DETERMINATION and self-confidence are what motivated dermatology nurse Mercy Villabroza to go to the Middle East and look for a job in hopes that one day, when she goes back to the Philippines, she can be of help to those who are in need.
After graduating college, Villabroza immediately landed a job at Nanez Dental Clinic in Davao Adventist Hospital in Davao City as a dental nurse in June 2012 for around a year.
From 2013 to 2017, she became the trusted staff at the Nuyu Medical Spa in Qatar after being employed at the Al Essa Company and Dar Al Saha Polyclinic in Jeleeb, Kuwait from February 10, 2010 to April 28, 2012.
Because of the hard work and perseverance she had shown to her employer, she became part of the staff nurse at Sahar Gannam Clinic in Maidan Hawalli, Kuwait.
From January to February 2011, she was also hired as a staff nurse at the Obgyne Ward in Taiba Hospital in Sabah Al Salem in Kuwait.
From October 2010 until January 2011, she was faced with the challenge of becoming one of the staff nurses at the Royal and the VIP wards of Alia International Hospital in Mahaboula, Kuwait.
"Challenging because mga royal blood, mga VIP ang imong gina-handle. Naa ko admission and discharge of patients, giving medications and monitoring (It was challenging because you are handling members of the royal blood and VIPs. I was tasked in the admission and discharge of patients, giving medications and monitoring)," she shared.
From 2013 until 2017, she worked for dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons where their clients were coming from different parts of the globe like Germany, Italy, the US, Lebanon and Egypt.
Because of this experience, she was able to bring with her the knowledge she acquired to the Philippines and, with determination, she established on May 8, 2017, the M&D Medical Spa where four branches have already been established in Davao Region.
To add to her knowledge, she is a member of the American Aesthetics Academy last year until present, while being a member of the Dermatology Nurses of the Philippines. Her skills have widened even more through the Medical Aesthetics International Malaysia with Dr. Ungku and Dr. Dayrit in the field of Hifu and Lasers; and with Dr. Rama Murthy of the Aesthetics Academy Asia for Toxins Fillers Lasers Chemical Peels.
With this, Villabroza was invited to the American Aesthetics Academy to give a lecture on Vampire Facial in Paris.
"Nag-pray gyud ko, gift ni sa akoa, ug gikonsider nako nga ang M&D gihimo lang ko nga instrument, because the first thing nga miabot sa akong mind, kanang makatabang (I was praying this would be God's gift to me and I consider M&D an instrument because the fist thing that was in my mind was to help those in need)," she said.
With the vast knowledge and skills she acquired in Kuwait and Qatar in the field of Dermatology, she was able to establish M&D, which is part of her dreams of serving her clients sincerely.
"Diri sa M&D, atong pag-treat sa atong mga kustomer, kinasingkasing, tungod kay maluoy ta, usahay magtan-aw ko nga dunay kustomer nga kulang ang money kay mag-inquire, pero giingnan nako sila, ipa-avail aron masulayan nila atong serbisyo, bahala'g kuwang gamay iyang kuwarta, dili nato balibaran," she added.
(Here at M&D, we treat our clients sincerely because we don't like them to ask how much the services are and that they could not afford it. What we usually do is let them avail of our service even though their money is not sufficient)
She added, "One time nag-start pami with five beds, ako pa ang nag-reception, ako pa ang nag-cashier, tulo lang mi sa akong pag-umangkon, then si Ai-Ai, akong close friend, -- niana ko nga moabot ang time nga daghan natag matabangan."
(We started with just five beds where I was the receptionist, at the same time, cashier. There were only three of us in the spa clinic: myself, my niece and my close friend Ai-ai. I told them there will come a time when we can help a lot of people.)
"Batang Datu Bago, Bankerohan ko, magsige lang kog tan-aw sa akong mga kadula sa una, mga guwapo kaayo silag kutis, samantala ako, before daghan kaayog [kuan] sa nawong... nangandoy gyod ko, nga puhon-puhon, maka-abroad ko, ug until such time naka-abroad ko, namalit kog pang-enhance sa face," she narrated her yesteryears," she said.
(I was a child from Datu Bago, Bankerohan. I would often feel envious of my playmates who had beautiful skin, that's why I dreamt of going abroad and it did come true, I bought stuff to enhance my face.)
"Pag-assign nako sa derma, perte nako ka happy, didto nagsugod nga mas na-pukos ko sa derma kay dermatology nurse man ko, so mao tong naningkamot ko, ug sa tuig 2017 naa ko sa Davao ug natukod ang M&D Medical SPA uban sa akong husband nga supportive gyod kaayo," she added.
(When I was assigned to the dermatology department, I was so happy. There I started to focus on dermatology because I was a dermatology nurse in the first place. I was determined to work and in 2017, when I was in Davao, I established the M&D Medical Spa together with my husband who is very supportive of me.)
Her secret, she said, is to pray always and believe in yourself.
"Ug mag-serve kita, with our heart gyod, ayaw gyod og stop bisan pa og along the way naay mga discouragement, part gyod na siya sa life -- maningkamot lang gyod, never stop, and show them kung unsa imong makaya (and let's serve with our heart, don't stop even if you encounter discouragement along the way, that's all part of life)," she said.
At present, Villabroza is in Davao City with her husband who helps her in serving their clients in all four branches of M&D Medical Spa.