By Excel Dyqiangco

With the COVID-19 pandemic severely hurting many companies worldwide, small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), are among the worst hit.  While governments tackle the complicated job of re-opening the markets while cases still continue unabated, the question remains: how can small businesses with limited resources recover? The answer is critical as small businesses account for two-thirds of the globe’s jobs and half of its GDP. In the UAE, this translates to more than 98 percent of the total number of companies operating in the country, with SMEs contributing 52 percent of the non-oil GDP.

“When this crisis hit, the majority of businesses were concerned about keeping their employees healthy and secure, which means providing them their daily needs,” says corporate law expert Atty. Barney Almazar. “The government has made a directive showing what we can do and what we cannot do, but of course, this is within the prerogative of the employer.”

So, during this time of crisis, how are SMEs coping in the UAE, and what can entrepreneurs do to rise above the challenges? Illustrado hosted a livestream discussion amongst entrepreneurs and business leaders from a variety of sectors to get valuable insights that SMEs can learn from, and here are the main points.

Watch the full livestream here: 

1. PROTECT YOUR PEOPLE AND KEEP IN TOUCH WITH PARTNERS

a. Take care of the health and welfare of your workforce.

“We want to make sure that they are safe and well taken care of,” says Ishwar Chugani, CEO and Managing Director of Giordano Middle East, which operates over 200 stores in 23 countries from their headquarters in Dubai. “At this point in time, I communicate with them, and I have to make sure that everyone is okay. Although expenses continue, we are looking at paid salaries this April – the important thing is we have to make sure that they have enough to live and survive.”

“I am where I am today because of my people,” says Chugani.  He also cautions entrepreneurs from making drastic decisions in laying off staff, mindful that the markets and businesses are set to eventually re-open. “To get new people and to restart would be more expensive. We just need to focus on getting things done and then restart.”

Mary Jane Alvero, Group CEO of Prime Group, leading quality and compliance solutions provider in Asia, Middle East, and North Africa, meanwhile, admits that they weren’t affected much in this pandemic because they are into the construction business and laboratory services. However, Alvero says that they have created a centralized emergency response team related to the outbreak. “We believe that in this way, we could protect our customers and at the same time, we could protect our people,” She adds that part of their business continuity plan is to minimize the visitors, test consultants, suppliers, and customers.

b. Reskill your employees or reassign and redistribute tasks in response to the current market situation.

Adopting to the current situation in some cases requires teaching your staff new skills, or reassigning them to handle other functions.  According to Iman Suguitan, Founder and Managing Director of Ahsant Premium Hotel Supplies and Co-Chocolat, “Those people who used to deal with sourcing leather, for example, are now re-deployed to deliver chocolates,” says social entrepreneur Iman Suguitan. “We focus now on enhancing the customer journey, the customer experience like re-skilling. This is important even when the pandemic first blew up in China, So what we did was to keep everyone busy, and I think we are adapting.

c. Allow your employees to work from home.

Atty. Barney Almazar, a partner at Gulf Law, says that for both parties to make this current situation work, employers can just make their employees work from home. This is a win-win situation since the businesses would still be earning money while at the same time, providing salaries to their employees.  At the time of writing, in Dubai, private sector companies are allowed to have only 30% of their workforce in offices, the rest have to work from home.

d. If salary cuts or unpaid leave is unavoidable, do it lawfully.

Atty. Almazar says that if paying full salaries for employers is not possible, employees may be asked to go on unpaid leave, or given salary cuts.  He explains, however, that this should be mutually agreed upon.  “The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has given a form which they could easily download and have to sign – together with their employer – if they agree on unpaid leave or a temporary reduction of salary,” he says. “In this way, parties are both protected. We also try to advise our clients to have an amicable settlement, but if they can’t agree, then the company has two options: to keep them under the payroll and pay them under the contract without reduction, or they can just let them go. For the employee who has been let go, think of options. If they are let go, they could look for another job when the lockdown is lifted.”

e. Communicate openly with your staff and partners and share challenges.

“I do believe they are their heart and soul of the company,” says Albert Tranquilino, the Managing Director of Darcey Flowers. “I secure their future. Although we stopped operations, we use this time to be calm and to add some best value to our company. We try to be more creative and innovative, and productive too. I was also able to use this time to speak with my business networks and suppliers just to send my greetings, especially during these trying times.”

What Can Small Business Do to Cope with Covid-19?

2. MITIGATE LOSSES AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AVAILABLE RELIEF

a. Take advantage of whatever relief packages are available to help liquidity. Talk to your bank.

The UAE Central Bank has recently announced a Dh256 billion Targeted Economic Support Scheme (TESS) to equip banks to extend support to private sector companies and individuals affected by the crisis.  Entrepreneurs are advised to talk to their banks to see how they can benefit from the initiative, whether in the form of loans, deferment of payments, or other support.

“When it comes to renegotiating with the banks, we are classifying the situation of the client,” says Atty. Almazar. “There are those without any default, and that means they have higher chances of having favorable restructuring terms and conditions. However, those who have issues with the banks can also renegotiate. There will just be additional things that we will have to do to prove to the bank that they can cope, considering the situation.”

b. Check out government stimulus measures that can help reduce the cost of doing business and also simplify processes.

Among many other measures to ease business in the emirates, the government has also suspended the collection of administrative fines, and for companies with up to 6 employees, there is a reduction of work permit fees. Foreign companies, moreover, can apply a refund up to 50% of the bank guarantees they have paid for each of their employees, so that will be a big help on their cash flows. Those who are in trading have a 20% refund on customs duty paid for goods being sold in the UAE, according to Atty. Almazar.

The government is also giving extensions in renewing licenses, fines, and penalties, depending on which free zone the company is registered. Sharjah is offering an extension of up to 3 months for fees, and also condone fines at the start of the year. Dubai has several free zones that give a form of discount when license fees are paid in advance, so somehow this will also be beneficial to the cash flow. Other emirates are providing an extension, and the accumulation of fines has also been suspended.

“SMEs can also pay their license fees on installment,” says Atty. Almazar. “The surcharge per installment payment has been waived so this would be very helpful for businesses. They can make a staggered payment.”

Edwin Duria, Managing Director of Play Middle East Business Consultancy and Ambassador of Business Network International (BNI), adds that despite the lockdown, authorities are working online. “Businesses can renew their license online and work on different structures and promotions,” he says. “All they need to know is to check it. The discount depends on the structure and the activity and that the options depend upon the structure.”

c. Raise money by selling off non-core assets.

For companies under tremendous financial pressure, especially those faced with having to lay off employees, Atty. Almazar suggests looking at non-core assets that they have, which they can use to augment their cash flow. He said, “Just last week, we did some asset swap where we sold some of the assets of the companies so that they would be free of debt, and that they would be in a better position.”

d. Negotiate with landlords and suppliers to get more convenient payment terms/relief provisions.

At a time when most businesses are under tremendous pressure, it pays to talk candidly with your landlord and suppliers to strike a deal that will allow for business continuity and would help out both parties.  “If you have a difficult time paying, the court can mitigate the situation, lessen the rent or impose that the tenant pays the rent,” says Atty. Almazar. “But that has to be in court.”  He emphasizes that it’s in the best interest of both parties to negotiate and have a mutual agreement that will help and benefit one another.

With the imminent opening of shops around the emirates, Ishwar Chugani says part of their priorities is to discuss with the shopping malls and various retailers on what they can do for the tenants and what options they can offer, considering that it will take time for consumers to feel comfortable again to go shopping – even if businesses open tomorrow.

3. PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE AND KEEP AN EYE FOR OPPORTUNITIES

a. Use this time to learn and plan for recovery – how you will operate when the lockdown is done.

Mary Jane Alvero, shares, “We have established a business continuity plan that has given us the vision for the next six months. Every week, we regularly review this and see if it needs changes since there are new regulations every day. Even if we already have a short-term plan, we make it a point to update what we are going to do since our projects are related to the government.”

b. Covid-19 will not go away overnight, and as a result, consumer attitudes and preferences, as well as new consumption models are on the rise.

Even after the lifting of lockdowns, and as markets reopen slowly, it is understandable that people will be uncomfortable to go out of their homes for fear of getting the virus. Businesses need to learn and adjust to these new circumstances.   As an off-shoot of the crisis, there will be a growing preference for contactless operations, home services, work-from-home, as well as the continued rise in e-commerce.

“The situation post-COVID will be very different,” says Chugani. “We have to be ready for it. It’s going to be a bit contactless; people will still have a lot of fear going out. People will have a lot of fear about meeting other people. But we are also looking at new business opportunities. We need to have a very different mindset. We have to start and reset based on the new economy.”

Joan Tuaño, Culinary Head at their family enterprise La Carne Premium Meat, says business is doing well, with people staying at home and opting for home-cooked meals.  She shares, “We transformed to a delivery-only shop,” she says. “Lucky enough, we have already set up our online store way in advance. We just had to tune out the physical aspect of our store, and we had to just focus on the delivery. Now we deliver across the emirates. Interestingly, we have turned into something beautiful, and now we are managing customer expectations.”

Iman Suguitan, also emphasizes on the importance of enhancing online channels, “It’s good that we have our online shop for Co Chocolat and that we are also active in our Instagram accounts.”

c. Keep an eye for new opportunities resulting from the new reality.

Despite the current crisis and uncertainty in the markets, these entrepreneurs are positive that there are still opportunities for SMEs. Duria, whose company helps in the establishment of businesses in the emirates, shares, “There have been a lot of licenses, especially in the freelance businesses, as well as new companies related to IT, web designing and e-commerce. This is the trending activity because of the lockdown. Visa-wise, we are gathering a lot of info, collaborating with lawyers, monitoring news from the government, and gathering a lot of deep info so that we can spread information not only to my clients but to the community. We are very busy right now doing some collaboration, preparing our relaunching after all the COVID situation is over. We are learning a lot online, and we are using this opportunity to learn, strategize, and collaborate with our network.”

Alvero, meanwhile, plans to expand her business moving forward.  She adds, “I am positive that whatever is happening now, there will be a lot of opportunities that will come up in the future. More entrepreneurs will come in the future because of this crisis. For our discovery plan, we are also coming up with a new business expansion that will be under the group. We will go to the manufacturing side.”

4. DETERMINE THE “NEW NORMAL” AND HOW YOUR COMPANY WILL ADAPT OR PIVOT.

With this current situation, how do SMEs expect to operate in the near future? According to Duria, people will continue to use online technology for even more extensive communication seven after Covid-19. “We have never used Zoom before, but now we are using a lot of that. I believe that we will use this and other methods of online communication regularly for our businesses,” he says. “Transaction-wise, however, I think everything will go back to normal once the government goes back to normal work.”

For Tuaño, what is happening is a very humbling experience for everyone and has changed a lot of people. She adds that with this crisis, businesses should think more about how to become more sustainable. “Is your business environmentally and socially sustainable?” she asks. “Is what you are doing something that people need for basic living? Are you able to adapt to the needs of the people? We need to go back to the basics. This is the time that creative modeling starts to happen. You can have the time to sell your unique proposition. I think it is going to be about simplicity and quality – less is more.”

“We have learned a lot from this crisis,” says Alvero. “After analyzing the impact of this crisis, I believe that it is high time that we diversify our businesses. The most important thing about this crisis is that you learn how to give importance to every detail that happens in our personal life, in the business, in our careers, and in the community. In the end, we all have to give back.”

Atty. Almazar says after the COVID-19 crisis, they still see a lot of remote work, which would stay for around 4 to 7 months after the government has relaxed the measures. According to him, there will be a lot of government spending, and that banks, meanwhile, will be working on helping to restructure industries like the tourism sector, helping it to adjust according to the new needs of the customers.

“The new norm that we will be seeing is that people will still continue to work on their businesses, but in different ways,” he says. “There will be improvements. For example, now you can notarize your documents through video conferencing. These changes can also be carried on after we have normalized. We get the best things out of this situation, use them and move forward.”

Suguitan adds, “If you can’t go outside, go inside. This situation is a good time to be quiet and reflect. This is not to create fear but to create a sense of calm that there are more important things than what we used to take pride in before.”

Watch the full livestream here: 

The post SMEs: What Can Small Business Do to Cope with Covid-19 appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Social Entrepreneurs

At the heart of their enterprise is the intent to be agents of positive change. Entrepinoy’s story is a compelling mix of extraordinary pro-people environmentally sustainable products, coupled with the mission to help solve a significant societal issue.

Established by Chairman Sheryll Bacay Agbing and partners Jessie Quintilla, Gertie Quebral, Hyden Restificar, and Chito Hernandez, Entrepinoy utilizes the entrepreneurial spirit to realize initiatives and collaborations that will support farmers in the Philippines. Their pilot product, Organic Rice, is part of their larger advocacy to help agricultural workers in impoverished towns back home while at the same time providing consumers the new generation of sustainable, socially-responsible high-quality products from the Philippines.

As a social enterprise, Entrepinoy strives to thrive within a unique business model that is both profitable and transformative.  The founders believe in the ability and potential of businesses to accomplish commercial success whilst providing invaluable support for people.  In line with the recent launch of Barako Coffee, Entrepinoy augmented its operational strategy, focusing more on creating a unique customer experience and work-for-purpose approach. While the team is focusing on environmentally friendly and ethical products to add to their portfolio, they also continue building relationships within the community in order to grow their customer base sharing the story of their advocacy.

“Through this, we hope to achieve our mission of creating a positive impact within the community and make the world a better place, while at the same time accomplishing our entrepreneurial goals,” says Chairman Agbing.

Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf is Supported by: Kaya Skin Clinic,  Emirates Airline, and Unilever.

Special Thanks to Michael Cinco, Ezra Couture , Giordano, Darcey Flowers, IKON Solutions, Victors Freight, MPQ Tourism, Asia Gulf Companies –La Carne & Filfood, WOL Water

Get a copy of Illustrado 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Legacy Edition

100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf: EntrePinoy – Social Entrepreneurs

Business ventures nowadays are born not only for profit and passion but also to benefit various humanitarian and environmental causes. Here two social enterprises which aim to better Filipinos through their business ventures in the UAE.

EntrePinoy

Its vision is not only to help OFWs access a unique investment opportunity and inspire entrepreneurship but also to bring change to impoverished communities. Since November 2016, EntrePINOY, the marketing arm and sole product distributor in Dubai, has been distributing – Bios Dynamis the breakthrough certified organic rice of the “Adopt A Farm” program.

“To ensure a sustainable end to end solution, EntrePinoy FZE endeavours to import these products and introduce it in the Middle East market, thereby helping our local farmers,” says EntrePINOY Chairman Sheryll Bacay Agbing. “With this, we want to find a solution to a problem and become change agents. We want to help find ways to provide opportunities for people to live well, see opportunities and create potentials.”

Sheryll, together with partners Jessie Quintilla, Gertie Quebral, Hyden Restificar, and Chito Hernandez, have created EntrePINOY as a business for a social purpose as its primary driver.

“We would like to build a unique business model that will help transform a community and make a difference in the lives of Filipinos,” says Jessie Quintilla. “Regarding profit, we recognise the absolute necessity of profits to sustain the cause as well as the equally high necessity of having a purpose beyond profit or wealth. At Entrepinoy, we combine technology, community, and commercial strategies to maximise social well-being.”

At present, EntrePINOY is preparing to launch its second project which will help revive the lost glory of ‘kapeng barako’ and will support local farmers in sustaining the famous coffee product.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Photography by: Alex Callueng

Illustrado 100 was made possible by sponsors: Giordano, Liali Jewellery, Mitsubishi UAE- Al Habtoor Motors, Michael Cinco Couture, Mapúa Institute of Technology, Centro – Amwaj Rotana Hotel , Max’s Restaurant Middle East and GVER – Your Friendly MarketPlace for Sharing

Co-Sponsors: Herschel Supply Co., Rove Hotels, The Medical City – Dubai , Filipino Institute UAE, MPQ Tourism, JAMES Travel and Tours Dubai, Off the Hook Seafood Restaurant, The Original Barrio Fiesta Restaurant – Dubai and Tapa King UAE.

Read more Illustrado 100 on www.illustradolife.com

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The Philippine startup ecosystem is once again featured in the annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) by Startup Genome. In its inaugural ranking of the world’s top 100 emerging ecosystems, Manila is ranked 36^th globally.

The GSER 2020 puts the value of Manila’s startup ecosystem at USD1.6 B, with a total early stage funding of USD102 M over the last two and a half years. It is among the startup ecosystems in their activation phase, together with Busan in Korea, Calgary in Canada, Frankfurt in Germany, and Taipei in Taiwan.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez remarked, “The DTI is committed to sustaining the growth of our thriving startup ecosystem in Manila and the whole country during this pandemic and beyond. We continue to implement enabling policies and strategic support programs for enterprises, particularly as we aggressively promote the digitalization of business operations and the digital transformation of our MSMEs and large enterprises.”

Among Manila’s strengths as a top emerging ecosystem are its market reach (or the early-stage startup access to customers allowing them to scale and go global), as well as talent and experience (or the access to talent by early-stage startups). These place Manila among the top 20 ecosystems for Bang for Buck and among the top 30 ecosystems for Affordable Talent.

The GSER 2020 identifies fintech and e-commerce as Manila’s ecosystem sub-sector strengths. Fintech companies account for almost 15% of Manila’s startups, with a transaction value reaching approximately USD10 B in 2019 and is expected to grow by 24% in 2020, while taking into account the expected impact of COVID-19. On the other hand, the e-commerce industry is growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 26.4%, which is one of the fastest rates in Southeast Asia.

“The proliferation of fintech and e-commerce startups in the country is testament to the abundance of opportunities in the Philippine market. By mutually reinforcing one another, these two sectors are enabling the growth of traditional sellers and buyers despite today’s trying times. Our young, creative, and resourceful pool of talent will keep our ecosystem vibrant and competitive in the years ahead,” said Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation Rafaelita Aldaba.

In partnership with the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Information and Communications Technology as lead implementing agencies of the Innovative Startup Act, the DTI will facilitate more collaboration among members of the startup community, support the scaling up of startup enterprises, and foster their global expansion.

“We strongly believe that Filipino startups can compete globally, especially with the right collaborators. We are constantly looking out for the chances to showcase the solutions and services they can offer to meet market demands and address social needs. We look forward to seeing our startups grabbing the attention of more mentors and investors as we promote them in the world market,” said Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) Director Senen Perlada.

The GSER is the world’s most comprehensive and widely-read research on startups with 250 ecosystems studied. The GSER 2020 is published by Startup Genome – a world-leading policy advisory and research organization for governments and public-private partnerships committed to accelerating the success of their startup ecosystem – in cooperation with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). The DTI is a member of the GSER Global Network.

Download the #GSER2020 Deep Dive on MANILA: bit.ly/ManilaDeepDive

Read the full #GSER2020 at: http://startupgenome.com/report/GSER2020

The post Manila listed as one of the world’s top emerging startup ecosystems appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

For most Overseas Filipinos, apart from owning a home, having a sustainable business back home that will support the family is the ultimate dream – an aspiration our kababayans want to achieve before they eventually settle back home for good in the Philippines.

But there are so many questions and fears that linger in our heads that seem to make the journey from OF to entrepreneur a daunting one.  “Will I be able to survive in the world that I left long ago?” “Will I be able to reintegrate?” Or even the simple question – “Will I survive?”  These fears are enough to hold us back from coming home for good.  And that is a bit ironic, especially since “home” should be our comfort zone.

So how does one overcome this feeling of “alienness” in his/her own homeland?  It’s easy to set-up a business with all the rules written out.  All you have to do is follow.  But it is harder to change our mindsets that have been shaped by staying all those years abroad in foreign land.

Fret not!  All you need is to utilize whatever you have learned as a resilient OF, apply some flexibility and open-mindedness, and before you know it, you will be adjusting well to life in the Philippines and getting closer to your dream of having your own business back home.  Here are some tips learned from my own tough personal experiences that OFs can benefit from:

Be observant

As an OF returnee you have to understand that the country you have left a long time ago has experienced many changes through the years.  So it’s not useful to only be referring to the things you were used to “back in the day.”  Study the new lay of the land.  Get up to speed with how things work.  Observe your surroundings and the people and learn from them.  Find out the new way of doing things.

Be the people 

A lot of OFs have a hard time adjusting to the lifestyle back home because their expectations and actions are stuck to the life abroad that they left behind.  If you want to be successful in building a business in the Philippines, you need to make an effort to start acting like you are truly part of the community.  For how will your business serve the people, if you don’t even understand them?

Be a problem solver

Look for unique, urgent requirements or anomalies within the community that need resolution and where you can contribute your talent and skills. This is how you can come up with a business, a product and/or a service that, will address existing needs in the market.   OFs are very skillful in finding ways to solve problems, even beyond our professions. We’ve learned to be inventive with our exposure to different cultures and workplaces.  Use this strength and let your ingenuity shine!

Be an explorer

OFs are innately adventurous.  Our spirit for challenge has brought us to distant seas. We don’t want to be kept stagnant in one place.  So why not try new ways of addressing market needs back home with inventive new business solutions that would help a lot of kababayans.

Be experimental 

OFs are not afraid to try and fail, and relearn and apply what we have learned, whenever we get a chance. This is a special skill of an OF. Trial and error leads us to success and it’s proven. We just have to be more courageous and not be discouraged by failure, as each one of them is an opportunity to learn that brings us closer to success.

Be open minded

Not all business succeed on first attempts. 80% to 90% of startups fail.  So you have to have an open mind and accept whatever happens. By having the right perspective only are we able to move on, start over again and pursue that dream until we make it. But in starting anew, we have to understand what did not work in the first place. Our strong OF will which we developed while working abroad will help us to carry on, despite the failures we may face.

And lastly, be a doer

An idea is useless, unless you implement it.  A business plan is nothing until you establish the company and get started.  And being an entrepreneur back home can only become reality if you start working on it today.  Be a doer to get the result that you desire, to achieve the dream that you hold dear. Most of us think that we don’t have enough skills, and get paralyzed by fear.  But those skills exist deep inside us, so we must not be afraid of trying until we get it right.

Each of us may have different ways of applying these guidelines on adjusting our expat mindset to achieve our dream business back home.  But the most important thing of all is to start doing something to move towards success. There’s no better time but now!

Bel Ramirez

Former Overseas Filipino and Dubai-resident, management professional Anabel Ramirez is now based in Manila and is the founder of ABBR BUSINESS CONSULTANCY. As a driven result oriented person, her core advocacy is to help OFs create their own dream businesses back in the homeland.

Read more articles like these on Illustrado.

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Head – Marketing and Sales, Bareen Cluster – NMC Healthcare

What do you do for a living?

I work for NMC Healthcare, the largest private healthcare company in the UAE and third largest healthcare provider all over the world.  It is the first company from Abu Dhabi to list on the London Stock Exchange and is now part of the premium FTSE 100 Index, an elite club of top 100 blue-chip companies by market cap. I am currently posted as the Head of Marketing and Sales for the whole Bareen cluster.

Please describe your job:

I look after everything that is related to Marketing and Business Development of all the medical facilities under Bareen cluster – from brand positioning to increasing brand awareness and growing brand loyalty to the facility, from increasing footfall to generating revenue and raising profitability for each medical facility.  From strategic planning to overseeing execution, I spearhead all offline, thematic, and tactical communications such as print ads, radio ads, car ads, electronic ads, and SMS promotions. I manage all media-related activities including press releases, press conferences, media and public interviews, film shootings community research among others. I oversee business relationships with all external agencies including advertising creative, advertising placement, public relations, transit media, electronic media, mobile media, website, digital marketing; and with all printing vendors for below-the-line communication materials to ensure seamless delivery of functional requirements.  I plan and develop the brand’s digital presence which includes campaigns on website, social media, search engine optimization, online advertising, and mobile application.  I lead and guide the team in executing all community events including wellness camps, screening campaigns, health lectures, health-related world celebrations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, and customer retention events.  I conceptualize and oversee corporate events including contract signing with new partners, unveiling/opening of new facilities, recognition gatherings for physicians, annual day celebrations for staff members.  I spearhead all medical events including medical conferences and Continuing Medical Education (CME) lectures for Bareen physicians and community-based doctors.  I strategize and oversee the business development functions of the company as well, which generate business from community-based doctors and corporate segments.  I guide the team which generates referral business from leading corporates and captive medical centers; identify and review doctors in the community for empanelment for admission rights, complete the contract and onboarding formalities for selected community-based doctors; generate and manage the referral business from community-based doctors.

Describe your typical working day:

I start my day meeting my team members individually in order to make sure we’re aligned in our work.  Then, I touch base with lateral leadership – heads of departments, center heads, etc. to discuss strategic requirements and collaborate to achieve project goals. This also opens the door for them to raise specific requirements where they need Marketing support. Then, I meet with my direct superiors – the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Operations, to discuss strategic plans and tackle operational issues.  The day becomes busier as I oversee the team implement campaigns – alongside communication with internal stakeholders, business partners, and vendors.  What’s more, in between a busy running schedule, there are “fire-fighting” sessions along the way.

Please share with us an interesting story/anecdote or anything remarkable or uplifting that has happened to you on-the-job.

Bareen International Hospital began its operations in 2015 under the management of its original owners.  For the last 3 years, the hospital has not been gaining any profit and has been on the red.  In January 2018, NMC Healthcare acquired Bareen International Hospital.

I received a call from NMC Healthcare in January 2018 and was offered to join Bareen International Hospital as Marketing and Sales Manager. I was able to join Bareen International Hospital in April.  As soon as I got onboard, the Senior Management Team gave a tall order to turn-around the company in September 2018.  On my first week at work, I intensively studied the facility and its market, conceptualized and drafted a Marketing and Business Development strategy, presented and discussed the plan to Bareen Management.

I pushed internal units to work faster in order to implement the campaigns.  Come September 2018: Bareen International Hospital finally hit break-even.  And on the same month, Bareen hit the highest profitability since it started its operations in 2015.

The fact that we were able to turn-around in less than a year is a record-breaker and an outstanding feather on the hat of NMC Healthcare. Shortly after Bareen’s breakthrough, NMC healthcare has stepped up business expansion plans and acquired more medical centers in Abu Dhabi and winged each of the medical facilities under Bareen team – which is now known as Bareen Cluster. In less than two years, we have grown from managing 1 medical facility to 8 medical facilities and counting.  As the only Filipino in the leadership team, I am proud to play a significant role in this milestone.

My journey in the organization was, and is not, a walk in the park.  The struggles are real and are most of the time, daunting. Breaking stereotypes of nationality and gender in the workplace is still an existing challenge, but with Filipino core values of faith, hard work, dedication, passion, and resilience, the Pinoy talent will always rise to break glass ceilings and wave the flag in the international arena.

Your message to Filipinos out there:

 Life is never easy. That is why I urge all Filipinos – whether in our home country or overseas, to champion life with grit and resilience.  No matter how big or small our failures are, it is how we deal with these failures and choose to move forward that defines our character. More than winning, we must not be afraid of failing, because failures make us wiser, bolder, and stronger. The challenges make our breakthroughs more meaningful and make our achievements more rewarding. And if we do make mistakes, we should push with tenacity, learn from experience, bounce back, and move forward knowing that we are one step closer to our victory.

Rosalle Macaspac

Marketing and Communications Manager

Customer Experience Group

Dubai, UAE

What do you do for a living? Please describe your job briefly:

 I’m the Global Marketing and Communications Manager of Customer Experience Group (CXG), a strategic alliance of five leading agencies, offering together a platform that elevates the customer experience of the luxury industry. CXG caters to 200 of the world’s most iconic premium and luxury brands and we help them transition from a transactional model towards a personalized relationship and emotional model. I have a global role, and this allows me to serve our teams spread out in our 14 offices worldwide.

I oversee the development and implementation of long-term plans for CXG and its agencies, aligning the communications and marketing activities of Customer Experience Group across Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa. I have over a decade of experience in the field of public relations, marketing and events, where I spent nearly 12 years in Dubai.

I have led the rebranding of one of CXG’s agencies, Albatross CX, when it reorganized and refocused its strategy towards ‘customer experience’. I was also responsible for the brand creation and launch of the Customer Experience Group, as well as two of its agencies: Wisely Insights and SmartCX.

My job requires me to be fully informed and updated in digital marketing, and I’ve been fortunate to have attended a two-day marketing event in London this year, where I got the chance to meet with fellow marketers and learned to navigate the modern marketing landscape.

Part of my communications role is to drive our internal social media ‘Yammer’, and this enables me to think of exciting campaigns to enhance our employee engagements. One of the most memorable campaigns I’ve led is “#GoodDayCXG” – this allowed our teams to post a photo/video for one month about their business unit (i.e. team brainstorming session, amazing office view, client meetings etc.) or just about anything that’s good during their day. The campaign generated 127 posts accumulating 1,457 likes and 206 comments, involving 220 team members based in 10 cities including Paris, Dubai, London, Taipei, Shanghai, Tokyo, Moscow, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York.

Earlier this year, I have been appointed as a member of the Executive Committee, enabling me to share ideas, raise issues and support our Group CEO in decision making to implement the Board’s strategy, aligned with the company’s vision, mission and guiding principles.

Please describe your typical working day:

I wake up every day at around 6:30 in the morning, and the first thing that I do is grab my phone to read the daily pick of my ‘Blinkist’ app – usually about management, leadership, and marketing topics. After which, I meditate for about 15 minutes. I arrive at the office, usually 20-30 minutes early, and proceed to read the news, typically Gulf News, CNN, BBC and New York Times, and industry publications including Luxury Daily and Business of Fashion. Before I start working, I look at my project calendar, and organize my priorities. I usually pick six essential deliverables and aim to accomplish these within the day.

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to work with a global team. A day won’t go by without a conference call with our teams (except on Sundays when the Dubai office is the only one working). I get to exchange ideas with team members, and I am always challenged to keep thinking of new and engaging initiatives that are important for the growth of our organization.

Please share with us an interesting story/anecdote or anything remarkable or uplifting that has happened to you on-the-job.

I was once called the ‘Best Lighthouse Ever’ in CXG. Let me share the story with you. Every January, our company holds our annual management seminar in the UAE – where every agency CEO, department head, country manager and managing director from different countries, spend a week together to strengthen work collaboration, discuss strategies and opportunities ahead. My innate love for events allowed me to organize this project year after year, from sourcing the venue, booking the flights and transfers of the attendees, preparing the itinerary and ensuring that everything has been arranged to make sure that each team member’s stay is as memorable and convenient as possible.

Part of the management seminar is to also hand out awards to exceptional managers, and in one event, I was surprisingly called at the very end of the awarding ceremony and was given the ‘Best Lighthouse Ever’ award. Our Group CEO has compared me to a ‘lighthouse’ – one that shines and guides everyone. It was a great honor and a humbling moment for me, a memory that will last for a lifetime.

 Your message to Filipinos out there:

Reports suggest that 85% of jobs are filled via networking, hence it’s very important to build genuine relationships. Always strive to have meaningful relationships as it is an important foundation of success.

We need personal connections not only to succeed in our workplace, but also for support, friendship or just plain happiness.

Maya Angelou once said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

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www.gulflaw.info

Since: 2010

Founder: Barney Almazar, Esq.

Gulf Law is a firm that offers a wide range of legal services through its team of certified, talented legal professionals. Their services include company-commercial law consultation, foreign investments, company formation, taxation, oil and gas, immigration and relocation, family, wills and inheritance, employment, real estate, intellectual property, debt collection, dispute resolution, and litigation.

Through flexible prices and consultation plans, the company has represented and supported a diverse client base around the UAE and abroad, a large portion of which are the OF population. Eliminating the need for extra paperwork and procedures, they have become one of the most efficient law firms within the industry.

Led by Atty. Barney Almazar, the firm is well-reputed for handling portfolios of high net-worth individuals in Southeast Asia, as well as leading the US$125million Filipino acquisition of a UAE company.

“Gulf Law is steadfastly committed to providing clients with superior legal services in a prompt manner and at a reasonable cost, through a sound technical knowledge of the law,” shares Atty. Barney Almazar.

Read the full edition of Illustrado Work & Play 2019 on www.issuu.com

Previous Article – Filipino Businesses in the Middle East and Beyond: Media Production

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Rebecca Bustamante

I grew up in a very poor home in Dasol, Pangasinan with 10 siblings. My childhood life was a very challenging experience because I saw the difficulty of life, from the moment you wake up to when you go to sleep. My mother died when I was just 18 and my father did not work to support us. So at a young age, I was forced to seek work outside the country as a domestic helper to pay off our family’s debts, our house which was used as a collateral for a loan, and to feed my siblings and send them to school.

I worked for more than 3 years in Singapore alongside studying with an Open University. It was tough, of course, balancing work and studies. But I always thought about my siblings back in the Philippines, and that I always thought about my future goals. I want to transfer to Canada because I know opportunities will be better there for our family.

After those three years, luckily, I was able to transfer to Canada where I also started as a househelp. Unlike in Singapore, the opportunities in Canada were better. Eventually, I could even become a citizen. So while I was working as a househelp, I did many sideline jobs including selling Saladmaker, and then I was also studying at night. So in the morning, I would do my household chores, and then at night, study. During my day offs, I would then go out and sell. All the profits I had from selling, I would keep as savings. I did not want to spend on anything, even my clothes were all bough second-hand. I wanted to save up so I can start my own business.

I then started a recruitment agency called High-Q Personnel that helped bring domestic helpers to Canada. I wanted to help our fellow Filipinos. I always thought that if they can come to Canada, they will have better income and they can also provide better lives for their families. I want to inspire them to see that even though you start from the bottom, you can succeed because you are the driver of your own future. No one can drive for you expect you. I am in this future bec I drove myself, I pushed myself.

I started working again in the Philippines when I was already in Mary Kay Cosmetics and they sent me back because they wanted to start selling in the country. I also worked with the Canadian embassy. In 2005, when my husband lost his job in Canada, we decided to stay here in the Philippines and start our own company, Chalre Associates.

Chalre Associates started out as a multinational recruitment firm for senior management executive positions. But now, we are more concerned with another type of marketing—marketing the Philippines. I want to make the Philippines a first world country. I see our fellow Filipinos, working hard, but are still suffering. I want to change that. They say it’s a huge goal, but I say, If you don’t know how to shoot for the moon, how will you land among the stars?

To achieve this goal, we’re regularly holding the Asia CEO Forum and Asia CEO Awards, to give recognition to the Filipinos who are doing a great job and to inspire more to follow their footsteps.

For more information, you can also check out https://www.rebecca-bustamante.com https://www.asia-ceo.org/ https://www.asia-ceo-awards.org/  

Why did you become an entrepreneur?

Then, I just wanted to help my family. But as I gain more experience and see more of the world, I saw the unlimited potential in myself, in all of us, and in the Philippines. ·       

What odds were stacked against you and how did you overcome them?

I faced so many challenges but the secret is staying focused on your destination. I left the Philippines without finishing college but I knew that I needed to learn and grow to be able to make it far. So I studied, even during the wee hours of the morning, I read books, I did assignments, I talked to people. I kept learning and growing so I’ll have more opportunities open to me. I also try to focus on what I can do for others, instead of focusing on what others can do for me. Building good relationships is key to succeeding in any field. I try to cultivate relationships that I make, and never forget the learnings and wisdom from the people I meet.

What is the single biggest thing that allowed you to achieve your dream?

The most underrated thing: Love. First, it was just love for my family that pushed to go out of the country and work and develop myself. Now, my love for the country is what drives me to keep going, keep organizing forums, keep meeting people, keep marketing the Philippines. I want my kids, the future Filipinos, to live in a country that’s more prosperous and better, and I want my legacy to be that I helped create that country.

What are your 5 tops tips to starting on growing your own business? Please give 5 points with a bit of description for each one.

1. Know your purpose in life
   Set goals, small and big, short-term and long-term. When you don’t have goals, you won’t know what your next step in life is.
2. Do the action
   You can always think about what you can do, but the key is starting it, really doing it. As long as you’re not doing anything, your dreams and goals are nothing. Action will take you where you want to go.
3. Failure is just a word
   There is no success without wisdom, no wisdom without learning, and no learning without failures. Never give up. You might run into people who will doubt you, you might run into circumstances that make you sad and tired, you might run into businesses and opportunities that won’t work out, but it all helps build you as a person.  
4. Determination is a must
   Have discipline in whatever you do. Have discipline with the things you eat, have discipline to wake up early and do more today, have the discipline to stick to your plans and goals. If you practice discipline in different aspects of your life, you’ll master discipline even in the hardest tasks.
5. Love.
   Keep love at the center of everything you do—love for yourself, love for your family, love for your country, and even love for the world. Everything is easier when you do it for love.

What else do you want to achieve in the future?

I want to inspire children and give them hope that we are all born lucky. I may be born poor but I was blessed to have been born with a huge family that I can love. I may be born without the usual stuff that people have but I am born with the practicality and the drive to turn things around. We all have something; we just have to change our perspective and see things differently. Focus on what you have, focus on your strengths, and use these to defeat your weaknesses. I want to inspire more people to have this kind of outlook in life.

And I want to make the Philippines a first world country. We can do that. I believe we can.

https://web.facebook.com/rbustamante.officialhttps://web.facebook.com/selfmade.rbustamante/

Read more on entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship here:

From OF to Entrepreneur in the Philippines: Adjusting Your Mindset To Get Closer To Your Dream

Filipino Entrepreneur: Timeless Elegant Event Management (TEEM)

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Entrepreneur

I’m a full time entrepreneur who started my own boutique marketing agency since 2015. Like any filipino expats who want to make it big abroad, I have a dream and a passion to build a media company that aims to inspire, educate and make an impact on other people’s lives, especially for those who are stuck in their career, lost and don’t know where to start, and for aspiring entrepreneurs who are still on the fence deciding if they should start their own business or quit their own job right away.

Through my platform, “The Drive to Succeed Podcast“, I interview some of the most inspiring entrepreneurs, thought leaders, life coaches to public figures in the middle east. And soon, I will turn it into a live event format where my audience can directly interact with and ask questions to my amazing guests.

My typical working day isn’t glamorous as most people think, although some people think that my life is easy because I own my time and have a set of clients that helps pays the bills. But it’s actually the opposite. Most of the time, I’m just in-front of my computer and mobile reaching out to and meeting companies or brands for sponsorships and any other media & marketing related work.

One of the interesting things that happened to me was in early 2014 and also probably my turning point. I got laid off from my previous employer and I didn’t know where to go. All I knew is that I wanted to start my own business. And for this to happen I needed to work for a great boss and enter an industry where I could learn new skills and extract as much value as I could. It was a Thursday morning, almost a week before Ramadan when I was sending my CV’s to potential leads,  surprisingly after an hour I got a call saying “Danielle can you come for an interview in 2hours? I’m travelling for a month and I want to meet you before I leave.” I didn’t know what the position was or what the work is. Just by judging the sound of his voice on the other end, I knew this was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss. And I said Yes. Two interviews later after meeting both founders of the company. I got accepted and that’s how I got started in publishing and content marketing. I was like a sponge absorbing skills, feedback and criticism. Also, I was harnessing my skills and developing courage to pitch C-levels to go in our publication.

Philip Vasquez

Operations Head of Kasmar Holdings

I am the Operations Head of Kasamar Holdings with a diverse investment portfolio. Specifically, I handle the F&B Division which currently holds franchise rights for Teriyaki Boy, Sizzlin’ Steak, Dencio’s and Henlin. The job entails the dynamic process of site identification, acquisition, execution and operation. I travel across the GCC apart from being active in the UAE market because we also hold the right for Saudi Arabia and some GCC countries. While growth is the prime priority, I also take care of existing business through potent marketing strategy, product development and new product offering.

My typical day starts at 4AM checking emails and responding to some. Business analytics of each restaurant are also available at this time. I read online news and proceeds to my prepared work schedule. Typically, the day revolves around visiting stores, meeting stakeholders to present business expansion plans, meeting suppliers to manage costs, coach managers for better performance. It usually ends at around 8PM.

Since childhood, I always felt that going abroad was my destiny. Having  two aunts working in the US and KSA, I was always encouraged that indeed an overseas job was a greener pasture. After working for three years in the Philippines after graduation, I decided to pursue a job in Qatar just to suffice that personal yearning to work abroad. I left Qatar after 10 months – heartbroken. I went back to Philippines and started my career building again. Having been able to acquire properties in the Philippines, I thought I have left  also my dream of overseas job. Until I felt I have reached a peak of my career and the only way to go was to be promoted to the next position. I was afraid that at age 37 leaving my job would be career suicide. Year after year, I have been assessed and failed in getting the promotion. John Maxwell was right when he said Fail young. Fail often. Fail forward”, except that I was not young anymore. That feeling of career fatigue with age insecurity gave me poor vision of overseas job. Until I stumbled upon a quote which says: “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” At age 37 with secured job and status, I finally decided to leave my job and work abroad. After 2 years with my job I was promoted to a higher position where I handled all 21 restaurants of our company across UAE and Oman. Two years ago, I decided to leave this company again to join Kasamar Holdings. Indeed, with good timing and firm spirit, coupled with strength of character and hardwork, one will not fail – and if so, must fail forward.

Ryan Banks

Senior Architect at Action Impact

I work as a Senior Architect in Action Impact, it is one of the leading Brand Experience firm in the UAE and UK. I am part of a diverse and an amazing creative team that caters to massive design projects like Interiors, Chalets, Pavilions, Themed Environments, etc. My job function is basically doing the design stage of designated projects and do constant site supervision. I focus on the entire design phase, from digesting project briefs and providing designs concepts, to making certain of the quality of projects we are delivering.

I was only 21 when an Architecture Firm here in Dubai offered me a job and I was really excited to take the challenge. Twelve years have already gone by, but my passion and dedication to what I do still remains strong. Back then, I never imagined myself to be designing for massive brands as I do now, renowned brands like Google, Mubadala, Meydan, Lexus, European Union, DAFZA, Four Seasons, etc.

I don’t think I have a typical working day at work. Sometimes I just get stuck in my office chair while doing designs the entire day, or at times, I am outside for meetings, presentations, conventions, and site visits. However, I always make sure that I get to attend our team’s daily morning huddle. The entire design department has this catch-up meeting every first hour of the morning to merely update the team about the projects we are handling. Our workplace is cozy and fun, so I don’t really feel like working most of the time, especially when we have fun theme-days at work.

There is a lot to tell but…in general, the most interesting part in my job is whenever we win projects. We get to hit the “gong” in the middle of our office whenever we confirm a project. Another thing is whenever clients commend us for delivering exceptional assignments. I believe life is all about balance, so I also make sure to have fun life outside work as well. That is why I have been in a church choir for 9 years, and have been in Kiwanis organization for 7 years. It has actually been more motivating when I was elected as the Kiwanis President for 2018-2019.

Being Optimistic and Industrious, I think these are the secret of life in achieving your goal. The more you act, the more good things happen. Life is a big reflection on how you look at it. Most of us don’t realize how lucky we are to be Filipinos, when other nationalities are already openly commending us in every industry there is. Use that luck to motivate you to be more optimistic and diligent. With that, you’ll be able to enjoy whatever you do. So how do you know that you are enjoying with your work? I guess you’ll know it once you unintentionally miss your lunch breaks and you’re totally fine with it.

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Filipino Professionals: Mardie Dizon, Vangie Tadena and Cristille Cabral

It’s What I Do: Augusto Cabrera, Ellaine Villena and Jerome Sanchez

The post It’s What I Do: Danielle Francisco, Philip Vasquez and Ryan Banks appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

Joan Tuaño

Co – Founder and Culinary Business Manager

lacarne.ae

As Abu Dhabi’s premium meat retailer, La Carne bridges the gap between people and meat with high quality eating. Specializing in grass-fed Wagyu and Angus beef, as well as lamb, the family-run joint has garnered great trust from customers, carving out a reputation for providing meat that is not only excellent, but traceable.

Established in 2014, entrepreneur Joan Tuaño shares that the success of a business is rooted in numerous facets. She elaborates: “Be transparent. Be honest and clear with those you work with every day, as it plants good business relationships. Listen to your team and customers; they have the answers! Be prepared to continuously change. We have changed our business model so many times and that’s okay. Your business is your story, so don’t be afraid to edit the chapters. Fourth is to understand your team, their capabilities and potential. Appreciate good work and constructively criticize mistakes to encourage your team to do better next time. Last but not least, know the numbers that matter to sustain your business!”

Cuisinero Uno Urban Tapas Bar – UAE

John Buenaventura 

Founder

cuisinero-uno.com

Cuisinero Uno is a Filipino–owned contemporary urban tapas and cocktail bar which caters to residents, professionals and tourists that flock to the swanky Dubai Business Bay area. It is the place for upscale and straightforward, yet ‘moreish’ dishes partnered with ultra-creative cocktails. Created by ‘Rockstar Chef’  John Martho Buenaventura, Cuisinero Uno is one of the few pioneer homegrown concepts in Dubai that now caters to a growing market of increasingly progressive expats in the country.

Chef John’s fear of mediocrity and desire to embolden Filipinos were key in the birthing of this restaurant. His work challenges the notion of many Filipinos within the field, choosing not to stay within boundaries and constantly pushing the limits of how modern Filipinos are perceived.

The restobar is known for its deviant approach to preparing food, redefining the modern dining experience with tapas that represent hip and funky takes on Emarati, Asian and Spanish flavor. Their food is also delivered on a personal level of customer–chef experience, being served directly by the chefs as they explain about the food and the uniqueness behind it.

“We are not pretentious and over-priced, however, we provide service with personal connectivity. We are all about the character and passion of our people behind the brand, as well as the clientele we love to welcome.”

Ounce Facilities Management – UAE

Alberto Opena

Founder

www.facebook.com/ouncedxb

Ounce is a leading event management service that excels in providing food and beverage. Based in the UAE and opened by Alberto Opena, Ounce has been providing its services to many well-known companies such as MMI, Spinneys Abu Dhabi, Flash Entertainment Concert Events, Horeca, and more since the year 2013. They have also been actively involved in prestigious events like F1, the Meydan Cup and various concerts across the UAE.

Founder Alberto Opena has been working from an early age. He believes that being an entrepreneur is a privilege, one determined by hard work and perseverance. “Success is hard work paid off. In other words, there is no shortcut for your goals.” Despite his 100% dedication to work, Alberto is a firm believer in pushing boundaries and striving to be better day by day, never allowing himself to be restricted by office walls. He believes that passion and family support are key, and will serve as the main driving force for your work. “Self-motivation is important, but this is also the part where my family played a huge role in reminding me that I can make anything possible. My family has always been my driving force to success.” With passion, determination and hard work, Alberto insists that, despite the problems that come along the way, success is only within arm’s reach.

Carinderia Ni Tandang Sora, Uling At Parilya and CRO Restobar

Chef Richelle Ortiz

Founder 

carinderianitandangsora.com

Chef Richelle Ortiz (CRO) has three brands under his name.   The first being Carinderia ni Tandang Sora, a Filipino restaurant chain which serves authentic homestyle food from the Philippines. Chef Richelle’s Second brand is Uling at Parilya – a fast casual dining restaurant serves street food and comfort food to the increasingly populous Filipino community within Al Satwa. On the other hand, CRO Restobar is a signature restaurant and bar which offers a unique take on familiar Filipino food and drinks.

Chef Richelle’s formula for success lies within his 15 yeas of culinary experience. He believes in the success of his business through effective communication within the kitchen. His culinary expertise in Filipino, Italian, French and international cuisine, has proven his given him a remarkable palate and passion for food, as reflected in his unforgettable dishes. He believes in turning one’s expertise into passion and using it to fuel the drive towards success.

“If you like what you do, you will not think that is hard work and will give your all to succeed. Just make sure a system is in place – to be logical in executing your passion and never lose sight of the goal.”

Eskinita – UAE

Aldo Aguilar 

Founder and Managing Director

www.facebook.com/ESKINITADXB

Eskinita Restaurant – Street Food Factory is a hotspot for Pinoy streetfood lovers in the UAE with all the fun and chill elements that defines the authentic Filipino street food experience. They specialize in fusion juices, grills and sizzlers reminiscent of the turo-turo back home. Eskinita is also known for hosting a variety of Filipino talents, accommodating “Eskinita Jammers” comprised of singers, musicians, poets and many other artists.

“We also wanted our kabayans to experience the ambience of Pinoy hospitality where they can just come and enjoy our ‘Tambayan sa Eskinita’. Just chilling and relaxing after a stressful and tiring day at work.”

Eskinita’s key to success lies within the mindset of constant evolution. With Dubai’s citizens moving onto new levels of progression and modernity, Eskinita stays on top by adapting to the change. As an entrepreneur, Aldo Aguilar highlights the importance of being able to see opportunity where others would see problems – braving through the struggle in order to give out the best service. “I’ve questioned myself whether I should pursue the business or lose out. Of course, I have to win. Eskinita Restaurant prides itself with people who have the passion to succeed. We are a people industry and these people are the key to our success.”

Off the Hook Restaurant – UAE

Rolly Brucales

Founder

othrestaurant.com

Off The Hook seafood restaurant is a homegrown casual dining restaurant that first opened its doors in Abu Dhabi, and has opened a second branch in Deira, Dubai towards the late end of 2017. Its specialty comes in the form of seafood boils made from only the freshest ingredients around, complemented by their chef’s expertise and distinctive blend of sauces. They follow the Filipino food philosophy “simplicity and flavor is key.”  Louisiana style, Off the Hook takes pride in preparing sumptuous meals in their most natural form possible.

Off The Hook’s focus has always been on the people, aiming to provide the best service combined with family fun style dining. Proprietor Rolly Brucares shares, “Our mission is simple and sincere.  We are genuinely committed to delivering exactly what we believe in – food that will make your palate and body happy.”

Community has been essential to the founding and growth of the business, as it has provided them with all the goals and markers to push towards. “We focus on maintaining high quality – both in service and products thereby establishing a strong identity within our community.  With this in mind, the management invests heavily in team trainings and development to sustain the growth of each individual inside the organization.”

Talk Hang Restaurant – UAE

Jeffrey Ponce Torres

Managing Director

Donnel Jeff M. Paulino

Managing Partner

Talk Hang Restaurant lives exactly up to its name! Located within the bustling heart of Deira, Dubai, Talk Hang is a go-to spot for Filipino food, as well as a popular place to hang out and chill. They specialize in all Filipino favorites from lumpia to seafood, and the restaurant has been designed with socializing and guest interaction in mind.

For entrepreneurs Jeffrey Ponce Torres and Donnel Jeff M. Paulino, there is no linear method to success; however they explain that there are three main elements that are vital to maintaining a successful business – planning, passion and love. According to them, everything starts with an effective plan of action which should be elaborated upon into an effective business strategy. Thereafter, passion lies in the mindset, with a happy mind and a positive outlook as the best drivers for growth and progress. Lastly, in doing what you love, the path to success will be all the more fulfilling.

“Success does not go by its definition, it is the return of the actions that we do. With action, things happen and whatever we get is the return to what we do. Without doing: everything stops, nothing moves. Success is the motion of action.”

Adobo Restaurant/Al Jaradi United LLC – Oman

Dowel Deligos

Founder 

www.facebook.com/adoboresto

Established in March 2014, Adobo is an Oman based restaurant that specializes in authentic Filipino cuisines, introducing and pushing the influence of Filipino food to a growing OF market in the Sultanate. The restaurant is characterized first by its native Filipino décor, emulating the experience of dining in a bahay kubo, and the kamayan method of eating.

Dowel Deligos is the brains behind Adobo, and his goal is to bring back the nostalgia of family–style home-cooked food with a high culinary standard. In an increasingly competitive market, bringing Filipino food to his fellow kababayans does not come easy. Dowel says that as an entrepreneur, he faced a great deal of uncertainty when for planning his operations in the long term. “For those who are willing to take a calculated risk and run the bureaucratic gauntlet, the rewards are great. The order of the day is diligence, sheer dedication, and perseverance and of course prayers and faith in God.”

Read more on entrepreneurship and business on Illustrado Life 

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Illustrado FZ LLC 

illustradolife.com

creomad.com

Lalaine Chu Benitez

Founder & Managing Director

Mon Benitez

Co-Founder & Creative Director

Business and real life partners Lalaine and Mon Benitez have been building brands in the Middle East for multinational and local companies for the last 20 years, originally from the corporate side, and in the last decade as entrepreneurs running their own agency.  Typically known in the market for Illustrado Magazine, their company also provides advertising and marketing services including strategy, campaign creative and design, to social media, content marketing, production, web development, digital marketing, and etc. Drawing from the rich multinational experience of its core team, as well as its top-notch talent network in the UAE and beyond, Illustrado has the ability to deliver big strategic and creative edge, typically the domain of multinational agencies and mega-budget brands.

The company has worked in fields as diverse as consumer goods, electronics, fashion and luxury, pharmaceuticals, food, hospitality and tourism, B2B, real estate, CSR, advocacy marketing, furniture and banking, etc.  Their client portfolio includes Bayer, Nikon, Giordano, Casio, Private Collection, Swiss Arabian Perfumes, Horizon Foot Cone Belding, Apparel Group, Landmark Zenath Group, Ayala Land International, Global Hotel Alliances, InterCon Hotel Group, among others.

Ex-Leo Burnett Creative Director, multi-awarded ad man Mon Benitez shares, “To remain competitive and relevant in the market, we need to be, not only aware and equipped with new technologies and trends, but we also need to truly live in today’s world.  Communication is changing so quick these days, professionals cannot afford not to learn new things.”

Ape Creative

theape.co

Rollan Rodriguez

Founder & Design Director

Pushing the prolific boundaries, as well as innovation by art, is what Ape Creative is all about.

Avidly purveying a perspective that is dynamic and vibrant to the lowbrow art movement in the region, Rollan Rodriguez is the founder and creative director of Ape Creative – a UAE based full-service studio specializing in design concepts, brand identity, illustration, and experiential design, driven by a team of fearless creatives.

Armed with more than a decade of experience in graphic design, advertising, and the visual arts, Rollan has also spearheaded the Dubai based art collective, The Brownmonkeys.

Having worked alongside big brands like Nike, Nandos, and Red Bull to name a few, Rollan and his team have discovered that discipline, creativity, and vision are what principally constitute the foundation for an outstanding outcome.

Wjacob

wjacob.ae

Marcus Dela Peña

Founder

Initially starting out as a boutique design studio in 2012, advertising agency Wjacob has expanded over the years offering below the line creative solutions such as graphic design, corporate branding and identity, and more recently integrating web design and development.

For founder Marcus dela Peña, continually innovating and evolving with the ever-changing times remains central to the brand. As for their formula for success, Marcus attests: “Collaborate. Most of our big and successful projects stemmed from the willingness to accept the help of others and help others in return. Innovate. Re-invent yourself. Learn new things. Develop and explore new ventures. Have faith. Have faith in God; in what He can do through you to help others. Have faith in yourself. Believe in the product you are selling.”

Alpha Media

alphamediaproduction.com

Oliver Serrano and Ernesto Flores

Founders

For over 15 years now, Alpha Media Production has been creating quality audio-visual content for the region.

Headed by entrepreneurs Oliver Serrano and Ernesto Flores, this full-service media production company has made it a core priority to provide clients with compelling visuals that leave a lasting impact. Catering to several production-oriented needs, including photography, videography, and event coverage, Alpha Media Production, with their team of creatives and producers, seamlessly take any project from concept to completion.

Operating in the media and entertainment sector, Oliver and Ernesto share that continually striving for excellence on a daily basis, forging and consolidating relationships, as well as resilience when it comes to growing from our shortcomings, are all vital to success.

Creative Comic

creativecomic.ae

Jruzz Merca

Founder

Catering to both businesses and individuals alike, Creative Comic, founded and run by Jruzz Merca, specializes in providing top-notch photography and videography services. Jruzz shares: “We aim to help our clients to express a meaningful message or represent themselves through a creative and unique approach that aids in elevating their brand. It is our task and mission to show the world what your brand or event is about.”

Since coming to Dubai back in 2007, Jruzz has worked alongside numerous companies as a photographer and videographer until ultimately choosing to set up an enterprise of his own. Establishing as well as sustaining a business here in the UAE, as multifaceted as that sounds, starts from a mere vision, says Jruzz: “Coming to Dubai with nothing, all I had then was a dream to someday put up my own company. From that thought, I became persistent in doing everything possible to achieve my goal. My advice: don’t just dream, work for it! Always find ways to improve yourself by learning new skills that will eventually pay off in the grand scheme of things.”

Milo Torres

milotorres.com

Milo Torres

Founder

There is no deficit in talented Filipino photographers and visual artists in the Gulf, but few have reached the level of success and relevance that Eng. Milo Torres currently has.

As a freelance digital media creative under the Dubai Creative Cluster Authority, Milo offers services of which include commercial photography, event coverage, company profile design and development, and web development, among other things. He has had over 13 years of success in designing various materials for an impressive lineup of clients, including EMAAR, Dubai Duty Free, and Air France to name a few.

Acknowledging how becoming a thriving businessman is no easy fete, Milo yet shares that it is universally achievable: “To start and run a successful business entails many complexities, yet the fundamentals are simple – maintain a positive attitude, stay informed with the current market, know your customers, and keep monitoring all monetary transactions. More importantly, give your best shot in everything that you do.  If you can take this simple advice, you can be a successful entrepreneur.”

Chris Calumberan FZE – UAE

chriscalumberan.com

Chris Calumberan

Founder

Chris Calumberan FZE provides professional imaging production for commercial, retail and corporate clients. Their specialties include editorial photography for and videos for various campaigns, from marketing collaterals and catalogues, tailor made for various client needs. Since marketing is an increasingly diverse field, Chris Calumberan FZE has continued to provide event coverage for various occasions on different platforms.

“The UAE market is so diverse that there is a lot of space for improvement for ourselves in the business,” Chris notes. His approach to success centers around the principles of focus, solution, and abundance. By focusing on what really matters, clients become loyal, guaranteeing sustained business and growth. “Loyalty produces referrals and creates revenue. Having the resources to study our competitors is ok in exchange of cost, but focusing in what matters can create more income for the business.”

Staying humble and having reasonable expectations is another core quality that Chris encourages, as company growth is all about setting achievable goals and visions. Sticking to your goals also helps you practice practicality, he adds: “There are plenty of jobs for everyone.  Think abundantly and try to avoid lavish expansion because it is an overhead that you may not afford in the future.”

Hyku D Photography/Soultrap Studios – UAE

hykudphotography.com

Hyku Desesto

Founder

Hyku Desesto is a renowned commercial photographer in Dubai, with two brands under her name.  The first company is Hyku D Photography, a multi–specialty photography house that covers campaigns, events, interior, lifestyle, fashion, food, weddings, portraiture and nightlife photography. The second is Soultrap Studio, her professional video production team.  Both companies exceed in producing high quality photo and video content for brands, businesses and individuals.

“Clients love working with us because we have the experience and foresight to devise from start to finish the output our clients really need.  We also always give them more, without having to ask for it.”

Hyku’s method to success lies within strategic planning and having a practical mindset. She emphasizes on spending only when necessary, and selecting and maintaining investments wisely in order to get the most out of your choices in the long run. Hyku also encourages building relationships with  clients to guarantee quality service and effective communications. “I always say to our team that we are only as good as our last project and to always challenge ourselves to be better. Our work speaks for itself and it’s great relationships and word of mouth that has brought us to where we are now.” 

Great Image Middle East FZ LLC

greatimageme.com

Flariden Dela Torre 

Founder 

According to Flariden Dela Torre, “ Your passion and whatever is in your heart should be your type of your business. Business is not all about the money, but it is more of what you love to do. You will not succeed in business if your main goal is only to gain profit and money. Business should be balanced. It should be the thing you always wanted to do and always wanted to improve upon. It is your partner as well in having a happy personal family life.”

Since its establishment in 2014, Flariden’s company Great Image Middle East LLC has become a trusted and reputable company in the UAE for wedding and corporate photography, with their specialization including advertising, food, lifestyle and corporate portraits, to architectural and interiors.  The company has also added videography to its portfolio of services.

With their roster of clients including corporations and government departments in the Middle East, as well as companies from the UK, Germany and Singapore, the company endeavors not only to capture, but to present images at its very best as they believe in elevating photos from a piece that you can hang on a wall, to an impressive picture that’s worthy of inclusion in a website or social media page.

Niche Modeling Agency – UAE

nichemodels.co

Renelyn “Glitzy” Robles

Founder & CEO

The UAE’s first fully Filipino-owned modeling, production, and events agency, Niche Modeling Agency, was founded in 2017 both with the ambition to provide the market with local high caliber models and talents, and to challenge the negative generalizations associated with the industry and women in general.

CEO Glitzy Al Banna, alongside her team, aspires to introduce a new breed of modelling agency that redefines industry norms. With Dubai being the multi-cultural melting pot it is, Niche Modeling Agency not only provides its clients with top-notch models for print, editorial, and video campaigns, they too promise to deliver a highly diverse selection of talents that wholly represent the UAE in a global arena.

Not only have their endeavors as a company given many models opportunities, but they too have empowered other talents in the industry, including photographers, stylists, hairstylists, makeup artists, many of whom are Filipino.

Anna Model Management – UAE 

annamodels.com

Anna Liza Llagas

Founder & CEO

Anna Model Management, established in 2016, was founded by seasoned Filipina model, Anna Liza Llagas. Having graced several runways and fashion spreads in the past, Anna’s transition towards the more commercial side of the industry was fueled by her advocacy to provide both models and clients with respect and professionalism, taking into consideration their needs and goals. Anna Model Management offers a unique range of models for commercial, runway, and editorial projects.

As for what it takes to run and sustain a business, Anna shares: “Setting up a business is like going back to school – you have to be knowledgeable in every field – management, accounting, marketing etc. – even if it means studying the basics. But ultimately, passion and hard work are what determines success. The most essential lesson I’ve learned from running my own business is that almost everyone encounters failure. But for those who choose to persevere and achieve their goals, a failure is nothing but a learning experience that helps one grow.”

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