In the heart of Riyadh, amid towering skyscrapers and bustling business districts, stands the head office of Al-Jazeera Facility Management, one of the fastest-growing companies in the region. At the helm of this enterprise is Manuel Santos—a Filipino who once scrubbed the floors of those same towers. His is not just a story of hard work but of vision, transformation, and the Filipino spirit that rises no matter where it is planted.
Humble Beginnings
Manuel Santos arrived in Saudi Arabia in 1998 with nothing but a high school diploma, a janitorial contract, and a dream to provide a better life for his family in Nueva Ecija. Like many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), he endured homesickness, cultural differences, and the harsh desert heat. But he also brought with him an unshakable work ethic.
For five years, Manuel worked as a janitor in a commercial compound in Dammam. He was known for his punctuality, politeness, and curiosity. Instead of wasting time during breaks, he read management books he picked from the trash or borrowed from co-workers.
A Turn of Opportunity
One day, an operations supervisor noticed him reading “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. Impressed by his interest, the supervisor encouraged him to attend a vocational seminar offered by the company. That small chance became a turning point.
Manuel enrolled in every training course available—HVAC repair, customer service, inventory management. He took night classes and sent money home to help his younger siblings go to college. By 2008, he was promoted to a logistics coordinator.
Breaking the Ceiling
Promotion after promotion followed. His leadership skills, paired with his ability to relate to both Saudi nationals and foreign workers, made him an invaluable asset. In 2012, he was appointed Operations Manager. By 2017, after nearly two decades in Saudi Arabia, he became the first non-Saudi General Manager of Al-Jazeera Facility Management.
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Manuel launched a strategic pivot—offering disinfection and bio-cleaning services using a lean, scalable model. The company’s revenue tripled, and in 2023, he became the CEO.
Giving Back
Despite his success, Manuel never forgot his roots. He established the Santos OFW Scholarship Foundation in the Philippines, sponsoring 50 students annually. He also founded a cooperative in Riyadh that supports OFWs through emergency loans, legal assistance, and job training.
Legacy and Inspiration
Today, Manuel Santos is more than a CEO—he’s a symbol of what grit, integrity, and continuous learning can achieve. His story is not just about personal triumph but a reminder to every Filipino working abroad that dreams are valid, even in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.
He ends every motivational talk with this line:
“You may start by cleaning someone else’s office, but if you clean with purpose, one day, you might be running your own.”
Conclusion
Manuel’s journey embodies the global Filipino spirit—resilient, resourceful, and relentless. In a land far from home, he turned opportunity into legacy, proving that no dream is too far, and no Filipino is too small to achieve greatness.
