#FIStaff: Mariefe Lazo, Property Custodian

Almost seven years ago, Mariefe Lazo embarked on an overseas life because a former friend predicted that she won’t progress in life and will be stuck forever in the Philippines. Proving her friend’s assumption wrong, she exhausted everything and made her personal and family’s life better by working tirelessly abroad. 

Mariefe, who is now working as the Property Custodian at the Filipino Institute Dubai, had to work as a household service worker first for an Emirati family in the UAE. She worked for the family for two years. After finishing the employment contract, she went back to the Philippines and directly apply as a cleaner for a cleaning agency based in Dubai. 

For more than four years, Mariefe worked as a cleaner–jumping from one commercial establishment and residential house to another. 

“Life was hard back then. It was exhausting, but the silver lining was that I get to work with Filipinos as well,” she said. 

While working in the facility management company, she also volunteered at the Filipino Institute as their room taker. 

This volunteerism became the key to how she was hired as the now Property Custodian. 

Part of her work includes managing the educational equipment, supplies, and receiving new items, and complete documentation to record the acquisition. 

“It’s so fun to work with the Filipino Institute. I get to work with the leading, if not, one of the leading Filipino training centres in the Middle East,” she said. 

This story has been featured on the fourth issue of The Global Filipino Magazine. To get a copy, you may contact Mr Orli Gayeta at +971503196856. If you have an inspiring story or know someone with one, please send an email at tgfmfi@gmail.com.