The Global Filipino Magazine | Vol 3 Issue 9

Ricardo Amante Jr.

Romeo Atole

Catherine Binafif

TABLE OF CONTENTs

EDITORIAL BOARD

GABRIEL JOHN RIMANDO

Meet the Filipino Head of Logistics for Gulf Coca-Cola Beverages covering UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman - Ricardo Amante Jr.

How this OFW built his international career as a renowned chef in UAE - Chef Roberto Fortuno

Filipina teacher bridging the gap in student learning now school principal in Dubai - Jaimiely Monedo Dionglay

Filipina microblading master mentors women to be their own boss and become the best version of themselves - Charmaine Betty Llerena

JONATHAN DUMAS

RAYMART PATULOT

QASSIM QUERESHI

GILBERT GOMEZ

OFW palace nurse: When you dream, never stop achieving it - Joel Malabo, RN

Leading and inspiring the development of talented employees in UAE - Cherry S. Cruz

‘Success takes sweat, determination, and hard work’ - Catherine Binafif

Former restaurant buzzer tells story about surviving and thriving in Dubai - John Paolo Tatlonghari

Jr.

Working overseas has been a goal for Ricardo Amante Jr. and his wife as they build their own family. For nearly one year, he has been living in the UAE and working as the Head of Logistics for Gulf CocaCola Beverages (GCCB), covering UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. He is responsible for the design and governance of all logistics operations and excellence organizations of GCCB.

The challenge of working with a very diverse culture and the opportunity to represent Filipino talent globally, especially in an exciting field like logistics and supply chain, drove him to say yes to this assignment.

Before embarking on an overseas journey, Ricky, fondly called by his colleagues, previously handled Warehouse and Transport strategies and excellence of Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, where he was in charge of building capability, providing supply chain solution expertise, and equipping the warehouses, distribution centers, and plants of Coca-Cola across the Philippines via robust processes, breakthrough resource planning, and industry-standard infrastructure to deliver compliant, innovative, effective, and efficient end-to-end best in class results in service, value creation, and cost.

Ricky, a licensed chemical engineer, also spent significant time in Procter and Gamble (P&G) spanning different roles in Supply Chain across his career there. His last stint was as the Senior Logistics Manager managing mega distributors. He also take pride lead global and regional projects and initiatives, including implementation, acquisition, divestitures, and procure-to-pay projects, to name a few. He is also considered a business and process expert in Procurement to Payment operations, solutions, and innovation systems.

The Filipino professional has a cumulative 18 years of solid experience and expertise in Product Supply Chain key planks, including Procurement, Manufacturing,

Meet the Filipino Head of Logistics for Gulf Coca-Cola Beverages covering UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman

Quality Assurance, Supply Network Operations, Warehousing, and Logistics and Project Management.

While working in Dubai is his first abroad assignment, he has already been working with global colleagues since his P&G days and had stints on some global roles and projects from his previous assignments. He has been constantly travelling as well to different countries on business trips making him exposed to different cultures and landscapes ever since.

His recent milestone was leading the Logistics team of Coca-Cola as one of the sponsors for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Ricky had to be physically stationed there to support the deliveries of their products without fail under intense pressure and lean resources. They ended up making history, having delivered the highest number of drinks served in any sporting event in the world.

“As a newbie expat, working with different cultures has its own challenges. You need to be assertive while balancing the right way to build relationships and influence. The pressure to deliver work demands while being away with relatives is also tough. My ultimate source of strength is my wife and my kids; we are making all moments and experiences count,” he said.

The Filipino chemical engineer is passionate about capability, both within and outside work. He pursued several studies and capability learning activities to equip himself further. He recently secured a Diploma in Supply Management from the Philippine Institute of Supply Management and San Beda, where he graduated as top of class 2021.

He is also professionally affiliated with the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers UAE and PH, the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Institute of Supply Management.

“Supply Chain and Logistics is a road less taken for Chemical Engineers like me, but I find it a very fulfilling venue to demonstrate versatility and agility because there is no similar day

in Logistics – always on the go! I have worked in different landscapes from the Philippines to here, faced different challenges and complexities, learned a lot, and extended my knowledge to others. On top of that, Logistics as a function continuously evolve, making it one of the most sought-after and lucrative professions. It requires different skill sets, and it pushes one to grow and be fluent and response with market landscape changes,” he said.

Outside work, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife Happy and kids, Joaquin, Franco and Helena –either on a roadtrip or simply strolling in the mall or tourist spots. The clingy family is excited to explore what Middle East can offer so weekends are really precious for them. Ricky also enjoys singing and writing (poems,

literary) in his free time.

Seeing his fellow Filipinos excel in their respective fields also makes him proud and drives him to elevate Filipino equity outside the Philippines further.

“Resilience is a key trait of Filipinos and a good way to demonstrate that while working abroad. Understand your purpose and goals, both short and long-term, take advantage of the experience and learning, and never give up. Find a good community to help you brave the tides and to remind you that life is bigger beyond the walls of our current jobs. Trust everything to the Lord but work hard and work smart. Be ok to fail sometimes, stand up, learn and recover,” his advice to fellow Filipinos abroad.

Chef Roberto Fortuno

The vibrant story of Chef Roberto Fortuno’s humble beginnings started when his grandmother taught him how to cook Asian and Spanish cuisines. His passion for cooking made a remarkable culinary journey.

His innate love for cooking turned out to be an avenue to help him support his education during his college years. While pursuing his formal education, he became a working student and started as a kitchen staff, then was promoted to supervisor at well-known food chains in the Philippines. He then eventually handled restaurants as a sushi sous chef and sous chef. When Chef Roberto graduated from college, it was the same year that he realized to build his international career as a professional cook.

Job hunting back then took a lot of work, he recalled. There were selections of vacancies from international agencies, but he wanted to propel his career path in UAE. 2006 was his biggest break when he finally moved to Dubai and joined a global company. However, he faced unexpected things, such as being offered a job that didn’t match his experiences back home. His determination to pursue his dreams would not stop from this uncertainty, he thought to himself.

Patience is the most valuable virtue one can build throughout life. Since he loved meeting and greeting people, he met a British lady that offered him to be a sous pastry chef, which paved the way for him to work at Mama Thani Coffee Shop as an executive chef.

With enough knowledge, Chef Roberto climbed the ladder of the corporate world. He became a chef consultant for a company that deals with sunflower oil. There, he learned the finer details of business operations.

Chef Roberto knew that working in the kitchen would always be in his heart. To fill the void, he joined Ritz Carlton Hotel, where he worked fulltime and part-time jobs. He realized that more demanding assignments and designations would lead to more

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

How this OFW built his international career as a renowned chef in UAE

learning.

It led him to his current job as a chef consultant for KITOPI, a managed cloud kitchen platform that partners with restaurants to grow their business and expand their delivery reach. His current profession has also paved the way for him to become the only Filipino and a culinary judge certified by Worldchefs, a global network of chefs’ associations. He is also a member of the Young Chefs Committee at the Emirates Culinary Guild, an association of professional chefs and organizations dedicated solely to advancing culinary art in the UAE.

In his current employment, Chef Roberto leads a powerful team whose mission is to satisfy the world and its appetite through their over 200 F&B brands and restaurants across five countries. He and his team help run restaurants with their operations efficiently with an in-house operating system that enables their partners to

grow their business and expand their delivery reach.

“Working overseas is a dream. Financial security is the number one reason,” he said, noting that being exposed to different cultures, especially in the culinary field, gave him the opportunity to broaden and unleash his potential as a chef.

Chef Roberto never stopped learning. Despite having a full-time job, he still enrolled in a culinary school and secured another degree from a known university in the Philippines.

When asked about his plans for the future, he said he wanted to put up his own company and apply what he learned.

“I want to give also my best support to the young chefs here in the UAE as part of the core group. Remembering how I started, I want to share with others, especially those young and hardworking Filipino chefs, and inspire them to make it to the international arena,” he added.

The seasoned chef advised his fellow Filipinos abroad to always look at the bright side of any challenges.

“Challenges overseas are not permanent, hence pursue your biggest dreams, and do not let discouragement stop you. Hustle and earn big abroad but make sure to prioritize better things,” he said.

“Multiply your skills and make sure to give back,” he added.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Jaimiely Monedo Dionglay

Filipina teacher bridging the gap in student learning now school principal in Dubai

Financial stability was the main reason why Jaimiely Monedo Dionglay decided to leave the Philippines.

As someone who lived in the province, not owning a place, meant spending a huge percentage of her salary on rent, food, laundry, and transportation. For her, saving enough money for emergency situations and for her future was not a priority because tending to her needs and her parents was her prime concern.

When Jaimiely joined a radio station, she became a media practitioner. This also paved the way for her to work for ABS-CBN as a production assistant for a non-primetime drama show.

Due to a health-related concern, she had to let go of the career that she wanted to have.

“I was frustrated but life must go on,” she said.

Fortunately, a radio station in the University of the Philippines Diliman, DZUP 1602, was in need of a news reporter. When she returned to the profession she thought would complete her, she felt like her heart and desire were no longer in the media industry.

That was when her fate led her to meet a high-ranking government official who advised her that if teaching preschool-aged children was her goal, she should apply for the Master of Family Life at UP Diliman.

Following her senior’s advice, she passed the admissions assessment of the program and went on to study different theories of child development as a full-time student from 2012 to 2014. While she was studying, she was granted the UP presidential scholarship which helped her with her finances.

With the frustration of not being able to provide for her parents while they were already senior citizens at that time, Jaimiely worked full-time as a preschool teacher while finishing her last year in Grad School.

After finishing her master’s degree and culminating a year of experience as an early childhood teacher, her sister processed all the required travel documents to be able to come to Dubai.

Settling in a different country, away from her loved ones, including her then-boyfriend, now-husband, was one of the biggest struggles that she had to cope with.

When she arrived in the emirate, she immediately worked as a foundation teacher for an institution that follows the UK national curriculum and was promoted to the head of the early years section. In her eight years of experience as an early childhood educator, there were many occasions when she felt like she was not up to par with the expertise of her

colleagues. It was a silent battle she endured internally. The school trusted her capacity as an educator and supported her professional growth by sending her to various courses that shaped a big part of her consciousness and knowledge in the field of early childhood education.

When the pandemic happened, Jaimiely decided to step down to become a teacher again to focus on her family.

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic had crushed many dreams, but the case was different for Jaimiely. The biggest plot twist of her 2022 was when she was approved by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to be the founding center manager and principal of Le Eskolar Early Childhood Centre.

“If you’d asked me 10 years ago, if I see myself leading a school as a principal, I would probably have laughed at you because when I was in elementary, whenever I hear the word principal, I instantly get scared because of the level of authority that is associated with her,” she quipped.

As the principal, her role is the provision of professional leadership and management of the whole center and its academic and administrative staff on behalf of the school’s owners.

“I enjoy every bit of my stay at Le Eskolar because of the ethos that is established by the owners early on. With my current job, I am capable of implementing changes and conceptualizing initiatives that will benefit the students and their families, with the goal of moving our center forward in the field of early childhood education,” she said.

“As the principal, just like a mother, I always keep myself available to all staff, students, and their families, and to the governing bodies of the UAE should they require anything from Le Eskolar.”

The Filipina principal takes pride in finally having the first Filipino Early Childhood Center in Dubai that is patterned after the Philippines’ Department of Education’s K-12 curriculum. The center has been granted to provide education and services to children aged 4 to 6 years old.

“Amidst the busy city, our humble center keeps our students engaged and on-task by providing them with fun and stimulating activities in a safe and happy space. We value and celebrate our students’ uniqueness and place our learners at the center of our curriculum,” she said.

Jaimiely envisions having her own preschool or play school in the Philippines.

“To our Kabayans who are facing difficulties in life right now, please try to look at the positive side of the struggles that you are thrown with. I know that on most difficult occasions, we are tempted to just give up because our fear overpowers our faith. I’ve also been in difficult situations, yes, I cried, I got scared, and I doubted myself, but I didn’t let these circumstances define me, instead, I pick up bits and pieces of a painful/difficult experience and regard them as daily reminders that life can be harsh, but with faith, determination, and support from people who matter, I can bounce back stronger with a greater conviction to succeed,” she concluded.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Charmaine Betty Llerena

If there is one thing that Charmaine Betty Llerena is so much proud of about her profession, that would be enhancing one’s beauty and letting one shine through.

An award-winning microblading artist, Master Betty Brows, fondly called by her wide client base in the Philippines and in the UAE, shared how her microblading journey came about and sought to beautify high-profile clients in Hong Kong, Singapore, and in Dubai.

But before embarking on an overseas journey, she, too, was a dreamer when she was younger. Working abroad, according to her, was a dream. She recalled applying for a waitress job when she was just 21 since she holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. However, her plans didn’t materialize, so he ended up working in Manila, particularly in the sales and customer service industry.

When she got married and had two kids, she decided to settle in General

Filipina microblading master mentors women to be their own boss and become the best version of themselves

Santos City, wherein she found herself working as a sales executive and events coordinator at a hotel. It was also at that time that she started her own soap business and became a bridal make-up artist, which paved the way for her to conduct a series of make-up tutorial events.

“I was driven to share my skills every time just to inspire ladies to always be the best version of themselves as I always believe that making yourself beautiful doesn’t hurt anyone since I always have this mantra ‘look good, feel good and do good’ and ‘focus on yourself because you matter’,” she said.

Everything went well while she was simultaneously running a small soap business, accepting wedding events and bridal make-up clients, until microblading became the trend. Betty then collected microblading tools and practiced with some of her friends.

Her enthusiasm for the booming business was also a breakthrough in her career. Her mentor from the International Academy for Aesthetic Sciences asked her to join a microblading competition in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she emerged as the champion and the only representative from the Philippines.

“That was when I proved to myself that hard work with passion and dedication pay off, and it doesn’t mean because I am a mother, I can’t no longer be great and do great things,” Betty added.

The mother of two revealed that she used to ‘devalue’ herself because she was already a mother and assumed that single women were more capable than her.

“Perhaps I was wrong, and I’ve realized that my kids are not a hindrance to my dreams and to the things I wanted to achieve in life. Instead, they are my fuel to push me to get to the place where I wanted to be, they help me to believe in myself that I am capable of doing a lot of things, that everything is possible,” she further added.

Her microblading journey opened a lot of opportunities for her, such as judging competitions in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. She has also attended masterclasses in Vietnam and other South East Asian countries. Betty is also sought by various highprofile clients from Hong Kong and Singapore.

Moving to Dubai and weaving dreams

While Betty has already established her name in the microblading industry, she was no longer interested in moving overseas. However, when fate called, she answered with keenness. She believed that with years of continuous learning and mastering her craft, it was about time to bring them on a global scale.

“I am equipped with the skills I have, which I find something unique and truly delivers amazing results as what I can see from all my clients,” she said,

Moving to Dubai also allowed her to raise the Philippine flag in the aesthetic industry in the region.

“Being in the beauty industry is both a challenging and fulfilling experience,” she said.

Her current profession as a microblading artist involves cosmetic tattooing, specifically in enhancing eyebrows, treatment of dark lips, uneven skin tone, permanent eyeliners, and permanent lipstick, among others.

Betty revealed she hated herself for her imperfections. She had acneprone skin, uneven skin tone, small eyes, thin eyebrows, and dark and grayish lips.

“These things are the ones I was dying to treat, and these are some of the reasons why most ladies are putting on make-up and, for some reason, they go to salons,” she said.

“To be honest, I have all the conditions as my clients. So trust me, I know how it feels to have a pair of sexy brows, brighter pinkish lips every single day without lipstick on, to have brighter

eyes because of permanent eyeliners, clear skin free from acne, manageable and softer, clearer skin condition,” she added.

Betty loves the feeling of giving pleasure to herself by making herself look good and more beautiful by enhancing her facial features, which she wants other ladies to feel.

For almost seven years now, the microblading expert has built confidence and trust among women and helped them to be the best version of themselves.

“Their smiles after transforming their eyebrows, lips, eyes, and skin are priceless. It’s a very satisfying feeling of fulfillment that no amount of money can ever exchange. It’s more satisfying than the money they pay for it. The goal here is to make them happy first, and I believe money will follow,” she said.

Betty was grateful to a number of people who she bumped into and who helped her achieve her goals in Dubai when she was settling in.

Betty, who has only been living and working in the emirate for over a year now, said that she felt anxious during her first two months because she didn’t have a single family member in the area. Through social media, she was able to cope with it.

Today, Betty does her own business as a freelance semi-permanent makeup artist and is currently affiliated with various local clinics as a beauty therapist.

When asked about her plans, she said she would continue helping women to be their own bosses and become the best version of themselves, and conquer the Middle East through her ‘Betty Arabia’. She also looks forward to opening a beauty school wherein she could enrich the knowledge of those interested learners so they could have their own businesses in line with beauty services.

“Dubai is just a start for me, there’s more to come, and I know there’s a lot of things that I can do,” she added. Betty advised her fellow OFWs to keep going despite all the hindrances.

“Trust me, God will never give us something that we can’t handle; He knows you better than me; He is higher than your struggles. Also, keep learning, keep doing your best, keep planting seeds of knowledge and new skills that you will carry along with you forever,” she said.

“Just in case you find yourself wondering if you should give it a go to learn something, don’t hesitate. Listen to your inner voice; if there’s a will, there’s a way for it to achieve,” she added.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Joel Malabo, RN

OFW palace nurse: When you dream, never stop achieving it

Every nurse is drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, serve, and help. Although he didn’t dream of becoming a nurse, Joel Malabo’s fate took him on this career path.

A frustrated politician, Joel is fond of helping people in need. When he was just a teen, he was elected as their barangay’s Sangguniang Kabataan chairman. He was tasked to coordinate with the National Youth Commission and other development projects and programs at the national level.

Overseas, he started as an Orthopedic Nurse at Jebel Ali Hospital for three years. Currently, he works as the head nurse at Zaabeel Palace Hospitality, the official kitchen of a royal family in Dubai.

Throughout his stay in Dubai for over one decade, he was bestowed with multiple awards, including his recognition as the Nurse of the Year organized by the now-defunct publication Kabayan Weekly in 2017. Two years after, in 2019, he received the JoyaLukkas Angels Awards from JoyaLukkas Jewelry company. Meanwhile, he was also awarded Staff of the Year by Zaabeel Palace Hospitality for two consecutive years.

Giving back, he spearheads a UAEbased Filipino nurses group on Facebook to help aspiring nurses work in the field.

Joel takes pride in his profession as the company he’s working with is committed to providing premium hospitality services for the royal family, other dignitaries, and government officials, among others.

In addition to the post as a head nurse, he also serves as the chairman of the Zaabeel Palace Hospitality Staff Welfare Committee, which aims to act as a liaison between staff and the committees serving as a bridge for communication on all issues dealing with staff policy, benefits, welfare, and goals. The committee aims to initiate and act upon several measures for the benefit of the staff. The main priority shall be to create a bond of solidarity and a spirit of satisfaction amongst the staff members, enhancing the quality of teaching at the Institute.

“Aside from giving a titled as a successful person, I still believe that I, being a nurse, my success is not measured by how other people see my achievements but it’s how I see myself helping other people in need,” he said.

Joel obtained his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Pamantasan ng Cabuyao in 2007. He recalled starting his first job as an assistant nurse in a medical clinic at 21.

“When you dream of something, you should never stop until you achieve it. It may not be easy at first cause you will be meeting with different people and beliefs, and you will face

problems on your own, but everything will be worth it later,” he said.

Joel also stressed saving for the future.

“We Filipinos are being raised to be family oriented, so we tend to forget to save for our future,” he added.

“Also, make time for yourself. We should prioritize and love ourselves,” he further added.

While working overseas, Joel experienced two traumatic experiences. In 2019, he suffered a heart attack (myocardial ischemia) which led him to do a procedure of Angioplasty heart surgery. Thankfully, he was able to survive it.

In less than a year, as a frontline nurse during Covid-1, he was exposed to the virus and manifested the worst symptoms that almost cost his life.

Because of this, Joel advocates mental and physical exercise.

“Planning and ideas can only be implemented through actions. Mental and physical exercise and a proper diet are a must. Keeping up Faith and a positive mindset is indispensable during difficult times. I also believe that if I strive to be a little bit better than I did yesterday, big improvement will follow. A step-bystep development will give me a more stable foundation. This, for me, is the key to success,” he concluded.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Cherry S. Cruz

Growing up in Bulacan, Philippines, Cherry S. Cruz understood the valued of hard wor and determination from a young age. Despite having to work part-time while completing her education, she never let circumstances define her.

Her ultimate goal was to always finish her studies and support her family. This drive led her to pursue international opportunities, beginning with her first overseas job in Taiwan at the age of 21.

“Working abroad has always been an aspiration of mine, as it presents a unique set of opportunities and experiences that cannot be found in one’s home country. I believe that by relocating to different countries, you not only gain a deeper understanding of different cultures but also learn how to navigate and adapt to a diverse work environment,” she said.

As a Filipino, she has always been aware of the strong competition in the job market back home, with many workers possessing the same skills and qualifications. She saw working overseas as an opportunity to stand out and compete on a global stage.

“I knew that by working in a diverse workforce, I would have a fair distribution of opportunities to showcase my skills and abilities,” she added.

Two years later, Cherry moved to the UAE and joined Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa in Dubai as a Human Resources and Quality Training Coordinator, the profession that laid the foundation for her passion for human resource management and the hospitality industry.

The Filipina professional added that working abroad allowed her to develop a broader perspective on the world, greatly enhancing her leadership abilities. Because of working overseas, she learned how to address cultural and behavioral differences and new business practices, which have been invaluable in her personal and professional life.

Leading and inspiring the development of talented employees in UAE

In 2006, Cherry was offered to work as an HR Officer and Executive Assistant to the Senior General Manager at the prestigious One&Only Reethi Rah Resort in Maldives, a member of the ‘World’s Leading Hotels.’

From there, throughout her career, she had the privilege of working for some of the most renowned five-star resorts and hotels both domestically and internationally. She excelled in various senior roles and has been fortunate enough to progress through the ranks in several firms.

Cherry, who has been working overseas for two decades, is currently working as the Director of Talent & Culture (Human Resources) in Sofitel Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Residence.

One of the things that she enjoys about her job is the opportunity to train, coach, and mentor others.

“I find it incredibly rewarding to inspire and influence the development of my team members. Additionally, protecting the welfare of the workers is a critical aspect of my job, and it is fulfilling to know that I am making a difference in the lives of others,” she said.

Even though she had insecurities and low self-esteem from high school all the way through college, she never imagined herself working in the HR field; however, for years, she developed a greater passion for the industry because it has transitioned her into a professional who can have an impact on people every day.

One of the highlights of her overseas career was being nominated as one of the 100 Most Influential Global HR Professionals in the World during the HRD Congress in 2017.

“This recognition has been a source of motivation for me to continue to help and mentor aspiring HR professionals in their journey to becoming leaders in the field,” she shared.

She is committed to giving back to the community in her current and previous roles. Cherry has been involved in various volunteer activities and charity works that

benefited and made a positive impact in their lives.

She added that anyone could achieve career aspirations in the hospitality industry with hard work, dedication, and commitment to personal and professional development.

When asked about her plans, Cherry said she intended to start an HR consultancy firm back home, with the goal of using her professional background and experience to assist Filipinos in finding employment opportunities. As a passionate advocate for workplace diversity and inclusion, she also plans to develop and implement numerous initiatives back home to promote these values in the workplace.

“I believe that creating a diverse and inclusive environment is crucial for the success of any organization and I want to be a part of the movement towards creating a more equitable society,” she added.

Cherry has also highlighted the importance of investing in a retirement or pension plan for Filipinos working overseas, stressing that working abroad is not a permanent source of income.

“While it is important to support our families and enjoy luxuries and travel, it is also crucial to save for retirement. A pension plan can give us peace of mind and financial security, even if we become unemployed. Investing in a retirement plan is not only important for financial stability but also for personal peace of mind so that you don’t become a burden to others in the future,” she said.

She also advised Filipinos to surround themselves with the right people and look after their mental and emotional well-being.

“I would like to remind everyone that where you came from, which Universities you went to, whether you graduated with honors or not, or if you had a privileged or difficult upbringing, doesn’t define who you are or your potential for success. What truly matters is our willingness to attempt and our determination to succeed. Success depends on us and we have the power within ourselves to turn our insecurities, frustrations, and heartbreaks into triumphs. With hard work and perseverance, we can achieve our goals and aspirations. It is important to believe in ourselves and our abilities, no matter what others may think,” she added.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

Catherine Binafif

‘Success takes sweat, determination, and hard work’

For her, success is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

Catherine Binafif, an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai who rose through the corporate ladder, believed in this principle.

Being far from her family was the biggest struggle she had to work hard to overcome when she moved to UAE in 2011. Jumping from one job to another, seeking the best opportunities that would benefit her financially and professionally, and meeting new people contributed well to who she is now.

For almost six years, Catherine worked as an archive clerk for an art gallery in Abu Dhabi. When she moved to another company, she learned the ropes of accounting, human resources, reception, and executive assistant before embarking on a journey in the academe, particularly at the Filipino Institute, a leading educational institution for Filipinos in the Middle East.

From working as a dean, she was promoted to academic director for

virtual courses. Catherine said that having been part of the Filipino Institute is both an honor and a privilege because they get to help OFWs who wish to advance in their personal and professional careers.

As time passed, the young Filipina worker realized the importance of working in an environment that gives her peace of mind while giving her the opportunity to accomplish her goals.

Catherine was also able to pursue her studies and finished a diploma course that had been set aside for a long time.

“It opened the door of opportunity for learning while at the same time learning,” she added.

For her, the best part about working overseas is the chance to meet different people and witness various cultures in one place, while understanding and bridging unique differences with respect.

“Being independent, appreciating myself more and the experience that

mold me to become a wiser and better person are the best part of working overseas,” she added.

After her two-year stint in the company, she returned to her previous work, a 3D printer distributor where she had worked for over two years prior to joining Filipino Institute, to play the role of logistics manager. In the position she currently holds, she ensures that the right products are delivered to the right location on time and at a good cost. She is also involved in transportation, stock control, warehousing, and monitoring the flow of their products.

She advised her fellow OFWs to dream and achieve them one by one.

“A dream does not become reality overnight; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work,” she further added.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS Romeo Atole

‘Be practical on the situation in life and career’

They say that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Romeo Atole, an OFW based in Abu Dhabi, believes that not getting what he intends to have does not mean he was inefficient, rather it happened because he deserved something better than that.

His first plan for why he wanted to work outside the Philippines was to have a chance to find a job on a cruise ship and UAE was his first stepping stone. He heard a lot of positive stories about working on the passenger ship and at the same time one can go around the world while working.

But before deciding to work overseas, Romeo taught in a public school as a volunteer teacher. There, he did not only teach his students textbook lessons but also impart valuable life lessons. His noble job allowed him to empower his students to be more confident. Coming from a family of educators, he was also actively participating in school organizations and even in a church group.

He arrived in Dubai in 2007 on a tourist visa, hoping to land a job that would support him and his family back home. Romeo, who stayed in a friend’s apartment while searching for a job, is a graduate of bachelor of science in secondary education major in agriculture and fishery arts at Bicol

University College of Agriculture and Forestry.

The Special Professional Licensure Examination (SPLE) exam passer took three months to land a regular job. He came to Dubai with a limited budget because he was told that it was very easy to secure work, which was the opposite.

Fortunately, Romeo was hired by the company where he is currently working now, Microsoft Gulf FZ LLC, as a lobby host and admin.

“In my workplace, most are professional and treated me well, that is one of the factors I like in our company. They treated you as family and gave you a chance to grow. The distance from my house to my work is a walking distance and I do the walking as part of my exercise, that is why I always walk going to work every day,” he said.

Romeo does not only excel in his profession. He is also actively participating in and spearheading various organizations. He is a member of the Filipino International Teachers’ Society since 2016 and is the current chairman of the National Organization of Professional Teachers-Filipino International Teachers’ Society.

Romeo plays a crucial role at the Bayanihan Council Abu Dhabi which

regularly organizes events that benefit the Filipino community in the locale.

He also graduated with a Masters of Arts in Education Major in Educational Leadership and Management at St. Paul University Manila in 2021.

“At my retirement age, my plan is to manage a business while teaching in a private school, I feel that the vocation for being a teacher is still there in me. I dream of having a farm and managing it. I want to travel to visit my cousins in different provinces, I want to enjoy my hard-earned savings,” he said when asked about his plans.

He advised his fellow OFWs to be wise, practical, and have a positive outlook.

“Time flies very fast here and there are a lot of temptations. If you are weak and you give in to temptations, you will fail at your goals in life. We must be wise in spending our hardearned resources, be practical on the situation in life and career, and always be positive at all times,” he said.

THE GLOBAL FILIPINOS THE STORY OF OUR SUCCESS

John Paolo

Tatlonghari

Former restaurant buzzer tells story about surviving and thriving in Dubai

In his over three decades of existence, he can say that growing up independently is a big challenge.

When John Paolo Tatlonghari resigned from his previous company in the Philippines in 2015, he decided to work overseas. Like many Filipinos who take risks in finding job opportunities abroad, it also took him time to find a fit job in Dubai.

It was difficult for him to land a job because the majority of companies in the emirate look for an employee with work experience abroad. However, it didn’t stop John Paolo from applying for different work positions he saw posted online.

After looking for the perfect job for him, he landed a job at a restaurant as a buzzer with a very low salary. The low salary was not only the problem he faced while working as a buzzer. They also experienced not getting paid for up to four months, which forced him to leave it.

When he transferred to his second job, he was so glad that he was getting a ‘quite high salary’ every month. For two years, John Paolo felt that he didn’t have a work-life balance. This prompted him to look for another job.

For almost four years now he is playing the role of an administrative officer at Move One Relocations, a storage and removal service provider in the region.

John Paolo will be joining another firm in March this year.

“I chose to work abroad so I can provide the needs not only for myself but for other people as well,” John Paolo, who was waiting tables at a fast-food chain during his college years to support his studies, said.

Living and working in Dubai for over six years, he recalled being a supervisor in a supermarket in the Philippines. There, he learned how to handle people, how to manage complaints, and how to value people. He also became a medical coder for an insurance company back home wherein he received a number of

accolades.

Working in Dubai was difficult at first for John Paolo because he is away with his loved ones; however, his family fuels his desire to succeed in what he does.

When asked about his life battles, he recounted growing up in a broken family, an experience he thought taught him to be an independent person.

“I learned at a young age how to live all by myself without the supervision of my parents. I never see this as a hindrance to becoming who I am today. I chose to be a good and responsible man because I wanted my parents to be proud of me especially when I finished my studies with the help of being a working student and at the same time being a school varsity at my university,” he said.

Despite having a broken family, he told himself that would never hate his parents because he knew there was a reason behind the separation.

“I have my other relatives and friends who were there during my lowest point in life. I got their back so I strive hard, still striving and proving to everyone that someday I can achieve more than who I am today,” he added.

Should there be a chance to settle back home, John Paolo considers building a business that he is very passionate about, which is cooking.

Currently, he and two of his friends launched a small food business in Dubai that they call ‘Budgetarian’, which is located in the seasonal Night Market on the outskirts of the emirate.

“I, as one of the owners, am very proud to say that putting smiles on the faces of our customers is a great achievement for me. I know we are giving the best quality of the foods, a better service which is can be the reason for them to come back again. And who knows, maybe this might be a good start to pursue one of my dreams and that is to own a restaurant one day,” he said.