Maximina Mae Omongos – Administrative Assistant, ESL
Hello! I am Maximina Mae Omongos, you can call me Maximina or Mae. I’m married with 3 lovely kids. I graduated with a degree in Commerce major in Managerial Accounting and Finance. Further, I graduated a vocational course, a Diploma in Information Technology, with a high honour.
I started working as volunteer encoder in COMELEC (Commission on Election) in my last year in college where I would say I built my professional foundation, strong social connections and networks. After I graduated, I was immediately absorbed as a Job Order employee. When I finished the contract, I decided to find a job that associated with my degree into practice. I was able to secure a job at our local Multi-Purpose Cooperative as Accounting Assistant at the same time, a Loan Officer. I’m dealing with clients, financial transactions, records, applications, evaluations, and assessments.
On the same year, I had an opportunity to work in an ESL industry til now. As an online teacher, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience though I never meet them face-to-face, I’ve been able to engage deeply with their cultures, which has been a fascinating aspect of my work. Each of my students brings a unique perspective. learning about their traditions, customs, and everyday life, I feel like I’ve traveled to many countries without ever leaving my home. These virtual journey not only enhances my teaching but also feeds my imagination. Through this experience too, I also realised how exciting and fulfilling it is to work online from the comfort of my own home. It opened my eyes to the benefits of remote work—flexibility, a better work-life balance, and the ability to connect with people globally.
On the year 2013, I had another government job opportunity in the PNP (Philippine National Police). One of the most significant experiences I had was leading a major project. While my official title was administrative assistant, I was given the opportunity to step into a team leader role for a project that focused on research, reporting, and best practices within our office.
A key aspect of my role was attending numerous meetings with stakeholders. I often had to present our progress and represent our team in discussions, which helped me refine my communication and leadership skills. Our team’s efforts were recognised at the Regional level and our station was awarded the prestigious Eagle Award, competing against 43 other municipalities in our Province. What made this time even more fulfilling for me personally was that, alongside this demanding role, I also managed to balance a part-time job as an ESL teacher, working two hours daily. At the same time, I juggled my responsibilities as a mother, caring for my children and managing household duties. Multitasking in these roles taught me the importance of time management, discipline, and flexibility. It was challenging but incredibly rewarding to see that I could contribute meaningfully to both my professional and personal life.
In year 2022 was one of the most challenging and difficult periods of my life. It was the time when my mother suffered a stroke, which resulted in a brain haemorrhage, and at the same time, my father, who is diabetic and has hypertension, was constantly in and out of the hospital. As their only child, the responsibility of caring them fell entirely on me, especially since they didn’t have social pensions to support their medical needs. However, despite my best effort, my salary was simply not enough to cover the overwhelming medical expenses of my parents. Balancing my full-time job and taking care of them and my children was becoming increasingly difficult. Then, I decided to resign from my government job; it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. I really love my job, but I knew it was necessary.
I focus on my ESL job as a full-time teacher. Transitioning to working from home allowed me to care my parents while still earning a living. The flexibility of working online gave me the opportunity to be by their side, managing, handling, and taking care of elderly parents with serious health conditions. Though, it’s undeniably one of the lowest points of my life, it also reaffirmed my strength and ability to adapt to difficult circumstances. I learned how to manage my time effectively, it wasn’t easy, but I am grateful.
Looking back on my journey, I’ve faced many challenges that have shaped who I am today. I realised that working online is not just about earning money but also about becoming more resilient, independent, and resourceful as an individual. Now, as I move forward, my goal is to establish myself as a successful freelancer. With my experiences, I’m excited about the opportunities of freelancing offers for both professional development and personal growth.
For a copy of Maximina’s resume please click here.