Innholdsfortegnelse for TGFM Issue 4 - July 2020 i The Global Filipino Magazine

FOR Prof. Dr. Erwin Martinez Faller, working abroad was a lifetime journey. Faller, real pride of the Philippines as an outstanding international academician and researcher, was not really planning to work overseas since he had a decent job in the Philippines as a Dean of Pharmacy at a higher educational institute in Tagum, Davao del Norte. He then decided to work in Malaysia as he wanted to develop himself and return to the Philippines in an effort to help Filipinos in uplifting the profession in the country. For years, he devoted his time to the academe teaching students in pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy, and pharmacy practice while working as a senior lecturer in a university. As a person with a high degree of enthusiasm, he became passionate about advancing himself…

A FORMER bakery cleaner has successfully passed the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification exam on Sunday, August 23, with 81 percent passing grade. James Paul Reyes believes that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. He recalled in 2010 when he started to work in Dubai as a cleaner and a helper in a bakery. “As a dreamer, I told myself, I have to step up my game for me to succeed,” he said. His hard work paid off when he got promoted to be an office coordinator then logistics assistance. It was 2019 when he faced a series of struggles, including being jobless for almost one year. “On the brighter side, that was when I started to take up medical coding classes at the Filipino…

JOSE ARNOLD TARIGA, 32, was once demoted because he wasn’t ‘good enough’ and ‘Western-trained.’ He recalled when he arrived in UAE in 2013 and started to work as a staff nurse. His dedication at work eventually led to his promotion as a charge nurse, however, it was just a short-lived one. Tariga was demoted from the post for not being good enough. He almost succumbed to depression at that point in his life. After constant prayers, it dawned on him that one day nobody can label him as ‘not good enough’ if he will not allow them to. Tariga picked himself up, pushed himself harder than he could ever imagine, thus his passion for teaching was rekindled so he volunteered to assume the responsibility of an educator in the same…

About the photographer Mark Pagsibigan An active member of the Filipino photography association Litrato Group UAE, Mark Pagsibigan has started to forge his career as a layout artist in a Filipino newspaper in Dubai. While working in the newspaper, he ventured into photography. To further develop his acquired talent, Mark studied more about it in the Filipino Institute in 2018. He was consistently awarded various recognitions from different photo contests. Today, the aspiring photographer is still active in snapping great photos across the UAE. Mark is now working as a design executive at the famous Dusit Thani Hotel in Dubai.…

MOST superheroes featured by contemporary media typically use their powers to help the world become better and are dedicated to protecting the public. And in today’s generation, superheroes are no longer wearing capes. They are the medical workers who continue to curtail the spread of the deadly respiratory disease, Covid-19. Abu-Dhabi-based Filipino Jacquelyn Merano Adormeo, 28, is one of them. She arrived in UAE some five years ago as a make-up artist and a trainer of make-up courses. But no one has ever predicted that she will be part of UAE’s Covid-19 nurse responders as she has always been working in the cosmetic industry, a work that is far different from the medical field. How it all started When she finished studying high school, she was offered a four-year scholarship…

A FILIPINO expat based in Dubai who won AED166,666 from Emirates Loto in May is using the prize to help his family and kabayans who are affected by Covid-19 crisis abroad. Thirty-eight-year-old William Aniana opted to stay in the emirate instead of settling in the Philippines and continued working as a document controller. Aside from helping his family, Aniana, who works in Dubai for 13 years now, also used his prize to buy grocery items for his neighbors in his hometown. Anianas, who is also a balloon artist, has recently launched his own YouTube channel called ‘Yayam’s TV’ that is designed to help people in need. “From the moment I was lucky enough to win Emirates Lotto, my life totally changed both financially and in terms of opportunity. I became…

FILIPINOS are generally competitive—they are sought because of their talents, skills, and knowledge. Dr. Alfred Dahbi, the operations manager and project manager at Aspen Medical UAE, an Australian company for medical solutions. His day-to-day work in the company includes looking after more than a thousand healthcare professionals who were deployed to different government sector missions as part of the country’s response to COVID-19 and manage several projects in relation to education and healthcare delivery. “I am lucky to be part of Aspen Medical and to have a manager and mentor such as Mr. Sudeep Acharya, General Manager of Aspen Medical UAE who never looked at the color of my passport but rather trusted that with proper honing of skills, talent and hard work, anything can be accomplished,” Dhabi, whose mom…

EDWIN DURIA recalled how he lost around AED147,000 or almost P2 million from his former boss due to his five-month unpaid salaries, gratuity, commissions, and allowances. He worked there for more than five years until his boss ran away. A few years after, he found himself setting up his own business over a cup of coffee with his business colleagues. Duria, 41, is the owner and managing director of PLAY Middle East Business Consultancy FZA, a company that focuses on assisting companies with trade license issues as well as individuals with residence visa issues or disputes with their employees or employers. So far, the company that is owned by the Filipino for four years now manages almost 250 clients, some of which are Samsung from South Korea, Pearson Education, and…

A message from Mr. Gabriel John Rimando Filipino Institute Founder and President You did not only brave a storm. You definitely braved a pandemic. Despite all the hurdles, you were able to fulfill your dreams and goals – be educated and use the time to be productive. May your new achievement unlock many doors for you. A message from Mrs. Camille Joy Franco-Rimando Filipino Institute CEO We may never have physical graduation rites, but we are so proud of you. Congratulations on your achievements. Wishing you all the best for your future endeavors. FILIPINO INSTITUTE STAFF…

BATCH 4 VIRTUAL TRAINERS…

JEFFERSON Manalo Rivera always understands that achieving one’s goal may be difficult but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. For the last 13 years, he is living and working in Dubai clearly because of better opportunities and salary package. For nine years, Rivera has been immersing himself in the beauty industry as a make-up artist and magnifying the beauty of his clients that already exist. Today, the 33-year-old Filipino, is now the managing director of his company called JhaJha Make-Up Artist which is registered under the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority. In 2011, he attended a series of training at the London College of Fashion. “I decided to work in Dubai because my father worked here as well as other relatives and I learned that opportunities and salaries were way better than…

As the pandemic continues to persist despite all the efforts made by various sectors, 42-year-old two-time cancer warrior Maria Francia Vizcaya still believes that through faith and having hope, everyone can get through this. The mother of four is based in Dubai and currently working in a retail company. Vizcaya, on overseas Filipino worker, was first diagnosed with breast cancer through a screening campaign in 2018. After a series of using mammograms, ultrasound, and biopsy, she was confirmed to have cancer called invasive ductal carcinoma. “I immediately underwent a full radical left mastectomy followed with chemotherapy. Through it all, I still actively participated in most of the activities at work. Coming to work helped me to divert the pain and discomforts from chemotherapy, and at the same time it gave…