Part 1: Chasing Curiosity (2005–2009)
Before I started working for Alveo — or Community Innovations as it was called then — and even before I graduated from college, I remember thinking that I wanted to experience working overseas.
It didn’t happen because my blockmates and I started applying for jobs here in the Philippines. Most of them got programming or math-related jobs since our course was Math with Computer Science. But the thought of doing programming day in and day out didn’t excite me.
While we were submitting résumés everywhere, another idea crossed my mind — maybe I could work for one of the top companies in the Philippines.
When Community Innovations called, I gave it a shot — kahit sales — because it was an Ayala Land company. My plan was simple: try it out, then transfer departments later. (I think nakwento ko na ‘to dito before, hehe.)
Once I started meeting clients, I realized something about myself: I loved talking to people from different countries. Every time I met an overseas client, I’d light up. I’d ask where they were from, if they traveled often, and what their favorite country or city was.
One client from Spain told me his favorite destination was the Holy Land. He said it was surreal — seeing signs you’d only read in the Bible, like “This Way to Bethlehem.” Another mentioned Prague. I remember thinking how incredible it must be to walk through places that seemed almost like postcards. Another mentioned Turkey and the hot air balloons.
Every time I met someone new, I’d end the conversation by saying, “I hope I can visit you in your country someday.”
Maybe that’s where it really began — the curiosity. Not just for travel, but to see how people lived their lives in different parts of the world.
The first international trip I ever took was in 2007. My mom mentioned she was going to the U.S. for her nursing class reunion. I had just received my commission, so I gave her the money and decided to go with her — my first big adventure abroad.
From San Francisco to Los Angeles — we joined my mom’s classmates on a bus trip, and the whole time, I was telling them about the different properties we had in Manila. I gave them flyers and sat beside each of them on the bus hehe.
Then my mom and I flew to Chicago to visit relatives. That’s where I met my first overseas clients in person, in their country.
I met them before while manning our booth in Greenbelt — i was giving out flyers at the booth around midnight! They ended up buying two units from me the next day. While in Chicago, I also visited two other clients: one I got from a Glorietta booth, and another who was a referral I closed after a round of golf at Villamor.
I was only 23 years old then (working for 2 years already), so I was just thrilled to be there — to see my clients and connect with them beyond the transaction. When we went back to SanFo, I even closed a sale during a family gathering of my mom’s friend.
In 2008, I traveled with Allen to Singapore and other parts of Asia — his first overseas trip. During that time, we also visited a client who had bought a property from me. I even closed an inquiry that came from YouTube during that trip — long before digital marketing became mainstream!
Then in 2009, I received the Top Property Specialist Award for 2008, and the incentive was a trip to Madrid, Spain.
That experience was unforgettable. I brought my mom with me, and we visited Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris. In Madrid, I met my clients again — that group of friends bought three units when they came to Manila in 2008. they hosted us overnight, fed us with amazing Spanish food and it was my first taste of Mojito made from scratch!
In 2nd half of 2009, Allen and I broke up hahaha 😅.
And while sulking, I decided maybe it was time to finally live and experience working abroad.
From all the countries I visited from 2005 to 2008, I chose Singapore. Why? Because it was close to Manila… and maybe a part of me thought it would also be easier for Allen to visit. HAHAHAHA😂 i started applying from September to December 2009 and flew to Singapore Feb 2010 and lived there for a year.
I didn’t know it then, but that slightly impulsive decision would change the way I saw work, purpose, and life itself.
To be continued… ✨
