Ms. Microtel, Puerto Princesa

(Were you expecting to see a babe?)

First comes the Phinma connection

Phinma on a roll.

Phinma is a business conglomerate based in Makati. I used to work for one of its companies. I see they sold it–the pulp and paper operation is not included on their website.

Philippine Investment-Management (PHINMA), Inc.
Bacnotan Consolidated Industries, Inc.
Atlas Holdings Corporation

Business Process Outsourcing

• The Phinma Finance and Accounting Outsource Corp.
• The Phinma Architecture and Engineering Outsource Corp.
• Toon City Animation Inc.

Education

• Araullo University
• Cagayan De Oro College
• University of Pangasinan
• University of Iloilo

Energy

• Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation
• Trans Asia Power Generation Corporation
• Trans Asia Renewable Energy Corporation
• Trans Asia Karang Besar Pretroleum Corporation
• CIP II Power Corporation
• Trans Asia Gold and Minerals Development Corporation

Financial Services

• AB Capital and Investment Corporation
• AB Capital Securities, Inc.
• Stock Transfer Services, Inc.
• T-O Insurance Brokers, Inc.

Foundation

• PHINMA Foundation, Inc.

Property & Shelter

• PHINMA Poperty Holdings Corporation
• Microtel Development Corporation
• Microtel Inns & Suites (Pilipinas), Inc

Roofing

• Union Galvasteel Corporation

Microtel is a U.S. hotel chain. It’s a brand owned by a hotel group eponymously called Wyndham that started in a Chicago suburb and, for several years, I visited it with my young family in the early-1990s. It was a good hotel whose name became a brand.

Microtel operates in the Philippines through its local partner: Phinma. (Skim to the last paragraph below.)

Phinma’s Microtel Builds Its Ninth Hotel
Manila Bulletin
September 24, 2010, 8:15pm

MANILA, Philippines – Hotel chain operator Phinma-owned Microtel Development Corporation has expanded its hotel operations in the country with a new facility in the bay area in Pasay City, its 9th hotel so far.

Its newest hotel, Microtel Inns and Suites Mall of Asia, would be implemented by Coral Way City Hotel Corp., a 50-50 joint venture of Microtel and Andorra Investments Corp.

Microtel Inns and Suites has 150 hotel rooms including 120 unit double bedrooms, and 30 suites with daily room rates of P3,750 for double bedrooms at P4,500 per day. It will start commercial operations this month with 67 employees.

The targeted clients shall be local and foreign tourists, businessmen and travelers visiting Metro Manila.

The project, which is funded through 65 percent equity and 35 percent loans, has a classification of economy class hotel.

Microtel has existing hotels in Baguio, Tarlac, Cabanatuan, Cavite, Batangas, Boracay, Davao, and Palawan.

Ms. Microtel Puerto Princesa

This is the third year of the pageant. Three of this year’s 11 candidates were supposed to be interviewed this morning. One showed up–a well-spoken, confident young woman who would be an asset to the Microtel chain in the Philippines.

I was perplexed by the failure of the two who didn’t show up, but were supposed to, to contact me or Lyra. One did. Eventually. But we never heard from the other one. I’m stressing this because this is not appropriate behavior. Ladies, being professional means keeping your word. In fact, you committed in writing to be at the interview. And neither of you showed up. And ironically, Lyra, the woman who showed up, was the one who didn’t make a written commitment to be present at the interview. She, who wasn’t supposed to show up, showed up. While those who were supposed to show up, didn’t.

Enough said. The right attitude to adopt, ladies, is to learn this social grace and be aware of it. Being unprofessional is gauche.

Lyra Moises

Lyra is a 20-year old college senior. She’s pursuing a degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management.

Lyra Moises -- Ron Foley -- Alex (Cooper) Pronove (at Itoy's Coffeeshop in Puerto Princesa City)

Her Facebook page.

Lyra's Facebook Homepage

She is clearly a go-getter. If she wins, she would be a dynamic holder of the crown!