This #JasSuccess featured an inspirational story of a public-school Head Teacher turned top-earning freelancer.

Meet Eleazar ‘Lee’ Yorong.

When his eldest child needed to go for heart surgery, Lee tried to make ends meet and eventually found himself in debt.

Wanting to get out of poverty, Lee searched Google for possible ways to earn some extra income online. As a full-time freelancer now, he earns more than double his salary before.

In this interview, you'll find out:

✅why he pursued his career in social media marketing, educational writing in the freelance world and his goal to help other teachers like him
✅How he quickly increased his newbie rates to $25 an hour
✅how he turned his struggles as his motivation to move forward

And a lot more…

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Notable Quotes

• • Sinunod ko lang yung AIDA sa Bootcamp, tapos in-edit ko yung profile ko, lahat in-edit ko. Tapos yung mga natutunan ko sa Bootcamp na output, so nilagay ko dun sa profile ko. Tapos akala siguro niya sobrang galing ko, kasi sabi niya nakita niya yung profile. I have excellent profile. Pero, I’m still learning.

• •  I’m earning $25 dollars with my one client. And I have other client also. Actually, mayron akong isang client na, may pinapagawa siya tapos parang kumbaga nag sub-con. Kung hindi ko kaya, meron naman akong mga kilalang teachers na magagaling din sa Math. Yun binigyan ko sila ng task, ginagawa ko is double check na lang. Maliban dun nakatulong ako sakanila and kumita din ako.

• • Yung courage and confidence nakuha ko dun kasi, naghirap na kami. Dahil sa kahirapan, you are going to do something. Kasi hindi ko naman pabayaan yung maintenance ng anak ko is 1000 per day. Para lang sa gamot, para lang maka recover siya. San ko yun hahanapin? I have to do something. Kaya yun ang nagmotivate sakin. Kahit anong pinapagawa ni client ginagawa ko, I submitted it ahead of time.

• • Yung one-month na sahod ko as Head Teacher before, makukuha ko lang in 5 days. Hindi lang 5 days, 3 days siguro.

• • Pag nag apply ka and nagsagot ka ng proposal, kung ano yung natutunan mo dun, pag i-apply mo, kumbaga lamang na lamang ka sa lahat ng nag apply doon.
  • Go lang ng go, and if you can find a client, make sure to submit your excellent output ahead of time. Yun lang po yun, kasi yun po talaga, dun sila kumukuha ng freelancer para mapadali yung work nila and matulungan sila. Hindi tayo after sa salary kasi I’m not after at first sa salary, kung ano lang. Sila po yung nagbibigay, dahil nasatisfy natin sila.

Eleazar’s Journey to Freelancing

• He originally lived in Zamboanga Del Norte but worked in Metro Manila as a Public School Head Teacher.
• He was a Public School Head Teacher at Taguig City and Pateros.
• He came back to Zamboanga City and lived with his family after being a successful freelancer.
• His first child was diagnosed with Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) and needs an operation.
• His perseverance to find a job to sustain the needs of his family urge him to try freelancing.
• Being the School Head Teacher, he had handled 11 teachers under him.
• He mortgaged his ATM from a lending institution for his child’s operation.
• His child has its operation last 2012.
• He tried transcribing before but less income.
• He tried online selling on Facebook and how to market his products to have another source of income.
• His salary as a School Head Teacher was used to pay his child’s operation that reached almost 1.1 Million.
• He saw the Work-From-Home-Roadmap by Jason Dulay which urges him to try his luck in freelancing.
• He enrolled in the VA Bootcamp last September 2017 and got his first client, first week of October 2017.
• He followed all the lessons from the VA Bootcamp which helped him landed his first client in Upwork.
• He always submits all the given task ahead of time which impressed his client and increased his hourly rate.
• He has 5 clients in total from Upwork.
• He felt no fear which showed his courage and confidence from his struggles.

Q&A Highlights

Nung nasa Taguig ka when you were working as a teacher, pano naman yung family mo?

Yung panganay namin na child is meron siyang PDA. Ang tawag ay Patent Ductus Arteriosus, may mga butas yung kanyang puso. Kailangan siyang operahan that time, ang nangyari naoperahan siya, since isa na akong teacher, what I did nag-loan. Ang pinakamataas na ma-loan that time is only 400,000. Pag head teacher ka maka-loan ka na sa bank ng 400,000, plus yung natira na sahod mo is 3,000 that time, sinanla pa yung ATM sa other lending institution. Wala na po talagang natira para lang maoperahan yung bata. I go into freelancing, nag-search lang ako Sir, kung ano pong pwedeng pagkakitaan online. Saka ko nakita, na pwede pala maging virtual assistant.

You’re originally from Zamboanga and then you moved to Taguig Area, because you got the head teaching job, tama ba? And then at that time, can you share how much you were earning as a Head Teacher?

Yes sir. As Head Teacher Sir, salary grade 14, so around 26. Less deduction, so mga take home na lang mga 24,000 a month.

Can you share with us, anong condition ng eldest niyo?

Nung nilabas siya Sir, meron na siyang PDA – Patent Ductus Arteriosus. It means na merong mga butas ang kanyang puso, which is kailangan siyang i-repair kasi, hindi siya maka-intake ng food. Isusuka niya lahat. We stayed in Makati Med for almost a month, mahirap na nga kami, sobrang nadiin na talaga kami.

How much did you have to spend for the operation alone?

1M, pero aside from that, we raised almost 600,000. So, the rest are donations from friends, from relatives, ganun. So marami din nag-donate so na buo namin.

Sinabi mo kanina, parang yung take home mo, after all the deductions sa pagbayad ng loan is only P3,000?

Yes Sir, pag-teacher ka that time. Ngayon kasi sir 5,000 na ang pinaka ma-take home mo. So dati pagsagad mong loan, meron kang ma-take home na 3,000. Pero ang ginawa ko that time, sinangla ko. Kumbaga yung 3,000 sinangla sa isang lending institution. So, yun lang yung requirement eh, para sila ng kukuha doon.

Magkano yung nakukuha mo per month?

Wala na Sir, as in wala ng natira. So kumita lang kami nito sa VA, pakonti-konti.

Pero at that time, nung hindi ka pa VA? When was this? When yung operation, what month and year?

Actually Sir, naoperahan siya six years ago na, 2012.

How did you survive nung time na yun? As you said wala ka ng take home?

Yes Sir, dati kasi, nagta-try na ako ng transcribing that time, pero ang liit lang ng kita eh. Tapos nag-online selling din kami, sa Facebook ko, nagpraktis ako pano i-market tong product namin. Gumawa ako ng Facebook page doon, kasi wala na kaming other source of income.

How much were you earning from mga sidelines dati?

Maliit lang sir, basta pambili lang ng ulam. Sa isang araw malaki na yung 300 pesos, as in ganun lang kaliit that time.

You were looking for more ways, parang mga sideline, mga online. How did you hear earning online?

May mga Facebook page akong ginawa para i-market tong mga products namin, na binili lang din namin doon. Everytime na mag view ako, may nakikita akong mga freelancers na post. Pero hesitant ako, kasi nag-try ako dati. Sabi ko bakit ang hirap naman, yung transcriber nga ang sakit sa tenga tapos, basta maliit lang kita. Totoo ba yung sinabi nilang ganun? Kasi nakita ko lang, until na-view ko yung page mo, tapos kini-click ko yun tapos dinirect ako sa Work-From-Home tapos nakita ko yung video mo. So sabi ko why not i-try ko. Parang nasa Thailand ka ata non? Or something? So tina-try ko, that was last September. Tapos nag-enroll ako, since wala akong cash, nag-installment ako that time. Kasi inisip ko kung hindi ako maghanap ng ibang work. Kasi yung sahod ko talaga, is kulang lang sa interes doon sa inuutang kong pera. Kumbaga ang interes, ay tama lang pambayad doon. So, I look for other opportunity. Natutunan ko yung nakalagay sa lahat ng video presentations mo. Dun na nag start na, ginamit ko lang, inapply ko na.

You must have really believed in freelancing to invest sa VA Bootcamp? Did you watch yung mga interviews that time?

Yes Sir, nanood ako kung ano mga nasa interview. Nasa isip ko talaga totoo ba to? Kahit nakapag-training ako, kasi ang hirap pa din eh. Na-approve ako, tapos nagkaroon ako client isa, tapos na suspend ako tapos umapila ako. Ayun binalik naman, kasi yung client ko, siya din mismo. Nag-start na daw kami sa work.

So, you enroll sa Bootcamp September and kailan mo natapos ang lessons?

Sir ang tagal ko natapos, pero by first week of October my client na ko.

From the date that you started applying, how long did it take for you to get your first job?

Actually Sir, nag-apply ako, two applications lang. Kasi nakalagay sa videos mo. So, two applications, ang isa, sumagot siya sa akin. Na isa ako sa possible na kukunin niya. Natuwa naman ako, and then nagbigay siya ng sample work, tapos video kung paano gagawin. Ang pinagawa niya lang naman is, Facebook Page tapos mag-run ako ng advertisement. Ginagawa ko na yun eh, so after nun sinubmit ko sa kanya. Tapos natuwa siya binigyan niya ako agad ng $50 dollars. Tapos okay, you can start sabi ng ganon. So, hanggang ngayon client ko pa rin siya. Everytime na makapag-submit ako ng kanyang pinapagawa ahead of time, may bonus po siyang binibigay, galante po. Siguro ganun talaga siya ka-galante.

Yung ibang nag aapply sa Upwork, it takes them like weeks or months before makuha nila yung first client nila, for you 2 applications lang, you got hired kaagad. Ano yung sikreto mo doon?

Sinunod ko lang yung AIDA sa Bootcamp, tapos in-edit ko yung profile ko, lahat in-edit ko. Tapos yung mga natutunan ko sa Bootcamp na output, nilagay ko dun sa profile ko. Tapos akala siguro niya sobrang galing ko, sabi niya nakita niya yung profile. I have excellent profile. Pero, I’m still learning. Kasi ang hinanap niya Sir, Rockstar Virtual Assistant tapos beginner ako kaya try lang. Tapos pag may pinapagawa siya na hindi ko naiintindihan, tinatanong ko sa kanya. Minsan pinapanood ko sa Youtube.

Yung client mo that hired you at that time, siya pa rin yung client mo ngayon?

Yes Sir, siya pa rin po yung client ko. Kasi kumbaga from Social Media Marketing, dinivert niya yung work ko, kasi during our conversation, I mentioned that I am a Mathematics Teacher, since they owned a tutorial center at the same time, they have school, sabi niya, “can you do curriculum writing or can you do module writing, and regular posting on my blogs?” Kung magagawa ko naman yun lahat, kaya sabi niya okay, hindi niya ako binitawan.

What were you saying something earlier?

Yung ibang work, binigyan niya ako ng ibang work. Aside from managing doon sa Facebook page nila. So nadagdagan yung number of hours from 1 hour a day. Ginawa na siyang 3 hours a day, kasi marami na siyang task na binigay.

You were earning at first? I remember, I saw your starting rate was $5 per hour at that time?

Yes $5 dollars per hour tapos lumalaki lang siya kasi marami siyang binibigay na bonus.

Inincrease ka ni client, bali ilang weeks lang?

Yes Sir, 3 weeks lang. Inincrease niya into $9.32 dollars. Lately lang ako ginawang $25 dollars. Pero minsan po yata kasi, kailangan niya akong kausapin ng hating-gabi. Pero okay naman, matulog lang ako sa tanghali.

Did you ever think, na this would happen? Nung pumasok ka sa freelancing?

Actually Sir, hindi ko inisip na ganun ang mangyari. Nagulat lang ako kasi, laging sinasabi sakin “be responsible to your job”. Everytime mag-message siya sakin na, please complete the task on time. So ahead of time, I submitted the module ahead of time. Kasi ganun kadali lang yung mga task na pinagawa sakin. Even lesson plan pinapagawa niya. Pag nasubmit on time, siguro ganun siya. Even Power Point sa meeting sa employee niya ako pinapagawa. Which is madali na trabaho compared nung Head Teacher ako.

Aside from that, you back with your famil,y your back to your province wala ka na sa Metro Manila?

Yes, andito na kami sa probinsya. One reason din, sinabi din ng doctors ng anak ko, na kailangan dalhin siya sa lugar na hindi masyadong polluted yung air. So yun yung reason para sama-sama na kami dito.

So right now, you’re earning $25 dollars per hour, would it be okay if you share your earnings right now?

I’m earning $25 dollars per my one client. And I have other client also. Actually, mayron akong isang client na, may pinapagawa siya tapos parang kumbaga nag sub-con. Kung hindi ko kaya, meron naman akong mga kilalang teachers na magagaling din sa Math. Yun binigyan ko sila ng task, ginagawa ko is double check na lang. Maliban dun nakatulong ako sa kanila and kumita din ako.

It sounds like you’re doing exceptionally well as a freelancer right now?

Gusto ko rin makatulong Sir kasi, actually hindi lang naman ako ang teacher na ganun ang nangyari. So ako, good for me kasi yung mga loans ko is, nabayaran ko na. Meron din talagang mga ibang teachers na, lumalapit na sige tutulungan kita. Meron akong task tapos tulungan mo ako, so minsan nasa bahay kami, minsan magkita kami sa isang restaurant tapos doon, tinuro ko sa kanila kung paano. Tapos forward ko na sa kanila kung anong gagawin, tapos submit nila sakin. Sinusubmit ko sa client ko, ako check na lang po.

Did you go to trainings? Before you became a VA or online freelancer? Wala kang ibang trainings?

Sa Bootcamp Sir. Yung iba na wala, sine-search ko lang sa Youtube.

Yung foundational skills mo, what you learned sa Bootcamp, then yung iba self-study na yung additional skills mo?

Yes.

So pano pala yun? Sabi 3 days yung repair? So, you’ve been using data lang to do your work?

Yes Sir, pag-nag-video call kasi every 2 a.m. dito satin. Kailangan naming mag-usap, kung anong kailangan gawin, ano yung mga task. So, may short orientation siya. Tapos pag-nag-send ka din ng output, not necessarily. Pero may isang client ako na internet research, pero hindi siya hourly rate, project base.

Right now, all your clients are Upwork ba?

Yes Sir, Sa Upwork po. Ang kaltas lang ng Upwork is 10% na lang.

Is there something that you can share, regarding how were you able to get the courage or to get the confidence to do that?

Yes Sir, yung courage and confidence nakuha ko dun kasi, naghirap na kami. Dahil sa kahirapan, you are going to do something. Kasi hindi ko naman pabayaan yung maintenance ng anak ko is P1,000 per day. Para lang sa gamot, para lang maka-recover siya. So, san ko yun hahanapin? I have to do something. Kaya yun ang nag-motivate sakin. Kahit anong pinapagawa ni client ginagawa ko, I submitted it ahead of time. And then, the good thing is, si client concern sa sarili ko, sa personal ko, kasi everytime mag-usap kami, tinatanong talaga niya about my family background. And she even know kung anong nangyari sa anak ko. Everytime gising yung anak ko kakausapin niya. Swerte lang ako kay client.

How many hours are you working per day?

Sa client ko na $25 dollars, may kota kasi ako na kailangan matapos na 40 hours. May regular kasi ako 40 hours a week, so kailangan ko tapusin yun. Whether I like it or not, so yung 40 hours tapusin ko. So kumbaga, pumapatak sa 8 hours Monday to Friday.

Yung one-month na sahod ko as head teacher before, makukuha ko lang in 5 days. Hindi lang 5 days, 3 days siguro.

Anong in-avail mo sa Bootcamp? Which package?

Yung P7,000 plus ata yun. Accelerated. Pero installment, kasi pwede siya installment via Paypal tapos saka na lang siya papasok.

Are you still doing Facebook advertising right now?

Yes Sir, sa kanila lang din.

Sir what to do next right after ko mag-take ng free course?

Dumiretcho na ako dun sa Accelerated.

Ay hindi ka dumaan sa free course pala?

Hindi Sir, pagkita ko, that time kasi may promo po kayo. So, grina-grab ko na, nanghiram na ako ng pang enroll. Lahat kasi susugal ka eh, para lang, kikita ka ng pera.

Do you also do writing for your clients? What kind of writing do you do?

Yes. Nagpagawa siya ng script, let’s say for example, may welcome address siya sa isang event, sa kanilang school, so pagawa siya ng script. Eh hindi naman ako magaling sa english. So, pinapagawa ko yun, sa kasamahan ko na teacher before na magaling sa english, and then hati-hati kami sa kita. So pag may mga event, sabi sakin “Can you prepare a Power Point for this? Can you prepare a speech for this?” Ganun lang siya, so yun. Pinapagawa ko lang siya.

Panong level up? Kasi parang level up na yun eh? You, managing a team of VA’s din? Parang agency ka na ngayon noh?

Oo, natutuwa din sila Sir.

How many clients do you have right now?

Actually Sir, I have 5 clients right now. Pero naka-pause yung dalawa, so 3 lang. Pero yung isa doon is by project. So yung isa $25 dollars, 40 hours a week. Yung isa naman $5 dollars pero 5 hours a week lang. So pinatulan ko yun kasi madali lang naman yung pinapagawa niya.

Na-apply niyo po ba lahat ng natutunan niyo sa Bootcamp? Have you earned skills from there, that you use now in freelancing?

Yes Sir, yung Social Media Marketing, as well as Email Marketing. Kasi, pag may pinapagawa si boss, sometimes pinapa email sa lahat ng teachers sa school niya, so I did that one. So inaapply ko po yun lahat, lalo na sa Facebook. Sa page talaga, tapos minsan nag-run ka ng add para lang ma-promote yung school nila, ganun po, na-aapply po. And dati pag nag-apply ka and nagsagot ka ng proposal, kung ano yung natutunan mo dun, pag i-apply mo. Kumbaga lamang na lamang ka sa lahat ng nag-apply doon.

Nag include ba si Sir Lee ng sample sa kanyang work? Sa mga cover letters or sa profile lang?

Yes Sir. Kung ano yung hinahanap nila, nag-include po ako, nag-request naman po sila.

Pero sa cover letter pa lang? Nag-send ka ng mga sample work mo?

Sir nag-aattach po.

Do you have any plans of enrolling sa complete course sa Bootcamp?

Yes, kasi gusto ko mas matuto pa. Pero wala pa kasi akong time sa ngayon, maybe next month, so yun po. Kasi tomorrow is my 20th birthday, hindi sir 28 na, ay 38 na.

Do you have last piece of advice that you can share to your audience?

Go lang ng go, and if you can find a client, make sure to submit your excellent output ahead of time. Yun lang po yun, kasi yun po talaga, dun sila kumukuha ng freelancer para mapadali yung work nila and matulungan sila.  Hindi tayo after sa salary kasi I’m not after at first sa salary, kung ano lang. Sila po yung nagbibigay, dahil na-satisfy natin sila.