Romer Gutierrez Jazo, 32, was a high-achiever growing up in a barangay in Sorsogon City, "where everybody knows everybody."

He said his father, a local politician, was a disciplinarian, as was his mother, a teacher. His father also had a business in rice farming and copra production.  Romer was fortunate to have a comfortable life.

"My childhood was very normal. We weren't extremely poor. But we weren't spoiled with material things," Romer told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

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If he asked his parents for anything, he had to work for it.

He said, "I remember I needed to be excellent in school to get a new bicycle. It was like a reward system."

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However, Romer also witnessed the poverty of the people in his area.

"Growing up, I saw my classmates and the people around us, how difficult life was.

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"What I truly saw in province life was a lack of inspiration and dreams.

"There wasn't much TV back then, so people in our area didn't have anyone to look up to, which is why no one dreamed big.

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"I told myself back then, if given a chance, I would help to make an impact on my fellow villagers."

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He wanted to be an example of someone who achieved success because he dared to dream and worked hard.

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ACHIEVER IN SCHOOL

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From kindergarten until he finished elementary school, Romer was consistently first honors and valedictorian.

He also became a familiar face and was known during his high school years for science and social studies quiz bees in the Bicol region.

He was also the high school valedictorian.

For college, he took up Marine Transportation at Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation in Rawis, Legaspi City.

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After graduating, Romer went straight to work.

Two years later, "I transferred to Celebrity Cruises as marine personnel to practice my seamanship and aimed to be a licensed third officer.

"I started as an ordinary seaman (OS) and after a year, became an AB or quartermaster. I was the youngest ever to be in that position during that time," Romer said.

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Romer made many Thai friends as a seaman, and they helped him get a job at a Thai restaurant in New York, America.

He felt, "I guess I’m always lucky wherever I go.

"It was a fun six months working as a bartender and waiter in three different Thai restaurants, until COVID struck New York."

Romer felt like his luck had run out.

"I felt like I made a mistake coming to America at the wrong time," he said.

"But I guess my prayers are stronger than the difficulties in front of me.

"A friend told me that there is an opening position as a receptionist in a law office owned by a Fil-American immigration lawyer."

Romer took the job at the law office. Good fortune was waiting for him there.

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Being a natural achiever, he excelled at his job and was noticed by his employer.

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"The lawyer saw potential in me and made me do some cases as a paralegal, and later on appointed me as employment manager doing H-1B cases for teacher clients and school districts who wanted to hire international professionals," Romer said.

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According to one site, "The H-1B visa is a nonimmigrant work visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers with specialized skills to work in the United States for a specific period of time."

For three years, Romer learned his position to help fellow Filipinos get jobs in the U.S. as teachers.

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"After succeeding in doing that for three years, I made a big decision to put up my own manpower agency, concentrating on helping teachers from Asia to have jobs in U.S.," Romer said.

Most of the people he helps are Filipino teachers who want to get licensed and teach in American schools.

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ROMER, A PHILANTHROPIST

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Once he became more financially stable, Romer became a philanthropist.

He helps build schools in remote provinces in the Philippines so that needy children can study.

He also supports children in their education.

Romer said he wants to be an example for children who dream of improving their lives.

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He wants to convey that one should not stop finding ways if there is something they want to achieve.

He is currently a green card holder, and will be able to apply for U.S. citizenship after two years.