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Reliving the Shining Moments : Celebrating 25 Years of Service with AVON
By Patti Rodriguez
"Twenty five years is a lifetime – congratulations for living AVON for the past twenty five years!" Indeed, as Ike Castillo asserted when he congratulated his friend Efren Novilla on his 25th anniversary.
Efren Novilla, Dana Hererra, Daisy Limpin, Pering Banaag and Connie Arboleda were the associates recognized for their dedicated service to AVON for the past twenty five years. While a number of us might be striving for our 5th year anniversary at this stage of our careers, these notable associates have shown the promise of an exciting future and wealth of opportunities this company can offer.
On March 23 2010, our General Manager, Mr. Mike Gudgin, HR Group Manager Jackie Caniza, Operations Director Enrico Garcia and Sales Director Emie Nierves joined Efren, Pering and Dana as they celebrated their respective twenty five years of service with Avon in Tin Hao, Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Also in attendance were Operations Manager Dennis Abcede and Division Manager Bon Escobar to celebrate this momentous occasion with their direct reports Pering and Dana. Irene Novilla, Ricardo Herrera and Christopher Banaag were specially invited as honoured guests of the awardees for the evening.
GM Mike Gudgin took his time interviewing Efren, Dana and Pering on their shining moments. It was endearing to discover that Efren and Pering considered the moments when they met their respective spouses as their shining moments. "Without Irene, I will not be where I am today," Sir Efren, or "Gov" said as Irene looked on. The group was entertained when Bon acted as Pering's "interpreter-cum-interrogator" as he recalled meeting Merlina, a former Sales Leader, in the Taft branch. "Did she have past due accounts during your courtship period?" Bon teased as Pering fielded questions from his son Christopher whose curiosity was piqued. As Dana spared a few moments to recall her shining moments and isolate a few, she said that she considered her experiences of mentoring BSTs and Sales lLaders as her shining moments. This is corroborated by her “anak” Ada Cruz (who started as a Branch Sales Trainer assigned in the Taft branch in 2005) when she fondly remembers Miss Dana as possessing the ability to put a positive spin on things and having a vast knowledge in Sales, making her "the perfect mentor and adviser."
For Connie and Daisy, they celebrated their anniversaries last May 11 in Mi Piace at The Peninsula Manila. Connie reminisced on her days as a Zone Manager, which she considers as her most difficult yet rewarding role in the company. Daisy fervently agreed and as she would put it, "Being a Zone Manager is being a friend, mother, sister, and spiritual adviser all in one!"
Even with her 9PM conference calls and at least three international trips every month, Connie attests that being a ZM is much more difficult than her role today as Director of the Regional Sales Development Council. However, she is thankful for the opportunities that she encountered throughout the years. Louie Migne, a dear friend and colleague, was so proud to acknowledge Connie's achievements and remarked at Connie's humble beginnings as a Branch Sales Trainer and now handling a regional role. "I clearly remember Connie being one of the first Filipinos to be given a global assignment," she says. "Due to her outstanding performance in her global role, she has helped pave the way for Filipino talents to be recognized globally."
During the DSU event in Manila, Angelo Rossi, Group Vice President of Global Sales Development joined the APAC RSDC team for a group dinner. Little did Connie know that Angie (as he is fondly called) was not going to end the evening without congratulating Connie on her twenty fifth year with AVON! As he nicely put it, "There's nothing to be ashamed about being a member of the twenty-five year club – I'm a member too!"
The dinner was held in Chateau 1771, Greenbelt 5. Also in the pictures are Azlan Ismail, HR Director of Malaysia; Grace Aseron Caparas, Regional Sales Training Manager, RSDC; Jem Yarcia, Finance Analytics Manager and Rajen Ahuja, Sales Support Manager.
Daisy is recognized to be a "developer" by her peers. Bon and Connie clearly remembered Daisy's challenges when she aided in the transition to the ASLF framework in 2005. Bon is proud to say that "she developed business fundamentals of her sales force, and mentored her BSTs to become Zone Managers."
For these awardees, reaching twenty five years of service with AVON is a great achievement. They are showing no signs of stopping, as they share their goals and dreams for the coming years. "I was able to buy my house through my career with AVON," Connie shares with pride. "I am proud to be in a company which recognizes my efforts and encourages me to reach for my goals."
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