Don’t stop learning. Three simple words, yet they could change the course of your life and career. Words that Cilmar Bacus, our latest featured OFW, continues to live by. A Filipino Graphic Designer and Creative Professional, he has been living in Dubai since 2017.
Cilmar’s career went through several stages: from being a Graphic Designer for various brands and campaigns, to taking on more senior roles, including working as Head of Creative. What sets him apart is his ardent desire to continue learning and improving his craft. “Design… is something I genuinely enjoy doing,” he shares.
Even as he is focused on expanding his career, Cilmar considers family as his biggest motivation. He aspires to give his wife and son stability, good experiences, and a comfortable future. Read on to know more about Cilmar as he shares his inspiring story and imparts some valuable insights to his fellow Pinoys and expats!
OFW Feature: Cilmar, Graphic Designer and Creative Professional in Dubai
Name: Cilmar Bolilawa Bacus
Nicknames: Cilmar
Age: 38 years old
Current Profession: Graphic Designer and Creative Professional
Education: Computer Programming
Years in Dubai: 9 years
1. Tell us about yourself.
Hello! My name is Cilmar Bolilawa Bacus, and most people call me “Cilmar.” I am 38 years old, a Filipino Graphic Designer and creative professional based in Dubai. I have been living and working in Dubai since 2017, so it has been around nine years now.
I studied Computer Programming, which also helped build my interest in technology and later supported my growth in digital design, UI/UX, websites, and other creative tools.
My career has taken me through graphic design, print production, branding, advertising, digital design, UI/UX, and creative direction. Over the years, I was able to grow from someone who arrived in Dubai without a strong professional portfolio — into someone who has handled different brands, campaigns, websites, packaging, and creative projects.
My creative journey has also been featured by publications including Gulf Magazine and UAE Stories.
One small but very meaningful milestone for me happened when I searched Google for “top Filipino graphic designer in Dubai” and was surprised to see my name appearing in the search results.
It may seem like a small thing to others, but for me, it was a proud moment after years of learning, designing, experimenting, and continuously improving my craft. It reminded me that the work I had been quietly building over the years was starting to become visible.
I still believe I have a long way to go, but moments like that are definitely worth appreciating and celebrating as part of the journey.
2. Why did you come to Dubai?
I came to Dubai in 2017 looking for better opportunities and a better future.
My wife was also one of the reasons I decided to stay and build my life here. Like many OFWs, I came with hopes of improving my career and being able to provide more for my family.
When I arrived, things were not immediately easy. I didn’t have the kind of portfolio that could easily compete in Dubai’s creative industry, so I had to start from where I was and build myself up.
Dubai eventually became more than just a place to work. It became the city where I built my career, my family life, and a big part of who I am professionally today.
3. What were your previous jobs?
My career in Dubai went through several stages.
One of my first jobs was as a Graphic Designer for a corporate gifts company. Later, I became more involved in production and worked in digital printing and production operations. That experience was very valuable because I learned that being a designer is not only about creating something beautiful on a computer — you also need to understand how your design will actually be produced.
After that, I worked as a Graphic Designer in a café and restaurant environment in Dubai Design District, and later moved into the agency side, where I worked on different brands and creative campaigns.
Eventually, I was able to take on more senior creative responsibilities, including working as a Creative Graphic Designer and Head of Creative.
Every job taught me something different, and I consider all of those experiences an important part of my growth.
4. How do you find your current job? Are you happy/satisfied with it?
Yes. What makes me happy is seeing how far I have come compared to when I first arrived in Dubai.
When I started, I didn’t have a strong portfolio and there were many things I still needed to learn. A lot of my development came from continuously teaching myself. I spent countless hours watching tutorials, studying design, experimenting, learning new software, observing other designers, and improving my work.
I never really stopped learning.
Over time, I expanded beyond traditional graphic design into branding, packaging, digital design, websites, UI/UX, motion and video-related work, and creative direction.
Today, I can look back and see that every difficult job, rejected application, long working day, revision, mistake, and new skill contributed to where I am now.
I’m satisfied with what I have achieved, but I still feel that there is much more for me to accomplish.
Saving in Dubai is possible, but I think it depends greatly on your lifestyle, responsibilities, income, and discipline.
I try to save whenever possible, especially because having a family changes the way you think about money and the future.
I also consider investing in my skills, equipment, knowledge, portfolio, website, and personal brand as investments in myself. Technology and the creative industry change very quickly, so continuously learning can create better opportunities in the future.
One lesson I learned is that earning more doesn’t automatically mean saving more. You still need to manage your expenses carefully.
6. Is it difficult to live in Dubai? What are your struggles? What’s life like outside work?
Dubai can give you amazing opportunities, but living here is not always easy.
One of my biggest struggles in the beginning was establishing myself professionally. There are talented people here from all over the world, so the competition can be very strong.
When I arrived without a strong portfolio, I knew I couldn’t simply wait for opportunities. I had to improve myself.
There were periods when I worked long hours while continuing to study design during my free time. There were also moments of uncertainty about career progression, salary, expenses, and whether all the effort would eventually pay off.
Dubai can also be expensive, especially when you have family responsibilities.
Outside work, my priorities are my wife and my son. I also spend a lot of my personal time experimenting with design, learning new technology and AI tools, improving my portfolio, and working on personal creative projects.
Design is both my profession and something I genuinely enjoy doing.
7. What do you like about Dubai?
One of the things I appreciate most about Dubai is the opportunity.
You are surrounded by people from so many nationalities, industries, cultures, and professional backgrounds. As a designer, this exposes you to different styles, brands, technologies, and ways of thinking.
Dubai also encourages you to think bigger. There are constantly new businesses, buildings, technologies, events, campaigns, and brands being created.
I also appreciate the infrastructure, safety, convenience, and how advanced the city has become.
For someone willing to work hard, adapt, and continuously improve, Dubai can open many doors.
8. What do you NOT Like about Dubai?
Probably the biggest challenges are the cost of living, fast pace of life, and pressure to keep up.
Dubai can sometimes make you feel like you always need to move faster, earn more, achieve more, and constantly improve.
The job market can also be extremely competitive, particularly in creative industries because you’re competing with talent from around the world.
And, of course, the summer heat is something every Dubai resident knows very well!
But I think these challenges also teach you resilience, discipline, and adaptability.
9. What are your plans for your career, family, and future?
Professionally, I want to continue growing beyond simply being a graphic designer.
I want to strengthen my expertise in branding, brand identity, UI/UX, digital experiences, creative direction, video, AI-assisted creativity, and emerging technology.
Another personal goal is to continue building my name and personal brand as a Filipino creative based in Dubai and hopefully become someone younger Filipino designers can look at and say, “If he was able to build his career there, maybe I can too.”
At the same time, career achievements are not the only goal.
My biggest motivation is still my family. I want to give my wife and son stability, opportunities, good experiences, and a comfortable future.
I also want to continue creating work that I can be proud of years from now.
10. You have any tips for kabayans when working, finding work, or living in Dubai?
For Filipinos and other expats planning to work in Dubai — especially those who want to enter the creative industry — my biggest advice is: don’t stop learning.
A diploma or certificate can help you, but in the creative industry, people will eventually ask, “Ano ba talaga ang kaya mong gawin?”
Your portfolio is extremely important.
Don’t wait until you get the perfect job before improving yourself. Build personal projects. Redesign something. Learn new software. Study branding. Learn AI. Learn digital design. Understand production. Improve your communication skills.
Also, don’t be afraid to start from a smaller position. Sometimes the job you think is only temporary will teach you something that becomes valuable later in your career.
Be professional and treat everyone with respect. Build relationships. Network with people. Take criticism properly. Don’t assume you already know everything.
And very importantly, manage your money. Dubai can encourage an expensive lifestyle very easily. Save when you can and prepare for emergencies.
Your first job in Dubai does not have to define your entire career.
“Patuloy ka lang mag-improve hanggang sa gumanda rin ang mga oportunidad na dumarating sa’yo.”
To my family, especially my wife and son, thank you for being my biggest reason to continue working hard.
And to my fellow Filipinos who are struggling with their careers right now: don’t think that where you are today is where you will remain forever.
When I came to Dubai, I did not arrive with a strong portfolio, recognition, or a long list of major projects. I had to build everything step by step.
There were many tutorials watched after working hours, designs that never made it into my portfolio, revisions, mistakes, rejected ideas, difficult days, and lessons along the way.
Years later, seeing my name appear when searching Google for “top Filipino graphic designer in Dubai” became a very personal milestone for me.
It may seem like a small thing, but for me, it was a proud moment after years of learning, designing, and continuously improving my craft.
I don’t see it as a finish line or as proof that I am already the best. I see it as a reminder of how far I have come from the person who first arrived in Dubai in 2017, trying to establish himself as a designer.
There is still a long way to go, and I am still learning every day.
My goal is to keep improving, create meaningful work, represent Filipino creativity positively here in the UAE, and hopefully inspire other Filipino designers and OFWs to keep developing their skills.
Sometimes progress doesn’t happen overnight. You just keep working, keep learning, and one day you look back and realize how far you’ve already travelled.
Proudly Filipino. Building my creative journey in Dubai.
Connect with Cilmar Online
Get to know more about Cilmar by checking out his website/portfolio at https://cilmarbacus.com/.
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* Photos provided by Cilmar
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