DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – From moving crates and arranging goods at shelves, to running his own travel agency, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) here has come a long way, now managing five rental apartments back home and looking forward to growing his business in the UAE, the ropes of which he has learned through eight years of being an employee in the field.
“Sobrang excited, sir. Siyempre, sino po mag-aakala na makakapagtayo tayo ng company dito sa UAE? ‘Pag po gamay niyo naman at nakuha nyo na yung tiwala ng market, madali na lang,” said 33-year-old Mervin Bagtas of Mexico, Pampanga.
(I’m super excited about my travel agency. Who would have thought that I could open a company here in the UAE. It’s easy once you’ve familiarized yourself and have won the trust of the market.)
Bagtas, youngest of 10 children, holds a degree in industrial technology. He said it’s been a long jump for him. He also was a merchandiser in the Philippines before moving to Abu Dhabi in October of 2012 to land the same job.
“Dito naman sa UAE, kahit ano naman po pinag-aralan mo, kung saan po tayo mas lalong lalago dun tayo. Ganun po ang tatak ng Pinoy,” he said.
(That’s how it is here in UAE. We go where we grow better regardless of what we took up back in college. That’s the mark of a Filipino.)
“From being an employee waiting for a salary, I have now become an employer with six employees, for whom I am responsible for providing salaries. I also take pride in helping my nieces with their education by supporting their tuition fees,” Bagtas added.
Competitive
Travel agency business in UAE is very competitive. But Bagtas said he is confident about his venture, which he opened on May 20, 2024 in Deira, Dubai.
“Sa pricing and good customer service po nagkakatalo. Saka, word of mouth na rin ng clients. Di po lahat ng markets namin ay Filipino. Halos po lahat mga ibang lahi, kasi we are focusing sa international visas like Schengen, UK, USA at Japan,” he said.
(It’s all about pricing and good customer service. Plus, word of mouth from clients. Our clients are not only Filipinos. Most are of other nationalities because we are focusing on international visas like Schengen, UK, USA and Japan.)
Merchandiser
Used to be when Bagtas would receive a monthly salary of AED1,200 as supermarket merchandiser, of which AED1,000 was automatically sent home for his mother and siblings during his first years in UAE.
“Initially, the transition was challenging. I earned only 1,200 AED, which was a tough start. However, seeing other OFWs achieving success and enjoying a better life motivated me to strive for more. I promised myself that I would surpass their achievements. Through perseverance and hard work, and by God’s grace, I was able to realize my goals and achieve success,” said Bagtas.
“Nagkukulang po sa sahod kasi sobrang baba. Pinagkakasya ko lang po yung AED200,” he added.
(I would always run short of money and live on a very tight budget because the salary was very small.)
Saving the day was the free accommodation that the company provided, else he’d be living in the streets.
Travel agency
Light at the end of the tunnel came when Bagtas finally got a chance to work at a travel agency in 2016 as sales staff, where he started making more than double of what he was being paid as merchandiser.
As well, his exposure to the intricacies of the industry began and he meticulously studied them hands-on.
“Later on, I got a new job also in the travel agency sector where I was paid more, plus commission. I saved all my earnings with the thought of opening my own travel agency someday,” Bagtas said in a mix of English and the vernacular.
In addition to his accomplishments, Bagtas said he has also invested in real estate in the Philippines, where he owns and manages five rental apartments. “This has become a successful part of my investment portfolio,” he said.
Bagtas has likewise traveled to more than 32 countries across Asia, Europe, and Australia.
