Jenifer Segalowitz, once a scavenger living in poverty in Las Piñas, Philippines, has now found success and become a millionaire in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, thanks to her hard work and determination.
In an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Jenifer shared her inspiring journey. She recalled how her family of six lived in a makeshift home without electricity, sleeping on the floor. Her father, a carpenter, fell ill, leaving her mother’s meager earnings from sewing to support the family.
“I wanted to eat, even just a piece of bread, but we had none. I went to school with just one peso in my pocket. I would see other students with clean, white socks, while mine were faded. It made me feel envious and sad,” Jenifer shared.
At just five years old, Jenifer started scavenging for things to sell before going to school. She also faced near-abuse from a man while collecting trash but managed to escape. On top of that, Jenifer and her siblings experienced physical abuse from their father, prompting her to leave home and work as a housemaid.
However, her struggles didn’t end there. Jenifer was falsely accused of stealing money by her employer and was even jailed. Despite this, she maintained her innocence: “I cried a lot. Even though we were poor, my mother didn’t raise us to steal.”
After her father’s death, Jenifer promised her mother she would go abroad. Upon arriving in Dubai, she took on various jobs, from working as a waitress to selling local snacks and makeup. She eventually became a dealer of encyclopedias, where she met a fellow Filipino who later became her husband.
The couple married and had three children, but their relationship deteriorated after her husband lost his job. The situation escalated to physical violence, leading to their separation. Jenifer found herself raising their children alone.
Through her hardships, she found love again with Doug Segalowitz, an American, and they ventured into business together. The couple opened a Korean barbecue restaurant, which grew into a thriving enterprise, earning Jenifer around P16 million per month.
From her humble beginnings, Jenifer has built a prosperous life in Dubai, owning a home there and several properties in the Philippines, including a three-story house.
Despite her success, Jenifer remains grounded, choosing to live simply. She hasn’t forgotten her roots, regularly helping others in need by providing scholarships for the children of their church community.