DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – An overseas Filipino worker (OFW), who first landed a job in Dubai as a five-star hotel restaurant waiter and room service staff 23 years ago, now owns a popular restaurant chain in the city.
Roberto Capulong, 42, who hails from Balanga Bataan, had apparently just wanted to chase a dream, and so did not look the other way when he got a chance to work in the food and beverage (F&B) sector abroad despite having a degree in electrical engineering from Bataan Polytechnic State University (BPSU).
“It was a calling, maybe,” Capulong told GMA News Online. “When the opportunity came to me in 2000 to worked in a Dubai five-star hotel, I grabbed it without thinking kung anong work. Kasi, mapunta ka lang sa abroad is an achievement sa mga taong may pangarap.”
(…(I) grabbed it without thinking what kind of work I’d be doing. It’s because having been able to go abroad is an achievement for people with ambitions.)
His passion for F&B soon grew as he began to learn the ropes of the trade.
“Being a waiter and working in room service sa isang five-star hotel, marami akong natutunan at a young age. Hindi naging hindrance sa akin ang makipag-sabayan sa mga ibang lahi. Natuto ako sa food handling, customer service and teamwork. After that I was promoted as room service captain,” Capulong said.
(I learned a lot being a waiter and working in room service in a five-star hotel at a young age. It was not a hindrance for me having to work with people of other nationalities. I learned about food handling, customer service and teamwork. After that, I was promoted as room service captain.)
By 2006, Capulong was already working at a standalone restaurant named “Agemomo,” which opened a year earlier and is now a household name among Filipino expats in Dubai.
Capulong was Agemono operations manager from 2006 to 2018 after which he became owner from then on to the present.
“When the owner settled for good in the Philippines, I took over one of the Agemono branches, and since I know how to run the business, it was easy for me to manage and operate the restaurant,” Capulong said.
The restaurant served Japanese dishes but was eventually required to add another cuisine on the menu, thus the Filipino specialties.
Best sellers are takoyaki, ramen, baked sushi and sushi on the Japanese side, and tapsilog, bulalo, pansit luglug, togue and barbeques on the Pinoy side.
Agemono has four restaurant branches and three kiosks all together employing 40 employees OFWs across Dubai.
“It takes on a huge responsibility but it’s very fulfilling,” said Capulong.
“Yung makita mo lang ang mga employado mo na pu-fulfill ang mga parangap nila at natutulungan mo sila is an achievement na rin sa akin,” Capulong said.
(I see it as achievement realizing that I am able to help my employees fulfill their dreams.)
Jojo Dass