Maricel V. Abastillas has recently bid goodbye to his 13 years of expatriate life in Abu Dhabi. She joined the Philippine government’s repatriation efforts to be reunited with her family back home. In the UAE, she has immersed herself in the oil, gas, and energy industries for many years.
The many years of working overseas in a diverse and multi-cultural environment helped her fit in quickly when she joined Shell in the Philippines last year as the senior document and data controller.
Maricel, a licensed forester by profession, has worked with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Philippines for a decade before pursuing an opportunity overseas.
She went to the UAE on a tourist visa in October 2007 and after two exits to Iran, she landed a job in January 2008 as a secretary to the managing director of a local company in the capital of the UAE. In 2014, she was given a good career break by joining the oil and gas industry as a document controller. She was part of the management team that executed one of its major EPC projects in 2018 called the Taweelah Gas Compress Station Project.
Maricel almost shifted to Hong Kong when she was interviewed and eventually invited to attend a three-week training to join their team. Considering the job continuity and longevity, she decided to stay with her Abu Dhabi job.
Working as the licensing and sales administrator for the sales team with ADCO-OPCO offices was her biggest break and challenging role.
“I loved being challenged though and got addicted to the “stress” and pressures given to me by the team, especially during those-end of those month closing days,” she said.
Working with multinational companies had been her dream. She is thankful that she was given a few opportunities in Abu Dhabi to work with these companies.
“Yet, while working overseas, we were anxious about how long our employment would be, not to mention the unpredictable market situation or the fear of being retrenched when the company will be needing to downsize its number of employees,” she continued.
Maricel said that it was not an easy decision to give up her UAE career, but considering the years she has been away with her children and her family, she felt it was high time to settle in the Philippines while getting a good position with a company like Shell.
“Looking back, I’ve just been working every day, I didn’t know what a weekend was. I associated success with work. For me, I am not successful or happy if I do not work. I missed birthdays and milestones, I missed real-life experiences because I would choose work over that, and then realized during the pandemic, years went by, and I missed a lot,” she added.
Although she misses her life in the UAE from time to time and feels nostalgic for remembering good and not-so-good memories, she is happy with the direction that she is going as she found the perfect balance of doing what she loves being happy with it.
Moving to a foreign land does not come without its challenges. She recalled filing a complaint against a previous employer and had to present herself before the labor office in the capital, wherein she won the case over; losing a job and having to wait for months to get a new one, and traveling to the farthest emirate for an interview; walking in the scorching heat to attend walk-in interviews; losing funds and unable to send money to family, getting chased by banks and individuals unable to pay debts and bills on time; and overstaying for four months because her employer did not secure her an employment visa.
When asked about her plans after working as an employee, Maricel said she would pursue her dream to settle in countries such as Canada or Australia.
“It is important to live within our means and avoid overspending. Avoid getting engaged with credit cards and bank loans. I am guilty about it and had struggled as well. While working overseas and able, save, get insured and practice tithing,” her advice for OFWs on finances.
Her personal advice to her fellow OFW is to live their lives as if it’s their last.
“To me, this sounds difficult to follow considering our fluctuating emotions. Just give your best shot in whatever you do – one day, it will all be worth it,” she concluded.