In his over three decades of existence, he can say that growing up independently is a big challenge.
When John Paolo Tatlonghari resigned from his previous company in the Philippines in 2015, he decided to work overseas. Like many Filipinos who take risks in finding job opportunities abroad, it also took him time to find a fit job in Dubai.
It was difficult for him to land a job because the majority of companies in the emirate look for an employee with work experience abroad. However, it didn’t stop John Paolo from applying for different work positions he saw posted online.
After looking for the perfect job for him, he landed a job at a restaurant as a buzzer with a very low salary. The low salary was not only the problem he faced while working as a buzzer. They also experienced not getting paid for up to four months, which forced him to leave it.
When he transferred to his second job, he was so glad that he was getting a ‘quite high salary’ every month. For two years, John Paolo felt that he didn’t have a work-life balance. This prompted him to look for another job.
For almost four years now he is playing the role of an administrative officer at Move One Relocations, a storage and removal service provider in the region.
John Paolo will be joining another firm in March this year.
“I chose to work abroad so I can provide the needs not only for myself but for other people as well,” John Paolo, who was waiting tables at a fast-food chain during his college years to support his studies, said.
Living and working in Dubai for over six years, he recalled being a supervisor in a supermarket in the Philippines. There, he learned how to handle people, how to manage complaints, and how to value people. He also became a medical coder for an insurance company back home wherein he received a number of accolades.
Working in Dubai was difficult at first for John Paolo because he is away with his loved ones; however, his family fuels his desire to succeed in what he does.
When asked about his life battles, he recounted growing up in a broken family, an experience he thought taught him to be an independent person.
“I learned at a young age how to live all by myself without the supervision of my parents. I never see this as a hindrance to becoming who I am today. I chose to be a good and responsible man because I wanted my parents to be proud of me especially when I finished my studies with the help of being a working student and at the same time being a school varsity at my university,” he said.
Despite having a broken family, he told himself that would never hate his parents because he knew there was a reason behind the separation.
“I have my other relatives and friends who were there during my lowest point in life. I got their back so I strive hard, still striving and proving to everyone that someday I can achieve more than who I am today,” he added.
Should there be a chance to settle back home, John Paolo considers building a business that he is very passionate about, which is cooking.
Currently, he and two of his friends launched a small food business in Dubai that they call ‘Budgetarian’, which is located in the seasonal Night Market on the outskirts of the emirate.
“I, as one of the owners, am very proud to say that putting smiles on the faces of our customers is a great achievement for me. I know we are giving the best quality of the foods, a better service which is can be the reason for them to come back again. And who knows, maybe this might be a good start to pursue one of my dreams and that is to own a restaurant one day,” he said.