In Part 1 of Episode 6, Chef Martin and Cyra sit down with OFW couple Catherine and Gilbert Salonga to share how they transitioned from corporate IT jobs in Malaysia and Singapore to building their own business. What began as a small jersey side hustle for Filipino sports leagues grew into merchandise, thrift retail (ukay), food and drinks, and a physical presence at Lucky Plaza. They unpack the Filipino “employee mindset,” OFW burnout, and the risks of entrepreneurship, offering an honest conversation about faith, community, timing, and redefining success abroad.
✨ The conversation also dives into:
- Growing up with the “stable job first” mentality
- Life as OFWs in Malaysia and Singapore
- Burnout, midlife reflection, and career dissatisfaction
- Why salary alone isn’t enough without long-term planning
- How a small jersey side hustle turned into a business
- Building through Filipino sports and community networks
- Early challenges of retail and running a business in Singapore
Follow us on:
➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoyabateka/
➡️ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoyabateka
➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hoyabateka/
➡️ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/hoy-aba-teka/id1847157163
➡️ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hoyabatekapodcast
#FilipinoPodcast #HoyAbaTeka #podcast