"There was a time when my family shared one tilapia for the whole day."
"I grew up in a family that worked hard just to get by. My father retired early from the police force because of a medical condition, while my mother stayed at home. To support us, my parents sold garments on the sidewalks of Recto and ran a small mango shake stall in Novaliches.
College wasn't something we could afford. My uncle stepped in and paid for my education, and I promised myself I wouldn't waste that opportunity.
There were days when I only had enough money for transportation. Sometimes, lunch was just a ₱15 buy-one-take-one waffle because that was all I could afford. I remember one afternoon when I only had ₱12 left after class, but I needed ₱18 to get home. Instead of asking anyone for help, I walked from Monumento to Balintawak just to save enough money for the rest of my commute.
I also remember a classmate inviting me to McDonald's. I looked at the menu and realized I couldn't even afford the cheapest meal. I smiled and said I had already eaten breakfast, even though I hadn't eaten anything that day.
At home, there were nights when one tilapia was enough for the entire family. We'd eat half for lunch and save the other half for dinner. Looking back, those weren't just difficult times—they became the foundation of who I am.
As a child, I loved going to the airport whenever relatives left to work abroad. I'd sit by the window watching airplanes take off and quietly tell myself, 'One day, that'll be me.'
Years later, that dream finally came true when I moved to Dubai as a nurse.
But the dream didn't begin the way I imagined.
I was scammed by my first employer. Then I experienced workplace harassment that forced me to resign. Because of the labor laws at the time, leaving my job meant risking a labor ban. I honestly thought my journey was over before it had even begun. I even considered working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong because I didn't want to return to the Philippines feeling like I had failed.
Life, however, had different plans.
I eventually found my way into aesthetic medicine—a field I never imagined myself pursuing. At first, I thought it was a detour from my dream of becoming a hospital nurse. Instead, it became the career that changed my life.
Today, after more than 15 years in the industry, I serve as the Head of Aesthetic and train doctors, nurses, and aesthetic professionals from different parts of the world. Every time I see one of my students succeed, I feel like every sacrifice I made was worth it.
The hardest chapter came during the pandemic.
While I was pregnant, my sister suddenly developed a brain tumor and slipped into a coma. She stayed in the hospital for five months before we lost her. Around the same time, my husband lost his job, and I was demoted with a salary reduction. I became the sole provider for my family while carrying grief that words could never fully describe.
There were many nights when I wondered how much more I could take.
But somehow, God always sent the right people at the right time. Mentors believed in me. Friends encouraged me. My husband never stopped reminding me that I was capable. My children gave me a reason to keep going.
When people ask me about success, I don't think about job titles.
I think about that little girl sitting at the airport, watching airplanes disappear into the sky and wondering if she'd ever get her chance.
If I could talk to her today, I'd tell her this:
'Don't worry. One day, you'll board one of those planes. The journey won't be easy. You'll cry more than you think. You'll lose people you love. You'll question yourself. But every setback is preparing you for something bigger than you can imagine.'
My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 60:22: 'When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.'
Looking back, I finally understand what that means.
God's timing has always been better than mine."