Anita Laxmana still remembers the day, more than a decade ago when she landed in Abu Dhabi. She had left behind her husband and six children in Manila, the Philippines, and was keen to set up a beauty salon in the UAE.
"It was way back in 1987,'' she says, "and I was in a new country with no family or friends here. I had tears in my eyes and was feeling very lonely.''
Laxmana owned a beauty salon in the Philippines but her dream was to move to the UAE, set up a salon here and groom her children to take over her beauty and cosmetology business.
"Even as a young girl, I dreamt of becoming a hairdresser. I used to practise manicures and pedicures and experimented with hairstyles with my girlfriends. After I got married, I decided to specialise in cosmetology. At the same time I opened my own beauty salon in the Philippines."
Initially, after she came to the UAE, she worked in a beauty salon at a hotel in Abu Dhabi. Here she made a name for herself as a make-up artist for several Filipino stars as well as Arab personalities. Of course, it was not easy. She had to work hard and put in her best at all times.
"[But the experience] gave me a headstart in pursuing my dream, and in 1989 I opened my own salon and named it Titanic Salon. "Today, it has become a family business with my children assisting me. We hope to open a branch in Dubai soon.
"One of my grandsons is also showing a leaning towards hairstyling and I am always amused when he advises me how to do my hair!"
What is the secret of her success?
"I want every woman to look no less than her best,'' she says.
If you love your work, you will be successful, says Laxmana. "Although I work long hours, I don't feel tired because I enjoy my work. I have learnt a lot working with clients and I gained good grounding as a staff member at my previous employment. The hardships I faced then have helped me to get where I am today.''
She believes teamwork is one of the most important elements of a successful business. "My daughters and I feel blessed because our spouses support us."What is it about the UAE that she likes? "Emiratis are very friendly people. Even if I retire and return to the Philippines, I know that my heart will remain in the UAE.
"Once I was on a trip to Italy and was examining the viability
of opening a salon there, but I remembered all the wonderful experiences that I had in the UAE and I decided to return."
Apart from Tagalog and English, Laxmana is fluent in Arabic.
Keen to do her bit for her community, Laxmana volunteers
to teach small groups of people the tricks of the trade.
"On Fridays I instruct 30 people on hairstyling at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi. I want to share what I know with people who have the desire to learn about manicures, facials and hairstyling, but don't have the monetary means to do so. This is one way that I want to give back to the community," she says.
– Preethi Janice D'Sa, a Dubai-based freelancer
