My family and I arrived in Canada in 1990, full of hope and ambition. As a young immigrant, I juggled both work and study through grade 11. By grade 12, the pressure became overwhelming. Balancing school with work was tough, and by early 1992, I made the difficult decision to drop out in the final quarter of my senior year. I moved out, and that marked the beginning of my journey toward independence, bringing with it a sense of freedom I had never known before.

Growing up in the Philippines, I was often sick as a child. My grandmother, mother, and her siblings took care of me, and I never learned basic things like cooking, doing laundry, or washing dishes. I had no need to, because they always looked after me. But when I moved to Canada, I had no choice but to learn everything on my own. It was a new life, one where I had to take responsibility for myself.

My health also improved significantly after coming to Canada, and I finally felt strong enough to do whatever I wanted with my paycheck. I worked as a cashier and a maintenance cleaner, then in 1996, I became a meat cutter. By 1997, through sheer hard work, I bought my first home. It was a huge accomplishment and a testament to the sacrifices I had made to get here.

In August 2000, my son was born prematurely at just 8 months. I had to quit my job in October 2000 to take care of him. Life wasn’t easy, but I was determined not to be a burden on the government or my family. So, I returned to work as a meat cutter for a different company. But just when it seemed like things were stabilizing, life threw another challenge at me.

I bought a carpet cleaning business, but it was struggling, and bills were starting to pile up. I was about to give up when, in July 2001, a co-worker invited me to the casino. I didn’t want to go, but they told me about something called "beginner's luck," and I decided to join them. That night, I hit a jackpot that changed my life. While it brought me financial freedom, it also introduced a new addiction that would change me in ways I never expected.

I sold my first house, bought a bigger one, and even purchased a second property. In 2002, I moved to Edmonton, renting out my home in Calgary. I started working as a casino dealer, and with it came the pull of gambling. My addiction took hold of me, and I made choices I regret. By 2003, my son was diagnosed with global developmental delay, which forced me to move back to Calgary. I sold my house in Edmonton and found a home near my mother’s house.

Throughout this time, I continued gambling, but I also learned new skills. A friend taught me how to paint houses, and I was recruited by my brother to work as an insurance agent in 2004. Though I failed the provincial exam twice, I didn’t give up. But gambling continued to weigh on me, and I kept working as a painter and even started my apprenticeship with the school board.

In 2007, I decided to take my certification exams for painting and the provincial exams for insurance once again. I passed both, and that success gave me new hope. But life was still a challenge, and I couldn’t quite find my footing. Despite my certification in painting, I continued to struggle with gambling, and my focus remained split.

From 2007 to 2011, I continued pushing through. I finally passed both the certification and provincial exams to earn my insurance agent license, and I tried to balance everything. I faced setbacks and disappointments, feeling like something was missing in my journey as an insurance agent. Yet, I gained valuable experience and lessons from each step.

Life felt like it was slipping away, but things started to turn around when I decided to pursue my insurance career again. After passing my certification and provincial exams in March 2014, I began closing deals, but my heart wasn’t fully in it. I was still distracted by my construction company and gambling.

In 2017, after attending Tony Robbins’ "Unleash the Power Within" in New Jersey, I had an epiphany. I realized I was getting older, and if I wanted to change my life for the better, I had to commit. I closed my construction company and began searching for answers. I questioned why seniors in the 90s could live comfortably, but today they had to keep working. Why was there so much uncertainty?

I spent eight weeks reading and interviewing seniors from various backgrounds. During this time, I found a new direction. Through hard work, I achieved a promotion to EMB and was awarded a $50,000 12-month rolling cash flow in 2018. In 2019, I received $200,000 in 12-month rolling cash flow and other recognitions for my efforts. The recognition kept coming—Personal Production Champion, MVP of AGA Builder Champion, and $100,000 Tier 1 Sapphire ring earner and $200,000 Tier 2 Shamrock ring earner awards.

In 2020, I was promoted to SVP and awarded $150,000 in 12-month rolling cash flow. In 2021, I became SVP Builder of the Year and earned another $100,000 in 12-month rolling cash flow. In 2022, I was awarded $150,000 in 12-month rolling cash flow. In 2023, I received $200,000 in 12-month rolling cash flow, and in 2024, I was promoted to EVP and awarded $200,000 in 12-month rolling cash flow. Every year since has brought more success, culminating in 2025, when I earned the prestigious Ruby Ring Earner, marking a $300,000 cash flow in just 12 months.

Throughout my journey, I’ve come to realize that success is all about the choices we make in our lives. We are the creators of our own destiny. No matter how many setbacks we face, there is always a second chance if we are willing to change. Life doesn’t always go according to plan, but we have the power to make different choices, and it is those choices that define who we become. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that we must step out of our comfort zones. Taking risks is better than standing still. We never know what we are capable of until we try. If we don’t believe in ourselves, who will? When we refuse to let doubt creep into our minds, no external judgment or words can defeat us. Believing in yourself means you don’t need validation from anyone else.