about MY STORY

I was born and raised in a tiny village in the Philippines, where life was simple and we didn’t have modern conveniences like electricity, television, or refrigerators. My father was a fisherman and farmer and my mother was a seamstress.

I spent almost nine wonderful years in Singapore, a city that will always hold a special place in my heart.

I don’t have siblings, But I’ve always wished for one.

As a child, my dreams evolved constantly. I wanted to be a saleslady in a big department store, then a nurse until I realized I was too scared of blood and needles.  When I reached my final year of high school, all my classmates were excitedly talking about their college plans, but I stayed quiet. I couldn’t join those conversations because I knew my family simply couldn’t afford it. I didn’t get to study in the city or attend the university I had always dreamed of. But with my parents’ support and the help of part-time jobs in sales, then the hotel, and then a coffee shop job, I was able to finish college in our province with a degree in Hospitality Management—still holding on to the dream of becoming a flight attendant one day. After several attempts to join the Airlines, I shifted my focus and ended up in Singapore for a six-month internship.

After college, I landed a job as a salesperson, worked in F&B in hotels, restaurants, and as a supermarket cashier in Manila. It was challenging, and I was never truly happy.

In 2012, a few friends I met during my Internship invited me to visit Singapore as a tourist. I already knew deep in my heart—I loved that country, and I would do everything I could to stay there for good.

I applied for jobs, reached out to people I knew, and eventually landed a six-month contract. Some friends warned me not to take it, saying, “You’ll just end up back in the Philippines after six months with no job.” But my dreams were too big to ignore. I knew I had to start somewhere—anywhere. And to me, this opportunity was the door I had been praying for. So I leaped, even with all the risks. Through perseverance and hard work, that initial six-month contract turned into something more. Eventually, I was able to stay longer in Singapore, and I was earning far more than I ever did back in the Philippines. But the truth was, working in a restaurant wasn’t my dream. It was tough. I moved slower than my colleagues, and I was often told that the server job wasn’t for me. Later, I landed a sales position with double the salary I had at the restaurant. But even then, something was missing. I wasn’t truly happy. I longed for something different—an office job. A stable role that offered weekends off, holidays with rest, and a pace of work that felt more aligned with who I was and what I dreamed of becoming.

While supporting my parents in the Philippines, and trying to save up. In March 2016, I returned home to the Philippines to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of San Carlos in Cebu—a step that finally allowed me to fulfill my long-held dream of studying at a prestigious university. Tragically, about 2 months after my arrival, my mother was diagnosed and passed away in November of the same year, altering my life’s course. It was never the same, and I knew I couldn’t stay in the Philippines anymore. I needed to go back to Singapore, where I felt more alive and my dreams felt closer.

I flew to Singapore in January 2017 and stayed for a month, I couldn’t find a job. “So so thankful for the friends there who stayed with me all the way!” Then, I flew back at the end of February again, only to be denied entry because I couldn’t frequently be in the country as a tourist. In the blink of an eye, I found myself back in the Philippine Airport, at midnight-crying. My heart is in a thousand pieces, lost with broken dreams, everything seems unreachable, impossible.

Deportation didn’t discourage me from pursuing and returning to the country I had called home for many years. After lots of hard work, thousands of job applications, sleepless nights, and prayers, I returned to Singapore in April 2017 with a job offer. Work permit is approved. It was surreal! I love that City until now and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Two years ago, I moved to Denver and am working in Accounts Payable with my amazing Espire Dental family!

My journey has taught me that good things are waiting for all of us, whether in wealth, career, or personal fulfillment. The key is to keep moving forward and never give up. “Dreams do come true for those who never give up.”