Dubai OFW moves from ice cream parlor crew to running an online Pinoy-branded wristwatch company

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who started out here 12 years ago as a crew at an ice cream parlor now runs, with a fellow OFW as business partner, an online company selling wrist watches branded for the Filipino market.

“My dream has always been to have my own business,” 41-year-old Junie Sudoy Sorsano, who hails from Iloilo, told GMA News Online.

Sorsano, who was also into vlogging, having been known in Dubai OFW circles as the city’s first Filipino vlogger, said he decided to sell wrist watches because everybody needs one, making it easier to market. An added value, he said, are the watches’ brand names that Filipinos can easily identify with.

“I wanted to create a watch that is designed for Filipinos. A watch that will not only tell the time but is also a piece of something that will remind us of our rich and beautiful history and culture,” Sorsano, who took a vocational course on
computer science at STI in Muñoz, Quezon City, said.

Junie Sudoy Sorsano during his ice cream parlor days in Dubai

“Our brand is called ‘Kayako,’ which brings positive and motivating vibes to all OFWs that they can overcome whatever struggles they were facing. Right now, we already have to watches: ‘Gabriela Silang’ for women; and ‘Malakas,’” Sorsano said.

A third range, named Amihan Collection and will carry “Maganda,” will be released soon, he said.

Business is doing good. “Average sales namin ay eight to 10 watches per week from different countries,” Sorsano said.

“We are very happy with the appreciation for the watch by all Filipinos, not only those in the UAE, but as well those in Canada, California in the US; Australia and as well as in other Middle Eastern countries. We have been receiving orders from
all over the world,” he added.

The watches, he explained, were procured in Hong Kong “pero kami ang nagdi- design ng lahat, pati packaging.”

Second attempt

The watch e-Commerce was actually Sorsano’s second attempt at running a business. When he was 21, Sorsano operated a chain of 13 Asian-themed food outlets in the Philippines – 12 kiosks at the malls and one commissary kitchen.

“That was in 2000 at tumakbo lang for almost two years. We closed it. It was a failure. Kaya this time, I don’t want to make the same mistake anymore. I was too young at the time kaya wala pang experience talaga,” Sorsano said.

And so, he decided to try his luck by joining the diaspora and taking his chances in Dubai. “Mas maganda ang opportunity sa abroad. Pero wala sa plano ko na mag-business dito sa Dubai. It just so happened na most of my friends and connections ay nasa media or social media kaya dun ako nagka-idea to set up a business,” Sorsano said.

The online watch business has just been a year old. Sorsano’s business partner, a former OFW like himself, is Jessica Daryanani, who hails from Davao and is also based in Dubai.

His piece of advice to OFWs? “Always remember that the distance between you and your dream is action,” Sorsano said. --KBK, GMA News