My Story - Blog 101

God gave us everything that is beautiful and brilliant, every creature great and small, everything that is smart and wonderful.

During the early hours of September 24, 1989 at 10 a.m., a warrior was born in a concrete and bamboo house in Iloilo, Philippines, a city widely known as the smile capital of the Philippines and home of the famous Dinagyang Festival.

A carpenter father and tailor mother did a joyful dance holding the warrior in their arms, as this is the first child of the family and the first fruit of their love for each other.

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, God made them all. I was nine years old when I learned this poem, which became my mantra from then on.

When I was little, I knew by heart that life is beautiful and that everyone is wonderfully created by God. Over the years, this big heart of mine has led me to be involved in various community projects including nutrition programs, medical missions, leadership training, free computer lectures, story-telling activities, tree planting activities and eventually organized my own event to reach out to other people in my simple meager ways.

With a burning desire to uplift the economic status of my family, as the eldestchild of four siblings, I pursued my education concurrently with my involvement in Lions/Leo Club International outreach programs.

At the age of 18, which was mid-sophomore, I was working part-time at a restaurant. By the way, does anyone here know JOLLIBEE? Yes, that famous restaurant from the Philippines.

While attending my classes, I worked at Jollibee from 6:00pm to 12:00am in the evening, and was once named the "most outstanding crew of the month". Every day, I walk from school to Jollibee for an hour. I recall the rain one rainy day on my way to work and my ONE & ONLY shoes got wet and torn, making it difficult to walk with it but I kept walking while crying on the road, and my tears went with the rain until I reached my workplace. When my colleagues saw my sad face, they offered to get me a new pair of shoes. I felt so incredibly blessed.

2010 was a difficult year for me, I nearly lost my grip on life after losing my father, however as the poem said "all things bright and beautiful" I took a stronger STANCE, accepted the challenge, and was able to pick up where my father left off.

Having three brothers and a widowed mother, as the eldest of the family, I was the sole breadwinner. It was hard, but I am stronger, so in 2012, after graduating from my Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology, I started my full-time job.

The opportunity knocked when a UAE hiring agency came to our city to interview workers for a job position in an oil & gas company, so I jumped at the chance and applied for the job, and of course, I became one of the chosen few.

Would you believe I arrived Abu Dhabi airport with two dirhams in my pocket? I could hardly believe in myself how I will survive and whom I will approach since many of my colleagues in the agency do not know what to do either. My hands were shaking as I waited for the agency's response and instruction. After 4 hours of continued waiting, we eventually received a call and the driver was waiting outside the terminal.

I started my career in the desert as I had great dreams and had the mantra that everything is bright & beautiful for me in the UAE. As I moved from one job position to another until I reached the job I am in today.

I have worked as an admin officer, procurement officer, laundry supervisor, waiter, acting manager, and later as the Camp Manager in the Abu Dhabi National Hotel. I was later absorbed by HLG and worked as the Global Health & Safety Officer in Dubai.

Currently, I am the head of the Occupational Health and Safety Department at Metal and Aluminum Factory.

Life is indeed tough, but we can never forget that "All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord made them all." After a year and a half, I finished my Post Grad in engineering management here in Dubai.

It makes me happy to hear that my 2nd brother has graduated from Electrical Engineering and his Master's Degree and is now working in the Philippines. My youngest brother is in his 2nd year of studying Civil Engineering at university.

As long as I'm striving to achieve my dreams and goals, I'll never give up. Remember fellows that tough times don't last but tough people do.