‘My Aussie boss helped me during a flood’: Filipina Virtual Assistant shares emotional remote work story

Cherry May Marquez-Ramos from Isabela shared her experiences, as well as the advantages and challenges of being a Virtual Assistant. Credit: Cherry May Marquez-Ramos / Agent Sync / Pexels - Ahmed

In Trabaho, Visa, atbp. (Jobs, Visas, etc.), we feature the virtual assistant profession in the Philippines, where several companies or individuals in Australia become clients.

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Key Points

• Cherry May Marquez-Ramos from Isabela shared her experiences, as well as the advantages and challenges of being a Virtual Assistant.
• According to a PwC report, up to two-thirds of ASX 50 companies outsource work offshore, with the Philippines being one of the top sources of skills and talent.
• A study also revealed that being a Virtual Assistant has surpassed becoming a doctor as the dream job of Filipinos due to the desire for more flexible digital work.

In an interview with SBS Filipino, Cherry May Marquez-Ramos, a Finance Manager - Virtual Executive Assistant from Isabela, became emotional as she described the help given to her by her Australian employer, Jess Whatman, founder and CEO of AgentSync.

When severe flooding hit Isabela just 10 days after Cherry May Marquez-Ramos started her new job, company founder Jess Whatman stepped in to help her family start over, leaving her deeply moved by the kindness of Australian clients. Credit: Cherry May Ramos-Marquez / Agent Sync

"At that time [when we were flooded], we didn't have much... we only had small funds. It makes me cry. I didn't know where we would get money or food. I was surprised because I had only been with the company for 10 days, and I suddenly received help. For me, I thought, why would he help me? First of all, you haven't tested me yet. We don't have a deep relationship yet, and although you just hired me, I haven't proven anything yet. That was when I was really wowed," she said.

Meanwhile, AgentSync Managing Director Aileen Gutierrez detailed how the Virtual Assistant industry is growing in the Philippines, as well as what they look for in applicants for this position.

From a values standpoint, I feel one of our strongest values that plays a role when we do our work is malasakit... We own the task, and we try to figure out how to do it and how to do it well.

Aileen Gutierrez, Agent Sync Managing Director

Aileen Gutierrez - Managing Director, Agent Sync Credit: Aileen Gutierrez / Agent Sync

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