When Ayrton Jamillarin, now a 28-year-old architect for FN Architect, left for Dubai in August 2018, he carried the weight of mixed emotions and an array of butterflies in his stomach.
“It was my very first travel,” he recalls, the memory fresh as if it were just yesterday.
What lay ahead was unforeseen, the path riddled with uncertainty. Three exhausting job-seeking exits later, he found himself accepting a role that many, including himself, might have seen as a deviation from his architectural dreams: a guest relation attendant in an indoor theme park in Dubai.
“From being a cashier, ticketing attendant, call center, and handling guest relations inquiries — these were all my first time, and this became my everyday workloads,” Ayrton shares with The Global Filipino Magazine.
It was a far cry from his experiences in the Philippines, where he had worked in fashion construction and hotel construction, roles more aligned with his architectural aspirations. Yet, Ayrton embraced this unexpected turn, understanding that every step was a building block towards his dreams.
“I swallow my pride of being an architect someday, but today, as I see my hardships and struggles, I finally can say that I have reached the dreams I aspire to be.”
Constructing dreams amidst challenges
The road to architectural realization wasn’t easy or straightforward. After nearly two years in guest relations, Ayrton faced the mammoth challenge that upended lives globally—the COVID-19 pandemic.
This obstacle saw him returning home, resigning, and embarking on a grueling year of part-time jobs, from waiter to mascot.
“Finding a job while the pandemic hit us hard was harder than I thought,” he admits.
Yet, Ayrton’s resilience shone through, leading him eventually back to his passion: architecture.
Working abroad, for Ayrton, was an experience of “open world and endless possibilities and opportunities.”
However, not all these doors opened to dream destinations. His journey taught him toughness, and choosing the right decisions led him to a bigger version of himself.
Recounting the challenges, including a heart-wrenching incident where a sudden visa cancellation led to a hefty fine and a missed flight, Ayrton reflects, “I was at the peak of my moment, but in one blink? It’s all gone.”
But he chose to keep moving, embodying his mantra in life: Keep moving forward.
“Things happen for a reason,” Ayrton says with the wisdom of someone who’s been through life’s unpredictable roller-coaster. He plans to explore opportunities in other countries, seeking to “unlock more of my potential and wants in life.”
For those struggling abroad, particularly his fellow Filipinos, Ayrton offers thoughtful advice, “The world is not flat, it’s round. So, whenever I face problems or I have a happy moment, I know for sure that the wheel will turn around.”
He encourages everyone to remember why they’re in a foreign land in the first place and what took them there. It’s a reminder to prove and provide for oneself, to push through the challenges, and to never stop building, whether it’s one’s dreams, a career, or a life abroad.
Ayrton’s story is not just about the bricks and mortar of architecture. It’s about constructing a life with resilience, adaptability, and the perpetual courage to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles.
As he shares, “Not all people share their stories regardless of how happy and sad it was.”
But in every story, there’s a lesson, a silent battle, a dream constructed one day at a time.
For Ayrton and many others, the building never stops, and the dreams only get bigger.
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This article has been published in Volume 4, Issue 6 of The Global Filipino Magazine. If you have a unique life story or know someone who does, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at eic@theglobalfilipinomagazine.com. If you’re interested in obtaining a print copy of the magazine, please contact Mr. JP Cosico at +971 54 482 0661.
