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OFW's daughter sets up own firm, now wants dad home for good from Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A Filipino wood veneering designer is heading back to the Philippines for good after 30 years as his entrepreneur-daughter provided him with the means to achieve his dream of finally coming home.
Clarice Reyes, a 38-year-old businesswoman who now runs her own marketing company in Ajman in northern UAE, said her father, Gary, will be putting away his tool box and flying back to the Philippines from Dubai next month.
"I wanted his time to rest and be with family. Bata pa lang kami nag-abroad na siya. 'Yung hard work niya grabe," said Clarice, owner of a company that provides freelance support in marketing, branding, and content creation.
(I wanted his time to rest and be with family. He has been working abroad since we were children. His hard work has been tremendous.)
Gary, now 62, has been working with wood for so long and was able to raise his four children through his craft.
Clarice and two of her siblings are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) like their father. One of the children is based in Canada, while two are in the United Arab Emirates. Gary will be going home in Sta. Ana, Manila.
"I remember my father telling my husband, 'If may options ka, 'wag lumayo sa anak mo. Ako, pagmulat ko malaki na sila, sobrang bilis ng oras. Kinain ng abroad oras ko para sa kanila,'" said Clarice.
(I remember my father telling my husband, 'If you have options, don't be away from your kids. I just woke up one day and my children were all grown-up, time flew so fast. My time with them was gone the moment I worked abroad.')
Rejection
Clarice herself was not spared from the sacrifices that came with being an OFW.
Her journey began when she was 18 years old as a service crew member at a popular fast food restaurant.
She then tried the call center industry, but she landed a job only after her 19th application attempt.
"I became a customer service representative, then a team leader, and eventually an operations manager, handling more than 100 employees," said Clarice, a graduate of Jose Rizal University (JRU) in Mandaluyong City, where she got a degree in hotel and restaurant management.
Overcoming challenges
Clarice went to Dubai in 2012. She said her first job of being a receptionist entailed "serving coffee, answering phones, and getting yelled at."
"I felt small," she said.
By 2016, while staying at a crowded apartment unit as a bed spacer, she brought her boyfriend, and now husband, into the UAE on her first salary.
"We bought eggs and one potato. We looked at each other. Never a month passed that we didn't need to borrow even AED 20 ($5) from neighbors just for our metro card fare.
"My husband walked everywhere, attending walk-in interviews for a month. Then, he finally got a job. I also worked tirelessly. We shared a bed space," said Clarice.
Soon, however, companies were "not just hiring me—they were pirating me," Clarice added.
Dream of inner peace
"I wasn't chasing opportunities anymore—opportunities were finding me," said Clarice, who later on quit her job at the time to join a partnership for a marketing firm, which eventually folded.
"I went back to working 15 hours a day with side hustles—just to pay debts. And eventually, I even lost that job, too. I didn't want to stay in Dubai anymore. I didn't want success. I just wanted peace," said Clarice.
Finally, after reinvigorating herself, she was back on her feet again.
Today, Clarice has her own marketing license and helps different companies—not just to sell, but to grow with purpose.
"I coach people. I mentor leaders. I help businesses become brands. I revived myself and I'm rising again by acquiring my own company," said Clarice.
Her business provides innovative and integrated solutions across marketing management, digital portals, e-commerce, event planning, advertising, lifestyle consultancy, and reservation services. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
