Christian Esplana is the owner of Michigan Pinoy Auto Repair in Sharjah. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

When Christian Esplana talks about cars, his eyes light up like headlights on a dark highway. The owner of Michigan Pinoy Auto Repair in Sharjah still remembers the day his father called him away from playing outside to work on their red Toyota hatchback in Tarlac, Philippines. “He’d call me over to help fix the car, even when nothing was broken,” Christian laughs. “I was his assistant!” His father, a retired soldier turned businessman, tinkered with cars just for the joy of it. Those early memories laid the foundation for Christian’s lifelong fascination with cars—a passion that would eventually lead to a thriving business in the heart of Sharjah’s busy industrial area.

A leap of faith in Dubai

Christian grew up with his sisters running successful businesses—a real estate company, a media advertising firm, and a BPO agency. “They wanted me to stay in the Philippines and help with the family business,” he says. “But I wanted to carve my own path.” In 2014, armed with a management degree and a handful of printed CVs, Christian moved to the UAE. He remembers walking along Sheikh Zayed Road, knocking on doors and handing out resumes until one company finally took a chance on him. His first job was as a leasing coordinator in a real estate firm. “I only lasted 11 months,” he admits. “The management style just didn’t sit right with me.” He returned to the Philippines, unsure of what to do next. But then he found love, got married and soon after, decided to give the UAE another shot—this time with his wife by his side and a renewed sense of purpose. They’d known each other in the Philippines but only truly connected in Dubai. Jane, a nurse from Manila and the breadwinner of her family, admired Christian’s ambition. He, in turn, was drawn to her strength and sense of responsibility. Over dinner at a now-closed Filipino restaurant in BurJuman, Christian casually proposed. “We were both ready for something serious,” Jane laughs. “We found each other at the right time.”

Michigan Pinoy Auto Repair is born

In 2015, Christian landed a job in a Sharjah-based automotive company, which taught him the ins and outs of the UAE auto industry. He later moved to a corporate engineering firm as a QAQC inspector. For seven years, he balanced work, family, and a dream he and his wife, Jane, were quietly building: to open their own auto repair shop. Early this year, Christian’s dream became reality after he and his business partner, Joel, moved to put their plans into action. “My business partner, Joel, helped me open Michigan Pinoy Auto Repair in Sharjah. We are both passionate about cars and we both experienced similar problems with car repair shops, so we thought that we should open one that is different,” Christian says. In just five months, Michigan Pinoy Auto Repair has earned a 4.9-star rating on Google with glowing reviews from loyal clients. Some even wait weeks just to have their cars serviced there. “Our goal is not just to fix cars,” Christian says. “It’s to build trust. To show that Filipinos can lead with honesty and quality.”

What makes Michigan Pinoy Auto Repair stand out? It isn’t just the Filipino warmth. It’s the ethics behind every repair.

Christian saw how many car owners in the UAE felt helpless after leaving their vehicles in garages, often returning to shockingly high bills with no explanation. “We wanted to change that,” he says. “Our mission is to give honest and transparent service. If we can’t fix your car, you don’t pay. It’s that simple.”

The shop offers free 21-point inspections with computer scanning, and their flagship service—the Engine Refresh Power Service—is the first of its kind in the UAE.

“It’s like giving your car a new life,” Christian explains. The full service involves ultrasonic fuel injector testing, throttle body cleaning, and removing up to 90 percent of carbon buildup in the engine.

They also offer a Heavy Preventive Maintenance Service (Heavy PMS), a full package of 20 services including oil change, brake cleaning, AC servicing, engine and interior detailing, and more.

Looking ahead, Christian is already planning to expand the business. “We want to open more branches and help more people,” he says. “And of course, continue giving opportunities to Filipinos in the automotive field.” As for their shop’s motto? It’s proudly written on the garage wall: “Tiwala. Trabaho. Tagumpay. (Trust. Work. Success) Because every journey deserves a good start.” PDG/Expat Media

Quick fire

Dream car A Nissan GTR. Oil change or engine overhaul? Oil change—so we don’t need an engine overhaul! Go-to playlist while working “Lighthouse” and “Spin” Car maintenance myth you wish would die That you don’t need to change your transmission oil. Most common mistake UAE drivers make Driving off without checking the car—especially tires, brakes, and coolant levels. If you could fix any celebrity’s car Vin Diesel! Even just to check his tire pressure. Harder to fix: A bad engine or a bad mood? A bad engine. What do your kids think you do? They think I’m a vlogger! Dream road trip car and destination Mazda CX-9 with my family, driving to the Grand Canyon. This story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine
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