“Nobody should tell you what you’re good at. You should know what you’re good at. It should be you telling yourself: This is what I want to do with my life. Once you have figured out what you want to do with your life, you work on that, and you will find yourself succeeding.”
These words come from Arlene Gallarda Tongco, 43, general manager of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts’ Summit Hotels in Cebu and Tacloban cities, owner’s representative of Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, doting wife, and proud mother of three.
For Women’s Month, Arlene shared this prescription to women who are mired in a limbo of career choices as she speaks of the 20 years that she’s been affirming her own words. It may be said that Arlene holds the key to her success. Arlene sailed to Cebu from her hometown in Hinoba-an after graduating Hotel & Restaurant Management to work at Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa. In her 13 years with Shangri-La, from 2007 to 2012, she rose from service associate to duty manager. Much of her work at the resort entailed dealing directly with guests.
In February 2012, she left Shangri-La to join Chroma Hospitality, a hotel management company based in the National Capital Region, owner and operator of Crimson Hotels & Resorts and Quest Hotels. She began her career in the group as assistant front office manager of Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan then advanced as its director of rooms.
Loyalty
“In my 20 years, I worked in three companies only and these are big companies. I’m not a jumper. I’m very loyal,” Arlene says. “I’ve worked with the owners. I’ve seen how they value their business and their people. Many people depend on them. I have to take care of their business because the owners also take care of us. This is not just employment for me. If business is profitable, you grow with the company.”
Her presence at Summit Galleria Cebu couldn’t have come at an opportune time. The Covid pandemic eviscerated the hospitality industry for two years.
Arlene said those were difficult times for the hotel but she’s thankful to Robinsons Land Corp. for taking care of their people.
“You have to look after the business, you have to look after your people. How do you assure your people when you know things are unpredictable? You need to provide them with the motivation and strength to keep them moving even if you sometimes find yourself short of those. You have to be realistic and agile. When you inspire people, you don’t force them to follow you. They will also think about the business and they will want to contribute to achieve your goal.”
She did not spare herself from doubts but the thought of her children, the people she is supporting back in her hometown, and her hotel team kept her going.
“When things seem heavy to bear, I close the door of my office and pray. Problems have solutions only that some take time to be resolved. I focus more on the good things and the things I can change or have control over.”
In her line of work, she has her share of run-ins with men who resent taking orders from women. “Some men think they are superior, especially in tasks that men are traditionally good at. So, here’s a woman who is giving instructions to the head of security. And this guy had gone to a war and doesn’t like taking orders from her. She was in a similar situation with the chief engineer.”
But Arlene, with her feistiness and go-getting attitude, eventually won them over to her side. “You have to show them that you know what you are doing. If you do it right and you have proven your skills and toughness in decision making, eventually they will follow you.”
Family
“We like to travel. My husband and I go out, just the two of us. He’s very supportive of me and my work,” Arlene said.
Being in the hotel industry and leading the operations team means spending most of her time in the hotel and away from the family.
“You have to assure your husband that your marriage is not a competition. It is a partnership. You should push your partner to succeed. Having a higher position is not a measure of success. Keeping your family intact and happy, that’s success for me. In the end, I am still an employee. It’s not the title.”
Arlene, who gains more confidence when she wears high heels, knows that not many women are as empowered as she is in picking choices for themselves.
“Women should not be constricted or stereotyped. They should know their passion. Doing that, they can always succeed in whatever field they choose.”