Former OFW, now a restaurateur in UAE

One global Pinay serves as living proof that life gets better with faith and hard work.

From growing up and living in an informal settler area in Las Pinas City, Jenny Segalowitz is now a business owner in the United Arab Emirates.

“Sobrang hirap ng buhay namin sa Pilipinas. Lumaki ako sa squatter’s area. Kailangan naming mag-igib ng tubig wala kaming kuryente at wala rin kaming sariling banyo. Naala ko noong maliit ako, kailangan kong mangatulong bago pumasok sa school. I think, isang tinapay pinakamasarap na para sa amin,” Jenny shared in a Global Pinoy Unlimited episode on GMA Pinoy TV.

(Our life in the Philippines was difficult. I grew up in a squatter’s area. We had to fetch water, we didn’t have electricity, and we didn’t have a bathroom. When I was little, I had to work as a helper before going to school. A piece of bread was a treat for us.)

In 2002, her father passed away, so she had to look for ways to earn a living.

“At that time may nag-offer po sa akin dito sa UAE. Ayaw akong payagan ng nanay ko, pero sabi ko sige lang. Wala akong alam kung anong magiging trabaho. But you know, I think by my faith and by the courage that I have, napunta ako sa UAE 2003 bilang isang service crew sa isang restaurant. Doon ako nag-start, yung buhay ko as an OFW,” she said.

(At that time, someone offered me a job in the UAE. My mom didn’t want to let me go, but I insisted. I don’t know what my job would be, but, you know, I think by my faith and courage, I went to the UAE in 2003 as a service crew member at a restaurant, and there I started my life as an OFW.)

Jenny, like others, also faced many struggles as an OFW, aside from dealing with homesickness.

Her first marriage failed, and she took her kids to the Philippines before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, she met her second husband, “Doug,” who supported her in everything, including her business.

“I’m thankful to my husband, Doug. He gave me a good life and entrusted me with everything. We met in 2019, and we never stopped talking or exploring.

They said they thought of building a Korean restaurant called Mukbang Shows, especially since online mukbang videos have become popular.

“Everyone loves K-pop, so we designed it in Korean style and Korean bites, with Korean culture. We have Korean barbecue; you can’t find Korean barbecue in UAE. We do unlimited, and we serve seven kinds of Korean barbecue,” she said.

Apart from managing her business, Jenny inspires her employees to dream big and continue working hard like she did.

The couple also runs a foundation to help kids from the Philippines, as she wanted to be a blessing to people.

“Kung ano yung pinagdaan ko, gusto kong ibalik sa mga tao, gusto kong maging channel of blessing,” she added.

(What I went through made me want to give back to people, to be a channel for blessings.)

Jenny said if there’s a piece of advice she could share with her countrymen, it would be to never stop dreaming.

“Mangarap kayo kasi walang bayad ang mangarap, mangarap kayo at magsipag, mangarap kayo at abutin ang mga pangarap. Kagaya ko na nagtiis, nagipon nagset ng goal. Huwag mawalan ng pagasa,” she added.

(Dream of better things because dreaming is free. So go dream and work hard, continue dreaming, and achieve them. Like me, who endured, saved up, and set a goal. Do not be discouraged.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News