Cristina Marie Cinco – General Virtual Assistant, ESL

I am Cristina Marie Cinco, from Tacloban City, Philippines. I am 32 years old, married, and a mother of two kids. My place was the most devastated city in the world when the strongest typhoon in history struck our beloved city—that was Typhoon Yolanda (November 8, 2013), internationally known as Super Typhoon Haiyan. All of our belongings—our body and soul—were taken away by the typhoon. We had to start and rebuild from scratch. All we had to do was stand by our feet and still be kind to others in difficult times. That was the time that resiliency and reliability were reborn in my personality. I, as a Waray-waray, am resilient, reliable, and hopeful.

During my childhood, I used to be a papa’s girl. My papa was my best friend and my sanctuary. When he passed away unexpectedly when I was just 14 years old, it shattered my world. Losing him was my first real heartbreak, and it left me emotionally and financially devastated. The loss didn’t just affect me emotionally; it also impacted our family’s stability. My mother, who had always been a housewife, didn’t have the financial means to support us. I am the second child, and from a young age, I understood that if my siblings and I wanted to go to college, we would have to figure it out on our own.

At 15, I started working to contribute to our household and to save for my education. During my college years, I juggled being a working student while holding down a job as a service crew member for four years. It wasn’t easy balancing work, studies, and life, but I knew it was the only way to reach my goal.

There were many sleepless nights, and I often felt both mentally and physically exhausted. However, I refused to give up. I kept pushing forward, determined to graduate from college, no matter how tough the road became. My education wasn’t just about getting a degree; it was about proving to myself that I could overcome adversity.

The day I graduated was the most rewarding moment of my life. Every hardship I had endured felt worth it. I had achieved my dream of earning my degree without anyone else providing for my education. The experience taught me self-discipline, perseverance, and the value of hard work.

I was in the corporate world for almost 10 years, and it was a roller coaster journey. It was not easy, but the lesson and learning will really matter the most. Little did I know that I would be entering the online world with my career. It was during the pandemic when it all started. I scrolled my phone, and I was thinking of additional income to support my family and voila! I found ESL teaching online. It caught my interest. I was in love with the profession, and I decided to bid farewell to my corporate job. Being a teacher was a fulfilling job; it gave me satisfaction and genuine happiness because I was handling different accounts such as Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese students. It’s like you were travelling virtually, meeting different races and distinct cultures. Working from home gives me freedom and peace of mind. Everyone loves freedom, let’s admit it.

Now that I am a mother of two young children—a toddler and an infant—working from home is more than just a job; it’s my way of providing for my family while being present for my children. Balancing motherhood and a career has taught me how to stay organised, focused, and adaptable. Every day, I manage tasks efficiently while keeping up with the unpredictable schedule that comes with caring for little ones.

I thrive in fast-paced environments, but as an extrovert, I also value the personal connections I make through my work. One of my passions is building relationships with clients, especially those from Australia. I love learning about and engaging with Australian culture, and it brings me great satisfaction to provide top-notch service while being mindful of the unique needs and preferences of clients from this region.

By working remotely, I can be there for my children and also continue to grow professionally. I’m skilled at multitasking, managing time effectively, and using my communication abilities to create strong client relationships. I’m passionate about what I do, and I’m excited to continue delivering excellent service while balancing the rewarding, yet challenging, role of being a mum.

For a copy of Cristina’s resume please click here.