From selling street food as a child to leading in sales at an international hotel chain, Sugar Silvestre Tiongco’s journey is one of grit, determination, and an unwavering belief in God’s plans. At 37, she is the Assistant Director of Sales at Rotana Hotels, a position that reflects her perseverance and years of experience in the UAE. But her success did not come easy—it was built on years of struggles, sacrifices, and relentless hard work.
Sugar moved to the UAE in 2006 when she was just 19 years old. Like many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), her dream was simple yet profound: to provide for her family. “My goal is to help and support my family, especially my grandmother, father, and mother,” she shares.
Her first job abroad was as a sales assistant at Nike Shop. After finishing her contract, she briefly returned to the Philippines to give birth to her first child before heading back to the UAE just two months later. She then worked as an administrative assistant at AECOM but lost the job—a turning point that led her to the hospitality industry in 2012. She started at Rotana as a sales secretary, quickly rising through the ranks to become a sales coordinator and then a business development executive. Seeking growth, she moved to Accor Hotels as a sales executive before joining Radisson Blu as an assistant sales manager. Her career came full circle when she rejoined Rotana, this time as a sales manager, before earning her current role as Assistant Director of Sales.
Despite her rapid career advancement, Sugar’s journey was never smooth. Coming from humble beginnings, she started working at just 17 years old, despite her parents’ disapproval. “Ayaw ng parents ko kasi sabi nila if kumikita na ako ng pera, hindi ko na matatapos yung school ko,” she recalls. They were right—she didn’t finish her studies back then, but she had a bigger purpose: “Tricycle driver yung father ko, and mommy ko nag jujueteng. Nakikita ko struggle nila para mapaaral ako, kaya pinilit ko.”
She took on jobs as a cashier at 7-Eleven and Watsons in the Philippines before heading abroad. She recalls how people doubted her ability to succeed in beauty retail due to her skin condition at the time. “Maraming galit sakin kasi that time dami kong pimples pero I was working in a beauty shop. Pero ginawa ko yung inspiration. Pinatunayan ko na hindi basehan ang itsura para kumita ng pera.”
Sugar’s passion for sales began early in her childhood, selling siomai, gulaman, and mangoes with bagoong in her hometown of Bambang. “I always loved dealing with people, different nationalities, different traits. Kahit sinasabi nila Maldita ako, but with a good heart naman daw,” she laughs. Her work in the hospitality industry felt like destiny. “When I joined hospitality, siguro nga ito yung itinakda sa akin ni Lord.”
While the opportunities in the UAE have allowed her to grow, she acknowledges the struggles of working abroad. One of the toughest challenges was when she and her husband decided to bring their two kids to the UAE despite being financially unstable. “For two years, kahit super sakit, we decided to send them back home. Dumating kami sa point na utang dito, utang jan, maka-survive lang sa araw-araw.” Eventually, through prayer and perseverance, Sugar was promoted, allowing her to bring her children back in God’s perfect timing.
Education was another challenge. Without a college degree, she had to work twice as hard to prove herself. “Dito kasi, kahit minsan mahirap ang buhay, hindi ko masyadong ramdam. Hindi tinitignan anong natapos mo. I didn’t graduate college when I came here, pero tinapos ko siya recently dahil alam kong mas may pupuntahan pa ako kapag natapos.”
Now, as she plans for the future, Sugar and her family are considering moving to another country, but they remain undecided. “Mahirap iwan ang UAE, especially napaka-safe na country. And taxes are very less compared to other countries, yun nga lang walang citizenship.”
To her fellow OFWs, she offers words of wisdom: “Basta ang tao may mabuting puso, may problems and struggles pero lahat may magandang balik sa atin.” She emphasizes the importance of family and faith. “Maraming pagsubok at maraming taong makakasama natin sa buhay, pero hindi lahat magtatagal at magstay. Pero pamilya talaga dapat ang una.”
Looking back, Sugar attributes her success to perseverance and purpose. “Ang success hindi by luck—pinaghihirapan lahat. Nagsimula din ako sa wala, pero hanggang ngayon, tumutulong ako sa pamilya ko kahit may sarili na akong pamilya. And I am sure why I am very blessed—kasi yung goal ko mula noon hanggang ngayon, ay same pa rin. Surviving.”
