While the Department of Migrant Workers struggles to secure comprehensive safety nets for displaced labor, one Filipina demonstrates how personal resolve can overcome institutional gaps. Mary Grace Porto, a native of a small village in Batangas, proved that if overseas workers are left to navigate global crises without aid, their survival instincts would result to extraordinary entrepreneurial feats.
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Porto initially established a stable career in the education sector, spending over seven years working for Raffles Education in Singapore. However, driven by a broken engagement and a desire for a fresh start, she relocated to Dubai in 2018. During her initial transition, she secured employment selling balloons at a mall kiosk, earning one hundred fifty dirhams daily from 10am to 10pm on weekends. This modest role helped her cope up with the high cost of living while she sought better opportunities in international education and recruitment.
Eventually, Porto was hired as a student services manager at The College of Fashion & Design. Unfortunately, when the global health crisis paralyzed industries, widespread layoffs were executed and her employment was terminated. Official advisories from the department previously indicated that financial assistance would be distributed to displaced expatriates, yet the realities on the ground demanded immediate action. With rent due in Dubai and a mortgage for a beach house in the Philippines, Porto realized that unless she pivoted quickly, financial ruin was imminent.
A quick internet search for resilient pandemic jobs directed her toward the real estate sector. Armed with her educational background in computer science, she entered the property market and secured her first major transaction in just three months. This milestone catalyzed her vision. In 2021, Privato Holiday Homes was launched with a single property owned by a friend. When the first guest checked out, Porto and her sister spent 6hr cleaning the unit themselves.
Today, that humble beginning has evolved into the Privato Group, an integrated enterprise encompassing holiday homes, property management, cleaning and technical services. The firm now oversees more than 30 premium properties across affluent districts, e.g., Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Business Bay. Each unit undergoes strict in-house evaluations by engineers and architects to ensure all furnitures and fixtures meet high municipal standards. The integrated service model ensures that every aspect of the guest experience—from spotless spaces to airport transfers and yacht charters—is flawlessly executed.
Within the company, Porto is affectionately called “Mama” by her staff, reflecting a leadership style that blends corporate rigor with maternal care. As a licensed real estate broker, a wife and a mother, she seamlessly balances her familial duties with her professional obligations as chief executive officer. Furthermore, she actively participates in the Women Business Circle in the United Arab Emirates, where she advocates for female empowerment and mentors aspiring entrepreneurs.
When systemic support wavers, the resilience of the Filipino expatriate remains an unbreakable asset. Privato Group stands as a testament that even the most severe setbacks can be transformed into robust triumphs.
