Women Helping Communities: Celebrating International Women’s Week in New Zealand
A Story of Friendship, Purpose, and Empowerment
It all started with a simple online connection. I met my dear friend and business partner, Melody (Meldz), through the Facebook group Pinoys in NZ, which she founded in 2012. For years, I had been actively sharing my learnings and passion through my blog, The Truly Rich Lifestyle, documenting my journey as a nurse who migrated to New Zealand in search of a better life for my family.
Like many Filipino migrants, I believed that working as a nurse in New Zealand would make all my big dreams come true. However, reality hit hard when I went on my first holiday back to the Philippines. In just one month, I spent two years’ worth of savings. That eye-opening experience made me realize that hard work alone wasn’t enough—I needed financial wisdom and a better strategy for long-term success.
Determined to find answers, I sought mentorship from Bro. Bo Sanchez and became a part of The Truly Rich Club, where I learned about investing in the stock market and starting businesses that could provide financial security for my family.
A Partnership Rooted in Service
When I met Meldz, we brainstormed how we could serve our community through our skills, talents, and core gifts. Through Pinoys in NZ, we connected and collaborated with different business owners serving our community and encouraged our kababayans to support them. Pinoys in NZ Business Network is a great way to connect and build relationships, fostering a supportive environment for Filipino entrepreneurs in New Zealand.
We also now work with service providers to help our kababayans achieve their dream of buying their first home in New Zealand through education, live events, and webinars. At the same time, we continue to encourage others to explore business opportunities and financial literacy to secure a prosperous future.
Meldz and I finally met face-to-face during a charity event we organized to support fellow migrants in their transition to life in New Zealand. It was at that event that I also had the privilege of meeting community leaders who shared the same vision of uplifting our kababayans. From that moment on, Meldz and I began brainstorming ways to serve more and help more people. I still remember our meetings in cozy cafés, discussing our business ideas and community projects.
At that time, Meldz had already started her own business. As someone with an entrepreneurial mindset, I believed in lifting others alongside me. I saw her as a passionate woman with a deep desire to serve, but I also noticed signs of exhaustion and burnout. I reminded her of a crucial lesson from my mentors: life is about balance—just like breathing, we must inhale and exhale to stay healthy and sustainable. This is the very message we wish to impart to our community, especially to community leaders and business owners.
Our Mission: Helping Filipinos Prosper in New Zealand
As our Filipino community in New Zealand continues to grow, we envision an environment where everyone supports and uplifts one another. This is why we are committed to our mission: Helping Filipinos not just settle but prosper faster in New Zealand.
We believe in supporting local businesses that give back to the community, and we want to normalize conversations about finances and wealth-building because financial stability directly impacts our well-being. We encourage individuals to start businesses based on their passions, continuously learn new skills, and embrace a growth mindset.
Since 2012, I have ventured into various businesses—some succeeded, some failed, but each experience was a valuable lesson. I’ve come to understand that there are no real failures, only opportunities for growth. Through our community, we want to inspire more women to be driven, bold, and fearless in pursuing what they love while unleashing their full potential.
A Business with a Purpose
In this new economy—the digital age—we now have so many opportunities to create new income streams beyond traditional jobs. The internet allows us to turn our passions into profits, leveraging AI and other digital tools. The key is being open to learning new skills. This is why I started Journey to the Dream Life (www.Journeytothedream.com)—a platform to help others learn digital-age skills and create sustainable income through their expertise.
Alongside this, I found an amazing tool that our community can leverage to truly uplift each other—smart consumerism through Atomy. This platform allows us to earn from the products we use daily while building long-term passive income. Atomy is now one of the fastest-growing companies in the world, ranking in the top 10.
We invite you to join our tribe of smart consumers. This is more than just business—it’s about self-care, well-being, and empowering women to take charge of their financial future. As we celebrate International Women’s Week, let’s continue supporting, inspiring, and lifting each other up. Together, we can create a thriving community where women help communities grow and prosper.
Let’s build a future where every Filipino in New Zealand thrives—not just survive.
