A rooftop tent isn’t the first place you’d expect a meaningful conversation to unfold, but in Saudi Arabia, it has become the unexpected heart of one Filipino’s mission to amplify real expat stories. Inside that converted space sits Jay Martin Diaz, a fitness manager and newly minted podcast host who is redefining how Filipinos abroad share wisdom, struggles, and the realities of building a life far from home.
Finding purpose in unfamiliar places
Jay, now 36, oversees a team of 15 coaches at a luxury gym that caters to Saudi Arabia’s top 5%—CEOs, business leaders, and high-profile residents. It’s a world far removed from the life he once knew in the Philippines, where he ran a graphic design service while operating his own CrossFit-style gym. His journey abroad began nine years ago, fueled by a simple but honest truth: “Honestly I was pretty stagnant and bored back home.”
What followed was a shift not just in location but in perspective. Though he is a nurse by profession, he never practiced nursing. Instead, he continued honing his eye for design while growing into the fitness industry—an unexpected career path that opened doors he never imagined. “I get to meet people that I wouldn’t even imagine mingling back in the Philippines,” he said, a privilege that eventually inspired his most exciting project to date: his podcast Beyondreps, where expats in the health and wellness industry share raw, unfiltered experiences.
Turning challenges into fuel
Working abroad came with its own set of hurdles, many of them rooted in perception. Jay admits that navigating racism was one of his biggest learning curves. As he described it, “Filipinos living abroad are often seen as hardworking, people-pleasers, and sometimes overly accommodating to companies.” In some cases, biases from decision-makers made it harder for him to rise to senior roles, not because of ability but because of preconceived notions.
Still, he refused to let those barriers determine his worth. “I’ve tried to focus on what I can control,” he shared, echoing his personal mantra: Focus on things you can control. Through consistent work and quiet confidence, he proved that leadership isn’t defined by nationality. “Ethnicity isn’t always the whole story,” he said. “We can sometimes find ourselves in positions where we truly deserve to be.”
Building something bigger for the future
Even as his podcast gains momentum, Jay sees Saudi Arabia as a long-term home. He envisions the next 10 to 15 years being spent in the region, laying the groundwork for his own business—either a studio or a marketing consulting firm. The idea reflects what he has learned abroad: that stepping into the unknown often reveals what you’re truly capable of.
“Living abroad has taught me that growth happens when you step into the unknown,” he said. It’s a lesson he carries into every project, every conversation with guests, and every opportunity to uplift fellow Filipinos.
A message for Filipinos forging their own path
For kababayans working through challenges overseas—financial, emotional, or professional—his advice is simple but powerful: “Keep your attention on what’s within your control and remain genuine in your craft. Your talent is your engine, never forget it, because it’s what drives you forward.”
Beyond the rooftop tent and the luxury gym walls, Jay’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and the quiet strength of knowing who you are. In the vast expat landscape, he stands as a reminder that being Filipino is not a limitation—it’s an edge.
