym after more than a decade. She started doing Muay Thai as she finds it a good stress reliever, and it was fun. While scrolling on her Instagram feed, she saw pictures and photos of her friend training for BJJ. “I got curious. I had not heard of BJJ before, so I did some research and messaged her about it if she thought she could do it,” she said. Concerned about her age, she was also thinking about her limited mobility and flexibility after meeting an accident in the past that made her mobility in her right and leg and foot a bit unusual. She was 38 years old at that time, and just like Muay Thai, she saw that men and far younger than her dominated BJJ. “Needless to say, they are very athletic. It made me feel intimidated,” she said. Flory tried it anyway, although it was challenging physically and mentally. She didn’t like it right

away; it was difficult, but he wanted the challenge. So, she paid for her one-month membership to commit to it. Since then, she has not stopped training. “The rest was history,” she said. At 41, she is currently in blue belt one stripe rank and has participated in competitions five times since June 2021 and won three medals since then–gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. “Training and competing in BJJ is very empowering and fun for me. It makes me proud to see my name next to the Philippines’ flag. And whenever I win, they mention my name and my country that is a beautiful feeling,” she added. In September 2021, Flory participated in a Mother of the Nationa tournament in the capital, wherein she was the only Filipina participant, while the rest were from the UAE and Brazil. A month after, she competed at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2021, where the most formidable BJJ competitors worldwide gathered to come to fight. She had the honor and pleasure to meet and fight high-level and elite fighters from Mongolia and Spain. “I never thought that this not-so-young and once unhealthy woman would excel this far in this sport,” she said. One of her goals in life is to compete in BJJ in European countries and the US. “BJJ challenges me in every way possible. I am fighting with people mostly half my age. Apart from being skilled, they are swift and at their peak of athleticism. I always see myself as the underdog, but I am up to the challenge,” she said. “One thing I would like to convey to my fellow OFWs and aspiring OFWs is to keep their selves competitive in the market. Never stop learning and improving. A degree is not always a guarantee of a decent job or promotion. Most job applicants are highly educated and, if not, they are highly experienced. Always upgrade,” Flory further added.

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Armando Barangay Simpliciano Filipino chief accountant and renowned photographer conquers Saudi Arabia

t first, Armando Barangay Simpliciano was unsure why he opted to work overseas as it was all accidental. He didn’t have plans to work abroad as he didn’t like the idea of being alone and not with his family, whom he looked up to. Armando, who was still working as an accountant manager for a BPO company, recounted when a friend of his asked to accompany him to a recruitment agency. The receptionist in the office told him that accounting jobs are in demand in Saudi Arabia. And so, he submitted all the requirements and passed the first interview. The next thing he knew, he was already bound for the Middle Eastern country in 2012. There, he started working as an accountant and was later promoted to a chief accountant for a manufacturing company that produces car radiators and other engineering jobs. Although he was not a certified public accountant, the accounting graduate said that accounting was his first love. “Working for 15 years in the

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accounting field is very self-fulling. It also fulfilled my parents’ dream for me. Working in the field I chose is giving my parents happiness since they are sacrificing too much when I am studying,” he said. Armando also recalled when his family struggled to make ends meet, especially when he and his brother were both studying in college. He saw how his parents worked hard to provide for their educational needs. His parents believed that education was the only thing they could give to their children. To help them, he also worked while studying. “My parents are the ones who motivated me to fight harder in life. They are the ones who I look up to. Without them, I am nothing,” he added. Falling in love with photography After working for four years in Saudi Arabia, to find ways to ease his lonesomeness, he decided to venture into photography. “Being into photography as my hobby got me to

realize that everything happens right on schedule. I am doing photography while I’m still enjoying my life in the corporate world,” Armando said. As he manages to balance his passion and fulltime work, most of his pieces have already been published in some international magazines–both digital and print. “Being a photographer, seeing my work in some international magazines made me realize that everything happens for a reason. Seeing my work published in some magazines is more than I expected. And, seeing my works on cover magazines is just only a bonus,” he added. To date, 22 of his photos have been on magazine covers. Because of his work, he was also featured as a photographer in the Canada-based Edith, France-based Malvie, and on Cool Arabia magazines with Filipino fashion icon Michael Cinco. “My advice to our Kabayans is that know what your purpose is, why you are working abroad, and stick to that purpose. We are working away from our homes because we want to have a good future ahead of us. Grab all the opportunities that knock on your doors. And lastly, enjoy what you are doing,” he said.

Jonathan Corporal Sibol Meet this OFW in UAE who rescues and feeds over 400 stray cats

n animal rescuer in Abu Dhabi for eight years now, Jonathan Corporal Sibol has become the voice of the voiceless animals. The Filipino animal advocate rescued some 400 felines in the city of Abu Dhabi and distributed them in animal shelters where they would be properly taken care of. Jonathan’s daily routine includes feeding and checking stray cats, and if the animal needs medical attention, he would bring them to the nearest vet clinic. The animal lover currently works as a freelance animal trainer. But before finding his role as a ‘cat rescue hero’, he has already been attending to the needs of patients at a mental hospital and sanctuary centre in the Philippines as an assistant psychologist. “I help them understand their situation and dedicate my time to them,” he said. Like many overseas Filipino workers, his reason for leaving the Philippines was to build his career

and achieve independence. When he arrived in the country in 2011, he worked in a health club and retail.

pets and good people. And there’s no pressure in this kind of job. Just only love, care, and understanding,” Jonathan added.

Losing job and finding passion

His initiative in saving stray cats in the city is backed by many animal groups in the country that help him with vet bills and cat food.

In 2017, Jonathan was jobless for more than a year–he said securing one was difficult at that time as he also struggled financially. With debt in banks and several pending bills, he tried to apply for jobs but luck was not on his side until someone encouraged him to become an animal sitter, a task that he enjoys. “So this kind of job keeps me busy, I received a lot of inquires about my service and most of my clients are very happy and satisfied with my work,” he said, adding that he enrolled himself in online animal training classes to further improve himself. “I’m very happy now with my current job which is my passion. I like taking care of and training animals and understanding their needs. I’m happy when you work in an environment surrounded by

As an animal advocate, he plans to establish his animal shelter in the Philippines. His dream is to rescue stray animals in the country and educate people on how to save, respect, and protect them. Working in the emirate for over a decade now, he learned to be respectful to colleagues and follow the rules set by the authorities. His advice to his fellow overseas Filipino worker is to save up for their future. He also advised them not to dump their pets and be the voice of voiceless animals. “Adopt and don’t shop,” he concluded.

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Rosanna M. Najal Filipina small business owner in UAE donates percentage of sales to feed hungry families

person with a genuine heart to give back to the community, Rosanna M. Najal, an OFW-turned-business-owner in the UAE, has been donating a percentage of her profit to feed homeless families in her hometown Zamboanga, Philippines. The generous and thoughtful Filipina who has been living and working in the UAE for 13 years now loves doing small charity drives. She said that her customers might not know her scheme, but a small portion of it will be donated to her program for hungry families for every purchase made at her store. “If you buy from my store, you have contributed to the feeding program I religiously do every month. Small of big sales, this has already become a tradition,” she said. Her initiative started in March 2020 when they fed some 300 homeless residents. The thought of paying it forward lingered in her head. “That’s why I thought that for every sale I get from my customers, I will feed the homeless every

month, and since then, I didn’t stop,” she said. Whenever she spends her vacation in the Philippines, she visits an orphanage to share her blessings. Humble beginnings Before being her boss, Rosanna used to work as a secretary in a software company in the Philippines. Since the salary was not enough and despite having a small business to make ends meet, she decided to work overseas. It was 2009 when she arrived in the UAE and worked as a simple shopping mall sales staff and a cashier at the same time. During her early years in the country, she experienced many struggles while fighting homesickness. “But then, day by day, I met my fellow Filipinos that lessened the sadness I felt. At first, my goal was to live a simple life here and save, go back to my hometown to start a small business,” Rosanna, a graduate of commerce, said.

Everything went better than expected when she met and married her husband 12 years ago. Her husband supported her business ventures. She said that her life is now in the UAE, so she needed to love and adapt to its culture. “I love UAE, and I find peace in here,” she added. When asked about her plans, Rosanna said she would continue doing her charity drive in the Philippines as long as she is still breathing as it continuously inspires. “I, too, experience poverty. We could not afford to eat delicious food, and every penny for us counts. So, I promised Allah that when I was given a chance, I would give back to the community,” she said. Her advice to her fellow Filipinos abroad is to believe in themselves while having faith in Allah. “Kung maayos at tuwid ang pag-iisip mo, talagang tutulungan ka ng Allah. Samahan mo na din ng sikap at tiyaga at maging maka-tao at maka-Diyos para ang inyong negosyo ay malinis at walang alinlangan,” she said.

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Kriscell Masancay Staying strong amid a lot of rejections

f there’s one person that inspires Kriscell Masancay, that would be her mother. She is an example of resilience and determination, something which she wishes to embody throughout her life. Kriscell may have fought battles while working overseas, but she trusted the process and believed all the challenges she faced were only part of her journey towards success. Her journey started in 2012 when she was directly hired from the Philippines to work in a medical clinic where she thought she could use her knowledge and skills as a nursing graduate. To her surprise, instead of filling in a nursing position, she was given a secretarial job. “At first, I saw this as a setback, but, with all the fears and anxiety, I have decided to focus on the future and look towards a better and more fulfilling job,” she said. Kriscell, a volunteer nurse in a public hospital in her province in Pampanga, held on the job for three years, gaining as much experience as possible.

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After her contract finished, she moved back to the medical industry–not as a nurse but as a medical representative and business developer. In the same field, she has since then changed three companies. In the same field, she experienced a lot of rejections, but she stayed strong. She admitted that it didn’t go well at first, but hard work, loyalty, and perseverance were her keys. One of the biggest challenges she had to overcome was self-doubt and self-limiting beliefs as, according to her, being alone in a foreign country is quite challenging. “And I’ve had to learn to trust in myself and trust in my potential. I was lucky that my family back home never lost faith in me, and they were by my side, from afar,” she said. Eventually, Kriscell learned the skills she needed to know while slowly getting enough connections to reach out to, and ultimately, she got hired in one of the biggest and most well-known healthcare groups in the UAE. Her success, she thought, started there until she got to where she is now–at the Al Hana Modern

Medical Hospital, working as the business development and marketing manager. “I am confident that I have enough knowledge and skills to pursue and fulfill my position in Al Hana Modern Medical Center now, with the help of my team, of course. I refuse to settle for anything less than I can be, anything less than I deserve,” she added. Working in the marketing industry, Kriscell said, can be both rewarding financially and emotionally. Many people say that she is lucky, but she denounces this notion. “Whatever I have achieved till now is the result of many failures, heartaches, losses, and challenges; but with grit, perseverance, and hard work, I have managed to push through all the difficult times, and I have overcome the challenges. As OFWs, I think that we should all learn to show more respect and support towards each other, instead of being judgemental,” she concluded.

Anna Carmelia M. Bautista Filipina in Dubai discovers her path to success

ike most of her fellow Filipinos abroad, Anna Carmelia M. Bautista believed that to make more money and save more funds, one has to leave the Philippines. As a result, it motivates her to try her luck in UAE. At that time, she was so keen to move forward that she didn’t realize that she would have to restart her career while adjusting to life in a foreign country. It’s a tough challenge and not a straightforward process; however, she was fortunate enough to have found work within a month after arriving in the host country, although this is not always the case for the majority. “But I truly believe that one of our strengths as Filipinos is our perseverance in the face of adversity, which aids in the process greatly,” she said. Anna, a member of the operations team at a real estate firm in the Philippines for two years, understands that she did not come to Dubai for a vacation. She initially worked at an insurance firm in the emirate. “I did not plan to extend my visa at that time because I did not want to deceive myself into believing that I have infinite time to polish my career and have the option to enjoy the city first. It’s critical and exhilarating at the same time,” she added.

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While working overseas allows her to work with people of all nationalities and build her cultural intelligence by adapting and adjusting to the country’s values, she also experienced extreme anxiety when she switched careers and fields to the point where she almost gave up and went back home. The Filipina currently works as an office manager in an e-commerce company. Part of her responsibility is to manage the day-to-day operations of their company and strategize several partnership accounts. Working in the e-commerce sector has been a challenge because she began with little understanding of how it operates. But ultimately, she found her stride and was able to handle the entire operations while managing various accounts simultaneously. “I’m fortunate to be working with young professionals, and our business isn’t operated in a traditional corporate way. As a result, we can be more flexible in our operations and processes. It also fascinates me that I’ve had the chance to meet with like-minded professionals and learn about and understand their path to success,” Anna said. She added that working in the e-commerce market forces her to see a lot of opportunities that many

sometimes overlook because they are terrified of the risk that comes with establishing a business. When asked about her plans after working abroad, she said she plans to create her brand and start a business as working in a fast-paced industry taught her many valuable lessons. “Given that technology is largely a maledominated field, I know that if I wanted a seat at the table, I’d have to double my efforts. But now that we’re in the 21st century, I know that many women, regardless of industry or ethnicity, strive and succeed in their careers. This acts as an inspiration for actual feminine power,” she said.

Jacquilyn Octaviano ‘Life is easy if you love your job with passion and dedication’

n the sales industry, one must perform at optimal and reach peak success. One of the top secrets of successful salespeople is maintaining relationships with existing, new, and potential clients. These are the secrets of Jacquilyn Octaviano, an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai that flourishes in the sales industry in the city. Presently, the 35-year-old Filipina works as an insurance advisor in one of the leading insurance companies in the UAE. For the past three years, she has provided financial advice to clients on retirement planning, investing, and protecting against risks while generating leads, meeting with clients, completing a financial needs analysis,

and presenting them with customized financial proposals. She also loves educating people, especially the Filipino community in the country, about protecting themselves from financial risks. “I like working here in Dubai because I get to meet a lot of people, especially businessmen. And you have unlimited income if you really work hard. Life is easy if you love your job with passion and dedication,” she said. Before taking the plunge into an expat life in 2017, Jacquilyn started her career in sales when she joined the sales and marketing department of a property developer in the Philippines. There, her sales and marketing prowess flourished. Although being in the sales industry is fulfilling, Jacquilyn still struggled, especially during the scorching summer when she needs to travel and meet her clients.

Her religious belief rekindled when she became a Born Again Christian, allowing her to grow spiritually to handle all possibilities and opportunities to meet her fellow Christians that help her gain her strength and love for other people. One of the few people she looks up to is her boss, Miss Angelina Santos, who guided her to become a better person. Despite being an expert in the field of sales and marketing already, she still plans to explore her career. She also plans to study interior design and management. “Do not worry, whatever we may desire will happen, and always trust God’s perfect time,” Jacquilyn said.

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Rose Lily Buquing Valdez ‘Hard work is always rewarded– so keep fighting’

TGFM | JANUARY 2022 | ISSUE 21

as Filipino Institute’s web developer. She said that Filipino Institute had turned her dreams into reality as she had been waiting to be a fulfilled web developer.

She added that she needed to test and assess things for her to grow, which, she thinks, consists of living away from her loved ones and getting out of her comfort zone.

On the side, she also volunteers as one of the trainers for Microsoft Office classes.

he most typical reason for a Filipino who chooses the path of working abroad is to increase their earnings. However, Rose Lily Buiquing Valdez has more reasons. She likes to challenge herself and see how far she can take the homesickness as many overseas Filipino workers battle each day.

Before starting her journey in Dubai in 2015, Rose started working as a librarian in the Philippines mainly because it was the degree she finished in college. It was a drastic move to switch to another career when she left the Philippines, but she believes that she is always armed with integrity and perseverance, whatever job is thrown at her. When she arrived in Dubai some six years ago, she initially worked as an executive secretary. Due to her dedication to work, she was later promoted to an e-commerce sales specialist, which paved the way to develop her skills in web designing. Her skills in web designing had also opened a new career path for her when she was accepted

Through her new role, Rose transformed into a more competitive and resilient worker because of the daily challenges she faces.

“I enjoy teaching my fellow Filipinos because I can see myself whenever I see them pushing themselves to their limitations and reaching their goals by persevering to the course they enrolled in,” she said. “Working with this kind of environment makes me more involved and engaged to what I am doing and serving the purpose of supporting myself and my family. Working overseas will never be easy, but it will interest you to stay and work for long years with the new surroundings,” she added. Rose believes hard work is always rewarded. She advised her fellow OFWs to keep fighting amidst all adversities.