DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: A Filipina, who have had her share of the travails associated with working abroad, including employment loss, now runs an online jobs site for fellow Filipinos displaced by the pandemic, saying it’s her way to “help and give back to the community.”
“We have experienced and navigated the difficulties of job hunting and working abroad,” said Eirene Suchy, who heads a team of fellow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) behind the online jobs platform officially launched in February this year.
Eirene Suchy
“We have created the jobs board to reach out to all aspiring for a better tomorrow. To provide a credible platform when hunting for the next job and where employers have easy access to a diverse talent pool,” said Suchy, co-founder and operations head of the company.
Humble beginnings
Suchy, who hails from Badian, Cebu came from humble beginnings. “Things have not been easy for me. I have experienced job loss, not getting paid for months or working long hours for pennies. I have also experienced personal lost during this pandemic. As with anyone, I have been faced with many,” she said.
Suchy arrived in Dubai in 2006 and worked as a call center agent before moving to the real estate sector where she became property consultant during the boom years. Following the real estate crash caused by the 2008 global economic slump, Suchy worked as a personal assistant at a big online classified ads company where she moved up the ranks to eventually become head of sales. She resigned last year.
“With other friends, I have since co-founded Gohuntr to help those who have lost jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said referring to the online jobs site, the first Filipino-owned marketplace for jobs in the UAE.
Suchy shared how it all started: “With the pandemic and me resigning from my post, I had the luxury of time to chat with a friend during which we toyed on the idea of starting a jobs board to help those who’ve lost work.
“It’s a realization, knowing that with all the years of firsthand experiences I have mustered, I could help and give back to the community,” said Suchy, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Science of Psychology from University of San Jose – Recoletos.
Listings
Gohuntr now has over 600 companies listed, announcing more than 700 jobs available with fresh listings every day, according to her.
“Most of the companies would list the jobs directly at the site without asking support from us, which means we don’t have a record on the application progress. However, we are able to track the application progress from companies who come to us for help with their list of vacancies,” said Suchy.
She said Gohuntr has so far helped over 100 jobseekers who have called in for interview and have placed approximately 10 candidates for various posts. “But then again, the record could be higher,” she said.
“So far, for a four-month start-up, we’re doing good. We have received support from our Filipino community here in the UAE. We have been successful in placing jobs to candidates and some have been lined up for interviews. The traffic has seen an increase month-on-month,” Suchy said.
Suchy said there were plans to expand operations. “We hope to reach a wider community and expand not only in the UAE but globally, so we can help more Filipinos who want to go work not only in the UAE but to other countries as well.
“We also hope to foster successful partnerships with trusted agencies so that Filipinos who want to find work internationally don’t have to go through heaps of paperwork and burn thousands of pesos just to reach that dream,” she said.
Dubai’s hospitality sector is showing progress when it comes to attracting visitors, due to the government’s “very liberal view,” coupled with stringent health and safety protocols making travel to this city convenient and “very safe,” a top hotelier said.
Colin Baker, StayWell Holdings regional director for the Middle East and general manager of Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel
“It is definitely on the rebound,” said Colin Baker, StayWell Holdings regional director for the Middle East and general manager of Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, speaking to Dubai Vibes Magazine in an exclusive interview.
Baker said Dubai has “one of the strongest occupancies throughout the pandemic.”
“The Dubai government immediately established protocols when the pandemic hit and continue to do so, thus travellers can now come here and enjoy their visit knowing the environment is safe,” Baker said.
He said this has become a “demand generator for the businesses to come to Dubai.”
Baker said most Dubai hoteliers in July and August last year “thought that it would probably take at least 12 months before we would see a real rebound.”
“We noticed from September-October that the occupancy increased dramatically. So, we enjoyed 70% occupancy rates in November, December, January and February, which was a very pleasing and strong rebound,” Baker said.
Despite this, Baker said, nobody’s resting on their laurels.
“We are hoping that things will return to pre-2019 levels or similar to 2019,” he said. “Some industry experts are saying it will go back to normal by 2023; some are saying 2024, but we are still optimistic that the industry will bounce back here in Dubai quicker than many other parts of the world,” he added.
Dubai by night. (Photo by Rosaline Baylosis)
Market diversification has seemed to become the order of the day as staycation offers are rolled out for those in the UAE, who want to experience weekend hotel stays in lieu of travels, according to Baker.
Other markets are also being tapped, among them Africa, the Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR) in Europe as well as UAE’s neighboring countries in the region.
According to Dubai Tourism, the city had a total of 1.11million international guests from July to November 2020. From January to February this year, Dubai Tourism, recorded 810,200 arrivals to the city. Baker has a wealth of hospitality management experience, taking on key roles globally spanning New Zealand, Beijing, Papua New Guinea and obviously Australia before moving to Dubai in September 2017.
DUBAI: When he was in college pursuing a career in law, Ricardo R. Bojador, then a working student, washed dishes at a five-star hotel in Ermita, Manila to support himself.
“I began my first job in the kitchen as a dishwasher in one of the five-star hotels, followed by a couple of work in the fastfood restaurants,” Bojador said.
Today, Bojador, 42, still works at a five-star hotel. But not anymore a dishwasher; rather an executive chef at a plush world-class, fine-dining restaurant in Dubai.
Bojador, who hails from Bicol, had to drop out of college at University of the East – Recto to work full time and bring food on the table for his siblings and parents.
“In 2006, I moved to Dubai to have a better opportunity. I applied for a job in one of the best Japanese restaurants and received a reply from them the next day,” he said.
Success did not happen overnight.
The interview by the Japanese chef was very short and straight forward, said Bojador, who was accepted for the job.
“Washing vegetables and receiving deliveries were my first responsibilities in the kitchen. I would come early from my usual shift so I could finish my task and have extra time to learn more,” he told Rappler.
“The struggle was real,” Bojador said.
“My mission was to gain the skills required to be great in my field, and I worked towards that every day. I put in the hours, worked silently and focused on my goal, hoping that my food and work would one day speak for itself,” he added.
After six months of working as a kitchen helper, Bojador was given a chance to work in line with other chefs where the head chef taught him the ropes before finally giving him a big break.
“The head chef let me work in the sushi bar. I was very happy and excited because it was what I had been waiting for,” Bojador said. He was promoted twice following two and a half years of hard work.
Bojador’s exposure to the city’s high-end dining venues came in 2008 when he got a job as Demi Chef at Jumeirah Group Hotels where he worked for five years. “During that time I gained more valuable experience in running a kitchen. I continued working hard and got promoted thrice until I was given the position of Sous Chef,” Bojador said.
And there was no other way but up, since.
In 2013, Bojador joined the trendy Katsuya by Starck as a Senior Sous Chef. “Before the opening, I attended my brand training in Los Angeles, California USA where I learned the culture of the brand. After the training in US, they sent me to Kuwait to be a support group for the opening of the Katsuya restaurant in Middle East.”
He would later on become head chef and then, executive chef. In 2018, Katsuya won the BBC Good Food Awards for Best Japanese Restaurant.
Bojador was recently appointed executive chef at Wakame fine-dining restaurant, which specializes in innovative Asian cuisine at Sofitel Hotel in Downtown Dubai.
Having gone full circle, Bojador, looking back, said the highlight of his career “has been the people I have had the opportunity to work, learn and grow with.”
“People always say, ‘You must love what you do,’ which is true. However, it is as important to love and believe in the team you work with and that alone makes a lot of difference,” he said.
Asked about his plans, Bojador said: “One day, hopefully in the near future, I would love to take the experience I have gained internationally and open a restaurant in my own country.
“The focus would be to work with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and really show case what my country has to offer, gastronomically.”
To his fellow OFWs, Bojador offers these advice: “Focus lang po sa trabaho. ‘Wag susuko at higitan mo kung ano ang nagawa o na-accomplished mo kahapon. Every day dapat may progress ka maliit man o malaki.”
(Focus on your work. Don’t give up and always try to go beyond what you have accomplished the day before. You should have progress every day no matter how small.)
Asked about what it is with Filipinos that needs to be changed, Bojador said: “Siguro yun dapat improve ay yung mindset. Focus lang sa ginagawa mo at ‘wag mag-procrastinate. At kung makakatulong ka na ma-improve ang kalagayan at ma-inspire ang mga tao sa paligid mo, ‘wag kang maghesitate. Maging masaya ka sa tagumpay ng kapwa mo at gawin motivation yun para sa sarili.”
(Maybe the mindset needs to be improved. Focus and do not procrastinate. Don’t hesitate when an opportunity presents itself for you to help improve the lives of, and inspire, the people around you. Be happy with the success of your fellows and use it to motivate yourself.)
Bojador said he is a “proud Filipino.”
“Kung saan po ako ngayon, malaking parte po nyan ay yung pinanggalingan ko,” he said. (A big part of where I am now is rooted in where I started.)
Bojador has worked in various Dubai restaurants, among them, KIKU Restaurant in Le Meridien, Honyaki Sushi Restaurant in the Madinat Jumeirah, and China Grill Restaurant in the Westin Hotel.
Bojador will also be taking on the role as Executive Chef for Wakame’s sister brand Kawai, which specializes in innovative Asian-inspired street food. He will be overseeing the newly-opened restaurant in Dibba Fujairah and the food truck in Sharjah.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: An overseas Filipino worker (OFWs) has taken a break from her career in the corporate world to pay it forward by way of opening a restaurant showcasing Filipino food to the world.
Gina Valbuena took a big turn following her job as Business Support Manager to the CEO for Asset Management of a giant hospitality company in Dubai and opened the restaurant in the city that she named Kubyertos Cuisine.
“Looking back at our favorite family meals in my hometown Davao, I remember that side by side to our Sinaing na Tulingan and Pipino Ensalada were my mother’s laughter and smiles,” Valbuena told GMA News Online.
Gina Valbuena: Showcasing Filipino gourmet food to the world.
“In many ways, I felt this similar joy in Dubai as I became part of the robust Filipino community here. This is the experience our team wanted to bring to Kubyertos Cuisine: the comfort of our homes brought together by our food,” she added. Kubyertos is Tagalog for cutlery – from the Spanish, cubiertos.
Valbuena said Dubai, being an international expatriate city and host to Expo 2020, is the perfect place to showcase the Filipino cuisine before the world culinary stage.
Expo 2020 was postponed last year due to the pandemic and will be opened from Oct. 1 this year to March 31, 2022 instead. The restaurant is located quite close to the Expo 2020 site south of Dubai and is expected to be at the receiving end of the throngs of international visitors going to and coming from the exhibition areas. Some 192 countries, including the Philippines, will be participating and have constructed pavilions at the site.
Organizers said up to 25 million visitors are expected for the five-month duration of the international event. Among highlights of the world expo is Paris’ Eiffel Tower which was built to be the entrance to the 1889 World Expo.
Global community
Valbuena said another factor playing in favor of a world-class Filipino dining destination in Dubai is the city’s “global community.”
“Dubai is an international environment. The beauty of the emirate is that the diverse cultures do not compete with each other, but work hand in hand. To complement the global community in Dubai, we designed our menu not only to the Filipino palate but to entice the international market as well,” Valbuena said.
“I have very high regard for our local culture, immense awe for Filipino talents, hospitality and congeniality and deep appreciation of delectable dishes from different regions of the Philippines – what could be better than showcasing all of these to our greatest inspiration, the overseas Filipinos, and proudly introducing the same to the rest of the world?” she said.
Filipino fingerprints
Asked why she embarked on opening a restaurant after a break from a very comfortable corporate job, Valbuena said that as she, along with her husband and three children, have been in Dubai for the past 17 years, she “has become witness to the mark of the Filipinos in this country.”
“Whether we like to admit it or not, our fingerprints are all over the first bricks that built this beautiful nation. I wanted us to be proud of this fingerprint – to be proud of our presence and identity in the UAE.”
Valbuena said she “wasn’t looking to only serve good food” when she thought of launching Kubyertos as a homegrown, Filipino-owned brand. “I also wanted to empower the Filipino community,” she said.
“Inspired by many local brands that are thriving, I envisioned our team to be part of that community. What made me decide to open Kubyertos Cuisine was quite simple: to be a part of the many great brands that bring pride to our country,” Valbuena said.
She said their plan is to position Kubyertos Cuisine as “Filipino representation among the great Asian cuisines – creating a destination into our heritage.”
Pandemic
Valbuena said the dining venue was not spared the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our team had to quickly innovate to form new business models and respond to an environment no one could predict. We released new menus, put three-meter distance between our tables, and masked up. The response we got from the market was empowering, and if I had the words to articulate my feelings, it would be that this is the Filipino grit persevering through tough times,” she said.
Valbuena earned her BSC Degree major in Accounting with Magna Cum Laude recognition from Ateneo de Davao University.
Before moving to Dubai, Valbuena had a long stint with subsidiaries of JG Summit Holdings (Universal Robina Corp. and Robinsons Land Corp.).
Aside from the restaurant, Valbuena also owns a salon and spa, Kiesha Beauty Lounge, which caters to the local market.
A lot of you may not anymore remember, much less know, the late, great Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining,” where Jack Nicholson played a deranged dad click-clacking on his typewriter all day, every day, only to later on turn out he was filling up pages upon pages with a one-liner: “All work no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Scary? Hmmm… well.
The movie was not really that hairy at all during the opening sets till the scenes closed in and built a crescendo, riveting the audience in their seats, popcorns falling on the floor.
Lamentasyon, which was recently shown for two-consecutive nights at Dubai’s Reel Cinema in Ghurair Mall, reminded me of that psychological thriller which was based on “Horror Guru” Stephen King’s novel of the same title.
Award-winning Director Chino Pereira and co-writer Engelbery Chua (Daily Bread)
Award-winning Director Chino Pereira and writer Engelbert Chua, who together worked on the script, did not fail to keep the audience’s heartbeats leaping as the duo masterfully crafted the film to leave them wondering what’s going on, unleashing incipient ghastly hauntings for instance, till finally, after much begging from the viewers, executing the coup de grâce, if you will, that answered everyone’s damning question.
***
Not to sound condescending but it amazes to learn that the cast were all overseas Filipinos in Dubai, whose current day jobs range from being accountants to waiters and bartenders, office secretary, professional dancer, singer and comedians (there were some students, too) – and they did a helluva job, doing it because they love what they do and do what they love! They were not professional actors, but they certainly got the knack of it. Kudos!
The cast. (Supplied photo)
I was told that at the time of production, which was some 10 months ago, half the cast were jobless due to the pandemic. And they hopped on board the project not because they wanted something to be busy with else they lose sanity during those quarantine days, rather the storyline gripped them like there’s no tomorrow.
Main actors include Jiro Tejero (Samuel), Arnold Briones (Gerry), Vhie Laurilla (Magda), Mariah Jewel (Mika), Virgo Cueto (Cheska), Rachelle Melchor (Kathryn), Engelbert Chua (Dr. Mendoza), Dr. Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes (Mrs. Torres), Kevin Ocampo (Brent) and Mark Diokno (Roman)
***
Not to be a spoiler here but the first few scenes can be confusing: a ghost in the room… and so on – which is precisely the point: the film is a psychological thriller depicting what’s going on in the head of a man who snapped. Confused. Lost it.
Queuing in at Reel Cinema in Al Ghurair Mall where Lamentasyon was shown on April 8 and 9 (Daily Bread)
Along the way, the film struck deep on the viewers as it touched issues that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) could very much relate to, among them, the notion back home that they are leaving the life here when in fact a decent dinner would be nothing more than ready-to-cook noodles. Another issue is of relatives incessantly asking for money who are quick to disown once turned down.
Direk Chino and Engelbert couldn’t have done a better job, indeed, as the rave reviews claimed.
( Daily Bread News Blog)
There are talks of a re-run at Reel Cinemas in Dubai for those who missed it, and of registering Lamentasyon as entry to international film festivals.
“Confident enough naman po na at least ma-nominate. Sobrang confident po ko na yung naging performance ng mga lead actors ay talagang may mararating. (I am confident enough that the film will at least be nominated. I have full confidence on the performance of the film’s lead actors),” Pereira said of Lamentasyon’s chances at the festivals.
According to Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, who, along with spouse, Dr. Balajadia-Cortes and kids, watched the film during its recent red carpet premiere, ABS CBN’s KTX has extended the streaming run of Lamentasyon.
Originally running only from April 9 to 11, 2021, KTX is streaming Lamentasyon again from April 15 to 19, 2021, he said.
Cortes said KTX told him the performance of the film in the streaming service was “phenomenal” especially for an independent non-mainstream project.
“This proves that the artistic elements provided by Overseas Filipinos are indeed worthy of note and definitely mai-pagmamalaki sa mundo,” he said.
***
Lamentasyon, done in the likes of Kubrick’s “The Shining,” is a story about the perils of Filipinos working abroad, of trust and taking chances, of struggle, of keeping your hard-earned money where it should be… of – if you play your cards well – winning against the little demons in you.
A lesson on staying psychologically balanced as you live thousands of miles away from your comfort zone.
So, now the question is: Is that you reading this? (Ikaw pa ba ‘yan?)
DUBAI, UAE: Over 100 former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) here who have opened their own businesses – from salons to restaurants, even public relations and professional consultancy services – have banded together to help each other amid disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The “Filtrepreneurs,” as they are called, said it’s about time they group together and explore ways to make their respective businesses grow as Dubai’s economy starts to gather steam.
This solidarity effort could not even be more glaring than during an event recently organized by the Philippine Business Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates (PBC-DNE), that brought “Filtrepreneurs” under the umbrella group, The Executive Club (TEC).
The event was graced by Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes who expressed hope that it could be the start of a flourishing business community of Filipino entrepreneurs.
Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes addressing the event. (Photo courtesy of PBC-DNE)
“It is important that there should be an avenue for…Filipino entrepreneurs to share and discuss experiences and other concerns relative to their role as employment creators and providers of economic opportunities for everyone. For the longest time, many of our people have been known to be great professionals and employees but not as much as proactive players in the economic development of our host countries,” the consul general told Rappler in an interview.
“The initiative of the business council to come up with an executive club shows the growing interest of Filipinos in the field of entrepreneurship. It also shows the resolve of our people to rise beyond the challenges of a post Covid-19 pandemic and take these by the horns so that they direct their recovery according to their business acumen and not simply by chance or by the whims of others,” Cortes added.
Realization
Marian Carella, PBC-DNE head, said they were only expecting up to 30 people at the event held in the Radisson Blu Hotel – Dubai Deira Creek. Actual turnout however was at over 100, she said.
“It was perhaps the realization that it would be beneficial for their businesses to be part of this first-of-its-kind group offered to the Filipino business community – a chance to get connected,” Carella, herself a former-OFW-turned-entrepreneur, also told Rappler.
The TEC, Carella said “is a platform that will connect the former OFWs towards mutual development and growth… where they can converge, discuss and share best practices in leadership and business.”
“It is a platform where they can explore windows for engaging and leveraging on market opportunities,” she said.
Bayanihan
Thirty-three-year-old Lemuel Garrido Africa, who now runs an online clothing company with a Philippine-based business partner, said the event reflected on the Filipinos’ spirit of camaraderie.
“It showed one true Filipino culture, which is the Bayanihan. It is very timely and relevant during this trying times. We should set aside differences and work with one common goal to elevate Filipino-owned businesses through linkages,” said Africa, who had undergone PBC-DNE training in 2019, where his e-commerce business start-up proposal won among several other entries, and for which he received a grant for from the business group through sponsors.
“One close deal may lead to another and, right now, recommendations are much more powerful than any other ways of marketing your products or services,” added Lemuel.
Their clothing retail e-commerce was launched last month.
Opportunities
Meanwhile, Robie Torre-Gonzales, who has 20 years’ experience in the field of human resources – 12 of which have been spent in Dubai – said the TEC launch “paved the way for an array of opportunities for us.”
“As a start-up in the Dubai entrepreneurial community, the intimate gathering allowed us to understand the business scene. More than the information-sharing, the eco-system of Filipino expat entrepreneurs gave me the confidence that somebody will somehow support and guide you through the life of a businessperson. It’s the goal of helping the economy through your own community that stands out,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales has recently opened an HR consultancy firm, which helps companies create strategies, standardize processes and align skills to make the workforce a competitive advantage, she said.
Albert Alba, who had worked in the Dubai public relations field for over 10 years before recently setting up on his own as a freelance specialist, said launching TEC was a “timely, relevant and pioneering initiative” that will “open doors for referrals and recommendations (as well as) huge opportunities to network with Filipino entrepreneurs, learn lessons from them and hopefully start meaningful partnerships.”
“(I)n this challenging and difficult times, any and all forms of networking and help is a welcome opportunity. And as a budding freelance service provider, this is important (for me),” Alba said.
Solidarity
Dr. Rex Bacarra, Academic Head and Director for Administrative Services at the recently opened Southville International School and Colleges – Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Campus, said the overwhelming attendance at the PBC-TEC event “indicates the need for more profound solidarity among Filipino entrepreneurs in times of pandemic.”
“Covid-19 affected many businesses devastatingly, and one of the more meaningful ways to survive is to be with people in an organization sharing the same concerns. The 100-plus who attended from the expected 30 is telling. Filtrepreneurs need each other not just to survive but to flourish. This is Bayanihan in action. A communal unity. We lessen the worries of each one by encouraging one another,” Bacarra said.
Bacarra and Dr. Ben Lebig, who himself, was also instrumental in opening a Southville branch in RAK, an emirate north of Dubai, said they were at the event to find out how they could help.
“Recognizing what one offers and supporting that endeavor through the actual use of service or product, recommending to other people, and sharing insights and strategies on how to improve, are just a few of the benefits each one gained from the event.
“All of them were happy to know that there is now a Filipino-owned higher education institution in the Middle East that the community can be proud of and one that will cater to our children’s all-important educational needs and the young professionals who feel the need to enhance their careers,” Bacarra said, referring to Southville – RAK.
Gabriel John Rimando, who runs a learning center – the Filipino Institute – for OFWs wanting to level up in terms of their educational and skills background for better career prospects and greener pastures, said the high attendance at the PBC event, speaks so much about the need to create a Filipino business group in Dubai that would not only provide trainings and related services but would function similar to the way chambers of commerce operate.
“It means na need na talaga nating magkaroon ng Filipino business group na susuporta sa mga Filipino-owned companies. Dumarami na ang mga Filipino-owned companies, kaya maganda na magkaroon din tayo ng sariling group na mag-aasist sa kanila,” Rimando said.
(The big attendance means there is really a need to have a Filipino business group that will support Filipino-owned companies. There is now a growing number of such companies and it is high time that we have a group that would assist them.)
Word-of-mouth marketing
Rolly Brucales, restaurateur, said the event provided an opportunity to “pull each other up.”
“It is also a good platform to share business experiences and information about suppliers,” said Brucales, who runs a chain of popular seafood restaurants and a recently-launched Japanese dining venue in Dubai whose target client base is the mainstream local and expatriate market.
Gina Valbuena, another restaurateur who also runs a beauty shop that both aims for the mainstream market, echoed Brucales’ remarks, saying the high turnout at the TEC launch event is a “testimony of the Filipino community’s desire to lift each other up.”
“While scattered across the emirates, TEC gives us a platform to build connections as well as an opportunity to support each other and innovate resources to cultivate a culture of collaborative business with a common goal: championing the Filipinos in the UAE,” Valbuena said.
Valbuena said she was able to “establish the first step to prosperous relationships with other entrepreneurs” as “collaboration is key to moving forward.”
The restaurants’ popularity grew mainly by word of mouth and through social media where customers post their dining experience after having meals there.
“When I see positive reviews left by customers created by this expanded network, I am humbled and grateful to our team for realizing our vision to ‘bring the joy and taste of home,’” she said.
Network of suppliers
Meantime, Jeremy Paul de Jesus, operations manager at a cargo forwarding company said he was able to connect with people who could be vital for his company’s operations.
“May mga nakilala ako na kailangan ko sa business ko (I met people whom I need for my business),” he said, citing one who is into auto works and can be handy for the company’s motor fleets; and another, engaged in office fittings whom he could need should the company move to open new branches; and still another who provides office supplies.
Edith Gibbs, salon owner, said she was able to promote her beauty parlor, while Enrique Araneta III, who runs two automotive repair shops, said he wanted to help fellow Filipinos in terms of providing employment and career upgrade.
“Sinu-sino pa ba ang magtutulungan kundi tayong mga mag-kakababayan,” he said. (Who else would be there to help our compatriots but ourselves.)
Araneta said he has hired an OFW who used to be a cleaner but has now levelled up to become a mechanic.
Business-friendly
The UAE has business-friendly policies that allow expats to obtain business license permits or go freelancing such that an OFW, upon consummation of contract with an employer, may choose to change visa status and transition from being an employee to a business owner through the various “free zones” for certain fees and documentation requirements. In other cases, local partners are required.
The PBC-DNE is a non-profit organization of OFWs assisting fellow OFWs in opening start-up businesses.
The PBC Dubai is a non-profit organization of entrepreneurs & professionals recognized by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. It was established under the initiative of then Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Amable Aguiluz III in April 2001.
Members were Filipino businessmen, entrepreneurs and senior executives, who have decided to organize a group dedicated to promoting and improving the UAE-Philippines relations and development of bilateral trade.
DUBAI: Iconic Dubai-based fashion designer Michael Cinco has dressed up countless celebrities – from Beyonce to the Duchess of York, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Mariah Carey, to name a few.
(Photo courtesy of Michael Cinco)
There’s one star though that he has longed to see wearing his creation but has not: Madonna.
“It has always been my great wish to dress up Madonna,” Cinco, who first set foot on Dubai in 1997 to work in one of the city’s biggest fashion house, said.
“She is an icon and I’m a big fan,” added Cinco, who hails from Catbalogan, Samar.
Cinco, who now has his own successful label and holds a sprawling office in the city’s trendy Dubai Design District, said he has tried to reach out to the Queen of Pop for her to try his designs, but has yet to receive a response.
“I have sent clothes to her twice,” he said, “but she has not worn any of them.” “Hopefully in the future.”
Among other icons who have tried Cinco’s creations were Rihanna,1994 Miss World Aishwarya Rai, Christina Aguilera, Ashanti, Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell.
Cinco also designed the $1-million wedding gown of Swarovski heiress, Victoria Swarovski and hailed as one of the most expensive wedding gowns in history.
Cinco, an up-and-coming couturier when he arrived in Dubai some 24 years ago, recalled how he had to go through a period of adjustment. “It was very difficult at first because it was my first time to be away from home and be in a city far, far away,” he said.
(Photo courtesy of Dubai Vibes Magazine)
The multi-awarded Cinco established his own label, Michael Cinco Dubai, in 2003.
What keeps him going? “As a designer, I am happy when the clients who wear my creations are satisfied. The greatest fulfillment of a designer is having to come up with a signature look that people recognize.
“Like when people compliment someone wearing a dress and say, ‘I love your dress. It’s very Michael Cinco,’” he said.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – An overseas Filipina worker (OFW), who has been battling cancer for over a year, has turned to social media for solace and, as well, to raise awareness about the life-threatening disease.
Rodel Yaon “Bheng” Jerusalem
“Through YouTube, I get to know different people from all over the world, may they be virtual friends, co-YouTubers or people who have been going through the same ordeal with the big C,” Rodel Yaon “Bheng” Jerusalem, 35, who hails from Siquijor in the Philippines, told GMA News Online.
“We encourage, motivate and boost each other’s morale to stay strong, keep fighting and to have faith,” said Jerusalem, who holds a degree in business administration from Mindanao State University’s Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU- IIT).
Jerusalem said she is grateful to her “supportive and generous YouTube friends for their love and support.”
“They have made a very big impact in my life as I battle cancer. I find comfort in them when I had nothing else to do. YouTube has been my outlet. People can visit my channel at ‘Bheng’s TV’ where you can watch my life story,” Jerusalem said.
She said she also used her YouTube channel to raise awareness about the dreaded disease.
“Kapag may nararamdaman sa katawan. Huwag magdadalawang isip, magpa-check up agad, kasi baka huli na ang lahat,” Jerusalem said.
Despite her affliction, Jerusalem, who lives in Al Ain in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi, goes to work to keep up with medical expenses. She is currently employed as office assistant.
“I need to work kahit medyo hirap talaga kasi masakit na yung bones ko sa likod. Sa insurance lang kasi ako nakaka-rely for my treatment,” Jerusalem said.
Jerusalem said working while suffering from cancer sometimes borders on the impossible.
“I realized I am not that effective and efficient anymore due to my condition. Aside from being absent every now and then for my check-ups and procedures to be done, I also have a hard time coming to office every day as I’m not really feeling well.
“I have to get up, dress up, show up and never give up. My family back home wants me to be with them, but due to the covid pandemic and the cost of treatment in Philippines, I have decided I might as well continue my treatment here,” Jerusalem said.
Denial
Jerusalem was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2019.
“At first, I was in denial that I have this big C. But later on, I got to accept it and told myself I have to go on with life,” said Jerusalem, who was working at the finance department of a reputable UAE company here in UAE at the time.
Life sometimes has its cruel turns and for Jerusalem, it was losing her job.
“I had no work from May to December 2020. Due to my treatment and its intense side effects, I had no choice but to stay at home. I have spent my little savings as well as the financial support from my family and friends within this time period on all the bills I have to pay,” she said.
Jerusalem got her current job in January this year.
Jerusalem said her travails began one day when she felt a small lump on her breast.
“I ignored it for few months until it became bigger and bigger until I finally decided to have it checked. It turned out that the cancer was already in stage three,” she said.
“Treatments were made – chemotherapy, surgery, radiation. Recently, I was checked and scanned again to monitor how the treatment was going,” she said, adding that “unfortunately, the cancer cells have already metastasized to my lumbar spine and cervical bones.”
Jerusalem said the doctor gave her two options: one is to have her ovaries removed. “I am an estrogen+ and as we know our ovaries secretes hormones that could possibly lead to the spread of cancer cells to my other vital organs,” she explained.
The second option, she said, is to have “a monitoring injection to stop my menstrual period and the spread.”
“The second option is pricey as it should be done every month for life,” she added.
Jerusalem lives with friends at a shared accommodation. The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi has learned of her condition and is currently extending assistance.
When at a hypermart, be nice to the “shelf boys,” the guys who arrange merchandises across the racks and help you find your way to the cookie jar you’re looking for, or was it the peanut butter jam?
You never know. That guy could be the next Raju Gidwani, whose colorful story goes back to the days when he was 23 in 1991 and, having just finished his MBA a year earlier, was filling up rows upon rows of shelves at supermarkets in Ajman and Sharjah instead of sitting on a swivel chair signing papers.
Years later, Gidwani, who left his middle class family, which was running a textile business in Beawar, Rajasthan, India to, in his own words, “create my own destiny, achieve goals and self-depend,” would become executive director of Shankar Trading Co., an affiliate of the very supermarkets he was “shelf boy” at.
Raju Gidwani, Shankar Trading Co. executive director
“I joined Shankar Trading in 1991. I learned from scratch. I started working as a shelf boy. From there, I began my journey. I learned, in a couple of years, the retail trade,” Gidwani now 52, told Dubai Vibes Magazine in a rare interview.
From working the shelves, Gidwani was assigned to handle import procurement and logistics in 1993. Two years later in 1995, he was promoted as manager. In 2010, he became general manager and in 2015, was the director for the company’s fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) division. He became executive director last year.
The company, meantime, has grown to become a key player in UAE’s retail trade, being a major importer and wholesale distributor of “ethnic” FMCGs to such big brands like West Zone, Carrefour, Choitrams and Lulu, as well as the cooperatives.
“It was challenging when I left India. During my study time, I was in India helping the family with the textile business. It was really a hard time for me working in a supermarket,” added Gidwani, who at nine was already helping his father with the textile business.
Gidwani found brotherly love in Naresh Bhawnani, chairman of West Zone Group, and provided support – a business relationship that would prove fruitful through the years.
“There was one West Zone in 2005,” recalled Gidwani. “The 125th store (in the UAE) will open in Dubai soon,” he added. A week prior to this interview, West Zone Supermarket opened its 124th store, which is located in Abu Dhabi. The first West Zone branch opened in Mirdiff on Dec.2, 2005, according to Gidwani.
The easy availability of Filipino FMCGs across UAE is largely being credited to Gidwani, too.
“I saw the potential 20 years ago,” he said. “Every nationality, when they come here (in the UAE), they always miss their home food,” he added.
Gidwani said he first visited the Philippines in 1995. Soon, he was transacting business directly with manufacturers there. And so, starting off with around 20 Filipino products, Shankar Trading is now importing and distributing over 1,000 in the UAE, he said.
What probably keeps Gidwani going is that spirit of being a good Samaritan. On weekends, he engages himself in social work.
“I want to help the community. I want to see everyone happy. Nobody should sleep hungry,” Gidwani said. “We’ve earned a lot from here. Now it’s time to give back to the community,” he added.
Indeed, having gone full circle from arranging supermarket shelves to importing and distributing merchandise, there seems nowhere else to go but back to the community, where after all and at the end of the day, it all began.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – When he was a little boy, Ben Lebig, Jr. would tag along with his mother, a teacher at a barangay in Iloilo province, Central Philippines, on her way to school.
“My nanay (mother) and her co-teachers would cross two knee-deep rivers before reaching the foot of a hill where they had to slowly walk their way up to the top where the school was situated,” recalls 44-year-old Lebig, who now is business planning executive at one of the enterprises under the multinational energy company, Chevron.
Lebig, who holds a PhD in Strategy & International Business from Kings College London, said that back then, roads were not constructed yet at their place, and so going to school would mean his mother, Marina Chiva Lebig, would have to ride the jeep to the barrio for almost 45 minutes.
“Then at some point, the jeepney would have to stop because the road ends there and all of them need to walk the remaining miles,” said Lebig, who also has a Masters’ Degree in Management from the University of the Philippines – Visayas.
“It was not an easy task that they had to do on a daily basis for many years. I remember there were days when the river would overflow, hence they would have no class,” said Lebig.
He said her mother’s passion for teaching and intense desire to help the students of Pughanan Elementary School, a barangay school in Lambunao, Iloilo kept her motivated.
Marina Chiva Lebig, Ben’s mother, with his father, Benigno Lebig, Sr., back in the day.
“They were mostly children of farmers. I remember her handing out slippers to some students as they would attend classes barefoot. Sometimes she would give hard boiled eggs or fried chicken to some students who only have rice wrapped in banana leaves for lunch,” recalls Lebig, a Philippine certified public accountant (CPA) who also is licensed to practice as certified management accountant and international credit professional in the United States.
Legacy
Looking back, Lebig said his mother inspired him to be on the road he has taken, and at the same time do advocacies for overseas Filipinos in the field of financial literacy.
He is also among a group of like-minded expats behind the recent creation of the first-ever Filipino institution for higher education in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Southville Ras Al Khaimah.
“I grew up witnessing my mom doing what she did day-in and day-out. Sometimes she would get tired but would nonetheless press on to fulfill her mandate to educate the children because she believed that education can be a powerful tool to equip and give them a fighting chance to rise above poverty,” Lebig said.
Impressions
On hindsight, he said, being exposed to the harsh realities of life at an early age as he tagged along with his mother to school left big impressions on him, Lebig said.
“One is the value of education and the need to continually learn. When I was completing my Ph.D. from Kings College London, I could almost see her nodding her head in agreement,” he said, referring to his mother, who passed on in 1992 when he was 15.
“How I wish she was still alive to witness that milestone. However, I am comforted by the fact that part of the strength I had to complete the PhD program was the memory of her passion for education,” said Lebig, the youngest of three children.
Lebig added that outside the corporate world, he has carried on his mother’s legacy – the desire to educate; a “soft spot for education.”
“My humble hope is that through all these advocacies in whatever platform, I can be an instrument to change the narratives of Filipinos.”
“My humble hope is that through all these advocacies in whatever platform, I can be an instrument to change the narratives of Filipinos both back home and most especially those working here in the UAE. That as they learn to manage their finances, explore entrepreneurship, or appreciate the value of education, they will be directed in the right path towards a better future.
“This is probably because I grew up observing my mother becoming passionate about educating the poor children in the hope that they will have a much better future,” he said.
Lebig is current chairman of the Association of Registered Financial Planners (ARFP), the first chapter outside the Philippines. Before the Covid pandemic, the group partnered with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) at the Philippine Consulate General’s Office in Dubai through Atty. Fely Bay, the labor Attache, to handle the financial literacy portion of the Post Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) for Filipinos who have just arrived in the city and its neighboring northern emirates.
He was also head of the non-governmental Filipino expat group, Philippine Business Council’s GenBiz, a pilot program where they trained and mentored new and aspiring Filipino entrepreneurs in the UAE.
Lebig’s father, Benigno, Sr. is a retired agriculturist in their town back in Iloilo.
Lebig and wife, Clovell, a classmate back in UP and also a CPA, have been living in Dubai for the past 15 years. Their daughter, Izabella, 11 years old, was born in the UAE and is a year 7 student at Cambridge International School, a consistent honor student and at 10 years old, became author of the book “Alex Hades & the Legend of the Dark Prince” published and available in Amazon UK, US, Canada, Japan, Italy and France.
The Daily Bread 