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.
“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: