I still remember very clearly my very first role in the graduation production in Nursery School. We were doing a rendition of the famous nursery rhyme, The Owl and the Pussycat, and I had the very important role of playing the boat. Yes, the boat. There were four or five of us sitting in a circle, holding hands and swaying left and right in unison, perfectly simulating the boat which carried the Owl and the Pussycat. I remember looking up at the little girl playing the Pussycat, and thinking, “if I was playing that role, I would say the line this way, or I would turn my face that way…” I so wanted to be the Pussycat.

Many years later, I never let go of that passion for portraying characters on stage. I pursued acting with a burning hunger that drove my life’s directions. I loved the theater. Eventually, directly after graduating from high school, I left on my own to New York and studied acting at the prestigious New York University for the full four year undergraduate course. For the years I was in NYC, I acted in numerous plays, US Soap Operas, and independent films. Then I moved back to the Philippines to be with my family and to work on a local independent film. That’s when my local acting stint took off and I began appearing on Philippine soap operas, commercials, TV shows, and even an award-winning movie.

I was an actress in the Philippines for approximately 5 years. In the beginning, it was loads of fun, and I enjoyed tackling the juicy antagonist roles. But all too soon, the acting scene became stale, and I was getting frustrated with the poorly written scripts and the stereotype roles. I was also getting tired of being called an “artista”, and having to constantly explain to people that I actually studied to be an actress. I began to feel like I was being regarded as a pretty face with no real brain between her ears, and nothing else of much substance to offer. This drove me nuts, and the superficiality of the “showbiz” world started to eat me alive.

Eventually, I knew I had to find another avenue in which to invest my creative passions.

My father is the one who suggested that I go back to school and try out Interior Designing. As is true with most parents, he saw an under-tapped talent in me which I had yet to discover. He thought it would be a good idea for me to learn a new skill, and sugar-coated the suggestion by saying that I could learn to do something on the side of my acting career. Resistant at first to let go of my life-long passion, I eventually relented and enrolled in the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID).

The first two weeks in PSID began the drastic change in my history. I fell in love with Interior Design. The teachers are so passionate about what they do, and their energy is infectious. In no time, I was under their spell, and I became like a sponge. I absorbed everything they fed me. I was never a studious person before, having barely clung to passing grades in high school. But all of a sudden, I found myself devoutly dedicated to my studies, and I was seriously frustrated with myself if I got one answer wrong in a test. I turned into a full-fledged nerd. And I was proud of it! I smugly turned down weekend invitations, my night life dwindled and my friends complained. But I was happy. I loved being engrossed in this new passion which so furiously took over my life.

At the end of my two straight years (no summer vacations!) at PSID, I graduated as President of my batch, with a Summa Cum Laude gold medal around my neck, and a trophy for “Outstanding Achievement” in my arms. From a lowly boat, to a NYC actress, to a Philippine “artista”, to a full fledged nerd (with medal, trophy and all!). I really thought my life couldn’t get any more interesting.

I was wrong.

I was a working Interior Designer in 2006, happy and content with my life. So when a good friend of mine sent me an sms message inviting me to apply for an Interior Design position in Dubai through IPAMS, I didn’t even give it a second thought. I forwarded the sms to my fellow PSID graduates, and then deleted it from my phone.

A couple days later, one of my friends called me to tell me that he was applying for the Interior Design position in Dubai through IPAMS and he was trying to convince me to do the same. I declined.

Another day later, my best friend who lives in London called me and told me that he had heard about this position in Dubai with an Interior Design Firm, and that since IPAMS was such a reputable employment agency in the Philippines, I should really give it a try. Once again, I declined.

A few days later, it was a Saturday, I was sitting at home in front of the TV, when one of my good friends, Jamie, called me and invited me to watch the Da Vinci Code with him. I was excited since I had wanted to see that movie, so I jumped at the invitation. After the movie (which was really great!), while Jamie and I were having coffee, he casually mentioned that he had gone to the initial interview for this Interior Design Position in Dubai. He said that on the following day, Sunday, he would be attending the Interview Exam, which was to be held at the Diamond Hotel. As we talked more about it, he said that I might as well give it a try, and since I had never taken an entrance exam for any firm before in my life, I might as well just go to see what it’s like. He said it would be fun, because he and two of our other good friends would be going as well. So, finally, I agreed.

The following morning, at the Diamond Hotel, resume and portfolio in tow, I walked into the beautiful examination room with my friends, and introduced myself to the friendly people from IPAMS. There were around 25 other applicants with us in the room. We met the people from this Dubai-based Interior Design Firm, and to be honest, I forced myself to not pay close attention to what they were saying. In my stubborn head, I was still just thinking that I was purely there for the purpose of experiencing an entrance exam. So, carefree and relieved of any performance pressure, I underwent the full day long exam which consisted of drawing, and coloring interiors. At the end of the day, they announced the 16 names who would be asked to return the following day for a Final Interview. Lo and behold, my name (and that of each of my three friends!) was called.

The following day, I was still floating in my bubble of “I’m just here for the experience”. Besides, since I have always enjoyed talking and interacting with people, I was actually looking forward to an Interview. I distinctly remember talking with the gentlemen from the interview, and thoroughly enjoying my conversation with them. At the end of that day, nine names were revealed, and it was announced that these nine people would have to pack up and relocate to Dubai within the next 6 weeks. The earth underneath me shook when they called out my name.

It took me all of 24 hours, and a very long heartfelt talk with my father, before I finally decided to accept the offer. I was going to Dubai. DUBAI. At that point, I didn’t even know where it was! My first objective was to find it on a map. When I did, I realized that I would be entering uncharted territory. Nobody in my family has ever ventured into that part of the world before, and the opportunities there were boundless. I could feel my heartbeat hasten with each new thought.

Moving to a new company is a hard adjustment enough... but moving to a new company in a whole new country (to which I’d never been before!) is ten times more difficult. To my huge relief, IPAMS made this transition so much easier. They guided us through the process one step at a time, and constantly kept us informed with the progress of our visas and documents. At one point, I was constantly bombarding them with questions, (a natural tendency for someone whose life was suddenly about to take a dramatic turn into the unknown). Their friendly staff never failed to answer me and their patience and professionalism was unfaltering.

When human beings undergo sudden change in their lives, there is an urgent need to depend on something unmoving and secure. IPAMS became this for me. Even when I had successfully transitioned to my new firm in Dubai, they sent me emails to make sure I was alright and that all my expectations were met. Looking back at that tumultuous time in my life, I am so grateful that IPAMS was there to guide me through it. There were neither loose ends nor forgotten documents that fell through the cracks. Everything was smooth, and I knew what to do because they kept me well informed. The most amazing thing of it all is that I received all this service with no charge to me at all. This is a rare luxury in life now-a-days.

That was exactly one year ago. I have been in Dubai for a full year now, and this company that I so nearly turned down, has turned out to be a dream come true. In just 10 months, I was promoted from an Interior Designer of the firm, to a Senior Designer. And today, I am the Branch Manager of their newest branch in Abu Dhabi. This lowly boat-cum NYC actress-cum Philippine Artista-cum Interior Design Nerd, has actually put together a formal Business Plan, conducted a Competition Analysis, put together a P&L and a Gantt chart, and formulated a thorough Marketing Strategy. I’ve given formal presentations (my first time ever to use PowerPoint!) to three of the most powerful and influential men in the UAE, and actually caused them to sit back and ponder my thoughts. I’ve traveled to Jordan and Lebanon to recruit designers for my team, and am solely responsible for setting up and running the Company’s very first branch in an entirely different Emirate. Don’t ask me how this all happened, because till this day I am in awe of the events that have unfolded in my life. I continue to think back at the time when I actually turned down this opportunity countless times before finally relenting! I can’t believe all of this could have so easily slipped from my grasp had I said “no” that one last time after watching the Da Vinci Code.

Have you ever ridden an airplane and paid attention to the minutes after the plane takes off and as it continuously climbs steadily upwards? I am a nervous flyer, so I am always acutely aware of these crucial minutes. You are relieved that the plane has successfully (and safely!) taken off, but you’re still anxious because you know that since the plane hasn’t leveled off into a horizontal position yet, you know you’re still climbing upwards.

This is the exact feeling I have today. I am so happy to have finally arrived at my new destination in the UAE, and having found a great company to work for. But I know in my gut that the end of this amazing journey is still far from the horizon. I’m still climbing upwards. The anxiety still sits in my stomach, because I am so eager to see where this life will lead me.

What a long way to come for this actress. What an unearthly journey for a once lowly boat.