Growing up beside the railroad tracks of Malabon was far from easy for JM Globio, now 38 years old and working as a Community Manager for Negosyo University. For most of his childhood, the constant rumble of trains, the stench that worsened when floods came, and the sight of neighbors struggling just to get by were everyday realities. He lost his father to an accident when he was just seven months old, a tragedy that also injured his mother, who at the time was pregnant with his sister.
“Mama ang nagtaguyod sa amin magkapatid nang mag-isa,” JM shared with TGFM. Relatives and friends often told him how great his father was, and some believed that if he had lived, their family might have been in the US by now. That thought planted a seed in his mind—a vision of a life far from the rails, a better place he promised to achieve for his family.
That chance came earlier than expected. Before he could even go to college, the government demolished their entire community along the tracks for a major project. While the change was sudden, it did not derail his dream of someday owning a home. “Siguro for some ang babaw lang nito, but for me it was my ultimate dream at that time,” he said. Over the years, his goals evolved, growing bigger as he achieved each milestone.
From college dropout to mentor
As a teenager, JM dreamed of becoming an engineer or architect like his father. But with limited resources, he settled for a more affordable school. He passed entrance exams at both the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and the Philippine Normal University, choosing PNU because it was cheaper for his mother. “Go with the flow lang ako nung college,” he said.
By his fourth year, financial pressures forced him to drop out and start working. He became a bagger at SM Hypermarket, a real estate agent, an English tutor for Koreans, a service crew member at Jollibee, Tropical Hut, and Waffle Time, and later a call center agent hopping between BPO companies. His six years abroad in the UAE saw him working in major companies such as Fitness First Dubai, Gold’s Gym Dubai, Warehouse Gym Dubai, and Du Telecom.
Through these roles, JM noticed a pattern—he was always teaching colleagues how to work more efficiently. “Not because I know better or mas magaling ako, but I somehow always know a thing or two to make the work easier or enjoyable,” he shared. It was then that he realized he might want to teach after all.
The leap into freelancing
In 2021, at the height of the pandemic, his situation abroad became uncertain. His salary was delayed for months, and his savings were dwindling. He decided to resign and return to the Philippines, but flight cancellations and rebookings left him stuck. Instead of waiting idly, he researched online opportunities and stumbled upon work-from-home jobs.
He had dabbled in selling e-books and knew basic website design using templates. With only ₱20,000 left after paying for a one-way ticket, he risked half on a freelancing course. “Shet isusugal ko na ‘to!” he remembered telling himself. Just 34 days later, he landed his first client as a complete newbie—earning ₱150,000 for a single project. The experience proved to him that the success stories he saw online could be real. Soon, he was working with some of the biggest names in the Philippine online coaching space.
Teaching from experience
Having escaped the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck, JM wanted to help others do the same. “I’m not saying na mayaman na ako right now, pero I can confidently say na ang layo na ng narating ko,” he said. Initially, he feared criticism, thinking he wasn’t “successful enough” to teach. But he also knew that many beginners would benefit from someone just a few steps ahead of them—someone who remembered what starting out felt like. That’s why he prefers to be called “Kuys” instead of “coach.” “I want to be remembered as someone willing to stop in the middle, look back, and extend a hand,” he said.
One of his key lessons for aspiring virtual assistants is learning to harness AI. He began using ChatGPT in 2023, initially as a search tool, but a conversation with a friend about AI replacing call center jobs pushed him to explore deeper. “If I can master this, I can teach this to Filipinos na gusto maging freelancers and VAs,” he explained. He now shows trainees how to use AI tools to help clients grow their businesses, improve efficiency, and close more deals—skills that can make them stand out in a competitive market.
Building a life of freedom
The journey hasn’t been without setbacks. He has faced low sales, unused paid tools, and moments when many would have quit. But his determination to reach his goals kept him moving. After achieving his dream of owning a house, he shifted focus to securing time, money, and location freedom. “Di hamak na mas malaki ang kinikita ko now, mas marami akong free time… lahat ng yan nagagawa ko na nasa bahay lang,” he said. His current lifestyle allows for slow mornings, meaningful work with growth-minded people, and being with his family daily.
A vision for Filipinos
JM’s ultimate vision is for working abroad to be a choice, not a necessity, for Filipinos. While overseas work often offers higher pay, he points out that it can come with a high cost of living and years spent away from family. He believes freelancing offers an alternative—earning in strong currencies while living in the Philippines. Inspired by Tim Ferriss’s The 4-Hour Workweek, he advocates for embracing this model, especially now that tools like AI make remote work more competitive.
“If I was able to do it in just 34 days… bakit hindi ang ibang Pilipino?” he asked. His message is clear: Filipinos have the talent and resilience to compete globally without leaving home. And when the country leads in AI-driven work, JM intends to be “in the front seat, enjoying the view.”
