Growing young

GET to know a woman of many interests as Fiona Patricia S. Escandor introduces us to one of the newest members of the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu’s family.

She won me over the moment she started talking about her love for fantasy novels – Robert Jordan, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman are some of the names she listed as her favorites. The conversation then became more interesting as she and Weekend editor Jigs Arquiza entered into a discussion of which novelist is better, Tolkien or David Eddings?

“David Eddings is good, but Tolkien is like a god,” she simply replied. Indeed, behind her cheerful smile and professional demeanor, there is more to learn about Marco Polo Plaza’s new Public Relations Manager Kyra Cabaero.

“I’ve been with Marco Polo for around four months already,” she relays. “And so far, it’s good. Although it’s a bit different than what I had been used to because I used to be with resorts.”

Prior to joining Marco Polo Plaza, Kyra was with a popular resort and waterpark in Mactan.

“The target market here is different so I have to adjust my way of thinking on how I promote things,” she explains, “but it’s a good challenge.”

Kyra graduated from the University of the Philippines Cebu with a degree in Psychology. How she landed in the PR industry, she mirthfully answers, “I don’t really know! My first job was in marketing, then I found myself enjoying it. After that, I got a job in an advertising agency, where I stayed for three years… it just grew on me.”

The hectic nature of a hotel career demands that she work “seven days a week,” as she portrays it. “I’m kind of used to it already though. When you work in a hotel or a resort, going home at 5:30 is not an option.”

To that, she fervently shares, “What keeps me going is the excitement. With PR, so many things are always happening. You’re always on the go.”

Truly an adventurer at heart, Kyra says, “If I weren’t working in a hotel, I would probably be a backpacker, traveling, or I would be working with kids.” She then quips, “Until now, I still haven’t decided what I want to be when I grow up!”

It is the busy lifestyle that then taught Kyra to be adept in time management. She sees to it that she spends enough time for much needed relaxation, either going out with her friends or simply staying at home to read a book. “I’m a very boring person, actually,” she lightly proclaimed.

“I love fantasy books, especially the weird and dark ones. I also like reading books by unconventional and obscure authors.” Kyra also admits to being a collector of X-men comic books.

“Right now I’m learning sign language,” she adds, “I want to volunteer for this group for the deaf. I know it sounds ironic, but the deaf community here is very silent compared to other communities – and there are really a lot of things we can do to help them.”

A voracious reader and an advocate for a charitable cause – “boring” ought to be the last thing to say about Kyra. Youthful, collected and cheerful would be better options.

“Don’t stress too much on the challenge,” the PR manager dishes out, “Challenges will always come to you. If you keep thinking about it, worrying about it, you will never get anywhere. Take the stress, swallow it, then with a smile, and spit it out again. If dili kaya, you can always call a friend.”