It’s What I Do

Sheila Baldago Tobias

Being part of the biggest events in town and rubbing elbows with corporate and media head honchos seems like a glamorous job, but Sheila Baldago-Tobias says public relations (PR) is hard work.

Describing herself as having the “memory of a goldfish”, Sheila shares that she starts the day by making a to-do list to make sure she doesn’t forget anything. With her work at PR ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller dependent on the client’s requirements and the various simultaneous events, each working day could vary from developing PR strategies to arranging gifts. This par for the course and Sheila welcomes it, “This is what fuels my engine – the randomness of what PR brings.”

And getting into public relations wasn’t a smooth ride either.

When she was still a newbie in Dubai, she applied for an administrative job but was recommended for a barista role instead. While finding nothing wrong with that, she felt that her capabilities were underestimated. “I knew I could do more so I took that as a challenge,” says Sheila. After that interview, she got a job at her current workplace and has been developing her skills since then.

Knowing that there is no such thing as an easy ride to success, she advises fellow Filipinos, “When you dream, dream big. You have to believe in yourself, work for it and everything else will follow.”

Lloyd dela Cruz Santos

Passion for teaching pushed Lloyd dela Cruz Santos to become an effective facilitator for an airline company. His job involves delivering effective sales training to corporate salespeople, graduate managers and newly hired employees.

While training is a major part of his job, Lloyd says the bigger responsibility to make sure his trainees are equipped with information to excel in their individual roles.

He remembers that during his early years in the industry, he was received recognition from the country manager of Vietnam. “He was pretty amazed that my previous experience is totally different from my current role and he even asked my senior manager if I can also deliver the course to his team in Ho Chi Minh City.”

Lloyd has been in the airline industry for over 10 years and still enjoys his job. “Dealing with people from different parts of the world has been a rewarding experience.” The travel and being exposed to different cultures is also a definite bonus.

On the downside though, he is away from his family in the Philippines. But he says that Filipinos are family-oriented and that is what leads them to work abroad. With this, he advises fellow OFWs to keep contact with their loves ones and make ways to be part of their lives. “Distance should never be a hindrance to express our feelings for them.”

Jesse Marcelo Posis
Reinvention defines Jesse Marcelo Posis’ career. Formerly a dance choreographer, he is now an human resources manager, aside from being a fitness professional instructor and part-time singer.

Jesse shares that he once met a carpenter who is now a pilot, who inspired the shift in his career. Now, as an HR manager, he handles 450 people in five different multinational companies, the recruitment process and all other HR activities.

He says her secret to change career paths is challenging himself to do things beyond his ability. “The strength to decide on which direction you take in your life allows you to reinvent yourself to change your future,” Jesse says.

Moreover, he believes that you need courage to change to achieve success. “Change is the result of true learning, you have the power to change your life. Kung sa tingin mo na hindi mo pa na aabot ang potential mo, [if you think you haven’t reached your full potential yet] then don’t stop trying to reach for it.”