HE MAY have the eye for event styling and coordinating, however, Michael Ho, the owner of the Michael Ho Event Stylist and Coordinating, also has the heart and mind of a businessman.
Interestingly, Ho did not plan to become an event coordinator because his dream was to become a businessman ever since he was still in grade school; someone who owns a company or a manager of a certain fastfood establishment.
“Since then, I felt like there's a businessman inside me na,” Ho said.
As such, he took up the course Business and Management in Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.
“It’s something that I love then, and then something that I find na interesting.” Ho said.
However, it was during his third year in college that his destiny took a sudden change.
“I started doing events when I was in third year college but at that time, it was just for fun. I was tapped by my barkadas to organize their debuts for them. At that time, I organized three events for free since they were my friends,” Ho shared.
“After that, there's a certain designer who somehow discovered what I've done before. So he helped me, he introduced me to a Chinese client and the rest is history,” he added.
It was due to his friends and an encounter with a designer that changed his mind from becoming a full time businessman into an events stylist and coordinator.
According to Michael, he started doing events organizing full time right after college. Although, he stopped for three months, the time when he had to make a decision whether he should continue as an events coordinator or should he proceed to fulfil his childhood dream.
“But then, there's this person in Bukidnon, a friend of mine who happens to be the customer of another business of mine. And then, nagpa organize siya ng surprise birthday party for his dad,” Ho said.
He also mentioned how shocked he was to learn that those who attended the surprise birthday party he organized were the elite people of Bukidnon.
Michael is originally from Malaybalay City, Bukidnon and only attended high school and college in Cagayan de Oro City.
“I've been gone from Bukidnon for so long and parang na detach ako sa mga people since that day. And with that event, it brought me closer to them. From an instant, parang nakilala ko na sila ulit,” Ho said.
It was then that he realized the opportunity in event styling.
“Parang di ko rin alam kung anong nangyari na from then on, people were asking for my number, details of my services. So, from there on, na-realize ko na 'siguro there's really something with this field,” Ho shared.
“Na-realize ko rin na opportunity is already here. So, murag why would I complain and look for other things if andito na siya,” he added.
From then on, Michael has his sights set in becoming a known events stylist and coordinator. His base of operations is in Bukidnon, however, he organizes events not just in Bukidnon or in Cagayan de Oro City but also all over Northern Mindanao.
Michael also mentioned how his family supports his decision, which gave him the strength to work hard as his expression of gratitude to them.
“I grew up in a family who always support whatever it is that we want. Perhaps that's the reason why we work so hard with whatever it is that we have because they gave us full freedom,” Ho said.
“They never hinder us to whatever it is that we do want to do. So that's our way to thank our parents and to give justice to our life,” he added.
He may have been busy with coordinating and styling events, still, he finds the time to spend it with his family and friends and also a time for himself.
Ever since he started the Michael Ho Events Styling and Coordinating, he promised himself that even though he's busy, he will find time to travel because it’s the only thing that makes him happy.
“So, everytime I can find time or I can see promos online, I book it and then I make sure I reserve those days for travel alone, no work at all,” Ho said.
Indeed, Michael needed time for relaxation as the job of a coordinator can be tiring and stressful, especially since they give their all into making their clients happy and satisfied.
“When you encounter customer dissatisfaction. You did everything, you, you exhausted all your means, but when someone is dissatisfied and she's not happy, there are certain things she may possibly do and there's certain things that it will be difficult for us to make up for it cause we cannot turn back time anymore,” Ho said.
“The best thing to do when you encounter that is just to continue working and continue doing what you love to do best since nandyan ka na eh, and then yun talaga yung feel mo. You need to prove to yourself and to others that this is what you really love,” he added.
Michael also shared how even though he's been into events styling and coordinating for years, he still feels the pressure from his clients, especially when he's pressed in time.
“There are times na if it’s a peak season, you have less time to prepare but you have more events to handle,” Ho said.
“Hindi naman talaga nawawala ang pressure, especially when you're into designs. And especially kung may mga requests yung client,” he added.
According to Michael, he gets the strength to overcome the pressure by reminding himself that this is his craft and it is the kind of job he started doing.
“Yung pressure kasi once its paid off with a simple thank you, mawawala kasi yan eh,” he said.
Even though he's doing events styling and coordinating, Michael still is a businessman through and through, applying whatever he learned during his college years learning about business and management into his current business.
“Just like any other businessman, we would always want our business to go bigger. But as we grow older, our business becomes difficult because we all know that coordinating is one of the toughest job that we can have in our society,” Ho said.
He also mentioned that by the time he retires from his current work, he will focus on something else, perhaps finally fulfilling his childhood dreams.
“Pero while I'm still here kicking, sa ngayon I'll just have to enjoy whatever it is that we have for this business,” Ho said.