Program Completed at GIST:
HOTEL & RESTAURANT SERVICES

Current Work Status: Employed
Nature of Company: D&O Studio Realty OPC
Address: 88 Corporate Center, 141 Valero St. cor, Sedeno Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Nature of Business: Residential Real Estate
Position: Corporate Secretary
Years of Employment: 3 Years

Current Work Status: Self-employed (Co-Owner)
Nature of Business: Service Industry (Hairdressing)
Name of Business: Shiel’Ian Beauty Salon & Spa
Address:  San Jose Bldg, Paquita St., Espana Blvd, Sampaloc
Business Done: with Store/Office

Current Work Status: Self-employed (Owner)
Nature of Business: Grocery (Retail & Wholesale Business)
Name of Business: Fair Price
Address:  San Jose Bldg, Paquita St., Espana Blvd, Sampaloc
Business Done: with Store/Office

Why did you choose GIST?
One of the reasons why I chose GIST is the way it offers an affordable yet quality education that equally ventures to
preparing all the students competently to all their respective fields of passion and interest.

Why did you choose the program?
More than the demand of employment relative to the program I chose, I understand that such course offering would hone better my skills and value system.

What are the challenges you experienced while studying? (Cite at least 2)
Building rapport with my teachers and colleagues has been my initial difficulty and my stress-causing problem. I understand that such dilemma comes not from my external environment but from my self-inflicted thought that I am significantly older than a lot of my classmates and even teachers. They call it educational inferiority due to age gap.

How did you overcome it? (Explain for each situation mentioned above)
I kept myself attuned with the very intention I enrolled in the class. I always pushed myself to be motivated and I exerted effort as well to always be part of activities – be it a simple skill demonstration or a hard one. I gradually realized that teamwork and camaraderie in all those activities made me feel comfortable and inclusive.

How do you feel about overcoming the challenges?
I always feel thankful every time I realize how I overcome those difficulties. It has always been a happy memory seeing those persons who helped and accompany me while I am still in the course of the HRS program.

What is your advice to a student who wishes to take the same program as yours?
Do not just learn while you are studying. Rather, appreciate the journey of discovering what you do not know. Small efforts are the keys to big success. So then that you must be diligent in all your undertakings and learn the value of perseverance.

How did the program help you in your current work/employment status?
Although I am immersed into a different work environment today, I always bear in mind that the knowledge I get in the program is not the only thing I learned in the span of time in GIST. I have acquired values as well that helped me along the way. Until now, these values remain integral to my job and businesses.

What are the values you have learned in the whole experience?
Always start with what you have and dream big. These words serve always as the spine of my value system – that I should always be (1) grateful, that I should also (2) persevere, and that I should (3) plan to achieve whatever big dreams I have. For there is no big success that comes for those who do not plan, for those who do not persevere, and for those who are ungrateful for every small thing that they have.