Among the wishes shortlisted for Big Ticket Abu Dhabi’s Dear Big Ticket campaign is one that carries the unmistakable heart of the Filipino community in the UAE — and a dream that stretches all the way home to the Philippines.
Roly Celzo, a Filipino who has called the UAE home for 13 years, is one of the shortlisted entrants hoping to see his wish come true: a coffee shop built, in his words, as “a business with a purpose.” For Roly, the recognition is not just personal. It is a moment for every Filipino who has ever carried a bigger dream than their own.
His UAE journey began with a family invitation. “My brother, who worked before in Etihad Airways, invited me to explore job opportunities in the UAE,” he shares with TGFM. The move became permanent. “The UAE is home for me, and most of my family members currently live and work here.”
Working in the specialty cafe industry in the emirates, Roly began imagining how he could bring the best of what he learned back to the Philippines. But the seed of purpose was planted earlier. “Opening up a business with a purpose is one thing that I learned way back in my Ateneo School of Government leadership and entrepreneurship program,” he says. “Having a business is not only for profit — you can also do it with a purpose.”
That purpose lives in his hiring plan. Roly intends to employ persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and working students — groups he feels are too often left behind. The conviction is rooted in his upbringing. “I grew up in a big family, and empathy and respect were taught in a strict manner,” he explains. “These groups need more attention, and giving them an opportunity will help them feel that they belong to our community — not just ignored and left alone at home.”
Sustainability shapes the vision, too. Roly plans to use biodegradable materials and even to plant coffee within the vicinity of his shops — a response to the realities back home. “With the current situation of our country, almost all parts are prone to floods and natural disasters,” he says. “Protecting and respecting the environment is one of the biggest considerations I plan to implement.”
Being shortlisted has only sharpened his sense of what is at stake — and who it is really for. “The dream needs to multiply,” he says. “If I win this, the win is for all the people who will be employed. They are the pioneers and serve as the catalyst to multiply our dreams.” His ambition knows no single address: “I want the cafe to be in every part and corner of the Philippines, where all groups will be served and provided equal opportunity.”
For the many Filipinos following his story, Roly offers the same words that carried him this far. “A dream shouldn’t be kept,” he says. “Take action and work on it until you achieve it.”
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