Make a quick good morning call to my wife Sarah and son Liam to discuss our weekend plan in Manila. Watch CNN and see what is happening in the world as I dress for work. I take less than a minute of brisk walking to the office; I stay at the resort. As I walk, I start thinking of the task ahead for the day.I walk through the Clubhouse Restaurant I check the breakfast setup.
0700
Arrive at the office. Open my laptop and check my email. Switch on my Altec Lansing MP3 player and listen to my favourite songs from my Ipod. Have my caffe latte with biscotti. Draw up my day’s to-do list. Check online news and sports scores - usually Australian Rugby, Manchester United Football & New York Yankees Baseball.
0730
Bid farewell to the morning departing guests at the Pantalan with our staff. We have three scheduled departures a day at 0730, 1130 and 1500. We call these the “Bye Bye”. Each departing guest has been assigned a staff who is responsible for ensuring the checkout and arrive at the Pantalan in time for departure. Every department sends available staff to join in the Bye Bye ritual that involves bidding guests farewell by shaking hands, having group photos, sometimes goodbye hugs, waving and, of course, singing our Bye Bye songs. The staff will continue to wave goodbye until the guests can no longer see them from the banca (boat). Many guests cry during Bye-Bye as they are quite touched by the genuine farewell they receive.
0800
Attend the morning operations briefing and arrange for any focus meetings with specific departments.
0830
Buffet breakfast in the Clubhouse with the resident manager. We finalise the Be GREEN examinations for newly-hired Manila-based staff. We talk about the plans for the day and upcoming events and groups. And tsimis (Filipino word for gossip)!
0900
Return to the office and check emails.
0930-1030
Have separate focus meetings with rooms division (front office & housekeeping); food & beverage (service & kitchen); and guest activities and marine sports.
1100
Travel by speedboat to our Beach Clubs to check setups and talk to guests.
1200
Lunch at Pangulasian Beach Club. Have grilled fresh seafood and our famous El Nido Buco (Coconut) Pie. With me are a VIP tour operator from Europe, the resident manager and key department heads. We chat about the following week’s big event, which is a
corporate weekend outing and they are having an Asian hawker theme dinner at Pangulasian Beach Club Restaurant as their main event. We discuss the logistics and setup for the event.
1300
Island checks. Visit El Nido Resorts’ Pangulasian and Entalula Beach Clubs to check setups and talk with guests.Visit the Big Lagoon before returning to the resort to ensure that the F&B team has already started preparing the private dinner for two onboard a raft. This is extra special since the guest who requested for the setup is proposing to his girlfriend.
1430
Focus meeting with key department heads - FO sup, housekeeping sup, GAMS sup.
1500
Quiet time. Usually after lunch as most meetings are in the morning. This allows me to catch up with projects.
1530
Walk around resort, check standards and ongoing projects.
1630
Return to Lagen Island Resort.
1700
Check emails.
1800
Change into evening uniform.
1830
Check the evening private dinner set-ups and visit the Pool Bar and chat to guests.
1900
Dinner by Lagen Poolside with the resident manager and watch the cultural show. It’s the Cordillera Suite tonight. We always try and offer dinner outside under the stars, weather permitting.
