Sixteen years ago, Jef Anog was a 22-year-old accountant in the Philippines.
He was young, working, and enjoying the simple things that came with being in his early twenties. During breaks at work, he would often find himself playing FarmVille on Facebook.
Then, one day, a stranger sent him a message.
The man was a photographer. Jef saw his work and was amazed by the fashion images he had created.
“I was also interested in photography, so he invited me to come to Dubai.”
Jef's first thought was simple:
“Really? But how?”
The stranger told him that he could arrange the visa and flight. Jef only needed to provide a copy of his passport.
For a young man from the province, the opportunity felt almost impossible to refuse.
So he went.
He arrived in Dubai expecting to stay for just six months.
Six months became three years.
Three years became more than a decade.
And somewhere along the way, Dubai became more than just a place where he worked. It became the place where Jef built a career he never originally planned for.
“I thought I would only stay for six months.”
When Jef first arrived, he was on a visit visa and started looking for work.
Eventually, he landed an accounting position at RSM International—the same profession he had practiced in the Philippines.
But photography was still calling.
While working in an office during the week, Jef began accepting photography projects on weekends. Sometimes, those side projects allowed him to earn almost twice his regular salary.
After three years at RSM, he decided to take a risk.
He did not renew his contract.
Instead, he became a full-time photographer.
At the time, fashion photography was booming in Dubai, and the industry was not yet as crowded as it is today.
Jef found himself working with haute couture designers, international and local brands, real estate companies, agencies, and publications.
What started as a hobby slowly became a career.
And eventually, it became a name people recognized.
ILLUSTRADO named him one of the most influential Filipinos in the UAE for three consecutive years. His work appeared internationally, and he was featured as an artist on the cover of *Khaleej Times*.
He even held a solo photography exhibition at the Philippine Consulate.
When he looks back at those years, Jef considers them among the biggest highlights of his career.
But after more than a decade behind the camera, he felt another change coming.
“I feel like I’ve already proven myself in photography."
Jef is still a licensed photographer and content creator.
But today, his attention is somewhere else.
He is the Founder and COO of Maxiora FZ LLC, and the owner of wellness brand MAXIORA.
And strangely enough, building a business gives him the same excitement he felt when he was starting out in photography.
“I want to shift the conversation toward my passion for business and my desire to build brands,” he says.
For Jef, MAXIORA is where years of seemingly unrelated experiences have finally started to make sense.
His background in accounting.
His years in fashion photography.
His experience in commercial photography.
His work in content creation.
His understanding of branding.
They all became pieces of the same puzzle.
“Now, all those years of experience are coming together in a completely different way.”
Today, his excitement comes from watching a brand grow.
Every milestone feels personal—not simply because it means the business is succeeding, but because he is building something that can eventually exist beyond him.
Something that can become part of other people's lives.
“Your starting point does not necessarily define where you can go.”
Jef never originally planned to build his life overseas.
But Dubai gave him something he eventually learned to value deeply: the feeling that he could create opportunities for himself.
People arrive from different countries, cultures, professions, and circumstances.
Yet, in his experience, there is room for people to dream.
“You have the freedom to decide how far you are willing to take it.”
That belief has stayed with him through 16 years abroad.
Of course, leaving home wasn't easy.
When Jef first arrived, one of his biggest struggles was leaving behind his friends and the life he knew.
At 22, he was used to parties and going out with friends.
Then suddenly, he was in a completely different country, learning a completely different way of life.
What made the transition easier was the people he met.
They became his support system.
Some of those friendships have lasted for more than a decade.
And over time, Jef realized something many Filipinos abroad eventually discover:
The people you meet overseas can become your second family.
He doesn't know exactly where the next chapter will take him.
Jef loves Dubai.
But he also knows that life abroad can change.
One day, he hopes to move to Spain and eventually settle there.
And if that plan doesn't happen, there is another place he would happily return to:
His home province in Quezon.
He misses the simplicity of provincial life—the feeling of riding a motorcycle, drinking freshly picked buko juice, being surrounded by nature, and enjoying ordinary days.
But going home isn't simply about slowing down.
Jef also hopes to give back to the community that raised him.
He was raised by farmers, so he knows firsthand how difficult their lives can be, especially when they lack sufficient institutional support.
One of his dreams is to use what he has learned from business and brand-building to help farmers create better opportunities for themselves.
He wants to help them increase the value of their products, build stronger businesses, and create more sustainable livelihoods.
Perhaps, after 16 years of building a life thousands of kilometers away from home, Jef's next chapter might bring him closer to where his story began.
“If you keep waiting for the right time, you may wait forever.”
If Jef could tell other Filipinos abroad one thing, it would be simple:
Be kind.
Especially to fellow Filipinos.
Because the person beside you may be carrying a struggle you know nothing about.
“Life abroad may look successful from the outside, but everyone is fighting battles that are not always visible.”
He also believes that working abroad requires responsibility.
Be careful with your money.
Choose the people you trust.
Protect your peace.
And remember why you left home in the first place.
But perhaps his biggest lesson after 16 years overseas is about taking chances.
Jef doesn't believe there is always a perfect time to start.
Sometimes, you simply prepare yourself, make a decision, and take the first step.
You won't always have everything figured out.
You might even be afraid.
But waiting for the perfect moment can mean waiting forever.
Sixteen years ago, Jef was a 22-year-old accountant who thought he was going to Dubai for six months.
He didn't know that a stranger's Facebook message would eventually lead him to a new country, a decade-long photography career, international recognition, and eventually, a business of his own.
Maybe that is what adapting to change really means.
You don't always know where the next step will take you.
You just have to be willing to take it.
It is your ability to adapt to change that will take you places.”