ENTERING the events planning business is not easy. Apart from being one of the very competitive industries, it also demands a lot from a person.
As an event planner or coordinator, one should be well-rounded, play a lot of roles and be ready to face the challenges and pressure.
A graduate of Development Communication from Xavier University, Ana Liza Lorena Olamit-Fabello, as young as 20 years old, already has the primary skills necessary to pursue her dream of becoming an event planner.
However, even with her background in organizing community affairs, such as training and seminars, and her ability in hosting, Ana Liza still saw the need to try applying for other jobs to gain more experience as well as other skills she might need when she finally does her own events.
Organizing community programs may not have been meant for her. According to Ana Liza, she gets too attached to the program and would like to see the results right away. More often than not, results from community programs take a while.
"Nakita nako sa akong self na kailangan nako og outright result sa kun unsa man akoang i-conduct nga project and all (I have seen to myself that I needed outright results on whatever projects I conducted and all)," Ana Liza said.
She also tried other jobs such as working in hospitality industry, sales and being a pre-school teacher, where she developed patience.
"Murag gi-design ni Lord ang experiences for me to be fit in this business, ani nga industry (The Lord designed my experiences for me to fit in this business, in this industry)," Ana Liza said as she shared how every skills she got from her previous jobs gave her the capabilities to handle any kind of challenges that came her way as an event coordinator.
It was not until her baby was born and her husband planned to work abroad that Ana Liza finally decided to put up her own events planning and coordinating business.
"At least control nako ang akong oras, mao gyud akong passion. That time, naka decide gyud ko nga hinay-hinayon sa nako. Though wala ko'y proper training for event planning. Ang ako ra gipanghawiran that time is unsa ang akong learning sa school," Ana Liza said.
(At least I can control my time, this is my passion. That time, I decided to take it slow. I had no proper training in event planning. But I’m relying on what I learned in school.)
In 2016, Sweet Mementos Events Planning and Coordination by Ana Liza Lorena Olamit-Fabello was established.
Her first client, according to Ana Liza, was her classmate in college who was looking for an events planner whom she can trust.
"Ang couple gusto nila kaila ra nila ang planner, and gi-recommend ko sa akong classmate (The couple wanted someone whom they personally know, and I was recommended by my classmate)," Ana Liza said.
It was successful, she added. From then on, her classmates hired her as their wedding coordinator until such time her clientele increased and she started planning birthdays and other events.
Ana Liza was just a freelance coordinator. In August 2018, she finally opened her office which is located at Door 8, second floor of One Macario Suite in J.R. Borja Extension, Cagayan de Oro City.
It was not easy. Apart from the stress and pressure that are expected from this kind of work, there are challenges, particularly in the establishing part, Ana Liza said, that she has to conquer.
She added that in events planning, one should know how to convince your client and your edge against the competitors in this industry.
"How would you prove to yourself that you're better or you can deliver? How are you going to give the right pricing of your service, unsaon nimo pagjustify nga worthy ka ana nga (how would you justify that you are worthy of that) price?" Ana Liza said.
She shared that even after three years in this industry, Ana Liza is still working on making her business and her brand more known within the Cagayan de Oro before expanding her services outside the city.
Although, she will soon start offering coordination for corporate events.
Ana Liza is also planning to work hand in hand with her husband by opening a travel and tour business which will cater more to the millennials.
"As millennial, (we have) travel goals biya ta. We want to have as much event in our lives o travel," Ana Liza said.
Through the travel business, Sweet Mementos Events can also offer destination pre-nuptial services.
"Hopefully it will work na mag (that it will) go hand in hand with my travel," Ana Liza.
She is also looking forward to conduct trainings for aspiring event planners and coordinators.
"You have to assess why you want to be in this industry. If you are thinking na (that) because we are luxurious, nga moadto ka (that you go) from different hotels to another, you're wearing nice clothes, wearing makeups," she quips.
"Kung nagtuo ka nga dali ra sya, and nagtuo ka nga magpagwapa lang ka para ani, ire-assess balik imohang purpose why (if you believe that this is easy, and if you believe that you would just be a pretty face in this industry, you need to re-assess your purpose why you're into this)," Ana Liza said as she talked about what advice she can give to future event planners.
"Dapat (you should be) willing ka to do the extra mile, to go beyond what is expected. Kung kailangan nimo i-offer imong (if you can offer your) helping hand, pwede ka dinhi (you belong here). And then if you're willing to unlearn in order for you to learn, pwede gyud ka dinhi (you are also welcome here)," she added.
On Monday, April 8, Ana Liza celebrates the third year anniversary of Sweet Mementos Events, a celebration that reflects all the sweat and hard work she did since the day her dream came true.