Q and A with Joy from Bulacan, Philippines

“One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned and wish to share with others is the importance of gratitude and faith in life’s journey.”

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I am passionate about several things, including my work as a virtual assistant and providing top-notch SEO services to medium and large companies as a freelancer. Beyond my professional endeavors, I have a deep interest in intentional parenting, cooking, and reading books. Aside from being a mother, I am fond of helping people, which has been a driving force in my journey as a virtual assistant.

At the beginning of my freelancing career, I faced significant struggles and self-doubt, believing that I couldn’t excel in this field. However, God has impressed in my heart to pursue my dreams and surrender the rest to Him. True to His nature, God kept His promise and I found a very nice client to partner with and the rest is history. I used that experience to inspire and support aspiring freelancers. It led me to partner with like-minded people who share my vision, and together, we created a community for people who want to explore freelancing.

In this community, I take on the role of a moderator, providing guidance and support to newcomers, helping them conquer their limiting beliefs and find their path in the freelancing world. Recently, I organized a free webinar focusing on SEO and the various career opportunities it offers in the digital marketing arena, aiming to educate and inspire participants to explore this dynamic field. I find great fulfillment in empowering others and sharing my knowledge to help them succeed in their own freelancing journeys. This community has the potential to grow and evolve into a thriving hub of support and collaboration, fostering an environment where individuals can flourish in their chosen careers. As a virtual assistant, freelancer, and someone passionate about helping people thrive, I am committed to making a positive impact and contributing to the growth of this community.

Q: Can you tell us more about how you got a career in SEO?

A: My SEO journey is definitely not an overnight success. After attending training, I started looking for freelance work, but I always get rejected. There are even times when a potential client will ask me to do a certain task and when I get it done, I will not hear from them anymore. Innumerable unnoticed job applications, lots of ghosted discovery calls, and rejected proposals brought me to where I am right now. Looking back, I believe it is a process that I needed to experience so I will be able to value everything that I have today, never take for granted a single day, and give my best always.

I discovered freelancing during the time when I was battling depression. A series of events in my life caused me trauma so much that I experience anxiety and panic attacks. I couldn’t sleep at night. At that time, I know in my heart that the person I am becoming is someone that not only caused harm to myself but to the people around me as well especially my daughter. She’s the one who received all of my rage and frustrations and she would see me cry and look at me with wondering eyes, but I couldn’t tell her why. That’s when I realized that I have to do something about my situation so I really prayed to God for help. I need to divert my energy and time and be more productive. Aside from God, there’s no one who can help me but myself so I have to step up. I actually chance upon SEO when I researched work-from-home jobs. Because I love reading and I have experience in content writing, I thought I should learn more about it and give it a try. That’s how it all started.

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: During my younger years in the Philippines, I grew up in a family of seven, with four siblings. My mother, a dedicated seamstress, worked hard to ensure that all of us had access to a good education. Her sacrifices taught me the value of perseverance and the importance of education in shaping a better future. Beyond the family, my grandmother played a pivotal role in my upbringing. She regularly brought me, my siblings, and my cousins, to a nearby Baptist church. There, we attended Sunday Schools and sang in the Children’s Choir. Over time, I became deeply involved in the church’s ministries, eventually serving as a youth leader. My walk with Christ continued until I graduated from college with a degree in psychology and began my career first as a guidance counselor, then a data analyst, and lastly as a civil servant.

When I was young, my family lived in a compound in Quezon City where my grandmother and my mother’s siblings live also together with their respective families. So, I grew up in a very close-knit extended family. Aside from my siblings, my cousins (tons of them) are my best friends and my playmates. Until September 26, 2009, happened when Tropical Storm Ondoy ravaged Luzon. Almost the entire Metro Manila was submerged and 90% of our house was damaged. It was devastating, we didn’t have enough resources to fund the rebuilding of our childhood home, so we decided to live somewhere else to start anew. We rented and moved from one place to another until we were able to settle permanently in Bulacan under housing from the government.

My journey took an unexpected turn when I faced a significant challenge caused by my rebellion against God. I engaged in immoral acts and became pregnant out of wedlock, leading to discipline from the church. This experience humbled me and reminded me of the importance of faith, forgiveness, and repentance. I was commanded to stop serving in the church to focus on seeking restoration and reconciliation. Despite the difficult times, I found solace in my faith, knowing that God is a loving and merciful God. His forgiveness allowed me to find peace that only He can give and cling on to the Lord’s transformative power of second chances. This experience has shaped who I am today, inspiring me to see others not for their present circumstances but for the potential they hold in Christ. To refrain from judging people because of the wrong actions that they’ve committed but to lovingly direct them to the cross where Jesus Christ gave His life to cleanse all of us of all of our unrighteousness. In that way, they too, can experience the forgiveness and eternal life that I have gifted by God.

These experiences have instilled in me a passion for helping others and serving my community. I aim to extend empathy and support to those who have faced challenges and are seeking their own paths of healing and spiritual growth. My journey of redemption has given me a unique perspective, allowing me to embrace and empower others on their own transformative journeys.

As a parent now, it is always my prayer that my children will never experience what I have been through (we were homeless for a while) and that we will do our best with God’s help to provide for them so they could live comfortably and enjoy a secure future.

Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned and wish to share with others is the importance of gratitude and faith in life’s journey. Regardless of the highs or lows we may face, always remember to give thanks to God and praise Him in all circumstances. Trust that He is working all things together for good, even during challenging times.

From my own journey, I hope others take away the message that God’s forgiveness is a powerful force that can transform our future not just in this life but eternally as well. No matter what mistakes we may have made in the past, with genuine repentance and determination to turn away from our sins, we can find redemption and a spotless future through God’s grace. If you would accept Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and believe that He died for you and was buried as a payment for our sins and rose on the third day to defeat death then you can be assured of eternal life. There may be people who try to remind us of our past mistakes and question our intentions, but we should not be deterred. With God’s guidance and understanding, we can carry on and focus on His judgment, for He alone sees into our hearts and knows the truth. What truly matters is our relationship with God and our commitment to living a righteous life.

Q: What does feminism mean to you?
A: I would describe feminism as a profound recognition of the value and worth of women, acknowledging that both men and women equally reflect God’s image as unique individuals. Treating others with dignity, appreciating their unique strengths, and understanding that mistreating anyone is akin to mishandling God’s masterpieces are essential aspects of feminism.

MORE ABOUT JOY: I am also an advocate of homeschooling and intentional parenting. I have a firm belief that homeschooling, combined with intentional parenting, is a great way for parents to take an active role in their children’s education and development. Instead of sending kids to a traditional school, parents teach them at home, making sure the lessons match their interests and strengths. Intentional parenting means being really involved in the child’s growth, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. It’s about creating a supportive and caring atmosphere, talking openly with the kids, and teaching them important values. Homeschooling with intentional parenting helps kids learn in a way that suits them best and strengthens the bond between parents and their children. It gives families the freedom to adjust the learning to fit each child’s needs and helps build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and growth.

Let’s connect!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy.m.petalver/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyp.seosavvy/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jhoyiepetalver_SEO/

Website: https://myprofile.ph/joypetalver

Our community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1279826829316015/

I’m from the city of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, Philippines.