Every nurse is drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, serve, and help. Although he didn’t dream of becoming a nurse, Joel Malabo’s fate took him on this career path
A frustrated politician, Joel is fond of helping people in need. When he was just a teen, he was elected as their barangay’s Sangguniang Kabataan chairman. He was tasked to coordinate with the National Youth Commission and other development projects and programs at the national level.
Overseas, he started as an Orthopedic Nurse at Jebel Ali Hospital for three years. Currently, he works as the head nurse at Zaabeel Palace Hospitality, the official kitchen of a royal family in Dubai.
Throughout his stay in Dubai for over one decade, he was bestowed with multiple awards, including his recognition as the Nurse of the Year organized by the now-defunct publication Kabayan Weekly in 2017. Two years after, in 2019, he received the JoyaLukkas Angels Awards from JoyaLukkas Jewelry company. Meanwhile, he was also awarded Staff of the Year by Zaabeel Palace Hospitality for two consecutive years.
Giving back, he spearheads a UAE-based Filipino nurses group on Facebook to help aspiring nurses work in the field.
Joel takes pride in his profession as the company he’s working with is committed to providing premium hospitality services for the royal family, other dignitaries, and government officials, among others.
In addition to the post as a head nurse, he also serves as the chairman of the Zaabeel Palace Hospitality Staff Welfare Committee, which aims to act as a liaison between staff and the committees serving as a bridge for communication on all issues dealing with staff policy, benefits, welfare, and goals. The committee aims to initiate and act upon several measures for the benefit of the staff. The main priority shall be to create a bond of solidarity and a spirit of satisfaction amongst the staff members, enhancing the quality of teaching at the Institute.
“Aside from giving a titled as a successful person, I still believe that I, being a nurse, my success is not measured by how other people see my achievements but it’s how I see myself helping other people in need,” he said.
Joel obtained his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Pamantasan ng Cabuyao in 2007. He recalled starting his first job as an assistant nurse in a medical clinic at 21.
“When you dream of something, you should never stop until you achieve it. It may not be easy at first cause you will be meeting with different people and beliefs, and you will face problems on your own, but everything will be worth it later,” he said.
Joel also stressed saving for the future.
“We Filipinos are being raised to be family oriented, so we tend to forget to save for our future,” he added.
“Also, make time for yourself. We should prioritize and love ourselves,” he further added.
While working overseas, Joel experienced two traumatic experiences. In 2019, he suffered a heart attack (myocardial ischemia) which led him to do a procedure of Angioplasty heart surgery. Thankfully, he was able to survive it.
In less than a year, as a frontline nurse during Covid-1, he was exposed to the virus and manifested the worst symptoms that almost cost his life.
Because of this, Joel advocates mental and physical exercise.
“Planning and ideas can only be implemented through actions. Mental and physical exercise and a proper diet are a must. Keeping up Faith and a positive mindset is indispensable during difficult times. I also believe that if I strive to be a little bit better than I did yesterday, big improvement will follow. A step-by-step development will give me a more stable foundation. This, for me, is the key to success,” he concluded.
