THE industry of events coordinating or planning is very competitive and demanding as time and resources are a crucial matter in said industry.
That's why some who dream of becoming event organizers, after seeing the stress that comes with the work, opt to give up on their dreams and change their sights on other opportunities.
Odeizza Cabeltes, owner and founder of Weddings and Events by Odeizza, started her dream of becoming an event organizer after planning her own wedding in 2013.
According to Cabeltes, she even resigned from her work as a career consultant in Informatics just so she can focus on her wedding.
"Medyo OC kay ko sa akong wedding kay grabe kay ko makatutok sa details and mo haggle gyud ko og mga suppliers, so adto ko sa mga suppliers, mo contact ko sa mga suppliers, and then nag resign ko just to focus on planning my wedding," Cabeltes said.
"Dili ko gusto mo-hire og wedding planner because daghan gud ko gi-inquire-an and they're very expensive," she added.
At that time, she did learn everything through research and did the canvass for the materials needed for the wedding.
She was not alone in it though, as she enlisted the help of her friends to make her wedding a successful one.
And it was at that moment, while she was commandeering and putting everything in place for the most important day of her life, did she also fall in love with events planning.
"Right after that, dinha na daun ko murag na in love ko sa planning. I was thinking na 'why not noh nga kanang mag event planning ko,'" she shared.
After the success of her wedding, in order for her to gain experience and knowledge of the event industry, she joined as an assistant to her friend, who was an event planner, for six months and worked in an event organizing team for four months.
"Wala gyud ko niagi og training so more on observe kung unsa ang ilang buhaton, hands on experience gyud," Cabeltes said.
It was through her projects that she secured connections with people who became her suppliers for her business at present.
In 2015, she started her events planning brand: Ideal Events by Odeizza.
"Nag start ko sa akoang own. First is kato pang gagmay-gagmay pa, mga friends-friends, mag organize ko og birthday, and then debut. And ang pinaka first gyud nako is the wedding of my best friend," Cabeltes said.
"Didto gyud ko pinaka first gyud nga 'Oh my gosh, wedding na gyud ni.' And then I really love it ang nakuan gyud nako nga naa gyud dinhi ang akong passion," she added.
Since then, several people came to her for weddings and debut planning.
And due to the influx of clients and also to serve as a base of operations, Odeizza decided to establish an office located along Nacabalan-Capistrano St., Anjulo building, beside the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) office in April 2018.
"Feeling nako, basig magkaroon sila ng trust issues because wala koy office og dili pa gyud ko registered," she said.
It was also at that time that she registered her business in the Department of Trade and Industry and changed the name from Ideal Events to Weddings and Events by Odeizza.
Despite the stress and challenges that come in her line of work, Odeizza said her love and passion for event planning did not diminish.
"Ganahan kay ko because I was able to touch lives, like of course the wedding is one of the most important events in their lives and I was able to help make their dream come true," Odeizza said.
"I'm very passionate about it because kana bitaw i-entrust nila sa ako ang ilang wedding, i-share nila sa ako kon unsa ilang dream wedding, and akong job is to fullfill their dreams," she added.
As an event coordinator, Odeizza felt happiness whenever a wedding she helped plan with the bride and groom ends since not only her efforts were paid off but also people got to remember her work for the rest of their lives.
"Dili lang bitaw trabaho lang. Aside sa ga-enjoy ko, I am able to meet suppliers who became my friends and became part of my family. And then, clients pud, who became my friends also and became part of our family na pud because we always contact each other, even after the event, even after their wedding. Ga chat gihapon mi, gakita gihapon mi," she said.
"Nice gyud ang feeling," Odeizza added.
She shared that even though she's already in the events industry for three years, she's still working on making her business more established.
Odeizza also said that she wanted to try planning corporate and government events soon.
"Gusto gyud na ko i-try pud ang corporate and government events. Kay before man gyud, although daghan kog inquiry but dili na ko ma accommodate cause I'm not registered. So karon, okay na," she said.
Starting her business is not the end of her dream as with her skills and hard work, she continues to aim to become big in the events industry.