ECE grad on visit visa and tight budget ends up managing Pinoy resto in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — She was firm on getting a job. She had no choice; she only had AED1,900 pocket money to cover food, rent and transportation as time ticked away on her three-month visit visa’s expiration.

Today, she oversees operations of a popular Filipino restaurant here—creating culinary wonders for tourists and fellow Pinoys, too!

Such is the story of Renalyn Mendoza, then 28 years old and a fresh graduate with a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering from University of Baguio, who set out jobhunting soon as she got her bearings together upon arrival in Dubai on Nov. 9, 2016.

“Nasa isip ko ay kahit anung trabaho okay na ako. Kahit cleaner na lang kaysa matambay ako kakapili ng trabaho at maubos lang perang dala ko. Talagang tipiran yung gastusan. Bed space po ako for almost one month. Tabi kami ng pinsan ko sa upper bed,” Mendoza told GMA News Online.

(I told myself I’d get any job, even as a cleaner, lest I end up idling and lose my money on daily expenses. I was really holding tight on my allowance. I shared an upper bunk bedspace with my cousin to save on rent.)

An upper bunk bed rent goes for up to AED650 a month. Bedspace sharing is common in some parts of the city, especially among newcomers on visit visas.

Mendoza said she flew via Singapore “para mas madaling makalabas ng Pilipinas at iwas offload na rin.” (I flew via Singapore to avoid scrutiny by airport immigration and the risk of being offloaded.)

Light glimmered at the end of the tunnel on Dec. 23, 2016 as Mendoza got a three-day trial period to work as a kitchen helper.

Renalyn now handles operations and create culinary wonders for Cuisinerong Pinoy, a popular Filipino restaurant next to Mall of the Emirates.

“Nakaka-kaba po, kasi dalawa kami na nag-trial nuon. Pero pinakita ko na desidido po ako. Medyo nakaluwag lang next day kasi hindi na bumalik yung kasabayan ko,” recalls Mendoza. (It was nerve-wracking because there were two of us being tried out. But I showed them I was resolute. I had a sigh of relief when the other person didn’t show up the next day.)

Mendoza finally got her employment visa in January of the following year. It was hard work but she was overjoyed, especially when her first paycheck came. “AED1,800 lang sahod ko nun, pero nakaka-survive,” she said. (My salary back then was only AED1,800 but I managed to survive.)

Mendoza’s travails didn’t end there though as the employer allegedly became remiss with their salaries.

“Hindi na ko nag-renew sa unang work ko kasi nagkaroon ng problema. Hindi na rin po halos nagpapasahod nun. Tinapos ko lang kontrata ko at naghanap ng iba,” she said.

(I didn’t renew my contract because of salary issues. I just finished it and looked for a new job.)

That’s when the glimmer turned into a bright light for Mendoza, who found a more stable job—still in the food & beverage sector—where she now handles operations and create culinary wonders for Cuisinerong Pinoy, a popular Filipino restaurant next to Mall of the Emirates where she has been with from the day it opened.

Looking back, Mendoza says: “Hindi naman po sa nakakasawang maging Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), lalo na kung iniisip mo kung family mo na naka-asa sa iyo.

“Minsan mai-isipan mo talagang mag-business kasi hindi habang buhay ay nagta-trabaho ka para sa ibang tao. Maganda talaga na nagtatrabaho ka para sa sarili mong business. Tumanda ka man, may papasok pa rin na pera sa’yo.”

(You’ll never get tired being an OFW, especially when you think of loved ones from home who are depending on you.

But sometimes, you entertain the thought of venturing into business because you can’t just be working for other people all your life. It’s really better to be working for your own business so that you’ll still make money even in your old age.)

And that’s exactly she has in mind: not to get old broke. — BM, GMA Integrated News