At 16, she became an academic scholar at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.

After graduating with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration at the University of the Philippines Diliman, she established a vocational school that would give holistic training and was capable of meeting the demands of the job market at that time.

[1][3] The school eventually moved to its current location in Governor Chavez Street, Davao City and established vocational and baccalaureate programs in tourism, computer skills, dressmaking, and hotel and restaurant management.

[citation needed] It initially offered a 2-year diploma program in Culinary in partnership with Technical and Further Education (TAFE) of New South Wales Western Sydney Institute.

[citation needed] In 2010, JIB expanded further into General Santos as it opened the Joji Ilagan International School of Hotel and Tourism Management.