Tagaytay spa turns around life for employees

Cathy Brillantes-Turvill

Entrepreneur Cathy Brillantes-Turvill sought solace in her Tagaytay property to regain strength during a rough patch in her life. Today, that same place is empowering many lives, having become a key driver for employment and business growth in Barangay Maitim.

Turvill, founder and co-owner of Nurture Wellness Village, was recently acknowledged in the recent Department of Tourism Women of Significance ceremonies. The awards honored eight women in different fields. Turvill was awarded for her role in entrepreneurship.

Together with her British husband Mike, Turvill established Nurture Spa, one of the first destinations in Tagaytay specializing in massages, wraps and facials. It has since evolved into Nurture Wellness Village, which offers detox programs and showcases a Nurture Farmacy that organizes educational tours on medicinal plants and demonstrations on natural fertilizers and healthy cooking.

A spiritual seeker at heart, Turvill has set values-based goals aside from making profits. As a social entrepreneur, she created an environment in which the Nurture Wellness Village, its staff and suppliers can thrive. The company believes that a values-based culture begins with the individual’s value for the self. Hence, it has provided opportunities for its staff members to maximize their potentials and earn more income.

Turvill says her success is based on how the business has changed the lives of people in the barangay. Since its inception in 2001, Nurture has become a must-go place for tourists. Over time, Nurture Wellness Village became a venue for events, wedding receptions and team building retreats. From a staff of four, the place is now manned by 150. It is one of the businesses in Tagaytay that adequately compensates its employees.

Additional waiters, room boys and therapists are hired as the number of visitors swell. Tricycle drivers have also benefited from transporting the guests.

“Tourism is a driver of inclusive growth. It has helped change the lives of our staff. We focused on hiring from the barangay,” Turvill says.

For her, inclusive growth isn’t limited to equal opportunity and shared growth but also developing the individual. The local hires started with having no self-confidence because they didn’t finish school. But Nurture saw their potential.

“Transformation happens in the belief in people. It doesn’t mean that just because they lack credentials, they can’t advance in life. They have to be given the chance and be guided,” says Turvill.

Pioneer employee Robin Ambion studied accounting, but never finished the course. He became a florist, a waiter and driver.

Turvill eventually realized Ambion’s people skills and leadership potential. Since he was open to learning, Ambion later became operations manager and is now the sales manager.

Aside from welcoming visitors, pioneer staffer Querobe Elon has been trained in various spa services such as massage therapy, acupuncture and tai chi. Widow Evangeline Bay lived on a hand-to-mouth existence by clearing the grasslands; today she is a farm guide in Nurture Farmacy. Redgie Pasigan sold duck eggs outside of Nurture Spa; today he is the housekeeping team leader. Victor Cabrieto started out as a plumber and is now a senior waiter. His earnings enabled him to build a four-story house. From the tips she has received from clients, massage therapist Rosalie Garcia was able to build a five-door apartment that she rents out for extra income. Jefferson Frial began as an occasional gardener until he was hired as a room boy. He is now a front desk officer and facilitator in the corporate program Work Well Project.

Turvill says the staff members are encouraged to become entrepreneurs and are taught how to save money.

At the spa, the kale powder is also produced by the employees’ coop.

“We buy banana leaves from the therapists so we can use them for hilot and plate liners,” she says.

Turvill explains the company focuses on the employees’ transformation, starting with changing their attitudes.

Employees sign a contract which states their adherence to the core values of Nurture Wellness Village. The job orientation maps out the importance of their roles, service standards, codes of conduct and discipline.

“We are strict in maintaining high standards. They are made to realize that there are consequences for their behavior,” says Turvill.

“The Nurture man doesn’t go out drinking, womanizing or engaging in bad company. When they join Nurture, they enter into a surrogate family. The managers serve as role models. The men learn that helping out the mother and being a good husband are not signs of weakness. There are ways to become a better person.”

The employees’ manual highlights Nurture’s 10 commandments (i.e gossiping is banned and the importance of God and prayer is highlighted). The performance appraisal system keeps the staffers on their toes. Outstanding services are rewarded.

Those with management potential are sent to a hospitality management training program, sponsored by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, an agency of the Tourism department.

Ultimately, the professional growth of the employees is reflected in the company’s bottom line. Turvill reports Nurture Wellness Village’s revenues has grown 20 percent year-on-year.

She says the growth is meaningful because of the improvement in the lives of their people. “You see the changes in the way they think, talk and act. They eat healthier food and can interact with guests. That is the real profit. I’ve been blessed.”—CONTRIBUTED