HAILING from the city of Ormoc, Arnel Aparis was a small town boy with big dreams. As a child, he always admired leaders who made a difference. Observing those people he looked up to so much, he thought to himself: “I should also try to make a difference in this world.”
And so he did—in the many ways he could at his school: He was a student leader during his elementary years and student council president and CAT Battalion Commander in high school. At such a young age, he already had an unbreakable drive to lead and foster change.
Although he finished college with a degree in nursing—a dean’s lister and board passer, no less—opportunities led him on a different path. Straight out of college, he was hired as a marketing specialist for a multinational pharmaceuticals company. It was in this job where his passion for sales and marketing skills was ignited. Soon enough, he got so engrossed in the nature of his work. “I was so obsessed with my current job that I forgot I was a registered nurse. However, I still updated my nursing skills through seminars,” Arnel recalls.
Eventually, a job promotion brought Arnel to Cebu, which opened more opportunities for him to hone his marketing and sales know-how. Through the years, he had worked in different environments—pharmaceuticals, BPO (business process outsourcing), mall, nightclub and hotel—but always in the field of sales, marketing, events management and advertising.
“Marketing is a wonderful discipline. I absolutely love to think creatively and be creative. This comes in many forms, from thinking to doing. My desire is to be innovative and to do things completely different from our competition,” the 43-year-old explains.
Arnel has been with Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino since 2015, first as a marketing communications manager for almost three years. Starting May this year, he became the Marketing Communications Consultant of the hotel. “With Waterfront, I always strive to create something new and different. I am privileged that the management supports my ideas.”
Part of the job is thinking on one’s feet, consistently coming up with new ideas for the hotel. “Great events come with great planning. Each day is always a challenge. The experience that I gain allows me to increase effectiveness in my job and to progress in my personal and professional goals.” Arnel, together with his team, has unfailingly pulled off some of the most spectacular and stunning events in Cebu, which the hotel has been known for in the recent years.
With more than 22 years of professional sales and marketing experience, it’s easy to think that Arnel is on top of his game. But he is not one to become complacent and content with his work. “I see myself growing in a company where I can continue to learn and become the best marketer I can be.” No doubt, the fire and drive he had as a child is still inside of him, burning stronger than ever.