Former OFW Enjoys More Family Time, Thanks to Online Freelancing

August 10, 2022
by Jason Dulay 
Jason is the founder and CEO of Work from Home Roadmap and VA Bootcamp. Aside from teaching Filipinos how to succeed working from home, he likes traveling, playing board games, and drinking coffee.
Subscribe to updates
Get updates of interviews and tips via email


Powered by the Simple Social Press

Namaliit ka na ba?

Or have you been called names?

Sadly, verbal abuse or bullying is very typical, especially nowadays.

Reality is.

As we grow older, we continue to hear negative remarks and criticisms.

It’s inevitable.

However, we should not allow these negative labels or criticisms to define us.

It’s not what other people say about us.

It’s not the struggles, trials, or challenges that we faced in life.

It’s also not the failures or mistakes we’ve committed.

What defines us is how we rise to every challenge.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

All the negative remarks, pressure, and challenges are opportunities to work harder, do better, and become better.

Just like Bhuboy, he’s a civil engineer who used to be an OFW.

He was earning big money but he was mostly away from his family.

Initially, his main challenge as a freelancer was looking for client/s.

He now earns enough to provide for his family and be with them every day

His patience and hard work amidst the struggles led to his breakthrough.

Join our JasSuccess episode on this replay.

  1. Introduction

An Overseas Filipino Worker who worked in four countries from the year 2002. He struggles with financial management and tried different ways to provide for his family. 

From FB Ads and Google My Business (GMB) Optimizer, he shifted to Search Engine Optimizer (SEO). And now he is enjoying the freedom and flexibility of being a Freelancer with his family.

Notable Quotes

  • Ang kagandahan sa freelancing pwede kang magtrabaho kung kelan mo gusto.
  • Get flexible hours, kasi pwede ka magtrabaho anytime, makakalabas ka kung gusto mo lumabas.
  • Sa mga nagsisimula na wala pang client, huwag tayong madadown kapag nakikita natin yung iba na may success. Ang nakita kong pinakamagandang strategy is i-celebrate mo yung success kasama nila kasi mas maattract mo yung success kesa parang masama loob mo sa success ng iba, nawawala rin sayo.
  • Kung nagawa nila, kaya ko din. So dapat you surround yourself dun sa mga tao na ginagawa din yung gusto mo.
  • Kung ano man ang story mo ngayon tiyak meron na ding dumaan dun. So titingnan mo nalang yung ginawa nila, may susundan ka na, may daan na.
  • Sa freelancing may chance na kumita ng malaki, ng dollar, kahit nasa bahay lang tayo.
  • Kung gusto mong baguhin yung buhay mo, mababago mo.
  • Kung gusto mong maging freelancer, walang kailangan na degree at hindi kailangang graduate ka. Magiging successful ka pero kailangan gusto mo muna ang ginagawa mo.

Journey to Freelancing

  • Before becoming a freelancer, Bhuboy is a Civil Engineer who had worked abroad from the year 2002. He shifted from four different countries (Taiwan, Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia) hoping that he can earn enough to provide for his family.
  • He even tried networking to have an extra income unfortunately, he got scammed. And he struggles with financial management. Finding more ways to earn extra money he discovers VA Bootcamp on the Internet. 
  • He enrolled in the Complete Course of VA Bootcamp in the year 2016. He started learning online skills but decided not to continue applying for a freelancer because of his contract in Saudi Arabia.
  • In the year 2021, he decided to pursue freelancing but at first, he was hesitant because there is no assurance that he can earn enough for his family. He became the VA Bootcamp intern and gained more knowledge and experience. Then he joined the Guided Hustle Challenge where he found his first client in Upwork.
  • But he parted ways with his client on December 2021. That’s when he struggled in freelancing. He tried applying to Upwork by sending three proposals every day but he cannot find a client. Losing hope, he thought again of going abroad. Yet, he still prayed to God and asked for a sign if freelancing was meant for him or not. Then one day, he received an email from Upwork but the job description was not his niche. But being positive, he studied the GMB Optimizer and applied to Upwork again after the course. He got hired and start immediately. Now, he has several clients in Upwork.
  • Now he enjoys his freedom and flexibility as a freelancer with his family. He even helps other aspiring freelancers to find work.

Question and Answer

When it comes to Financial Management natuto ka na ba?

Oo. Medyo natuto naman na ako. Sinusundan ko yung turo ni Bo Sanchez yung 70-20-30 at yung Baby Steps ni Dave Ramsey.

Hindi ka ba natakot na darating ka sa edad na magiging obsolete ka?

Hindi ko naman kinakatakot yun because of my profession. Ang kinakatakot ko eh yung tumanda ako na walang pera.

Sa dami ng skills na maooffer mo sa client, ano ang pinaka niche mo as of now?

Local SEO kasi may experience ako sa mga blogs. Kasi ang SEO naman is branch ng GMB.

Where did you find the confidence to reskill?

Una is may interest naman ako sa SEO kasi alam ko na. Pangalawa, sa freelancing naman kasi is kahit anong skill mo kikita ka ng malaki. And dapat may confidence ka na and tiwala kay God at sa sarili mo na kaya mo yung ginagawa mo kasi kapag nagsimula ka ng magdoubt, dun ka na magsisimulang mawalan ng pag-asa.

Was there a keypoint na nasabi mo sa sarili mo na dito na talaga ako sa freelancing?

Una ang struggle ko talaga ngayon is Time Management and Discipline. Andito na kasi sa bahay ang lahat ng istorbo. Minsan inaabot ka din ng katamaran. Pero dito sa freelancing pwede akong kumita ng malaki talaga ng more than sa pangangailangan namin kaya hindi ko na need magabroad. Yun ang keypoint, na kaya ko namang kitain dito yung kikitain ko abroad and kung naeenjoy ko naman na dito sa bahay na nabubuhay kami with extra income hindi na kailangang umalis.

What’s in the future?

Most probably magtetrain din lang ako ng mga aspiring freelancer, kamaganak ko or iba pa tungkol sa ginagawa ko.

Was it worth it na Civil Engineer ka pero Freelancer ka na ngayon?

Oo naman, ang pinagkaiba lang naman is yung title pero yung skills yun pa din naman. Kasi yung mga skills ko sa pagiging Civil Engineer is nagagamit ko din dito sa freelancing like problem solving.

Are you going to teach your children to become a freelancer in the future?

Ako kasi is kung anong gusto ng anak ko is hahayaan ko sila. Hindi ko na ituturo kasi we teach more from what we do, not from what we say. Hindi mo na kailangang ituro sa kanila ipakita mo nalang yung benefits ng ginagawa mo.

What can you say about OFWs na takot magtransition into freelancing? Saan sila dapat magstart?

First, magenrol sila sa mga freelancing courses. Pwede kang manuod ng mga youtube videos kaya lang labo-labo yun eh. Hindi katulad sa course step-by-step kung ano ang dapat and kailangan mong gawin. Second, is kung takot ka talagang magtransition dapat habang nasa abroad ka pa is naghahanap ka na ng mga part-time freelancing job sa Upwork. Para makita mo na pwedeng kumita sa freelancing. Basic talaga muna is alamin mo muna yung gusto mong skills and market na gusto mong iserve. 

How will you encourage an OFW who is not a degree holder or has not graduated from any course to take a step to become a freelancer?

Unang-una hindi mo naman kailangan maging degree-holder o graduate para maging freelancer. Merun nga highschool pa lang, 19 years old kumukita na mas malaki pa sa kinikita ko. Ang mag-eencourage sayo para baguhin yung buhay mo maging freelancer is yung dreams mo, yung goals mo kasi dun magsisimula lahat yun. Kung gusto mo baguhin ang buhay mo mababago mo. Tignan mo lagi ang mga why's mo bakit mo ginagawa yun, baka mas may better way pa na gawin yun. Kung gusto mo maging freelancer walang degree or walang graduate-graduate na yan, maging successful ka, kailangang gusto mo muna.

Did you experience being overwhelmed with freelancing?

More on confusion than overwhelm. Kapag kasi nakakakita ka ng mga groups and success story about freelancing, parang gusto mo na din gawin yung ginagawa nila. Kaya dapat sa simula palang desidido ka na sa skills and market mo. Then, kapag nakita mo yung success ng iba, isipin mo kung paano mo maiimplement sa skill at sa market mo yung experience nila.

Any advice for aspiring freelancers?

Una is huwag kang susuko. Pangalawa is dasal and simba. Kasi alam ko, goal ko ang freelancing at bigay din ni God yun. So alam ko ifufulfill Nya rin yun in the right time. Tiwala lang, tuloy-tuloy at huwag ka titigil para sa pangarap mo. Gawin mo lang ng gawin, darating talaga.

How did you learn to celebrate other people's wins?

When you start focusing sa success ng iba kahit hindi mo nga success, yun din ang darating sa buhay mo.

Follow us on Social:

by Jason Dulay 
Jason is the founder and CEO of Work from Home Roadmap and VA Bootcamp. Aside from teaching Filipinos how to succeed working from home, he likes traveling, playing board games, and drinking coffee.

Leave a Reply to Rea Maranan Magsisi Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

74 comments on “Former OFW Enjoys More Family Time, Thanks to Online Freelancing”

  1. "May interest kasi talaga ako sa SEO. Sa freelancing naman kasi kahit anong skill mo, kahit VA pwede kumita ng malaki. Dapat may confidence ka, tiwala sa taas, tiwala sa sarili. Nanonood ako ng ganito, success stories. Kung kaya nila, kaya ko din." - Bhuboy

  2. "Di mo naman kailangan maging degree holder para maging freelancer. Ang mag-eencourage sayo para magbago buhay mo is yung dreams mo, hindi yung degree mo. Importante gusto mo baguhin yung buhay mo." - Bhuboy

  3. Focus on what we can offer. Don't be confused with the success of others.

    I agree po Sir Bhuboy, nakaka overwhelm pag hinabol natin yung journey nung iba

    #trusttheprocess

  4. "Di naman overwhelmed, confusion lang siguro. Dami kasi natin nakikita na success stories, nakikita natin kung anong skills nila. Nalilito ka kung anong skills na gagawin mo." - Bhuboy

Learn the Basics

Join Our FREE Virtual Assistant Course which will teach you the basics of working from home as on online freelancer
JOIN NOW
menu-circlecross-circle linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram