Meet Neovadi Ariola, a taxi driver in the Philippines turned businessman in Brunei
NEOVADI ARIOLA – An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who used to work as a taxi driver in the Philippines, has now become a successful businessman in Brunei.
Neovadi, originally from Tondo, spent eight years working as a taxi driver in Manila. However, in 2001, he took a leap of faith and decided to move to Brunei, where he continued his career as a driver.
Reflecting on his decision, he said, “Siguro hanggang ngayon taxi driver pa rin ako. Kasi nagre-rent lang naman ako ng taxi. So, ang purpose ko kaya ako nagpunta ng Brunei [ay] para makabili ng taxi.”
He then worked as a merchandiser in a grocery store, where he quickly mastered the ins and outs of the business. Eventually, he decided to take a bold step and open his own mini-mart.
But in 2011, Neovadi found himself burdened with a debt of 20 million pesos. Despite this setback, he remained undeterred and ventured into the CCTV installation business in Brunei.
His expertise in the field earned him a wide range of clients, including government agencies, fast-food businesses, and other establishments. Over the course of three years, he successfully bounced back from his financial struggles and managed to pay off his substantial debt. Neovadi shared, “Masarap sa pakiramdam na nakita mo yung bumagsak ka, bumangon. Wag lang titigil….”
In addition to his successful CCTV business, Neovadi expanded his entrepreneurial ventures by establishing salons and car rental services in Brunei. Through these endeavors, he was able to provide employment opportunities for fellow OFWs in the country.
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