"I became the first woman to work in an office full of men."
When Jhoanna Abendan-Tavita boarded a plane for Saudi Arabia in 2009, she wasn't simply chasing a bigger paycheck. She was betting on herself.
Before leaving the Philippines, the Cebu-born architect had built a promising career in the furniture and interiors industry. As Marketing Manager for TalaHome, she worked with luxury hotels across Asia and the Middle East, supplying furniture, fixtures, and equipment for high-end developments in Singapore, Macau, and Saudi Arabia.
It was during one of those projects that she met a client who would later change the course of her life.
"He offered me a job in Jeddah," she recalls. "I didn't say yes immediately. It took me a year—and after a business of my own failed—before I finally decided to take the leap."
That leap would make history in its own quiet way.
"I became the first woman to work at their office. It was located in an industrial area, and I was surrounded entirely by men."
Her role as Deputy Manager of Homes Furniture placed her in charge of procurement, inventory, and furniture design. But during her first few weeks, one obstacle stood in her way.
"The factory workers only spoke Arabic. I couldn't communicate with them without my supervisor translating every conversation."
Every day became an exercise in patience, resilience, and learning.
Still, she stayed.
And slowly, she found her place.
Financially, Saudi Arabia gave her opportunities she had only dreamed of. The company treated her well, and management supported her throughout her journey.
But life outside work was another story.
"Back then, Saudi Arabia wasn't as open as it is today. Everything went through the company, and bringing your family over wasn't easy—especially when you have a young child."
Eventually, the pull of family became stronger than the comfort of stability.
She moved to Dubai, where her sisters were already living.
It was another fresh start.
And another chapter she never expected.
Years later, while building her own architectural business, life tested her again.
One client failed to pay the remaining balance for a major project. Another delayed payment for six months.
"The hardest part wasn't just the finances," she says. "It was knowing our vendors were depending on us."
The pressure was overwhelming.
Then came the pandemic.
Instead of slowing down, her company found itself handling three simultaneous projects in Abu Dhabi.
Most businesses were cutting jobs.
She refused to.
"Despite everything happening around us, I was able to keep all my employees."
She pauses before explaining why.
"I surrendered everything to God."
That moment, she says, changed everything.
"When I finally let go and trusted Him, I felt this deep peace. That was the moment I knew everything was going to be okay. Opportunities started pouring in after that."
Today, Jhoanna is the Founder and Principal Architectural Designer of Creative DBB Technical Services LLC and DBB Consultancy FZE in Dubai—a dream she had been carrying since graduating with a degree in Architecture from Cebu Institute of Technology-University in 1998.
"I always wanted to build my own company."
It didn't happen overnight.
She tried partnerships in both the Philippines and the UAE, but each one eventually fell apart.
"Once money started coming in, people changed. Somehow, I was always the only one still committed to the original vision."
So she made one final decision.
"I established the company on my own."
That decision became Design. Build. Beyond.
Nearly three decades after first imagining it, her dream finally had a name.
For Jhoanna, success isn't measured by projects completed or contracts signed.
It's measured by purpose.
"My goal is to send my children to a top university abroad."
"And I want my company to grow enough that I can hire more skilled Filipinos in the future."
Because someone once opened a door for her.
Now she hopes to do the same for others.
Her philosophy remains remarkably simple.
"Don't do unto others what you don't want done unto you."
It's a lesson rooted in the Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12, one she says guides every relationship—with family, employees, clients, and friends alike.
When asked what advice she'd give to fellow OFWs dreaming of a better future, she doesn't talk about salaries or promotions.
Instead, she talks about purpose.
"Find work where you can grow the skills you're passionate about. Everything starts small—even the salary. But when you genuinely love what you do, you'll naturally excel."
Then she smiles.
"And don't work just to impress your boss."
"Work for your Boss above."
"He'll take care of the rest."