People often ask me how I shifted from being a licensed Electrical Engineer to becoming an SEO Specialist and Website Designer. The short answer? Curiosity, boredom, timing—and a brain that refuses to rest.
The long answer? Well, story time.
From Board Exams to Boredom
Sixteen years ago, right after graduating, I immediately took the board exams and passed both as an Electrical Engineer and Master Electrician in the Philippines. After the results came out, I went back to my hometown in Northern Samar to rest, celebrate, and yes—drink for about two weeks (haha).
But after that short break, reality hit. Most of my friends were already asking, “Have you applied for work yet?”
So back to Manila I went. I landed a job almost immediately. On paper, everything looked perfect, but honestly, I wasn’t ready yet. Who would be truly ready? Two weeks of rest after such a major milestone didn’t feel like enough. Two months into the job, I was already bored.
Discovering Online Work (Before It Was Cool)
Out of boredom and, of course, with only a few pesos in my wallet, I started looking for online work. Back then, remote jobs were not really a “thing.” Most people thought working online was either fake or a straight-up scam.
One day, I saw a post from a Greek company looking for help with a Civil Engineering thesis. I bid on the project, and surprisingly, I got it. I worked on it for two weeks, submitted it, and got paid.
That moment changed everything. I realized that I could make money by writing and that I was earning more than my current salary as an engineer.
Soon after, I started taking on business papers and research projects. This was way before ChatGPT, and online resources were limited. Every project required real, thorough research. It was time-consuming, but it built my discipline and strengthened my writing foundation.
My First Taste of SEO
A few months later, I landed my first SEO content writing projects for agencies. That was when I unknowingly started building my SEO career.
From writing SEO articles, I became curious about:
- How rankings work
- Link juice and authority
- Keywords, optimization, and algorithms
I didn’t just write—I studied.
At that time, because many Western clients were not familiar with Asian professionals, I partnered with more established team members to secure projects. I have always believed that perceptions and familiarity play a big role in building trust. People tend to trust those they know or who share a similar background, rather than someone far away or less familiar.
I experienced this firsthand as a Filipino working in Singapore for seven years. For example, a Filipino client would often get a better deal when working with another Filipino. This was one of the tips I shared with my juniors during my construction work in Singapore. I also remember that if the main contractor was from Myanmar, I would send a Myanmar team member to handle the deal.
Yes, I was managing two full-time jobs.
How did I do it? I was young, and my mind never stopped thinking.
Digital marketing became my outlet from the physically demanding and stressful construction work, a field dominated by testosterone. It challenged me in a different way, and I truly loved it.
Singapore, Lay Low, but Never Stop
When I moved to Singapore to work as a full-time Electrical Engineer, I had to slow down, but I did not stop. I maintained three digital marketing clients while working abroad.
After almost seven years, it was time for me to go back home. I officially retired—at least mentally—as an Electrical Engineer. I joked about becoming a hermit crab, but in reality, I wanted to do something different. I felt that I was no longer growing professionally. I had been part of more projects than I wanted—SEA Games, schools, mixed-use developments, factories and plants, airports. The career ladder was full, and I realized it was time to move on and start a family. As my mom said, I was already getting old.
From Engineer to Entrepreneur (and Everything in Between)
I ventured into businesses. That experience taught me a lot—but it also taught me how incredibly hard the food industry is.
On top of that, pregnancy forced me to slow down physically. I couldn’t keep up with demanding physical work anymore.
That’s when everything became clear.
Choosing Digital Marketing
After a year, I decided to go full-time in digital marketing, not just as a freelancer but as a business. That decision gave birth to SidekickBee. This time, I was not doing SEO and web design as a side hustle or an outlet. I was building something intentional, something sustainable, flexible, and aligned with the life I wanted.
Looking Back
From Electrical Engineering to SEO, from construction sites to Google rankings, my journey was never linear, but every step mattered.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is this: sometimes boredom is not a weakness. It can be a signal that you are meant to explore something more.
Eventually, I realized I could build something bigger—a platform that empowers entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow online without the usual headaches. That is how SidekickBee was born: from curiosity, persistence, and the desire to create something meaningful on my own terms.
Looking for a cost-effective SEO specialist who actually knows what they’re doing?
If you want someone with real experience—not just theories—let’s talk.
Give us a chat and let’s see how we can grow your website the right way.
