20 July 2021
Posted by: a
Ray is our superstar Graphic Designer and member of our amazing Virtual Assistant team! All the images and animations you see from IBS are the result of Ray’s talents. He shares his favourite things about working as a VA and tells us more about his home life in the Philippines.
How long have you been working as a Virtual Assistant?
I started working as a Virtual Assistant with IBS 3 years ago, and will be coming up to 4 years this August.
What do you like about being a Virtual Assistant and working for IBS?
The ability to work at home with a schedule and setting that is best for me. What I like about IBS is the transparency between the company and it's employees. Even though I am miles away from my team, it doesn't feel like I am because they always have my back.
What keeps you busy outside of work? Any hobbies or interests?
Before Covid, I was interested in photography, particularly street and event photography (like birthdays and anniversaries). I like to explore different fields of digital and visual design (by watching tutorials on youtube :D). When chilling at home I like to watch Netflix ‒ anime, horror , action, comedy, korean drama and documentaries are my favourites. I also like playing games on my pc or phone.
What does your home office look like?
It’s a simple office in the spare room of the house and I share it with my brother when he has an online class. Before Covid we used it for family and friends who would visit from other parts of the country.
Tell us a bit about where you live
I live in a place called Bacolod, which is the capital city of an island called Negros. Why is our island called Negros? Because during Spanish colonialism around 1565, the Spaniards discovered dark skinned natives and called it that! Bacolod is also known as the 'City of Smiles' because of the smiling faces of the masks during the Masskara Festival, which is held every October. The festival is like Mardi-Gras where people go out on the street and participate in a spectacular mix of dance, colour and music. On our island, you can also find the 42nd highest peak mountain or Volcano in the world.
What is something you saw recently that made you smile?
One of the people I follow on Instagram posts funny videos and clips, and he did something unscripted which was hilarious.
Are you a dog person or cat person? (or neither)
I think I'm actually both! I enjoy playing with them and I feel like I have a connection with both. I sadly don’t have any pet companions because of my Allergic Rhinitis, but I'm close to my cousin’s dogs, a Shih Tzu and a Chiweenie (which is a cross between a Chihuahua and a Dachshund).
Do you prefer beach or mountains?
I prefer mountains, I like the cool breeze and the smell of trees and plants. When I'm on the mountain, I feel calm and at peace.
What’s your most used emoji?
The LOL and the Happy Face emoji
If you could only have 3 apps on your smartphone, what would they be?
I will go first with Instagram (this is where I'm most active), Messenger, because nowadays this is where everyone communicates and Netflix. Sometimes it’s good to keep yourself entertained and relieve yourself from any daily stresses.
Can you play any instruments?
I'm not able to at the moment, but I’ve always been fond of Drums, so maybe I could try that in the future. :)
If you could pick one age to be permanently, what age would you choose, and why?
I think I'll go with 30, because it’s still on the calendar haha. But seriously, I would choose 30 because at this age, I'm more mature when making life decisions and I’m more aware of what’s happening around me. At this age, I mostly know what I want and what I don’t want.
What’s the best way to spend a day off?
Spending time with family and friends.
