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MARCH 2022 | ISSUE 23

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OFW’s successful journey: From cleaner, receptionist, to secretary, now HR manager An OFW advocate and a rising Filipino fashion designer in

Yvonne Macatingrao Choosing faith over fear: Started from nothing to owning trading company in UAE

Stepping out of comfort zone and overcoming struggles overseas

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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‘Fulfilling and rewarding’: Award-winning Filipino director bids farewell to Expo 2020 - Patrick Fronda

‘Always believe and reach for the better version of yourself’ - Hazel Basilio Being an influence and providing opportunity for others to grow - Chad Myko Bayon-on, CPA, CMA, CSCA Stepping out of comfort zone and overcoming struggles overseas - Joane Faye Lozanta Bistayan Switching career overseas to soar higher - Richard John Miranda Out of 30,000 volunteers, OFW in Dubai receives two major Expo 2020 Dubai awards - Jess Manglicmot Kilay is life: Filipino business owner curating beautiful life in UAE - Khatrine Cases Reyes Breadwinner at 10, former internet cafe attendant now purchase manager in Dubai - Domerisa Bernardo Galope

Choosing faith over fear: Started from nothing to owning trading company in UAE - Yvonne Macatingrao

Meet the Pinoy photographer behind stunning photos of Expo 2020 Dubai Christopher Dan Edralin This 9-year-old Filipino is smashing swimming competitions in UAE - Eryx Banluta OFW’s successful journey: From cleaner, receptionist, to secretary, now HR manager - Rovelyn Cauan Dabo An OFW advocate and a rising Filipino fashion designer in Saudi Arabia - Emil Sabijon Besitulo Capturing the moment: Being a business owner at 23 - John Carlo Sateniaman Once a fan, Filipino visual artist in Dubai overjoyed after working with Michael Cinco - Arvie V. Valencia Shokudo restaurant in Deira reopened under new management Prominent Filipino PR Man gets promoted at energy logistics company Tristar Group - Art ‘Popoy’ Los Banos Touchdown, Philippines’: Filipino Institute opens first NCR campus / Good news! Filipino Institute Qatar now offers diploma courses How to spot if your child may have special educational needs

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‘Fulfilling and rewarding’: Award-winning Filipino director bids farewell to Expo 2020

s the world’s greatest show bids goodbye on March 31, 2022, Filipino director and producer for Expo 2020 Dubai Patrick Fronda couldn’t help but be emotional about it. A lone Filipino producer on the broadcast team, he said he is sad that his journey at Expo 2020 Dubai has already end. He produced most of the National Day celebrations of country pavilions at the event, including the viral footage during the Philippine National Day in February, video segments for Rico Blanco, Alex and Toni Gonzaga, Bamboo, among others. He has even

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His tasks needed a quick turnaround to produce content distributed to local and international media agencies. “I am really proud I made it to the last day, given that I am the only Filipino in the group, it was quite challenging but fulfilling and rewarding,” he said.

He further added that if there is one thing that he learned from his experience, it is to stop worrying about problems. “We need our heads to stay up and condition our minds on how we utilize and turn them into something positive, we need our sanity intact,

Fronda, a popular content creator and an awardwinning director, thanked his team members for the chance to meet them personally at the biggest event in the world. “It was a good experience meeting and working with many talented people across the globe many were not from Dubai and just stayed here to work, I will miss you!” he said. He also revealed that he was only dreaming about securing the job as a producer for Expo 2020 Dubai some eight years ago, wondering if he could land a job at least in one of its pavilions. He never knew that there was more in store for him. He remembered almost quitting his career as a content director when he lost his company during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, so he and his wife had to move to the cheapest apartment. “It was so cheap that you shared your house with cockroaches, but we managed, we stayed and survived by selling masks and most of my sneakers. It was a painful year for us until the storm stopped and the rainbow appeared,” Fronda said.

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Patrick Fronda

interviewed various visiting diplomats.

our family needs us,” he added. The six-month-long project helped him ‘on many levels’, including building his career, learning new things, and financially as it aided him to settle all his debts, pending fines, and building his dream house in the Philippines. “Why am I emotional? It’s because something beautiful is about to end, and we will never get to see, feel, and experience it again. So, I can say that this is one of the beautiful things that happened to us!” Fronda concluded.

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Hazel Basilio

‘Always believe and reach for the better version of yourself ’

journey isn’t always comfortable. There are instances that it will break your heart. But it changes one.

Directly hired from the Philippines, Hazel Basilio initially worked for a Dubai-based call centre agency. Barely having enough money, she was only carrying a small amount of $100 given by her father as he was unsure what life she would live abroad. Her mother gave her three packs of cupcakes so she would have something to eat during the long trip from the Philippines. She had nothing to eat for the next three days but the cupcake her mother asked her to take. She would eat it three times a day so her stomach would be filled. At nights, she would sleep in a shared room, on a double deck bed with no pillows or blanket for weeks, and manually washed her clothes with her bare hands in their accommodation in Ajman. She left the Philippines in an effort to provide her family with a better future, especially her then three-year-old daughter, who was in the care of her parents. When she was a single mother, she left her then three-year-old daughter in the care of her parents to seek greener pasture. Having worked

in a BPO in the Philippines, her salary every month would not suffice for her family. She was excited to work with her new employer in Internet City in Dubai as a call centre representative, and she did not realize that it would be a ‘hell-hole, micro-managed company’, she described. Hazel had to work up to 12 hours a day, six days a week, with 30 minutes lunch break and a 15-minute toilet break. The monthly salary they were promised in the Philippines was not imposed, so she ended up getting less than what she was getting in the Philippines. The company closed down six months later, and they were left with no work and visa. In 2008, her battle abroad continued as she was hired by Informa, a leading exhibition and events company, as telesales. Her main work was to call healthcare professionals to attend their conferences. Hazel climbed up the corporate ladder and is now an exhibition manager in the same company. She is in charge of managing the Africa healthcare events in Johannesburg, South Africa. Their main goal is to help companies expand their markets in the African continent, a place where medical innovation and attention are needed. They launched the event in 2010, and every year, they have around 500 participating companies showcasing their services, products, and innovation on the continent.

Through her work, she was able to secure four properties already in the Philippines and traveled the world. Her daughter, who she left in the Philippines when she was only three, now studies in one of the top universities in the Philippines, taking up her pre-med course. In Dubai, she met the love of her life, and they will be celebrating their 15th year together this year. Diploma and education are something that she was inferior to as she did not finish college due to bad decisions in the past. “These made me miss opportunities that I should have taken in a blink of an eye,” she said. But it wasn’t too late for Hazel because she will be graduating with a degree in Business Administration major in Marketing in July, with plans to pursue her MBA afterward. “My motto in life is always to believe and reach for the better version of yourself. See the silver lining in every situation because the will of God will never take you where the grace of God can never reach you,” she added. Hazel still has the $1 bill from the ‘pabaon’ of her father when she went to Dubai. She considers the money as a lucky charm. Her father died in 2015.

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Chad Myko Bayon -on, CPA, CMA, CSCA

Being an influence and providing opportunity for others to grow

Cebuano born and raised in the little Alaska of the Philippines Madridejos, Bantayan Island Cebu, Chad Myko Bayon-on dreamed of becoming an influence of creating an opportunity for growth and personal development through resilience and hard work. As a business financial information advocate, he promotes the importance of financial information for the success of an organization. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis (CSCA), Certified Tax Technician (CTT), and a recognized Tax Specialist at the Royal Institute of Singapore (RIS). He leads the Institute of Management Accountants Abu Dhabi Chapter as the Vice President for Education, also plays an important leadership role for the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants as the Director for Professional Development and Research to influence accountants in professional development and encourage them to become a valuable addition to the organization as the

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storyteller of the business financial information and becoming the Global Finance and Accounting Professional. Shortly after becoming a CPA in 2016, he was invited to become a professor in the Lyceum of Cebu with the passion of paying it forward to the students and the school by guiding them in their passion. While serving as a professor, Chad was also a General Accountant in one of the hotels in Cebu and accomplished the task of management advisory reporting. With the dream of learning international ways of doing business, he was able to come to the UAE where he became an operational manager of NAS Chartered Accountants, which allows him to understand the business perspective of different types of organizations and be able to influence businesses on the importance of financial information in making a relevant decision. When asked why he opted to travel to UAE, he said it was all for ‘love’. The love of his life, who is now his fiance and soon-to-be wife, came to the UAE to land the best job for her and find an opportunity to achieve financial freedom and start her own business soon. As part of his support, Chad flew to the UAE after almost a year apart. But as time goes by, he thought he was supporting her in achieving her dreams. He realized that he was creating his dream and found out why he opted to work abroad, which is to influence his fellow accountants to experience the great opportunity

of sharing his journey to unsung heroes. He added that the best thing about what he does is the opportunity to influence and be a person who can give the opportunity for others to grow. “This opportunity gives me a satisfaction in life especially when I would be seeing the person I have given the opportunity or I have been mentoring, regardless if they recognize me or not, be able to achieve their dreams, be able to grow their business and continue on helping people or passing the positivity of life to others. This is the most satisfying achievement that I would be proud of,” he further added. When asked about his long-term plans, the seasoned accountant said he would continue sharing his knowledge and experience with the community, be an influence to the youth and the Filipinos who want to pursue their dreams or be able to create one. He advised his fellow Filipinos abroad to be the helping hand they wanted to have when they were asking for help. “Success is not measured by the titles you have acquired, it is measured by the actions you have taken to achieve those and the influence you have made from those titles on sharing this to others. Let’s all make the world a better place,” Chad said.

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Stepping out of comfort zone and overcoming struggles overseas

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Armed with her Master’s degree in Business Administration she has taken at the University of Perpetual Help System and her college degree she has finished at Southville International School and Colleges, Joane said that getting out of her comfort zone wasn’t easy.

where I can suggest ideas and implement them. And also I can learn new skills and enhance them,” she, who initially worked as an accounts assistant for a gold trading company, said. Joane said she would continue saving more money, learning new skills, and traveling when asked about her plans. On top of her priorities are giving back to her parents, building a family, and moving to a new country. “Have faith in God, be humble, do not forget where you came from, be optimistic, and be fearless in pursuing your dreams,” she said.

Homesickness is her enemy that she fights every day. Her first year abroad was the most difficult phase as she needed to adjust drastically in order for her to cope with the culture. There were even times when she would cry out of frustrations after feeling lost and hopeless. But she knows that there is an all-knowing God who will always guide her through. She overcomes challenges through prayers, staying optimistic, and focusing on the goal that she has set. Today, Joane works as an admin and marketing specialist for Factrade DMCC, where her scope of work is broad and challenging. She oversees the company’s HR, marketing, research, and platform management departments. “I have been working for this company for two years now and have renewed another contract with them. What satisfies me in this job is I can apply what I have learned in my college and MBA. I also have freedom of speech here,

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Joane Faye Lozanta Bistayan

n 2018, Joane Faye Lozanta Bistayan decided to move to Dubai to seek better work opportunities, believing that the place would help her achieve all her dreams for herself and her family members in the Philippines. She also hoped that it would be a gateway for her to migrate to Canada or Australia.

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Switching career overseas to soar higher

any employees change careers for different reasons. Their career goals or values may have changed or they may have discovered new interests, or simply to make more money. For Richard John Miranda, it was different. While finishing his Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) course, he was already working at a famous coffee shop in Manila. He said customer service is something he always

it is not an easy career.

When he graduated in 2010, he was working in an American restaurant in Eastwood Libis when his mother, who was working in Dubai, asked if he would be interested in working overseas. Instantly, Richard said yes, promising that he would only work overseas for two years.

Today, he is working as a body flight instructor at the world’s biggest indoor skydiving in Abu Dhabi. Richard has also taken a separate course to get a license for skydiving as most of his clients are skydivers. This helps him connect the gap between indoor and outdoor skydiving and makes him the only Filipino instructor who holds a United States Parachute Association skydiving license.

His intention was to penetrate the hospitality industry when he arrived in Dubai, so he applied for various hotels. After sending many CVs and attending interviews, he landed a job at the Dusit Thani Dubai as a food and beverage assistant. As a person who is committed to excelling in the field, he learned so much from different food outlets within the hotel. After 14 months, Richard was promoted to captain and was asked to lead a team in the hotel’s Italian fine dining restaurant. This was where he met a guest who happened to be a high-ranking officer in Skydive UAE. He was asked if he would be interested in changing his career path and working for him instead. “That was when I switched careers and it was the best decision I have ever made,” he said. Soaring high His new company has invested in him by allowing him to take a body flight course and become an instructor. He revealed that it was physically tiring and that his mental abilities were tested. When he finished and passed the course, he became the fifth Filipino to be a body flight instructor in the world, a rare achievement as

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Richard John Miranda

wanted to do and meeting new people.

“It is so fulfilling to share the sport with people and see how they treasure and remember the experience forever,” he said. He added that he plans to get more ratings for his skydiving skills as the sport is inclusive and there is a lot to learn. Through skydiving, he received the following accolades: - 3 times National Champion - Dynamic 2way Flying - 2021 Dubai International Parachuting Championship - Champion - Dynamic 2way - 2022 Abu Dhabi Skydive Open Championship - Champion - Formation Skydive 2way

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T G F M Jess Manglicmot

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f the 30,000 volunteers at the Expo 2020 Dubai, a Filipino based in Dubai has been chosen as a receiver of two major awards given by guests and covolunteers. Jess Manglicmot clinched a total of two awards: the Golden Hearts Award and the Hero Award. He was nominated and voted for Golden Hearts Award by Expo 2020 Dubai guests. Meanwhile, his co-Expo 2020 Dubai volunteers nominated and voted him as a Hero Award recipient.

“It’s a long journey, but it’s all worth it. And when we started our shifts, they really treated us so well with welcome gifts and a lot of freebies. We also get free lunch every shift! They also recognized deserving and hardworking volunteers,” the Filipino who has a heart for volunteering said. Jess further added that to be selected as an Expo 2020 Dubai volunteer is already a blessing, and receiving the two awards is just a bonus.

“Definitely, one of the greatest experiences of my life,” he wrote on Facebook. Jess currently works with a Christian church in the emirate and manages its program for kids. He also trains and leads almost 200 volunteers every week to run the church’s kids’ programs smoothly.

“I took this amazing opportunity to give back to this generous country that has been so good to me for the last eight years,” he said.

“I would like to dedicate these awards to my kababayans! Filipinos are known to be hardworking and people with a heart of gold! We always shine and stand out wherever we are in the world. It is innate to us to give our best whether we are paid or not. Keep up the good work! Philippines, I hope I made you proud,” he further added.

To reminisce, he has taken many photos in the venue, collected rare pins, bought some souvenirs.

A chemist way back in the Philippines and a triathlete in Dubai, he also shared that he

Maclimot started his shift on December 21, 2021, two months after Expo 2020 Dubai commenced. He said that the application process was extensive, from the interview process, training, and transitioning to their designated roles.

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the time, the Dubai Metro trains are jampacked with visitors. Since he’s tasked with the pavilion that served coffee for free, managing the crowd can be a struggle sometimes. When asked about the things he would miss after the mega event, he quipped that his nose would probably miss the PCR test done almost every two days. “Kidding aside, I will miss the people in the workforce team, my co-volunteers whom I met during my shifts who became my close friends, and the happy vibe expo gives. Expo has been my happy place for the last six months. Before my shift, during my break, and after my shift, I normally just walk around and explore the different districts,” he said. Jess had visited and explored all the 200 plus pavilions during his free time.

“It was a long journey but so worth it,” he continued.

“I guess I just have to look at the brighter side… now I have more time to clean my house and do my chores, and I can go back to my normal routine and do more of my sports activities,” he said. One of the many challenges he had to endure was the commute to and from the site, as most of

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Out of 30,000 volunteers, OFW in Dubai receives two major Expo 2020 Dubai awards

applied as a volunteer in December 2019 and was interviewed in February last year. In March, he was accepted.

love of beautifying themselves, which made me decide to bring my business here,” she added, admitting that it wasn’t easy. Her first struggle was where to settle and where to do her business. She was trained to work with complete equipment. In Dubai, she had to start from scratch–no facial beds nor stool to sit on, plus she needed to do home service, so she had to bring all her stuff and work on the space she was provided. Sometimes, Khatrine would render her service in closed partitions and bed space. Although her business is already thriving in the UAE, Khatrine looked back before entering the beauty industry. She worked in a high school carinderia, a business that her aunt owned. She would wake up at seven in the morning and go home past six at night. For many years, she served and sold food to high school students without knowing that she would be, one day, a successful businesswoman. Khatrine’s husband, who was a tattoo artist, asked why not study eyebrow tattooing. Following his advice, she looked up for schools and training centres to harness her skills. “This profession opened a lot of doors for me. Who would have thought that the ‘Ate’ from a carinderia would go places doing eyebrows?” she said.

hatrine Cases Reyes has a strong desire to wander and explore the world. As a well-traveled person, when the pandemic happened and restrictions on travel were imposed, it affected her mental health. This prompted her to venture into Dubai and introduce what she has to offer. The owner of Wake Up Beautiful PMU and Aesthetic Training Centre in the Philippines, and Primadonna Ladies Salon in Dubai, Khatrine is

a permanent make-up specialist, instructor, and professional aesthetician. When the borders of the UAE opened for travelers, she immediately took the chance and booked a one-way ticket to the region to explore what was in store for her.

The Filipina aesthetician advised her fellow Filipinos overseas to have a heart ready to face all the hardships and the things that they may learn along the way. “And before you knew it, you are there. And whatever decision you will make, ask God’s guidance,” she concluded.

She also decided to leave the Philippines temporarily as her business was affected by the lockdowns caused by the pandemic, and they were dealing with personal care services. “So, having a huge responsibility in my hand, I took the courage to fly here and explore my options,” she said. “Day by day, I keep on falling in love with the diversity around me–different people, cultures, and the love for beauty or making something more beautiful. Emiratis are known for their

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Kilay is life: Filipino business owner curating beautiful life in UAE

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Khatrine Cases Reyes

“And what satisfies me the most is the smiles my clients give me after doing their eyebrows or face. I know in my heart I am doing the right thing. It’s very fulfilling na everytime kamustahin mo sila they will tell you how much confidence they gained nung ngkakilay na sila, they don’t have to worry na kapag may kausap sila na client or ibang tao wala na yung isang kilay nila.or how much they love taking selfies now kasi lumiit na ung face nila. All these things and every thank you uplift my soul,” she further added.

Breadwinner at 10, former internet cafe attendant now purchase manager in Dubai

She was only seven when her parents got separated. At 10, she was already the breadwinner of the family. To make ends meet for her family and support her studies, she sold newspapers, empty bottles, water at a port in their province of Zamboanga. When she was in college, she was a scholar and a working student at the same time to sustain her academic needs. Many struggles have been suffered. There was even a time when her stepmother would badmouth her and say she would be pregnant and wouldn’t be able to finish college. As the big sister, she promised to look after her siblings. She recalled whenever their parents fought, she and her siblings would be left with nothing to eat. “I pick some vegetables, saute them with onion and tomatoes with water so we can have food on the table,” she added. She even remembered going to school without a proper uniform, no snacks during breaks, but was able to graduate with flying colors. These situations prompted her to work abroad in 2003. Apart from that, it was also her intention to have a better opportunity and career to achieve her many ambitions in life, one of which is to have a house she can call her own. She also wished to provide for her son’s needs for his studies and help her siblings as well.

Her first overseas job was as an internet cafe attendant. For two years, she developed strong skills in managing demanding individuals and different nationalities. Since she was new to Dubai, her employers suggested she stay in their house, although it was not mentioned in the contract. She agreed to their condition so she could save more money, but in exchange, she did some household chores. There, she struggled—she worked long hours that made her sick. Asking her employers to allow her to work for other companies shortly after expiring her employment contract with them, Domerisa changed her career and worked as a service crew. A graduate of Office Management in Shipping, she said it wasn’t easy since it was not in line with what she finished in college but since it was difficult to secure one, she grabbed it. She realized that she wanted to do more and be with an organization where she could grow and be valued. On her third attempt, she was given a chance to work as a receptionist at Danube Building Materials. Within just three months of working there, she was promoted to import coordination profile at the firm’s head office. When Domerisa finished her contract in 2010, she transferred to a new organization. Following her heart, she worked with Danube Building Materials again; this time as a purchase executive. Due to her dedication and perseverance in her craft, she received multiple promotions. Today, Domerisa is working in the same firm as the purchase manager, which she described as ‘beyond her expectation.’

“I would say that working with different nationalities is not easy. So, I try to study their language so I can easily communicate with them,” she added. Presently, she now knows how to speak Hindi a bit. “Being able to work in an environment where you feel satisfied with your position and what you do allows you to work at your best makes me happy and this is the reason why I love this job since this is also my career field,” she said. Domerisa’s efforts did not go unnoticed, as her superiors acknowledged all her contributions to the company. When asked about her plans after working overseas, she said she would stay in the UAE for five more years to save up more money and soon travel to some countries with her husband to collect good memories before they get old. “Be strong and have faith always. We need to learn how to swim either in low or high tide then only we can survive in real life and succeed,” she added.

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or more than 19 years now, Domerisa Bernardo Galope has been an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), providing her family the ‘greener pasture’ she promised when she left the Philippines.

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Domerisa Bernardo Galope

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T G F M Yvonne Macatingrao

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Choosing faith over fear: Started from nothing to owning trading company in UAE

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aith always defeats fear; this is what Yvonne Macatingrao has believed since she was just a child. She recalled working as early as five years old, helping her mother sell ready-to-wear clothes at dry markets, traveling from one barangay to another as early as 4am.

seminars and retreats, and training to several youths in Manila and their province.

Although her family was not among the poorest family, Yvonne just loved helping her parents. She was immersed in doing business at a young age–selling cooked saba and sweet potatoes to her classmates and working on summers to earn money for her uniform and books.

Like many Filipinos in the UAE, she also started ‘from scratch’. She worked as a receptionist and

cancel her visa, she ended up overstaying in the country for three years until she was already on the immigration black list.

When her sister invited her to visit Dubai some 16 years ago, she was hesitant at first as she didn’t know what to expect. But since she’s always up for new challenges, she said yes.

At one point, she surrendered to the police station but was told to go to Al Awir. “I was technically living in the country illegally, and they could put me behind bars, but God is good. His plans are always better than all my plans,” she said. To avoid her nagger landlord, she would stay at bus stations. To create extra money, she cooked viand and kakanin that she sold to her friends and colleagues, resold clothes, and sang to company or wedding events.

Her love for designing and creativity started during her early high school years after seeing a pile of unused carton boxes while on the way home from school and making a backpack out of it. Seeing the result, she made one for her best friend, classmates, and teachers. This saves her from asking her mother for project expenses and other small school-related stuff.

Struggles in the Philippines As young as three years old, her family was thrown out of their house. Her mother and her three siblings moved to a different place after being raided by thousands of armed military men looking for his dad for being a member of a rebel group back in the day. They were forced to watch their uncle being shot, tied in a banana tree, blindfolded, and told that it could have been their dad.

Yvonne’s emerging business skills continued when she joined her father’s multi-level marketing business as an assistant to his secretary. She was a high school and college faculty member back in the Philippines for four years before giving birth to her only child. She wasn’t a graduate of any four-year degree course nor a diploma holder. Still, she was given a chance when they saw her potential after giving talks,

When they moved to their mother’s parents’ house, it was far from modern civilization. There, they walked six miles to fetch water and do their laundry, woke up at 4am to prepare for their baon, and walked 10 miles to school and 10 miles back to the house.

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Away from the city, they ate sweet potatoes for dinner and corn most of the week. Their baon would be one piece of dried fish every day.

as a secretary for a firm. She did the cleaning and laundry at her employer’s house in between the days. Two months after, she resigned from her work as she could no longer tolerate the abuses she was experiencing.

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To save her small savings and survive her daily living, she went to the street of Al Muraqqabat and begged AED1 to gather an amount to buy for a five-gallon of water and 5kg of rice. She then landed a job in 2007 as a call centre representative at a firm in Dubai, wherein she was promoted to supervisor and manager a year after. She almost had everything; however, the recession hit, and businesses were affected. Her employer fled the country, leaving hundreds of employees hanging. Since her employer did not

After martial law, her father went back, and their lives started to get back to normal. They moved to the city and got into a better school and house. Light at the end of the tunnel Choosing faith over fear, she conquers every challenge she faced. Today, she is now the CEO and founder of Laymac Trading LLC, dealing with high-ranking officials and tycoons in the construction business. She enjoys seeing herself winning in every game, sealing deals and bids, and competing with well-known companies. Her company also supplied medical equipment to medical establishments, and in these trying times, they were still able to provide construction materials to UAE’s neighboring countries. As an artist at heart, she makes customized gifts. “Keep believing that even in the bad, things will get better. Choose the right crowd. They will be the ones who will help and guide you. Lastly, I can’t promise you that things will always stay better. But I can promise you that they will get better,” she said.

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T G F M Christopher Dan Edralin, who started working as a service crew for a fast-food chain, is behind some of the magnificent stills of the world’s biggest event. Working in Dubai for 28 years now, being a photographer is the best work he has worked on as he collects ‘precious memories’ and shares what he sees behind the lenses with the world.

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Christopher told The Global Filipino Magazine that at first, photography was just a hobby to him. Still, in 2010, his sister encouraged him to enroll in a school to take basic photography and use his talent until he met a group of photographers that taught him various advanced techniques in photography. “I almost gave up my passion as it seems like I’m just spending my income on gears, and I’m not growing as a Photographer,” he said.

Meet the Pinoy photographer behind stunning photos of Expo 2020 Dubai

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he Expo 2020 Dubai has become more spectacular with stunning photos shared on its social media channels. One of the prides from the Philippines,

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He saw an elderly crossing a pedestrian carrying two cameras on his shoulders towards a school. He thought that if the elderly could still do it, why not him. The man inspired him to pursue photography as a career and a hobby on the side. With this, he has achieved awards and won several photography competitions across the UAE. During his almost three-decade journey in the UAE, he worked in the first-ever Jollibee branch in Dubai in 1995. He then transferred to being a salesman in Sports Line Middle East in Burjuman from 1997 to 2001. From 2002 to 2014, he worked as a merchandiser and van salesman at Aramtec. Since then, he has pursued his passion as a professional photographer and closely worked with big brands as a product

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Christopher Dan Edralin photographer. Being part of the World Expo 2020

Christopher was referred by a close friend whose boss works at Expo 2020 Dubai. Fortunately for him, his background in photography paved the way for him to be part of the biggest event in the world, the Expo 2020 Dubai. “I don’t regret accepting the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially during the pandemic there was not a lot of jobs outside the Expo,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed, happy, and flattered with the impact of the photos that I’m able to share with the public. I know that I have done quite a good job in showing them what I see,” he said. When asked about the most memorable moments while working as one of the official photographers at Expo 2020 Dubai, he said it’s the chance to capture the world in one place, to cover the royalties of the UAE, visiting highranking officials around the globe, among others. Christopher shoots photos of performances of Arthur Nery, Ely Buendia, Black Eyed Peas, Bamboo, Gloc 9, and Kamikazee, among others. “It’s definitely once in a lifetime opportunity,” he said. The Expo 2020 Dubai will conclude on March 31, 2022. It showcases cutting-edge innovations, sustainability, and youth empowerment.

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Eryx Banluta

This 9-year-old Filipino is smashing swimming competitions in UAE

nine-year-old Filipino boy is dominating several swimming competitions in the UAE while bagging significant awards.

Born and raised in the UAE, Eryx Banluta is described as a sports enthusiast kid. Ever since he was a baby, his parents noticed how he already loved being in the water, especially when he’s dipped in the bathtub he would start kicking his feet. His first swimming competition was when he was seven and bagged the gold medal for the 25 meters freestyle in Danat Al Ain Resort in Abu Dhabi. His most significant achievement so far was when he won the APEX swimming competition in both developmental and competitive categories. Eryx, whose father was a national triathlete back in the Philippines, competed last March 26 to 27 in an invitational swimming competition in the UAE with 12 events. Turning 10 in July, the Filipino kid is described by his parents as a jolly kid who, just like many normal kids, loves to draw and is a huge fan of Godzilla.

Below are his awards:

Championship

Place: 1st Time: 1:38.83 FT #108 Boys 9 100 Meter Back Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 05/02/2022 Apex Competitive Swimming Championship 202

Place: 1st Time: 1:35.03 #106 Boys 9 100 Meter Back Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 29/01/2022 Apex Junior & Development Swimming Championship

Place: 1st Time: 1:23:90 FT #308 Boys 9 100 Meter Free Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 02/26/2022 Apex Endurance Competitive Swimming Championship 202

Place: 1st Time: 35.95 SE #104 Boys 9 50 Meters Free Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 29/01/2022 Apex Junior & Development Swimming Championship

Place: 1st Time: 44.09 FT #204 Boys 9 50 Meter Back Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 02/05/2022 Apex Endurance Competitive Swimming Championship 202

Place: 1st Time: 52.34 SE #108 Boys 9 50 Meter Breast Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 29/01/2022 Apex Junior & Development Swimming Championship

Place: 1st Time: 35.90 FT #104 Boys 9 50 Meter Free Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 05/02/2022 Apex Endurance Competitive Swimming Championship 202

Place: 1st Time: 1:21.41 SE #202 Boys 9 100 Meter Free Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 29/01/2022 Apex Junior & Development Swimming Championship

Place: 1st Time: 41.68 FT #208 Boys 9 50 Meter Fly Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 02/05/2022 Apex Endurance Competitive Swimming Championship 202

Place: 1st Time: 39.36 SE #210 Boys 9 50 Meters Fly Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 29/01/2022 Apex Junior & Development Swimming Championship

Place: 1st Time: 46.33 SE #206 Boys 9 50 Meters Back Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 29/01/2022 Apex Junior & Development Swimming

Place: 1st Time: 1:33.19 SE Apex Endurance – Al Ain – 29/01/2022 Apex Junior & Development Swimming Championship

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Rovelyn Cauan Dabo OFW’s successful journey: From cleaner, receptionist, to secretary, now HR manager

f there’s one phrase that the majority of overseas Filipino workers believe in, it would be ‘Never give up.’ Working overseas has already changed many lives of Filipinos. It helped them achieve their dreams, helped their families back home, and started a new life.

For Rovelyn Cauan Dabo, she opted to work overseas to help and fulfill her role as the sister of her four siblings and above all provide for her child’s needs. Coming from a broken and poverty-stricken family wasn’t easy. Her dad was a carpenter who struggled to give them their needs, which was one of the reasons why no one from them went to college. With all the adversities, they all persevered. They planted corn and washed other people’s laundry in a river in exchange for a small amount just so they could go to school and help their parents. In 2011, she decided to work in the UAE as a cleaner, a work she is not ashamed to share with her fellow Filipinos. She said that all the hardships she had experienced made her stronger. “There are times when you stumble–you make mistakes, people judge you, but that’s fine,” she said. After ending her contract as a cleaner, a family helped her fulfill her goals. When she was about to start a new career path, she was run over by their company bus that broke her toe fingers and flattened her thighs. When Rovelyn recuperated from the accident that almost cost her life and career, she considered it her second life. She then started her new job as a receptionist. She has taken the job although she did not know how to operate an office computer. As a person who doesn’t

stop learning, she learned the nature of the job assigned to her perfectly. As a flexible employee, often, she would be asked to help the accounts and purchasing departments. In 2018, while browsing the internet, she saw a Facebook post saying that a company sought a receptionist and a secretary. Out of the five interviewees, Rovelyn was chosen. From then on, she works for Road & Traffic Engineering Consultancy. Through her dedication coupled with optimism, she was able to climb the ladder of success. She received multiple promotions until she became the company’s HR manager today. Rovelyn has also enrolled herself in a crash course in a training centre to further her knowledge in human resources. She has also assisted displaced Filipinos in the UAE during the pandemic by giving them essentials. “Do not give up. Just take a rest when you get tired then go again,” her advice to her fellow Filipinos abroad. She said that she could gradually lift her family out of poverty with her current status. She also plans to establish her business ventures in the Philippines ‘in God’s perfect time.’

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An OFW advocate and a rising Filipino fashion designer in Saudi Arabia The eldest among the siblings in the family, sketching, for Emil Sabijon Besitulo, was just a mere hobby. He had no idea that his pass time hobby when he was just a kid would bring him to the pinnacle of his career as a fashion designer in Saudi Arabia. Years later, he decided to finally attend formal education in fashion design and visual arts in a fashion and fine arts school in Makati in the

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As a fashion designer, he has already performed many duties, including managing design processes from inception to completion and conducting market research to identify trends and techniques. He started working for a local fashion house in the Philippines, where he was involved in creating production sketches and collaborating with designers. Furthermore, his duties include selecting fabrics and embellishments, presenting designs to creative directors, and overseeing the final production of each design.

struggling for motivation. He then decided to give it a rest. After three days of resting, he had a eureka moment that brought a highly successful fashion line for three weeks. He feels that his greatest strength is his ability to handle many design projects simultaneously. Emil said he plans to be the head of a fashion house or own a fashion shop in the Philippines when he decides to go back home. He advised upcoming designers who want to follow in his footsteps to pursue their dreams and work harder with passion.

Working overseas was one of his top goals. After gaining work experience, he immediately applied for work overseas. Qatar was his first stop; he then transferred to Saudi Arabia, where his talent for his craft developed holistically. “I love that there is no end to learning and developing when working as a fashion designer. The competition can get ugly sometimes, making it difficult to enjoy the work. I think that every era has its fashion moments, so you cannot compare them with each other. The ones in the past were wonderful but will probably not be welcomed now, even though some old fashion trends are returning. I like all fashion unless it is highly distasteful,” he said. For him, being part of a multicultural climate drives him as a competitive designer. The cultural diversity pushes Emil out of the box, thus maintaining the fashion trend. He recalled years ago when he was seriously

Image Credit: Supplied

Emil Sabijon Besitulo

Philippines. From there, his passion gradually progress.

Image Credit: Supplied

John Carlo Sateniaman An OFW advocate and a rising Filipino fashion designer in Saudi Arabia The eldest among the siblings in the family, sketching, for Emil Sabijon Besitulo, was just a mere hobby. He had no idea that his pass time hobby when he was just a kid would bring him to the pinnacle of his career as a fashion designer in Saudi Arabia. Years later, he decided to finally attend formal education in fashion design and visual arts in a fashion and fine arts school in Makati in the Philippines. From there, his passion gradually progress. As a fashion designer, he has already performed many duties, including managing design processes from inception to completion and conducting market research to identify trends

and techniques. He started working for a local fashion house in the Philippines, where he was involved in creating production sketches and collaborating with designers. Furthermore, his duties include selecting fabrics and embellishments, presenting designs to creative directors, and overseeing the final production of each design. Working overseas was one of his top goals. After gaining work experience, he immediately applied for work overseas. Qatar was his first stop; he then transferred to Saudi Arabia, where his talent for his craft developed holistically. “I love that there is no end to learning and developing when working as a fashion designer. The competition can get ugly sometimes, making it difficult to enjoy the work. I think that every era has its fashion moments, so you cannot compare them with each other. The ones in the past were wonderful but will probably not be welcomed now, even though some old

fashion trends are returning. I like all fashion unless it is highly distasteful,” he said. For him, being part of a multicultural climate drives him as a competitive designer. The cultural diversity pushes Emil out of the box, thus maintaining the fashion trend. He recalled years ago when he was seriously struggling for motivation. He then decided to give it a rest. After three days of resting, he had a eureka moment that brought a highly successful fashion line for three weeks. He feels that his greatest strength is his ability to handle many design projects simultaneously. Emil said he plans to be the head of a fashion house or own a fashion shop in the Philippines when he decides to go back home. He advised upcoming designers who want to follow in his footsteps to pursue their dreams and work harder with passion.

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T G F M Arvie V. Valencia A

self-taught artist, Arvie V. Valencia loves working around different forms of visual arts, such as hand painting on bags, shoes, clothes, and the like, including on high-end brands. His talent for arts paved the way for his recent participation in Dubai-based Filipino fashion icon Michael Cinco’s Arab Fashion Week. Arvie, currently working as a visual artist at a creative digital agency in the JLT area, was one of the Filipino artists who hand-painted couture ballgowns of Michael’s fall and winter collection at the recently concluded Arab Fashion Week. “I love art, and I appreciate fashion. And when these two are combined, the result is the magic that Mr. Michael Cinco does in all of his creations. I’ve been a fan of him for years, following all his social media accounts and appreciating all of his world-class designs,” he said. As he has mentioned in his viral Facebook post, working with Michael was a dream come true. “Before, I’ve only seen him in magazines, newspapers, and social media, so this whole experience is simply surreal for me. I’m not

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Image Credit: Benjie Apostol

Once a fan, Filipino visual artist in Dubai overjoyed after working with Michael Cinco

a professional fashion designer but I am dreaming of becoming one, especially when I got inspired by Mr. Michael Cinco’s amazing story of success rooted in humble beginnings,” he added. He also revealed that the Aurora Borealis and Northern Lights theme on the ballgown was Michael’s idea as part of his ‘The Impalpable Dream of Peace’. Together, with his co-artist Els Bach, they hand-painted the design based on how the fashion designer’s envisioned them to appear on the massive ballgowns. Just a few days ago, the same ballgowns were showcased at the prestigious LA Fashion Week. His artistic style is amplified with good music and coffee. Early days in UAE Arvie has been living in Dubai for nearly a decade now. He left the Philippines six months after getting his college diploma and started working overseas as he dreamed of having a better future for himself and his family. He also wanted to challenge himself by getting out of his comfort zone as he is an introverted individual.

He worked as an events coordinator and designer for kids and family events under three different companies, doing event setup and backdrop designs for six years. This was where he struggled the most when the pandemic happened, and all events were put on hold. “Like with most people who lost their jobs during that time, it was really challenging for me, thinking how to survive for the next months on a very tight budget. I was losing hope and even thought of going back to the Philippines for good,” he said. An optimist person, he didn’t stop until he found a suitable job for him. He was then hired as a customization artist in the Dubai Mall, where his artistic career started and opened doors to different opportunities. He worked there for less than a year before being hired by his current employer. When asked about his plans, he said he would continue growing his career in and out of Dubai and take every opportunity that comes his way. To start with his long-term goals, he plans to take post-graduate studies in fashion design.

Image Credit: Supplied

Shokudo restaurant in Deira reopened under new management The Shokudo restaurant, a favorite hub for Japanese and Korean food lovers in Dubai, has been reopened under new management.

An additional AED10 is required if a customer opts to experience Korean barbeque, where they can grill different types of seasoned red and white meats. Starting today, March 22, 2022, the restaurant, which is exactly located in Shop No. 7, Centurion Star Tower Building, Porta Saeed, Deira, it’s now in the possession of Filipino Institute founders Mr. Gabriel John and Mrs. Camille Joy Rimando. The all-you-can-eat scheme has been their staple since it opened in 2018. For only AED69, diners can enjoy a wide range of selection of unlimited Japanese and Korean food–ranging from rolls of sushis, their five-star rated takoyaki, stir-fry noodles, Kani furai, mixed seafood, Korean beef stew, kimchi, to tempura, among others.

in the Dubai campus to try the food in the restaurant. A month ago, the owners of the Filipino Institute reopened the Kusina Natin ‘To branch in Satwa which is popular for serving authentic Filipino food in the area.

During the grand reopening earlier, the couple exclusively invited their full-time employees

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T G F M Art ‘Popoy’ Los Banos Prominent Filipino PR Man gets promoted at energy logistics company Tristar Group

Well-known Filipino PR professional in the UAE Art ‘Popoy’ Los Banos has been promoted to Senior Manager for Corporate Communications of the Tristar Group effective April 1st. This comes after the recent announcement of the company that it acquired a majority stake in HG Storage International Limited in a deal valued at USD 215 million which has extended Tristar’s global presence to 29 countries. Los Banos is the only Filipino in the senior management team of the Dubai-based Tristar Group which is a fully integrated Energy Logistics business serving the downstream oil and gas industry. Tristar has over 2,000 employees representing more than 30 nationalities. He joined the company on

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April 29, 2012 as Corporate Communications Manager when Tristar was operating in 12 countries only. Tristar is a recipient of numerous Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) awards from prestigious local and global institutions and awards bodies. Los Banos was the former vice-chairman of the company’s CSR Steering Committee and is currently a member of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee. Los Banos has been sharing his PR skills and knowledge with the Filipino Community for over a decade. He has spoken before groups of Filipino entrepreneurs, professionals and

community leaders in events like the TFC Expo in Dubai in 2015 and the Negosyo Expo in Abu Dhabi in 2017, in networking meetings of the Philippine Business Council-Abu Dhabi Chapter in 2019 and 2021, in the Filipino Excellence in the Middle East (FEME) Forum in 2016 and 2018, and in virtual workshops of a number of colleges in the Philippines in 2021. Los Banos received the Philippine Pride Awards in Public Relations from the Philippine Business Council-Abu Dhabi chapter on December 18, 2019 for his ‘exemplary leadership and tireless efforts to continuously support, boost and campaign for excellence to uplift the Filipino image.’

Touchdown, Philippines’: Filipino Institute opens first NCR campus

Filipino Institute, the leading Filipino-owned educational institute based in the UAE and with remote campuses in Qatar and Bahrain, has just opened its first campus in the Philippines. In a Facebook post, it announced that it is ‘opening its gateway for the new campus in the Philippines’, specifically in Quezon City. Their pilot NCR campus is exactly located in Christopher Plaza Building, Quirino Highway, Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Quezon City. As they are in their first phase of preparations for setting up the campus, they are now offering various professional 24-week diploma courses that start from P4,500 per month for a

total of six payments, with May 7, 2022, as the projected first day of classes. It offers a wide range of professional diploma courses, including Caregiver, Nursing Assistant, Computer Engineering, Accounting, HR and Admin, Graphic Design, Sales and Marketing, and Business Management, among others. Successful graduates will receive a professional diploma with IOCP-UO certification, Transcript of Records (TOR), that can be both attested by Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

Good news! Filipino Institute Qatar now offers diploma courses UAE-based educational institution Filipino Institute is now offering diploma courses to its students in Qatar, allowing them to be more competitive in today’s dynamic job market. The Filipino Institute, which is committed to its promise to provide Filipinos in the region with the best and most affordable education, will provide students with real-life practical skills and proficiency through diploma courses. It will

enable the students to earn a decent salary after successfully completing the course. Currently, it offers eight diploma courses, specifically in Nursing, Accounting, Human Resource Administration, Business Administration, Information Technology, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Marketing, and Digital Marketing.

With plans to offer in its Filipino Institute campuses in UAE and Bahrain, Filipino Institute requires students to have at least a professional diploma degree before they get to avail the newly-introduced curriculum. The duration of each diploma course will be six months only.

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the company’s CSR Steering Committee and is currently a member of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Committee. Los Banos has been sharing his PR skills and knowledge with the Filipino Community for over a decade. He has spoken before groups of Filipino entrepreneurs, professionals and community leaders in events like the TFC Expo in Dubai in 2015 and the Negosyo Expo in Abu Dhabi in 2017, in networking meetings of the Philippine Business Council-Abu Dhabi Chapter in 2019 and 2021, in the Filipino Excellence in the Middle East (FEME) Forum in 2016 and 2018, and in virtual workshops of a number of colleges in the Philippines in 2021. Los Banos received the Philippine Pride Awards in Public Relations from the Philippine Business Council-Abu Dhabi chapter on December 18, 2019 for his ‘exemplary leadership and tireless efforts to continuously support, boost and campaign for excellence to uplift the Filipino image.’

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How to spot if your child may have special educational needs

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T G F M

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The Global Filipino Magazine | Issue 23 | March 2022