When Liberty Cano Samonte-Galang boarded a plane to the United Arab Emirates in November 2005, she wasn't chasing a business empire.
She wasn't dreaming of becoming a restaurateur.
She wasn't even planning to become an entrepreneur.
She was simply a daughter trying to help her mother.
More than two decades later, that young nursing student from Valenzuela would become the founder of one of Sharjah's beloved Filipino restaurants, a community leader, a survivor of life-threatening illnesses, and a living testament to what can happen when faith meets perseverance.
But the road to success was anything but easy.
A Daughter's Sacrifice
Before she became an OFW, Liberty was a nursing student at Our Lady of Fatima University.
As the eldest among five siblings, responsibility came naturally to her.
In February 2005, her mother left for the UAE to work abroad.
Watching her mother carry the burden of providing for the family left a lasting impression.
Months later, Liberty made a life-changing decision.
She would leave school.
Leave her comfort zone.
Leave the life she knew.
And follow her mother to the UAE.
Like countless OFWs, she exchanged certainty for sacrifice.
She put her own dreams on hold so her younger siblings could continue pursuing theirs.
"Sometimes love means making sacrifices," she says.
At the time, she had no idea that decision would eventually transform her life.
Starting From the Bottom
The UAE did not immediately offer Liberty success.
Her first job was as a real estate agent.
After that came one role after another.
Sales and marketing for a travel agency.
Hotel receptionist.
Receptionist for a marine safety company.
Sales associate in Sharjah.
Each position came with new challenges.
There were visa concerns.
Financial struggles.
Cultural adjustments.
And the constant pressure of supporting loved ones back home.
But instead of seeing those jobs as setbacks, Liberty treated each one as a classroom.
Every customer taught her something.
Every challenge sharpened her skills.
Every obstacle strengthened her resilience.
Years later, she would realize that God was preparing her for something much bigger.
The Business She Never Planned
If you had told Liberty years ago that she would one day own a successful restaurant, she probably would have laughed.
Entrepreneurship wasn't part of the plan.
In fact, she describes herself as someone who carefully thinks through every decision.
Risk-taking wasn't in her nature.
Yet life has a way of surprising us.
Inspired by her mother's own entrepreneurial journey, Liberty took a leap of faith when an opportunity arose to sell Filipino food at a small kiosk inside Souq Al Jubail.
It wasn't glamorous.
It wasn't guaranteed.
But it was a start.
What began as a humble food stall slowly grew into something much bigger.
That small kiosk eventually became NaDerang Restaurant.
Today, NaDerang has become a favorite destination for Filipinos craving comfort food and a taste of home in the UAE.
But more importantly, it became proof that some of life's greatest blessings begin with a simple act of faith.
When Everything Fell Apart
Just as life seemed to be moving forward, Liberty found herself facing the darkest chapter of her journey.
In 2015, her world changed.
Her arachnoid cyst returned.
Then came epilepsy.
Todd's Paralysis.
And Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, a rare and serious condition that affected nearly 80 percent of her skin.
The pain was excruciating.
Physically.
Emotionally.
Mentally.
At the same time, her family lost their livelihood.
Her marriage faced tremendous pressure.
People they trusted walked away.
Some even seemed pleased to see them fail.
There were moments when Liberty looked at herself and questioned everything.
Why was this happening?
Why did the suffering seem endless?
For many people, this would have been the end of the story.
For Liberty, it became the beginning of her greatest testimony.
Grace in the Middle of the Storm
When she had no strength left, she leaned on God.
When fear threatened to overwhelm her, she prayed.
When doors closed, she trusted that God would open new ones.
Slowly, healing came.
Not only physically.
But spiritually.
The trials strengthened her marriage.
Deepened her faith.
And transformed her perspective on life.
Looking back, Liberty believes those painful experiences taught her one of life's most valuable lessons:
Success means very little if you lose sight of what truly matters.
"God's grace carried us through every step of the journey," she says.
More Than a Restaurant
Today, Liberty is the founder and owner of NaDerang Restaurant, with branches in King Faisal and Sahara Center.
But ask her about her proudest achievement, and she won't mention profits.
She won't talk about expansion.
She won't even talk about awards.
Instead, she'll tell you about people.
The employees whose families are supported because of the business.
The aspiring entrepreneurs she has inspired.
The Filipino community she serves through her work.
The mothers she empowers through Filipina Mum Club UAE, which she co-founded in 2022.
For Liberty, success has never been about building a restaurant.
It has always been about building people.
That philosophy is reflected in NaDerang's simple but powerful mission:
"We don't just cook, we care."
A Legacy Beyond Business
Today, Liberty continues dreaming.
She hopes to expand NaDerang across the Emirates.
She hopes Filipina Mum Club UAE continues making a difference in the lives of overseas Filipinos.
She hopes her staff will grow not only financially but spiritually.
And above all, she hopes her children will walk confidently in the purpose God has prepared for them.
As for herself?
After everything she and her husband have survived together, she has one simple dream.
To travel the world side by side.
To create new memories.
And to continue serving God while enjoying the blessings they've worked so hard for.
A Message for Every OFW
If there's one lesson Liberty wants fellow OFWs to remember, it's this:
Never lose sight of your purpose.
There will be homesickness.
Heartbreak.
Financial struggles.
Moments when giving up seems easier than moving forward.
But those struggles are not the end of the story.
Because sometimes the same God who allows the storm is also preparing the miracle.
And Liberty Cano Samonte-Galang knows this better than most.
After all, she arrived in the UAE simply trying to help her mother.
She never imagined she would end up feeding thousands of people, creating opportunities for families, inspiring a community, and proving that faith can transform even the most painful chapters into something beautiful.
Sometimes God's greatest recipes begin with life's hardest ingredients.