The Global Filipino Magazine | Vol 3 Issue 5

Lorgie Vergara Asaad

Filipina entrepreneur in UAE succeeds with hard work, persistence, and sacrifice

A

and

single mother on the front

professional finds hope in the midst of storms

Filipina-Emirati model, 19, creates name in Dubai fashion industry

Dr. Maria Lourdes Casas Christopher Vergara Rollan

Kate Aaliyah

TABLE

CONTENTs

EDITORIAL BOARD

GABRIEL JOHN RIMANDO

RYAN NAMIA Editor-in-Chief

ANGELO DUMAG Associate Editor

ORLI GAYETA Sales and Marketing Manager

ELAINE MARBELLA

LARA GENOVE DARSHANI NIMANTHI RAJAPAKSHA Sales and Marketing

ALLAN CARAGAO Senior Graphic Designer

JONATHAN DUMAS Multimedia Manager

RAYMART PATULOT Distribution Manager

QASSIM QUERESHI Distribution Officer

GILBERT GOMEZ Social Media Manager

A doctor and a single mother on the front line - Dr. Maria Lourdes Casas

Successful doctor in UAE: ‘Be consistent in doing what you do’ - Patrick Joseph S. R. Casas, MD

Filipino IT professional finds hope in the midst of stormsChristopher Vergara Rollan

OFW educator voice of women and children victims of domestic violence - Dr. Sharon Mendoza-Dreisbach

Filipina entrepreneur in UAE succeeds with hard work, persistence, and sacrifice - Lorgie Vergara Asaad

Filipina engineer ventures into sustainable solutions business in UAE - Zamantha Regala

Filipina teacher finds passion in teaching kids in UAERayhannah M. Luna

Certified marketing professional making waves in Middle East - Joel Lara

Recruitment officer turns CEO: ‘Listen to yourself and trust the process.’ - Raniel Reyes

Filipina-Emirati model, 19, creates name in Dubai fashion industry - Kate Aaliyah

Dr. Maria Lourdes Casas

Mostmedical professionals go into medicine with a mission-driven spirit. They are committed to helping people. Dr. Maria Lourdes Casas has been living and working in the UAE for 11 years, but her experience in pediatric cardiology is now 25 years.

Presently working at the Kabayan Clinic, Al Ahalia Hospital in Hamdan Abu Dhabi, the seasoned doctor caters to outpatients, both general pediatric cases or children with illness and baby clinic. But most of all, since Dr. Maria Lourdes has a subspecialty in pediatric cardiology, children with possible heart disease are referred to her.

After completing her doctor of medicine in 1980, she took her residency training at the Lungsod ng Kabataan, which is now called the Philippine Children›s Medical Centre. Dr. Maria Lourdes took her general pediatrics training there for three years, then transferred to the Philippine Heart Centre to take her subspecialty in pediatric cardiology.

It took her about five years to finish the training in her chosen field.

Through her passion and dedication to work, she became the Department of Pediatric Cardiology chairman for over 10 years in the same organization. Apart from treating patients,

place,» she added.

Two weeks after applying for employment online, she received a call only to be asked if she were interested in working with them. To her enthusiasm, she said yes.

«Everything went smoothly. So, they told me that they were offering me a job. If I sign the contract, they can process my papers, and then they gave me a ticket, everything during that time. My accommodation, my visa. So I can get my examination to pass as a licensed doctor here,» she said.

Eventually, Dr. Maria Lourdes passed the examination and left the Philippine Heart Centre for good.

Working overseas and facing challenges

When she reached her new place of work in Al Ain, she had to work for eight hours every day without leaving the site. She also recalled working for the clinic 24 hours on call just in case of an emergency.

«A very challenging experience because I had to tell myself, ‹I came here, I left my place there. I have to do it. I have to finish what I have started›,» she said.

As a widow, she also drew inspiration from her kids, who relied on her. The next thing that inspired her was to bring her kids to the UAE one by one.

From that vision, she was able to bring her eldest daughter, who also works in the medical field as a nurse, to the UAE. Next was her second two other daughters and, eventually, her son, who now works as a physician at the same hospital she works at.

she also got to train newcomers and become successful in their chosen fields.

At the height of her career, Dr. Maria Lourdes had to cross crossroads when her husband died.

«I lost my, you know, sense of my direction. So, I decided I had to change my environment, I had to move on for my children. So maybe providential, I was able to read that there is a possibility that I can go abroad. I can work abroad. It›s a different environment,» she recalled.

«It›s tough because it›s going out of your comfort zone. So, I have to decide if I should go there or not. But I said to myself, «I think for me to work again as effectively, maybe there›s something else available for me outside of the Philippine Heart Center. So, everything went to its proper

«At the end of the day, I think the lesson here is that even though a storm came into your life, there›s always someone up there who sees you,» she said.

Dr. Maria Lourdes describes herself as ‹happy and satisfied› now that her kids are in a good place.

When asked about her struggles when she was only starting her career overseas, she said she had struggled to communicate with locals since Arabic was the widely used language in the area where she was assigned. To address the language barrier, she attended the Arabic language lesson that the hospital provided them.

Dr. Maria Lourdes lauded the healthcare system in the UAE.

Juggling work and career

Dr. Maria Lourdes remembered waking up at 5:30 am, getting ready for work, and taking her children to school from Bulacan to Quezon City.

She dropped her kids at school by 7 am, took her breakfast at 7:45 am, went to church at 7:30 am, and went off to work from 8 am. Every day was a hectic day for her. After work, she would pick her kids up and return to Bulacan. At around 5:30 pm, she would go to her local clinic in Meycauayan, and make rounds to check on patients until 10 pm.

Looking back at her struggles, she could not stop being grateful for weathering all the storms she faced.

«Since all my children are grown up, they have their own careers, they have chosen their paths, I always tell myself: ‹Thank you, Lord. I think I›ve done well being alone for the last 14 years,›» she said.

«I think for a parent like me, a single parent like me, the only trophy that I wish for is to have successful children. I think every parent would say that that is their gold medal award,» she added.

When asked if she still has goals, she said she wants to maintain good health so she can treat and see more patients.

«I wanted to see them grow, and most probably because I was not there 24 hours a day for my children at least, by this time, I will be able to see other children from birth and as they go through. It›s just like sharing,» she said.

Successful doctor in UAE: ‘Be consistent in doing what you do’

Patrick Joseph S. R. Casas, MD

Adedicated

physician with 13 years of professional experience in his field, Patrick Joseph S. R. Casas is described as an enthusiastic and energetic doctor by her patients and colleagues.

Hailing from a family of doctors, he studied Doctor of Medicine and Post-Graduate Medical Internship at the prestigious Far Eastern University in 2014. As a general practitioner, his medical expertise ranges from diagnosing to treating and managing acute and chronic diseases of all ages.

Dr. Patrick›s mother works as a pediatric cardiologist, while his deceased father used to work as an ophthalmologist.

for Kabayan Clinic, a clinic under the umbrella of Alhalia Hospital in Abu Dhabi that serves the Filipino community in the capital.

«As a general practitioner, patients must go through us first before they go to a specialist. For all types of illnesses, regardless of age--we will have to check on the patients first. We will see if we can provide the health care they require or if the patient needs to see a specialist,» he said.

There were certain factors where he struggled: the new environment and homesickness.

«I was taking myself out of my comfort zone. Before, I was okay with getting transferred to different hospitals because I could adapt to

He saw how the medical force struggled with insufficient medicine and facilities when he worked for a government-run hospital.

«If I look back, I could say today that I›m living the life. I feel like I am on my way there [pinnacle of success]. You›ve already accomplished half of it, and it feels good because you get to do what you like. You enjoy your career,» Dr. Patrick said.

When he›s not treating patients, he plays video games, and reads books, current events, and journals on medical advancement and new updates.

Dr. Patrick also immersed himself in triathlon before the pandemic. His hobby stopped during the pandemic when the movement in the capital was restricted.

Helping kabayans

The Filipino physician is glad to be part of Kabayan Clinic in Abu Dhabi as he gets to reach and help more Filipinos and understand their medical needs and attention.

The entity also offers huge discounts for Filipinos and organizes blood donation drives, among others. Non-Filipinos are also welcome in the clinic, he clarified.

«In my experience, our fellow Filipinos go here with their lab results. They›re aware of their diagnosis but want a more profound explanation from their countrymen. They understand it well,» he said.

«They will take your word for it. They trust you more because the language you speak is the same. They are more at ease after that. They know what to do,» he added.

Dr. Patrick said he still wants to further his residency and specializes in cardiology.

‹If your goal is scary enough, that›s great›

He advised his fellow kabayan to determine their goals.

In the Philippines, he spent many hours in various hospitals, private companies, hotels, and factories, among others, in Taguig and Paranaque until he settled in internal medicine.

While he was still training in internal medicine, an idea to work abroad lurked in his head.

«It was a wake-up call for me to look for something higher and better,» he recalled.

After serving countless patients in the Philippines for four years, he decided to work overseas as a general practitioner. For two years now, Dr. Patrick works as a general practitioner

the system. Unlike here, it›s very different and stricter,» he said.

The young doctor lauded the comprehensive, government-funded health service and a rapidly developing private health sector that delivers a high standard of health care to the public.

«In terms of practice, the medications, and laboratories needed, you all can do it here,» he added.

«The truth is, I envy the healthcare system here. I wish we had the same privilege in the Philippines,» he further added.

«Your goal for now may look impossible, might look scary, but that›s good because if your goal is not frightening enough, I don›t think you›re aiming high enough. So, if you›re afraid, then that›s great because that means you›re there for greater things,» he added.

Dr. Patrick further added that if one starts to dream, one should always be consistent.

«There are times when you lose motivation. Sometimes you will be so crushed that you think the sky has fallen on you. But that›s okay; that›s how it is. If your goal is high, that isn›t easy. Accept that you will suffer. But you have to be consistent in doing what you do and little by little,» he concluded.

Christopher Vergara Rollan

Filipino IT professional finds hope in the midst of storms

Searching

for jobs in the UAE may be easy for some, but it was difficult for Christopher Vergara Rollan, an Abu Dhabi-based OFW.

He recalled arriving in Abu Dhabi on March ,23 2004, his mother›s birthday. Under a visit visa, he had to walk from the Mark Spencer Airport road to the Abu Dhabi Mall, then back to the airport road for a minimum of six kilometers each day just to find a decent job in the field of IT.

It was his father›s idea to visit him in the UAE, where he worked as a lead foreman. When he received the invitation, he was already working as a corporate communications staff in Makati.

«I knew it was my turn to be an OFW since I had promised him that one day, it›s going to be my turn to work abroad,» he said.

Fulfilling his promise to his family, Christopher was finally accepted as an assistant HR administrator for a leading IT company with a AED1,500 monthly salary, or just a little over P18,000 at that time, after sending four CVs to the same company within the span of four months.

A year later, after their IT operations manager discovered that he could fix computers, terminate UTP, share folders, and troubleshoot computers, he was recruited by the IT department of the same company. Christopher was sent to Nakheel projects as an IT engineer to set up, install, and migrate their machines across their subsidiaries.

As he got married and a child was on the way, he had to leave the company to join another company; however, it was just a short-lived experience as the company terminated its employees› contracts, leaving them, including him, jobless. It was a ‹blessing in disguise› because in 2006, he received a job offer from a British PMC firm where he worked as a senior IT engineer/project control engineer and a consultant for more than four years. He became part of several multi-million dollar projects, such as Etihad Academy, Cleveland Clinic, Alfalah Community Development projects, World Trade Towers, and Reem projects, to name a few.

Two weeks after his church wedding and two days before his birthday, he, unfortunately, lost his job because of the recession in the country. His wife supported the family for the next four months. With the depleting budget, they decided to return to the Philippines. The day before their flight back home, Christian received a call for an interview, promising him a senior document

controller position.

«I did not expect anything since the work was not aligned with my expertise,» he recalled. ]

The next day, they went back home, and two weeks later, the company that interviewed him showed interest in hiring him, so they sent him the offer letter and visa.

It was another heavy heart to leave his family behind, but he had to do it to give them a comfortable life.

«The real OFW stigma had just started to sink in me. Realizing how my dad managed that for more than 25 years working abroad--from Saudi Arabia, Africa, Hong Kong, and in UAE,» he said, noting that he could only recollect the two months his father stayed with them to spend quality time then back abroad for another two straight years.

«For me, they are the true hero as they have endured all the predicament of being away without cellphones, no internet connection-only letters and voice tapes,» he added.

He worked as a document controller and IT professional at the same time for six months until he received another termination letter.

The termination letters he received every month for six months took a toll on his mental health as they reminded him to look for a job as soon as possible. During that time, he only prayed for two things: to secure a job and to reunite with his family.

With enough savings, he risked bringing his family back to UAE in 2011. When the stars aligned for him, he was accepted as an IT

administrator who reports directly to the general manager. After completing numerous projects, awards, and milestones, four years later, he was promoted to head of the IT department, which he has held since 2015. Being the only Filipino head in the organization makes him proud to be a world-class and Global Filipino.

Before he was promoted, he co-founded PIITA. org, a non-profit organization helping fellow IT professionals in the UAE pursue excellence in the field of IT.

In the midst of the 2020 Covid19 pandemic, he also co-founded Mitacor.net, an SEC, BIR, and SSS-registered IT corporation in the Philippines that provides opportunities to young and dedicated IT professionals and students as interns.

Trained for real world since a child

As a child, Christian has already seen the preview of the real world. He drove a tricycle at the age of nine and sold water and fish at 10. At 14, he was a part-time laborer at a construction site. He also learned the practical use of mathematics when his mother mentored him on how to sell bananacue, turon, ukoy, and maruya.

A straight honor student in elementary and a below-average student in high school, he completed a two-year diploma course in Computer Systems Technician. He pursued his Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. During that time, he had to work as an IT and graphic artist, paid P50 per day as his father lost his job in Hong Kong.

Sometimes, he had to queue to pay for his tuition, hoping his mother would show up with the cash before he even reached the counter.

Christian plans to retire in five to 10 years to focus on PIITA and MITACOR. He also plans to continue growing his social media channels, where he shares his life.

He advised his fellow OFWs to have the right attitude.

«Hindi pwede ang balat sibuyas. I have been humiliated and insulted many times, but I never took it personally. But instead, work hard and polish your craft,» he said.

Dr. Sharon MendozaDreisbach

OFW educator voice of women and children victims of domestic violence

Theonly way to do great work is to love what you do. Dr. Sharon MendozaDreisbach lives by this statement.

Dr. Sharon started her career working in the tourism and hospitality industry. After working in an airline and hotel, she joined government services working in the tourism office. Eventually, she got invited to teach and became an HR practitioner at the same teaching.

She decided to work overseas in 2006. When Dr. Sharon arrived in the UAE, she was immediately got hired as a lecturer in a university in Ajman.

Presently, Dr. Sharon, a breast cancer survivor, works as an assistant professor at the prestigious Skyline University College at the University of Sharjah. As a professor, her main tasks cover three factors: teaching, research, and community services. In the institution, she shares her knowledge about human resources and public administration.

The greatest aspect of her teaching career is that she›s able to use her profession in advocacies for educating people about breast cancer and being a voice for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and physical assault.

She›s very passionate about community services that her counseling extends from her students to cancer patients and victims of domestic violence.

«When you are able to help someone, and you see them living a happy life, it is gratifying and fulfilling. My grandfather once told me that helping others and giving back to the community is a form of prayer,» she added.

Suppressing negative emotions

Dr. Sharon is a victim of domestic violence.

Her parents got separated when she was only months old. In the absence of her parents, her grandparents raised her with all the love and

protection; however, when she started studying at the age of six, she was forced to live with her mother.

«She is narcissistic, and living with her was a trauma. I was physically assaulted at age nine and bullied at school because I didn›t know who my father was. Domestically abused during the marriage. I started to build anger, hatred, fear, and self-pity,» she said when asked to describe her life before.

It came to the point that she had a realization and thought: ‹Enough is enough.›

«I have to stand up and be strong for my sons,» she said.

Because of suppressing negative emotions for more than 40 years, she was unaware that she had started to awaken the most feared and dangerous cell in the body: cancer.

On her first diagnosis, her doctor put her a death sentence. She recalled being told to return to the Philippines and spend her remaining days with her family.

«Because I was not convinced with her, I decided

to go for two more options in different hospitals and met with oncologists and a surgeon,» she added.

While being treated, Dr. Sharon reflected and realized that if there was one person who deserved forgiveness, it was herself.

«Self-forgiveness helped to eliminate and forget all the negative emotions and turned them into positive emotions,» she said.

She underwent all mastectomy surgery and all treatments in chemotherapy, radiation, and other medicines with positive emotions, self-love, self-compassion, and self-kindness.

In just a matter of eight months, Dr. Sharon was miraculously free of any harmful cancer.

She said she would continue doing her advocacies and touch more lives.

«My advice is from Whitney Houston›s song Greatest Love of All: ‹learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.› When you fully love yourself, you will able to share to love, to give more, and to forgive those who hurt you,» Dr. Sharon said.

Lorgie Vergara Asaad

Filipina entrepreneur in UAE succeeds with hard work, persistence, and sacrifice

Lifeis full of challenges. These challenges ultimately test Lorgie Vergara Asaad›s character. She convinces herself that you get to find out who you really are during extreme pressure or adversities in life.

Acceptance, for her, enables one to move on and learn from the experience in a bid to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

«We can›t choose what always happens to us in life, but we can always choose how we respond to it. How we respond dictates what were likely to take from the experience,» Lorgie, who has been living and working in the UAE for the past 16 years, shared.

The high-spirited Filipina started her career in consultant engineering nearly a decade ago. She had professional experiences working for various industries, such as consultancy, real estate, and engineering, to name a few, with a variety of teams and solutions. Her diverse skills, qualities, and experience molded her into a better entrepreneur.

A mom of five kids and married to an engineer, Lorgie, a business-minded person, initially put up her ‹My Creations Party & Eents› in 2016, specializing in events management that covers thorough budget development and tracking.

Making sure that every event they handle becomes memorable, they exquisitely execute the planning, coordination, and budgeting.

Last year, Lorgie opened ‹The Good Finds UAE,› an artisanal boutique offering unique and handcrafted items, such as hand-made and customized painted bags. The bags sold on their platform are made of natural pandan leaves.

She takes pride in the products they import into the UAE, using unique, sustainable, and environment-friendly materials.

Just recently, their bayong, made from woven pandan leaves, made an appearance during Michael Cinco›s Men›s Spring Summer 2023 fashion show. The Philippines› traditional

bags were hand-painted and showed off on the catwalk, highlighting the country›s local products in the international fashion arena.

The fashion icon himself lauded the company for its eco-friendly products. He described them as ‹amazing› and ‹unique.›

As of the present time, they offer their bayong in select malls in Dubai with plans to sell them across the UAE in the future.

«I embraced entrepreneurship as a mindset and chose to embody it for years. It›s all about hard work, persistence, and sacrifice,» she said.

Lorgie stressed that there is no such thing as ‹overnight success› no matter how social media tries to convince one otherwise.

«Take ownership of your choice to build your chosen business that will one day whom you can be proud of,» she added.

The businesswoman lives with her mantra, ‹My

grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.›

«Therefore, I will boast more gladly about my weaknesses so that God›s power may rest on me. For God›s sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. For when I am, then I am strong,» she said.

She added that this mantra reflects her life.

«I like to think of mantras as empowering messages to carry ourselves forward towards our intentions for ourselves. They are also there to get you back on track when you find yourself slipping into feelings that are not serving you,» she added.

Lorgie said that the biggest anyone can ever compete with is themselves.

«You are your most potent, most challenging competitor, and when you outdo yourself, that is when you really start accomplishing things and becoming great,» she added.

According to her, pushing oneself to the limit, achieving goals, and going above and beyond are some of the best things one can ever do.

«It helps you focus on the goals you set and helps push you to attain these goals. Once you prove to yourself that you can work hard enough, the world becomes a lot smaller, and opportunities reveal themselves to you so that you may broaden your horizons and make your life what you want it to be,» she said.

Gowns by Michael Cinco

IMAGE CREDIT: THAN DUMAS

Zamantha Regala

By Bryan Angelo Dumag

Filipina engineer ventures into sustainable solutions business in UAE

credit: supplied

Establishing

a business is a lengthy process that requires patience, dedication, and desire to succeed. Nowadays, business is not only a regular activity since it promotes awareness through advocacies. She raises awareness via advocacy.

Zamantha Regala, a 41year-old Filipino expatriate in Dubai who is the General Manager of JJJ Group, pushes for sustainable lighting, design, and construction solutions.

Her devotion allows her to become an empowered lady who can cross any mountain and sea. The Filipina spirit within her has an impression on many individuals she meets.

Zamantha was born and reared in the Philippines, where she finished her schooling. She holds a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering. In her early years, she worked in design, sales, and project management. She eventually pursued her interest in lighting solutions company development after understanding her flair for sales and marketing.

Zamantha made the paramount choice in 2015 to build a restaurant in Dubai Silicon Oasis, marking his entrepreneurial adventure›s beginning. She eventually left the restaurant industry to concentrate on the JJJ group.

Life in Dubai

Zamantha arrived in the UAE in 2005 and has called Dubai her home. The emirates offered her everything she desired. She considers the country one of the world›s greatest for raising a family. What she appreciates most about the country is the certainty of security and safety, and ease of access.

During her early years, she worked for two French LED light manufacturers as a member of the teams that produced and presented the goods to the local market. One of her professional highlights was providing sustainable lighting solutions to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) for a first-of-its-kind project in the UAE.

When Dubai Vibes Magazine asked her about her job satisfaction, she responded that the presentation on sustainability and ESG practice is among the most sought-after internationally.

«My business path enables me to provide value-added services through durable lighting solutions that fulfill the diverse needs of my consumers,» she explained.

Zamantha›s life after work is considerably more centered on reading. She is a passionate reader, and one of her favorite pastimes each month is meeting other readers at their book club. Every month, they choose a book, and their conversations revolve around it.

Challenges that turn to greatness

Managing a small business involves juggling many weekly tasks, which can be challenging in a

single day. She says the most difficult problem is prioritizing and finishing duties flawlessly.

Zamantha is an active member of Femail Fusion, a network of 20,000 female entrepreneurs. As an oracle of knowledge, the community member has been helpful on many key occasions for JJJ Group and has helped grow her professional network.

«It has also been my safe haven and support system, which provides me with appropriate assistance to confront issues and make the correct decisions,» she added.

Zamantha stated that the Female Fusion women entrepreneurs had been a fantastic source of inspiration, support, and encouragement in her endeavors. The group is highly resourceful and appropriate for all types of business-related questions, and it has assisted her in overcoming any challenges she has encountered.

Her group experience also provides a secure space for women to explore their passions and interests, make connections, exchange experiences, and bring value to their entrepreneurial path.

This determined woman is now an inspiration to many others, mainly Filipino expats working abroad to create and maintain a solid life for their families in the Philippines.

Despite reaching the pinnacle of her career, Zamantha›s ultimate goal for her family is to acquire a home in Dubai and develop her business, including building a JJJ Showroom shortly. Aside from that, she wishes for her children to complete their university education in the UAE.

Rayhannah M. Luna

Filipina teacher finds passion in teaching kids in UAE

Raised

in a Chinese and Muslim traditional culture, Rayhannah M. Luna finished a Business Administration major in banking and finance with a second degree in Bachelor of Elementary Education.

After completing her initial course, she worked for a bank for nearly a decade as a CASA bookkeeper, teller, account officer, supervisor, loans officer, and OIC.

Spending eight hours inside the office for several years pushed her to take up a new challenge. This time, she took up a Bachelor of Elementary Education to further her passion for educating children.

After completing the course, she took the exam and passed it on the first try. She did not have a hard time changing her career from finance to education as she loved the latter more.

She then joined the Department of Education in the Philippines and worked as a public teacher for five years while realizing her dream of educating the young. Her greatest achievement during her stint as a public teacher was to put up a drum and lyre group in the school where she was assigned and received a number of accolades because of her excellent performance.

While doing a remarkable cause, Rayhannah, fondly called ‹Ma›am Hannah› by her students, was also a member of some non-government organizations that help those in need by providing basic needs and monetary help to start a business.

Ma›am Hannah describes herself as an ‹explorer› and ‹perfectionist› who wants to complete all her tasks on time. She is also a loving and caring wife to her lovable and non-Filipino husband.

Every year, she promised to travel to one country as a gift to herself. The educator has been to Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Japan for business trips for her small boutique in the Philippines.

Suddenly, in 2015, without any plans to work overseas, she was asked by a friend to live and work in the UAE. It was in the same year that she worked for a very influential family in Abu Dhabi as a private tutor. She left the work a year after to explore the city more and look for other careers.

Ma›am Hannah worked as a cashier at Global Village, a local seasonal attraction in Dubai. After working there for six months, she joined a British school in the same emirate, where she started working as a school teacher and was promoted to headteacher, spearheading four branches.

With a huge responsibility, as a Filipino with a fighting spirit, she never gave up on the tasks. However, she had to leave the company due to a salary dispute.

When Covid19 started, it left her jobless, including her husband. With no income, they thought of returning to the Philippines to start a new life. Flights were canceled when they

were about to return to the Philippines, so they decided to start a trading business.

To make ends meet, she and her husband used social media channels to sell clothes, bags, perfumes, and shoes.

«Luckily, our plan boomed, and Alhamdulillah, until now, we are still managing our own small business,» she said.

«Working abroad has never been easy, especially when we think of our loved ones back home and long for their presence. But need to continue living and earning to support their needs,» she added.

Whenever she misses her family, she just sits back and prays to overcome the sadness. She always prays for her family›s safety.

Continuing her passion

Teaching kids hold a special place in Ma›am Hannah›s heart. One day, while scrolling on her Facebook, she saw a Filipino Institute ad looking for a full-time K12 teacher. She asked her husband if she could apply for the position and do what she loves the most.

After getting the blessing, she called the company and sent her CV immediately. She received an interview call the next day and got hired after.

Months after her hard work, she climbed the ladder of success. From working as a CASA teacher, she now holds the position of academic director for the nursery, CASA 1 and 2 departments.

«I am happy to share my knowledge and capabilities as a Filipino teacher with our Filipino children here in UAE. I am so thankful for joining this kind of team as I saw how ‹teamwork› works,» she said.

If the time comes, Ma›am Hannah wants to put up her own preschool in the Philippines to continue her passion for teaching.

Joel Lara

Certified marketing professional making waves in Middle East

Workingin the Middle East is not new for Joel Lara, a marketing professional who is currently based in Abu Dhabi. He has been working in Doha, Qatar, since 2015

Despite having a stable job back home, he seized the day when an opportunity to work overseas knocked.

Amazed by the beautiful country, everything was new to him. He thought: «There were no hanging electricity wires, the roads streets were seamless that no random public or private vehicles were driving around, and no people were crossing along the road. Everything looks neat and organized.»

He had proven to himself when he worked overseas that everything he learned from school was not enough, and those theories inculcated in his mind were not 100 percent applicable when he had to put himself in real-life corporate experience.

When he arrived in the host country, he was lucky enough to obtain a job related to his long work experience in customer service in the call center industry.

He worked for a major network in the country, dealing with various customers daily.

«The challenge in working with that company was the workforce composition, as it was never easy to work with different nationalities. Dealing with customers in the middle east is easier as my training was that the western setup is extreme in all aspects. However, working with hundreds of different nationalities in the same company brought difficulties as they did not have a concept of professionalism and work ethic,» he said.

Joel had to leave the company and choose a new career path--this time in a construction company. He said that the workload was a lot easier, and the people were manageable to work with, although there were still occasional complications with

others, which was inevitable.

Getting the salary on time was also an issue. He struggled to pay his bills because their salary was continuously pending for several months; thus, he had to take up freelance work as a volunteer trainer for Filipino Institute.

Teaching is his passion since he has been teaching English since he was only 18. His love for teaching rekindled when he joined the roster of trainers at the institute.

The year 2021 brought him a new and exciting chapter when he decided to move to UAE to live with his mother. He was excited because he knew that the country is so welcoming to expatriates and the lifestyle is upbeat and always on the go, which matches his personality.

He accepted the position as the marketing manager of the Filipino Institute Abu Dhabi campus, where he gets to meet people from

different walks of life and learn from their careers and life experiences.

«I am just lucky that it is easy for me to find work. I owe this to the education and acquired training I had over the years. If I am to compare the work experiences I had from different companies, there›s one thing common with them: multicultural composition,» he said.

Joel recalled when he was denied the opportunity of promotion because he was not speaking the local language despite his experiences, expertise, and knowledge on the job.

«It hurts to see someone you know has less experience and knowledge than me to have better pay and a better career,» he added.

For the longest time he was working, he realized that he had to step up and be his own boss. He likes the idea of working on his terms while he gets to do things he loves and makes him happy. Hence, it becomes his advocacy to share the mantra with every student he teaches to have that mindset of being future entrepreneurs and having control of their lives and finances.

Joel plans to work in the emirate for a few more years and save up for his dream house in addition to a simple farm business he was able to procure while working overseas.

«I wanted to retire at a young age in a cold breeze up in Cordillera, having a hot tea overlooking a green mountain view,» he said.

Joel defines success as finding happiness in what you›ve accomplished, what you›re doing, and what you will do in the future, so long you don›t violate anyone.

«We might not all be there yet, or we still have some goals to attain but what is most important is that we respect ourselves and other people,» he concluded.

Raniel Reyes

Recruitment officer turns CEO: ‘Listen to yourself and trust the process.’

Formany years, Raniel Reyes has been helping his fellow Filipinos to work abroad through a recruitment agency. He was working as a recruitment officer in the Philippines, sending manpower to the Middle East, specifically to hotels and bars.

Little did he know that one day, his fate would be the same as their clients.

Hailing from Nueva Ecija in the Philippines, Raniel was sent to UAE to man a bar. Like many overseas Filipino workers, he had difficulty leaving his family behind. The only thing he thought about at that time was he could finally provide them with the life he promised.

«As a recruitment officer in the Philippines, I get to hear a lot of OFW stories,» he said, noting that since he was in college, he wanted to work overseas to harness his skills further.

From a bar manager, he took a leap of faith and ventured into graphic designing, where he polished his creative talent and skills. His exposure to graphic designing has also paved the way for him to work three more years as an advertising manager. It allowed him to meet big clients and build his network.

The proud Filipino wears many hats--he worked as a mobile and computer technician, programmer, chef, and photo and video editor.

When the Covid19 pandemic happened, the bar where he worked was forced to halt its operations temporarily. Some of his colleagues sheltered in his apartment while the movement was restricted in the country to give way to the national sterilization program.

It was not long ago when he opened his own company, Creations Advertisement, an Ajmanbased branding and design agency. Through this, they get to help businesses thrive by creating powerful brands via strategy, creativity, and seamless implementation.

Raniel plans to grow his business in the emirate. Currently, he has clients all across the seven emirates.

He advises his fellow Filipinos abroad to work smarter.

«Listen to yourself and trust the process,» he concluded.

image credit: supplied

Kate Aaliyah

Filipina-Emirati model, 19, creates name in Dubai fashion industry

By Bryan Angelo Dumag

KateAaliyah, a 19year-old FilipinoEmirati, is a university student and model in the UAE. She was reared in both Emirati and Filipino cultures, and her unique upbringing aided her in becoming a woman of grace and brilliance.

UAE has been her home since she was a youngster. In this beautiful metropolis of Dubai, she honed her creativity, talents, and enthusiasm. A youthful dreamer keeps her soul alive in all facets of her life. She shapes her fate as a lady of experience and variety with the help of her Filipina mother.

One of the most wonderful things she enjoys doing is learning something new, not just from books but also from life events, people around her, and the obstacles and rejections she faces in her daily life.

Her pals are the people that inspire her to work harder in life and to keep dreaming despite adversities and disappointments. One of her top concerns is to be competent in the realm of work.

According to Kate, studying in the UAE is a fun learning experience; nevertheless, many activities outside of the classroom have taught her a lot.

«Being wise in life is essential to me. As a curious youngster, I›ve always wanted to learn something new; I never stop asking questions,» she continued.

Growing up in a not-so-great atmosphere is undoubtedly why she desired to aspire for a better start in life; it may sound implausible, but nothing is impossible for her. She feels that among the impossibilities, there is always a chance.

Kate›s motivation and hobbies concentrate on magazine reading, television viewing, and listening to various motivating speakers. She is also interested in fashion and the creative sectors.

«It fascinates me that if a person is talented and well-equipped, they can make a livelihood doing the most basic of tasks. It is a question of working smarter, not harder,» she stated.

Modeling career

Kate began her modeling career at 13 when she did simple photo shoots with her relatives in the Philippines. She found her passion at a young age as a humble girl. She also discovered networks in Dubai with the assistance of her mother. Encountered brilliant and well-known fashion business figures who inspired her to flourish as a model.

«I began to learn more and apply it to my interest. I ultimately got to wear the gorgeous gowns designed by Michael Cinco; it was the pinnacle of my career, «She cheerfully stated.

Kate stated that her encounter with Michael Cinco was a humbling event. She finds herself fortunate and happy to be able to wear a fantastic designer›s gown.

The opportunities she has fueled her desire to be molded and formed. While studying, she mainly works in the fashion sector. Leading towards passion is far more important to her than pay.

She continued, «What I enjoy most about the fashion industry is the freedom with which I can express my style, taste, and trends. It is incredibly adaptable, and it is an art form.»

The ultimate dream

As a young lady still trying to make a name for herself in the fashion world, she has minor challenges such as time management owing to a slew of activities. Nonetheless, she claims that she always focuses on getting the task done rather than fretting about the difficulties. Her main secret is staying on track.

In addition to being a student and a fashion model, Kate has a great voice and is also a superb songwriter. When there is an event or a birthday celebration, her mother will constantly urge her to sing. She is also a fitness enthusiast, and her interests include meditation, exercise, sports, and swimming.

«Everything occurs for a purpose,» she says, «so don›t question what›s going on in your life, live it the way you want to and just be grateful for things every day, and keep yourself humble, regardless of your title or occupation.»

Dubai is a home

«Where exactly is home? Home might be any place you feel secure. It could be a person, where your friends are, or Dubai.»

Kate was reared in Dubai when she was eight months old when her family moved from the Philippines. And that was the most acceptable decision her mother ever made for her.

As a result of Dubai›s rapid expansion, she has learned to keep up with what is happening worldwide and in technology.

«My favorite aspect of Dubai is its diversity. It›s great because you get to meet so many different people from all around the world. The cuisine is fantastic, and the culture is intriguing to learn about, «She stated.

Finally, when Dubai Vibes Magazine asked if she planned to settle permanently in Dubai, she said that one thing was sure: Dubai would always be a location where she built memories, and it is the city where she felt at home. She has no idea what her future holds, but she can never say goodbye to Dubai.