Monday, November 19, 2007 Dianne’s guiding light By Jigs Arquiza
“YOU should always be thankful for what you have rather than complain for what you don’t,” says Dianne Madayag Gandionco, communications manager of Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.
With this kind of philosophy guiding her, you would know that Dianne always tries to see things on a positive note, seeing the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. Though born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she does her best not to take things for granted.
She shares a bit of her work ethic. “My grandmother Julie told me of the proverb that goes ‘give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,’ which I feel applies to everything in life. I think it’s more important and more satisfying to work for something and getting it rather than to have it handed to you on a silver platter.”
A veritable “Jill-of-all-trades” (our take off from the original figure of speech, Jack-of-all-trades, although Dianne is a master of many), she is several persons rolled into one: writer, model, architect and public relations practitioner.
Being so many different things doesn’t faze Dianne in the least, however. According to her, she is able to do her job at Plantation Bay much better because of these, and incorporating or applying the principles she has learned in different fields.
Being a writer helps her in her responsibilities in the Communications Department. By having an eye for art, she is able to take an active role in the preparation of Plantation Bay’s marketing collaterals.
Her modeling experience comes into play when the resort is used as the locale for a photo shoot; and undoubtedly, having a beautiful face always helps when dealing with different kinds of people, irate guests included.
At the moment, she is very much involved in the marketing of Mogambo Springs, Plantation Bay’s spa. She considers Mogambo Springs her “baby,” as its unveiling was her first big project at the resort.
Dianne’s life doesn’t just evolve around the resort though. When not taking care of resort business, you can probably find her boxing at the gym or dining at one of the city’s many restaurants. “I’m very fond of eating!” she confesses. She also admits to being a frustrated singer as well as a hopeless romantic, being fond of mushy girl movies, like My Best Friend’s Wedding and 50 First Dates.
Of her work at Plantation Bay, she has this to say: “You should believe in the product in order to convey the very essence of what your product is trying to promote. Plantation Bay has that. The people in it believe that and it shows by radiating that positive aura to the people we deal with every day at the resort. That is why we are very well-known for the service that we offer to our guests.”
