Two Pinay-owned businesses lauded in Barcelona

The Oriental Jasmine
Carrer de Muntaner, 88, 08011 Barcelona http://www.orientaljasmine.com

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

SPAIN – Two Filipina-owned businesses were among the 12 small and medium enterprises recognized for excellence by the city council of Barcelona.

Asian-inspired day spa The Oriental Jasmine and New York-style manicure and pedicure salon The Pink Peony were chosen to be part of “Nou i Bo”, a local government initiative that compiles high-quality establishments owned by foreigners in Barcelona.

“Nou i Bo”, which is Catalan for “New and Good”, aims to highlight the good quality of businesses owned by new residents and demonstrate society’s gains from social, linguistic and commercial diversity.

A video clip in Catalan on “Nou i Bo” project:

The Oriental Jasmine, which offers hilot, manicure, pedicure and facial services, hasn’t celebrated yet its first year anniversary but it already got the nod of the selection committee.

That’s why co-owner Maya Khasmine Valencia was ecstatic upon getting the nomination and recognition from the government.

“I’d like to say, so this is how it feels to be Miss Universe. It’s overwhelming, kasi I did not expect it,” Valencia said.

The Pink Peony, meanwhile, is not new in the business. In fact, this six-year-old beauty salon has two branches and has already made its mark in the beauty scene in Barcelona catering to various clienteles from tourists to local and international models and actresses.

No wonder it was also selected.

The Pink Peony
Passeig de Gràcia, 100, 08008 Barcelona http://www.thepinkpeony.com

“I couldn’t believe that we actually achieved our objective. I always tell the girls that we want to be the best in the category that we are in and this recognition sort of confirmed that. So for me, it was an achievement of The Pink Peony girls, all the Filipinas that worked hard every day to give the best that we can,” said owner Peony Herrera Sy.

Kathleen Lopena Ortega, The Pink Peony’s spokesperson, emphasized the “winning formula” of the salon namely “Asian hospitality, American customer service and the European elegance.”

Asian hospitality comes from none other than its Filipino staff.

The Pink Peony, which currently has 35 employees mainly Filipinas, aims to provide more labor opportunities to Filipinos in Barcelona said staff Anna Felipe.

The Oriental Jasmine and The Pink Peony showed the exemplary attribute of Filipino women to put up and manage high-quality businesses and their concern and solidarity to create jobs for fellow Filipinos amidst the difficult employment situation in Spain. ABS-CBNnews.com

Watch the related TV report in Filipino as aired on Balitang Global:

How Pinoy-owned spa is promoting ‘hilot’ in Barcelona

By Daniel Infante Tuaño

SPAIN – ‘Hilot’ is the star of services offered by a day spa owned and operated by Filipinas in Barcelona.

Aside from facial and body treatment and other services usually offered by day spas, Maya Khasmine Valencia, owner of The Oriental Jasmine, wants to give the Barcelones a chance to experience another traditional Asian massage other than the popular Thai massage.

“I love to travel and I have tried different kinds of massage–Ayurveda, Thai massage, the massage they have in Mexico. So far I have always looked for hilot. I grew up with hilot whenever I get sick,” said Valencia.

Filipino tradition of healing and hilot’s therapeutic wonder are what manager of the spa Beth Flordelis explains every time a Spanish customer asks about the massage.

“Maraming nagtatanong kung ano ba raw talaga ang hilot so ine-explain ko na ang hilot ay isang treatment. Sa Pilipinas, nakaugalian na hindi tayo pumupunta kaagad sa doktor, kailangan pumunta sa manghihilot muna,” said Flordelis.

What distinguishes hilot from other massages, Maya added in Spanish, is its “toque de amor” (touch of love).

The Oriental Jasmine also believes that not anyone can perform hilot. One has to have a supernatural gift of healing hands to perform authentic hilot.

“We would like to offer this genuine experience of hilot massage. All our massage therapists grew up in the Philippines. They have been involved inside the hilot culture,” said co-owner Javier Zarzuela de Buey, adding that it is now time to promote the traditional Filipino massage outside the Philippines.

To make the experience more authentic, The Oriental Jasmine imports virgin coconut oil from the Philippines and all of its massage therapists are Filipinas who are mostly professional physical therapists.

It also puts a premium on excellent service, which has kept Italian customer Lisa Mariani coming back.

“I had a hilot massage today. It was absolutely wonderful. It’s the second time I’ve had it. I feel energetic, relaxed, content. It almost takes me to another area. It’s wonderful here to be with the girls. They do wonderful job so you keep coming back because you like it. It makes you feel good,” said Mariani.

Valencia also feels good and positive about the reception of the local clientele towards the spa which has just opened April this year, notwithstanding the economic crisis that hits Spain.

“During crisis, people tend to take care and pamper more themselves. I have always wanted to put up a day spa business. I think this is as good time as any to start because when in crisis the prices are lower, especially the shops, the products are on sale and when I want something, I always want to work for it,” she said.

She added that it’s her dream to have a day spa and she wanted to fulfill that dream while young and still have the energy to run a business. ABS-CBNnews.com

Watch this related TV report in Filipino language aired on Balitang Europe, The Filipino Channel, ABS-CBN: