Innholdsfortegnelse for TGFM Issue 9 - January 2021 i The Global Filipino Magazine

Growing up in a province in the Philippines full of dreams for her family, Nerissa Barrios Cabrea sailed to Dubai to work as a professional therapist with her sports and elderly patients. Described herself as a ‘simple and responsible daughter to her parents and siblings to her brothers and sisters.’ Hailing from Tagkawayan, Quezon, Cabrea’s, at an early age, took the responsibility of sending her youngest siblings to school. Although she was not able to graduate from college, she is still thankful for providing them a good education. While working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, she tried taking an online course, however, due to financial and time constraints, she was unable to finish it. Now that she is working in Dubai, and after supporting his siblings, she continued her…

Popularly known as Carlo Yan, social media influencer and entrepreneur Paolo Carlo D. Gorriceta has founded the community page Filipiknows Network in an effort to provide Filipinos accessible social exchange among them. With a goal to become a global brand, the page he founded has now nearly 300,000 followers. A man with several things under his belt, Gorriceta is also an independent actor, model, writer, journalist, filmmaker, producer, and director. While in the Middle East, he ventured into broadcasting and filmmaking films in UAE, Iran, and Qatar. His first short film was entitled ‘Episode 5’ that was produced in 2009, followed by ‘A Date with Darna’, and ‘Red Rose’. Gorriceta made his breakthrough with the film ‘I Love You Ma’am’ which became the first film to enter the Doha Tribeca…

Anz Soza, a Filipina based in Dubai who has started doodling on disposable coffee cups, is now an art company owner. An interior designer in Singapore before moving to Dubai some six years ago, Soza said her friends are always fascinated with her art. Her first believers, her friends, then requested her if she could print on their passport holders and tumblers. From then on, she started joining exhibitions, held a series of art workshops for kids, and did a couple of mall activations and customizations on events. Soza, who is the brainchild and founder of AnneArtwear Project FZ-LLC, is popular for doing 100 percent meticulously hand-paint on mostly luxury goods. Some she has painted on are Prada, Chanel, Luis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci, Fendi, Dior, Coach, Yeezy, Alexander McQueen, and…

A Dubai-based salon worker was mocked by her colleagues as she mentioned to them that at 50, she is taking a caregiver course to explore more opportunities while she is still strong and able. Jocelyne A. Lim, who is currently taking a caregiver course at the Filipino Institute, said she chose the course as she has already knowledge in looking after diabetic patients, and she herself is also a diabetic person. “Dito sa company ko now, nung sinabi ko na mag-enroll ako ng Caregiver, pinagtawanan ako. Sabi sa akin, ‘hindi ka ba naaawa, ang tanda mo na para mag Caregiver’,” she said. Belittled, Lim was also told that because of her age, it is not impossible that her patient would be able to carry her instead of the other way…

Ma. Lucila Malazar, an overseas Filipino worker based in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, has become addicted to constant and never-ending self-improvement. Despite all the failures, obstacles, and a series of unfortunate events she had endured in life in the past, she is still optimistic to survive it all. The 29-year-old sales staff at MK Group has arrived in Al Ain four years ago and has been working in the same company since then. Her main responsibilities include assisting customers with all their needs in the shop. “What I enjoyed about this work is I am surrounded with different people and I always strive to learn new things since I always focus on improving myself by learning new skills on a daily basis and multi-task in various departments,” she said. To…

Dubai-based entrepreneur Rolly Brucales arrived in the UAE in 2004 and head already this mindset that he will not be an employee forever. The 46-year-old Filipino is the managing director of the Off The Hook (OTH) Seafood Restaurant. He opened the first branch of the seafood restaurant in 2016 in the capital which eventually became a popular dining destination not only among Filipinos but for locals and tourists as well. Currently, it has eight branches set to open the ninth in April this year. “Nung pumunta ako dito, nasa mindset ko nang hindi ako magiging empleyado forever,” he told Rappler. Born fifth among nine siblings, Brucales’ parents were both merchants who own a meat stall in Albay. “I was raised sa palengke. Karnehan.… may puwesto parents ko. Bukas po yun…

A registered nurse in the Philippines and here in Dubai, Filipina expat Ashleen Diane L. Almodovar passed and completed the medical coding exams recently with 86 percentage. Thank you to the Filipino Institute for being an instrument to achieve this another goal,” she said. “I was hesitant to take the course for so many years as the cost of it is not cheap at all in other learning centres, and yet one of my friends from my company introduced the Filipino Institute,” she added. Almodovar admitted that she researched the training centre and asked some of her friends about it. “As the saying goes, sometimes if it’s cheap, the quality could be cheap too. However, the Filipino Institute proved me wrong,” she said noting that when she met her instructors…

In his tender years, Dubai-based freelance chef consultant Andrew Faundo Paderes was inspired by his late father in cooking. He recalled that he was ‘a very good architect and a brilliant cook’ at the same time. At a young age, he knew that being a chef was born to be a successful chef. As a Dubai-based chef, his work entails a lot of hard work and ‘heart work. “You can do so many things for you to soar high and succeed. But you do far more things that could put you down, “ he said. Cooking and culinary are his bread and butter. However, the road to success was never easy. It all began with the burning itch about food and cooking that became his passion. “This passion never ceased,…

With the goal to achieve and secure a better future, international beauty content creator and social media influencer Anneprettyness arrived in Los Angeles, California in 2010. A physical therapist in the Philippines, the vlogger found a channel abroad where she expresses herself through beauty products and becomes one of the most followed Filipina beauty content creators abroad. With nearly 150,000 followers on the photo and video-sharing app Instagram, Anne’s account got noticed in 2016 when one of her videos went viral. The video shows her using the Jamsu-Water Dipping Make-up. “It’s a great feeling knowing that there are many people that I am able to inspire and influence with good stuff,” she said. She revealed that it wasn’t her initial intention to do what she does today but since she…

After working as a house servant in the UAE for the last eight years, Crysler Melad Calagui has finally found himself unshackled from all the responsibilities of being a house boy. He is now a baker for a royal family in Abu Dhabi. This, he did, was only to educate himself through the training centre Filipino Institute-Al Ain campus. As the royal baker, Calagui is in-charge of preparing traditional Arabic sweets and hot Arabic beverages. He recalled when he first set foot in the host country on February 20, 2012 when UAE was still diamonds in the rough. For almost three years, he worked as a sales attendant at the Abu Dhabi National Oil company. He then worked as a servant for an Emirati family. “My employer always brought me…

Saudi Arabia-based Rico Angeles Madrigalejos believes that stepping out of his comfort zone and trying new things is the best way to grow. He has been in the Kingdom for about 10 years now. Madrigalejos, who initially worked as a staff nurse, said he wanted to work in the corporate world where he can be himself and excel in many aspects and deal with executives as it gives him more opportunities to discover his potentials in the field. Currently, he is working as an HR admin at the Rawabi Holding Company, an oil and gas conglomerate in Saudi Arabia. The youngest and the only guy among the siblings, according to him aside from the idea of living a better life by earning more, he also ventured into an overseas life…

Promoting inclusiveness and diversity within his campuses in the Middle East, Filipino Institute founder and president Mr. Gabriel John Rimando said that their campuses are not only for Filipinos but also for all nationalities. Noticing an increase of non-Filipino enrollees each time they open courses, Rimando said that with non-Filipinos learning in the training institute, it makes the campus a more interesting and personally enriching environment for everyone. Some non-Filipinos were, in fact, excelling in the Filipino Institute. During the face-to-face graduation last December 4, Alice Bizimana of Rwanda got the second spot in the Massage Therapy (Basic and Advance) class. According to Rimando, the Filipino Institute also welcomes diverse individuals. “They are welcome, we don’t look at age, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, and gender. Everyone is welcome,” he added.…

An overseas Filipino worker (OFW), who studies Medical Coding in the Filipino Institute, has successfully passed the certified professional coding test on the first attempt. Zakira M. Sumndad took the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam recently in an effort to challenge herself. “I am really grateful for becoming an enrollee of the Filipino Institute and taking the medical coding program. I give thanks every day for how they changed my way of pursuing this career,” she said. Sumndad said that during the orientation at the training institute, she realized that the profession is for everyone and for those who have the determination and drive to dig deeper. “At first, I couldn’t understand it, but then I have realized that coding is easy if you push yourself to learn it. It’s…

A true world-class and global Filipina, Mars Yabut De los Santos came to Dubai in 2006 when the emirate was still a diamond in the rough, much like her. She was only 25 when she embarked on an overseas journey. De los Santos wanted to test the waters and thought it was better for her to work on her ambitions in a country like the UAE while she was younger so that if things don’t work out as planned, the Philippines will always be there to welcome her back. With her background in PR and journalism in the Philippines, she was hired by Gulf News, one of the biggest media companies in the Middle East. She started as a proofreader before moving to the digital department to prepare her for…

For her, UAE has been an avenue to fulfill her dreams and goals in life and even surpass what she admired with her life. Currently working as a business development consultant in a consulting firm that has been in the industry since 1988, Jenie Vi Batalla’s 15 years of total work experience overseas proved that one can achieve their dreams if one’s determined and has the ability to adapt easily. Batalla’s current job allows her to deal with family marriage, divorce, business setup, payroll, and other services depending on the client’s requirements. It also provides her an opportunity to meet people and help them out with their needs. “It has been my passion to assist each and everyone to achieve their goals, such as setting up their business in the…

A Filipina domestic helper in UAE for a royal family is up for promotion after studying the 24-week Caregiver course at the Filipino Institute. Marjorie Conge Arendain, 43, said that there is a huge possibility that the royal family, her employer, would change her position from a domestic helper to caregiver once her contract is renewed. Arendain, who hails from Mondragon, Northern Samar, said she is the breadwinner of the family and has already spent ‘quite some time’ working overseas. She enrolled last year in the training institute and finished the four modules in December. “Napili ko ang Filipino Institute dahil nakita ko na madami na naka-graduate na, magaganda ang kanilang work and more opportunities na din. Hindi ako nagkamali sa desisyon ko, na-enjoy ko ang pag-aaral ko at ang…

Truly, Filipinos are not only making a remarkable presence on a global scare--they are also taking the world stage when it comes to talent and skills. Qatar-based senior technical engineer Sheila Liansing Medel is one of them. A graduate of BS in Civil Engineering from West Negros University in Bacolod City, Medel is also a licensed and an ASEAN engineer. The Filipina, who has been staying in the Gulf country for about 12 years now, is in charge of the tender preparations in the commercial department of Living in Interiors-Qatar. Her responsibilities include evaluation of the technical specifications to be priced, making sure that procurement and costing are covered. She also coordinates with a lot of clients for the approval of their technical submittals. Through the company, she was given…

The founder of the Filipino Institute and his workforce in UAE have very recently received the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine following the directives from the government of the host country. “Majority of our full-time employees have received the first jab last January 21. Our deans and adjunct trainers have been encouraged to avail of the free vaccine since they get exposed to several students each day,” Rimando, who has received the second dose along with his employees in Dubai on Saturday, February 13, said. He has earlier said that the health and safety of his employees and adjunct trainers are paramount to him. The Filipino Institute has launched a promotion wherein students who got the Covid-19 vaccine were entitled to a one-time discount. ‘Thank you, UAE’ Orli Gayeta,…