In 2000, Roberto Javier Capulong arrived in Dubai with a visit visa and a simple hope: to find an opportunity.
He was an Electrical Engineering student in the Philippines. He had some experience working part-time at KFC, but he had never imagined building a career overseas.
Then his cousin, who was working in Dubai, told him about an opportunity.
So Roberto took the chance.
His first job was as a waiter in a five-star hotel along Sheikh Zayed Road.
“I didn't even think about the kind of work I'd be doing. For me, landing a job abroad was already an achievement.”
But getting to Dubai was one thing. Staying there was another.
He had to learn a completely different world of hospitality—new standards, new procedures, new expectations. And while he was learning how to serve guests, he was also learning how to live far away from home.
Back then, there were no smartphones or video calls.
If he wanted to hear his family's voices, he had to make expensive international calls or wait for a letter.
“There were no smartphones, video calls, or social media. We depended on letters and expensive international phone calls just to hear the voices of our loved ones.”
There were difficult days.
But Roberto had a reason to keep going.
So he kept learning.
He attended trainings. He volunteered for cross-training. He accepted extra responsibilities whenever he could.
Eventually, the effort paid off.
He was promoted to Captain Waiter.
It was a small step on paper.
For Roberto, it was proof that he was moving forward.
Then, in 2005, another opportunity came.
He was supposed to work on a cruise ship in the United States. He already had his visa and was ready to leave.
But his employer could not release him because it was peak season.
The cruise ship never happened.
At the time, it may have felt like a door had closed.
Looking back, Roberto believes it was simply a different door opening.
In 2006, he joined Agemono Restaurant as an Operations Manager.
He had no idea then that the restaurant would eventually become such a big part of his life.
In 2018, the previous owner decided to leave the country permanently.
Roberto took over one of Agemono's branches.
And suddenly, the waiter who once came to Dubai looking for an opportunity was now responsible for building something of his own.
But building a business was not easy.
In 2019, Agemono had to change.
The restaurant had previously operated as a buffet concept, with seven branches across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. But the market had changed, and the business needed to change with it.
Roberto and his team transformed Agemono into a more affordable and accessible restaurant concept.
There were uncertainties.
There were difficult decisions.
And there were moments when they wondered if the new direction would work.
But they continued.
Slowly, they earned their customers' trust again.
Then came COVID-19.
“Everything stopped.”
For Roberto, the pandemic wasn't only about his own future anymore.
There were employees depending on him.
And behind those employees were families back home depending on them.
That responsibility changed the way he looked at the crisis.
“I had to remind myself—it's not just about me anymore.”
So instead of asking how he could simply survive, he focused on finding solutions.
“Every bad situation brings new opportunities. Problems don't last forever, but the lessons you gain from them do.”
Today, Agemono has grown across the UAE, with branches in Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman.
But when Roberto talks about his biggest achievement, he doesn't start with the number of branches.
He talks about people.
“As an OFW, I am grateful that I have been able to provide for my own family. But my greatest achievement is knowing that, in some small way, I have also helped provide opportunities for almost 50 employees and their families.”
Then he says something that explains much of how he sees his journey:
“Without my staff, Agemono is nothing.”
He considers his employees part of the Agemono family.
Their sacrifices are part of the restaurant's success.
Their growth matters to him.
And perhaps that is why his journey from waiter to business owner doesn't feel like a story about one man climbing a ladder.
It feels more like a story about bringing people with him.
Roberto's journey has also brought recognition from the UAE and Philippine communities. He has been featured by media organizations including GMA and TFC and received the Global Filipino Icon Award for 2024–2025.
But when asked what keeps him going, his answer isn't about awards.
It's about faith.
“I believe that everything happens for a reason, even when we don't immediately understand why.”
His wife and two children are also at the center of his motivation.
They remind him why he works hard.
Why he continues learning.
And why he keeps going when things become difficult.
His philosophy is simple:
“Faith is trusting God's plan, even when you don't understand the path.”
He doesn't know exactly where the road will lead.
But after more than two decades in Dubai, he has learned that perhaps you don't always need to.
Sometimes, you just need to take the next step.
Work hard.
Stay humble.
Keep learning.
Take care of the people who depend on you.
And keep your faith.
Roberto came to Dubai as a young Filipino who was simply looking for an opportunity.
He started as a waiter.
He became a manager.
He eventually became a business owner.
And somewhere along the way, the opportunity he came looking for became an opportunity to create opportunities for others.
Now, when he thinks about the future, his dream is surprisingly simple.
To keep moving forward.
To never lose hope.
And to see his children grow up, discover their own dreams, and have the courage to pursue them.
The journey that began in 2000 is still going.
And Roberto is still taking the next step.