Sales have been booming for Garcia’s binatog business in Dubai, and he attributes the success to the uniqueness and authenticity of their product. “Malakas po ang sales ng binatog dahil po kami lang meron nito dito and authentic po talaga. Galing Philippines po ang mais na gamit namin,” he shared proudly.
Garcia’s business has grown so much that it’s transformed his family’s life. “Nagkaroon kami ng pamilya ko ng sariling bahay at lupa, at sasakyan,” he said, highlighting the rewards of his hard work.
Expanding beyond Dubai, Garcia recently opened a new branch in Sharjah, a neighboring emirate. “We have plans to open other branches across the emirates in the UAE,” he added, showing no signs of slowing down.
Before his entrepreneurial journey, Garcia worked as a waiter at a fine dining restaurant in the Philippines. In November 2010, he moved to Dubai on a visit visa. To test the waters, he and his family began selling binatog online, which quickly gained traction. “That time po, wala pang binatog sa Dubai. So, we tried selling online and ang dami pong orders kaya nagtuloy-tuloy na hanggang sa magkaroon kami ng shop.”
Their first physical store opened in June 2021 in Satwa, a popular Filipino enclave in Dubai. Along with binatog, the shop also offers buko pie and other well-loved Filipino comfort foods.
Garcia’s success story is similar to other Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Dubai who left their jobs to pursue businesses selling Filipino favorites like bibingka and tahô. His journey is a testament to the growing demand for authentic Filipino food in the UAE, and the entrepreneurial spirit of OFWs abroad.
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