Diamond Hotel’s awardee overcomes childhood poverty

BUENA always remembers his father’s advice, “Huwag matutulog sa pansitan.” [essentially means to be fast, alert and ready].

For the “Front of the House” category reserved for rank and file employees,  Ramil Buena from Diamond Hotel won out of nine other finalists from Century Park Hotel, Alegre Beach Resort and Spa Cebu, The Bayleaf Intramuros, Dusit Thani Manila, Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Ascott Limited, Marriott Hotel Manila, and Heritage Hotel Manila.

Buena is Diamond Service Center Coordinator whose work includes providing concierge and butler services to the hotel’s VIP guests.  He has been employed with the hotel since 2011 and started as a health club attendant.

“Give your best to your company and your guest.  And the best of the guest and your company will get back to you,” cites Buena as one of his work mottos.  According to him, he tries to anticipate the needs of the guests and exceed expectations.

He finds it amusing that he once had a foreign guest at the health club who seemed so impressed with his service and told him that it was his first time to give a tip and subsequently gave him P20.

“What’s important is that you take care of the client by keeping your promise.”  Buena relates that his service philosophy stems from his experience of poverty in his youth.  His father was a seller of charcoal and his mother a vegetable vendor.  By six to seven years old, he was already selling bananacue (caramelized banana on a stick) in the streets.

“How can you sell a cold bananacue?” he asks.  By targeting the kids he finds of parents who are more likely to purchase cold street food, simply because children usually don’t want their food too hot.

As a health club attendant, he also learned to sell their facilities.  “Though we are not so big, our facilities are top class like treadmills and weight lifting machines, including the service.”

Buena is 25 years old and married with one child.  His prize money from the Mabuhay Awards is being saved for the needs of his only child.  According to Buena, he thinks that he grew up dyslexic (but never got the chance to get a doctor’s official confirmation) because he had problems spelling and recalling names, reading and writing.  He was bullied for his inadequacies including his curly hair.  He was able to finish college with the support of his cousin.  At a young age, he already treasures many life lessons.

“You’ll meet people from all walks of life.  Don’t be in a rush to get wealthy because you lose the enjoyment of the process,” he says.  He thinks that material poverty is a situation you can get rid of.

“You have to do something to get out of your poverty.”  He continues, “I’m not happy to see a beggar, even one without legs, asking for alms.  Although they cannot use their legs, they can still use their hands to sell cigarettes and candies.”

Buena also has clear ambitions for himself.  He has a precise picture in his mind that keeps him motivated to move forward, “Someday, I will own eight apartments in eight locations, four condos in Makati.”  He is aware that his big goals would require extraordinary efforts.

“I don’t want to grow old as an employee but would rather be someone who hires employees,” he says.  He is also confident about reaching his targets.

At the moment, however, he is quite grateful for the opportunities that his employer has provided him.  He is hoping to eventually learn the work of the front office hotel receptionist to further his professional development.

Buena unwittingly summarizes his work advantage.  “There are things you learn from school and there are things you cannot—such as common sense and initiative,” he adds.