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ERLEA SANTILLAN RONDARIO

Commercial Controller – Consumer Division

Johnson and Johnson Regional Office

UAE

After passing the CPA Board, Erlea Santillan-Rondario immediately joined Accounting firm, Ernst and Young as a financial auditor.  A friend told her about a career opportunity in Dubai in 2002 and since then, she has made Dubai her home.

 Currently, Santillan-Rondario is the Commercial Controller of the Johnson and Johnson Regional Hub, Consumer Division.  “Our products include household names of J&J baby products, Neutrogena and Listerine to name a few. Commercial finance is more focused on the business and operations side of the company beyond our usual financial reporting requirements. My team is responsible for building financial models to assist the Management Board’s decision making,” she explained.

“The best part of my work is that it goes beyond the traditional finance work.  I come to the office anticipating a new project on brands or key markets for growth, evaluation and analysis of sales performance.” There is excitement in Santillan-Rondario’s voice as she talks about her job which many are either intimidated or bored by.

She makes a similar admission saying, “Being in Finance, I always thought that we are just plain accountants who will just produce numbers on paper. Now, it has taken a new meaning because with my company I was given the opportunity to become a leader and true business partner.”

 “Now, I realize more that it is not your typical desk job but a new way of influencing decisions that are the building blocks to success.”

Still, she finds ways to relax and unwind by doing something unrelated to her job — cooking. “Some women are glued to soap operas and reality shows, me, I’m hooked to the Food Network or any kind of cooking show,” she laughs.

Leisure time is spent combining other interests and passions like photography and traveling. “I’m grateful for having been able to travel with my husband, Rommel who is a professional photographer. Our daughter, Catriona, is one year old and growing too fast,” laughed Santillan Rondario. “But I guess all mothers say that. We can’t wait to take her to our next travel destination.”

ERICK CASIDSID

Design Manager

GEMACO Interiors

Erick Casidsid’s career has been mostly about giving.

Before leaving for The Gulf, Casidsid worked with design firms as a project management consultant. He even worked for a real estate developer.

But what perhaps was most important to him was having the chance to be in the academe as a college instructor. “I served my alma mater for two years where I finished my course as a college scholar,” said Casidsid, a recipient of President Elpidio Quirino scholarships.

Currently, Casidsid holds the position of Design Manager in Gemaco Interiors here in Dubai.  “As head of Design, my overall responsibility is to manage and supervise the daily operations of the in-house design team. I ensure the quality and functionality of our designs.” To do this, ocular site inspections and regular interaction with his staff is key. “I review and check all design and coordinate with the sales and operations departments.”

Working abroad and having been in the design and build industry for the last 12 years have given Casidsid a sense of fulfillment at being able to carry out each project meeting client’s satisfaction and completing the project within budget and on time.

He’s always cognizant and grateful at how he was able to achieve this with the help of scholarships he was awarded and which allowed him to finish college. “I guess you could say I put myself through college. That fact, passing the Board Examination for Architects and being promoted to my current post are my greatest achievements that I can consider so far.”

The father of two calls his role as family man another favorite title. “I usually spend my free time playing basketball, watching movies or just spending time with my family. Anything that I can do with my family will always be a priority,” Casidsid.

RUSSELL C. GONZALES

Assistant Vice President – Middle East

Asia Middle East Tours and Travel LLC

UAE

“Cross country” can best be used to describe Russell Gonzales’ work life. Having been with Asiatravel.com group for 15 years now, Gonzales started in Manila Office in 1997, and went on to become the youngest General Manager for the Philippine subsidiary in 2000. Then he was assigned to USA in 2001 to develop the Northern America inbound market.

Finally, in 2004, he was transferred to Dubai office as Business Development Director. He has been overseeing and managing this branch, now as Assistant Vice President – Middle East (for Asia Middle East Tours and Travel LLC (Asiatravel.com Dubai-UAE).

“I head the Middle East operations of Asiatravel.com group. I normally create and monitor business strategies for the development and growth in my areas of responsibility,” said Gonzales.

The job, needless to say, involves a lot of travelling. “While at work, I’m able to travel and explore our product destinations to learn its culture, features and selling points and mingling and meeting interesting business partners.”

But for Gonzales, the bigger perk of the job is seeing the fruits of his contributions to the business. “I have been able to convert Asiatravel.com’s Dubai Office from small operations into a major business contributor of the organization and one of the established Online Travel Agent in the region.”

Shifting to a different note, Gonzales reveals his personal side saying. “I’m quite a different person outside the office. I’m not as serious,” he revealed, laughing. “My hobbies include collecting songs and mixes and DJ Mixing, doing photography, playing basketball and sometimes cooking. But most of the time I’ll be working on my laptop and just surfing the net.”

FLORELYN SORIANO

Senior Accountant

Petroserv

UAE

“My mom used to remind me that I need to finish college because there’s nothing else that she could give me except an education,” was how Florelyn started her story.

“I got pregnant two years before graduation. I broke my parents’ heart, but they stayed by my side. And in 2000, I graduated with a degree in Accountancy.”

Soriano worked as an accountant in a number of companies in the Philippines before moving to the Gulf. She was not able to take her daughter with her at first, but instead of being disheartened, Soriano just worked harder.

“I started as a Junior Accountant in ASIA Co – Petroserv (a construction materials company), until I was promoted to Senior Accountant which paved the way for me to be eligible to sponsor my daughter after two years. As I always say, that was the happiest day of my life!”

“My job has given me more passion to do my very best, first because it is really my field of interest and has already brought me to an area of mastery and expertise,” said Soriano.

In her free time, she takes Zumba and Salsa classes and is a member of the Filipino Dance Club Dubai. Mirroring contentment, Soriano said, “As a survivor of a broken marriage, raising up a daughter alone, helping my family and helping others to develop their potential. I’m in a good place now.”