The search for a better opportunity and bigger salary to support his family and fulfill his dreams made Sonny de la Rosa decide to leave the Philippines and work abroad. As a married man with children, he knows too well that his meager salary he was then receiving would not be enough to give his children whose eldest then was only three a decent education. Sonny also wants their family to have a house they can call their own.

Although Sonny is a registered nurse, he is not really too keen to go out of the country because as a son of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), he knows how it feels to grow up with one parent in a faraway place.  His father works in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia for almost 15 years. Nevertheless, scarce opportunities in the Philippines left him no choice but to work abroad in July of 2003.

He saw a job opening at the classifieds ads section of Manila Bulletin and submitted his application to be a staff nurse assigned in Emergency Room in one of the recruitment agencies in Malate. Sonny did not aspire for other position as it is his first time to work abroad and doesn’t know how to communicate in Arabic language.

Sonny arrived in Saudi Arabia and worked at Saudi German Hospital Madina as a staff nurse. However, after one month of working, the management had a vacancy for an Infection Control Nurse. The Head nurse informed Sonny of the position and recommended him to the nursing directress. Luckily, Sonny immediately got the new job which requires supervisory position.

Sonny’s salary at first was only 1800 riyal or Php 23,500. In time, the management noticed his hard work and dedication, so by January, 2004, he started receiving 3000 riyals a month or Php 39,260. Another salary increase happened to Sonny in 2006 when he was finally promoted as Head Nurse.

Since then, Sonny can say that he is happy and satisfied with his work. He was able to handle different positions from Infection control nurse, nursing supervisor, OPD head nurse, General ward and Head Nurse. He had proven his capability to lead a team and perform very well meeting corporate standard as well expectation of the management

Sonny’s message to all OFWs around the world? To all OFWs: Work harder and show you best stuff, don hesitate to take challenges especially at work, do your best at all time.