A 31-year-old Filipino engineer from Cavite, Ryan Joe Panganiban Parpan OFW in Dubai, once lost his job and sold everything he owned to survive. Now, he’s making waves in Dubai’s Filipino music scene and even launched his own events management business.
Six years ago, in 2018, Parpan lost his job as a draftsman during a global market crash. He was jobless for months, sold all his belongings, and withdrew his savings from the Philippines just to get by. At one point, he almost gave up and went home. But thanks to his brother and close friends, he got back on his feet, even though his new job paid much less.
Parpan’s life took a turn when he returned to his passion: music. He started performing gigs with different bands and met other musicians in Dubai. He’s even opened for famous Filipino bands. His musical journey started when he was just eight years old with a ukulele, and by 12, he was mastering the guitar.
Now, Parpan plays multiple instruments and performs with three different bands. He’s also part of Dubai’s growing indie film community, working on music production and acting. One of his notable projects was the 2024 romantic comedy “Love in Disguise,” shot in Dubai.
Despite his busy life, Parpan stays true to his passion, saying, “Even though it’s tough, I’m happy with what I do. I hope to inspire other OFWs to step out of their comfort zones and pursue what they love.”
