DUMATING sa Dubai si Junie Sudoy Sorsano, 41 at tubong Iloilo, may 12 taon na ang nakakaraan.
Nakipagsapalaran at namasukan bilang staff sa isang ice cream stand sa Dubai International Airport. Ngayo’y isa na syang negosyante: online ang negosyo, nagbebenta ng mga relong may Pinoy branding.
“I wanted to create a watch that is designed for Filipinos. A watch that will not only tell the time but is also a piece of something that will remind us of our rich and beautiful history and culture,” ani Sorsano, na nag-vocational course sa STI sa Muñoz, Quezon City nang kanyang kabataan.
“Our brand is called ‘Kayako,’ which brings positive and motivating vibes to all OFWs that they can overcome whatever struggles they were facing. Right now, we already have two watches: ‘Gabriela Silang’ for women; and ‘Malakas,’” sabi ni Sorsano.
Meron din syang ilalabas na Amihan Collection at tampok ang brand na “Maganda.”
“Average sales namin ay eight to 10 watches per week from different countries,” sabi ni Sorsano, na tumulak magtayo ng e-commerce na negosyo sa tulong ng business partner nyang si Jessica Daryanani, isa ring OFW at tubong Davao.
“We are very happy with the appreciation for the watch by all Filipinos, not only those in the UAE, but as well as those in Canada, California in the US; Australia and other Middle Eastern countries. We have been receiving orders from all over the world,” sabi pa ni Junie.
Mahaba ang pinagdaanan ni Junie, na isa ring sikat na vlogger dito sa Dubai.
Pagiging staff at kahero sa Häagen-Dazs ang kanyang naging take-off point.
Bago pa man mag-abroad ay may negosyo na siya sa Pilipinas. Sa edad na 21, nagma-manage s’ya ng 13 Asian-themed food outlets – 12 kiosks sa mga malls at isang commissary kitchen.
“That was in 2000 at tumakbo lang for almost two years. We closed it. It was a failure. Kaya this time, I don’t want to make the same mistakes anymore. I was too young at the time kaya wala pang experience talaga,” sabi ni Sorsano.
Kaya nga namang nagdesisyon syang mag-Dubai. “Mas maganda ang opportunity sa abroad. Pero wala sa plano ko na mag-business dito sa Dubai. It just so happened na most of my friends and connections ay nasa media or social media kaya dun ako nagka-idea to set up a business,” sabi Sorsano.
Payo nya? “Ang nasa pagitan mo at ng iyong mga pangarap ay pagkilos.”
Di nga ba? Kilos na!
