by Justin Christopher C. Ramos and Joshua Enrick D. Tatlonghari
At the peak of their field, these women of sugar, spice, and everything nice proved that no amount of ‘Chemical X’ can outpace their inner force as they make their way to become the College’s trailblazers of tomorrow.
Constant academic stress and pressure do not withhold the capacities of the College’s strong-driven students. Especially these powerful ladies, who had worn their discipline and their innate grit like a badge on their uniforms. They have achieved a healthy school-life balance as they hold the banner for females who can thrive more. Salute these fair maidens – adept in their craft and each to their own – and learn to take the lead with these bright and charming, yet savvy women of Commerce.
Angela Marallag, Sticker Diva
Already a prompted artist from a young age, Angela Denise M. Marallag, a 2M2 student back then, never thought that her casual doodles on her iPad would soon take flight as a Digital Illustrator. Dipping her pen to vectorize the digital landscape, this Marketista taps into e-commerce by launching ‘Commerce Stickers’, an online Commerce-themed sticker store on Instagram. “[Masaya ako sa] pag gawa mismo ng designs and [sa] pagbebenta…kasi after ko makapag benta ng stickers, [nakarereceive] ako ng compliments,” she shared. “Building a business takes time. One must have the patience and passion [for] building such [an] enterprise.” As pilots need a wingman, our artist in Commerce took flight with her artistic flair along with her helping hands who is her blockmate and partner, Christian Santos, to make sure she reaches for potential customers without a hitch. Seeing the positive feedback on her Instagram, this Sticker Diva now plans to introduce Commerce-themed t-shirts and keychains to the online market alongside her trademark Commerce Stickers.
With our artist in motion finding her way into art, she encourages others to pursue their passions as well. “Make a business where you’re passionate about. If you really love what you’re doing, ’di ka mahihirapan mag-maintain ng business mo. Learn not to give up. Building a business takes time—hindi siya padalos-dalos.” As she soulfully uttered these words, she proved that even with the greatest amount of competition she had to face in the market, she can make her way through the top by her innovativeness and tenacity to build an enterprise that the consumers would want.
Marie P. Kadomura, Multisport Extraordinaire
Knowing the daily grind of an Ekonomista like Marie P. Kadomura (4E4), she periodically takes a step away from the graphs and mathematical models to trek the mud and water as a die-hard triathlete. Ever since her early days, this multiplex player has taken part in multiple swimming, cycling, and running events; our gladiator champions the idea of a life balance between work and play translates to build self-discipline.
After freestyling her way into swimming in high school, this triathlon champ was able to maintain a part of triathletes’ rigorous routine to train at least two sports a day such as swimming and cycling, and at the same time balance this with her academics.
“You may have the money to join a triathlon, but if you don’t have the heart, you can easily give up,” she claimed. Although Kadomura’s journey had been most of the time eventful, there are still roadblocks in her adventures. As the agile triathlete recalled, she experienced cycling off-road after being rammed by a moving vehicle. Already bruised and beaten from the car’s impact, she still managed to bag the first place in the Hunat Sugbo Triathlon.
As an advocate of Health and Wellness, she has been spreading the good word around the College of joining triathlons. Excelling at sports does have its merits, but this thrillseeker shows that she can also lead the pack as she has experienced being her block’s class president. She assures that there’s nothing to lose but there’s everything to gain when you put your wellness first. She finished the conversation with the Commerce Journal (CJ) by encouraging others, “If you’re interested, why not do it? You’re not going to lose anything … just put your heart [into it]. It (triathlons) makes you a better person and it makes you fit,” she finished.
Kate Concepcion, Commander of Triumph
Being the captain of the ship to sail Commerce Pautakan onto the waves of challenges, Kate Concepcion (4HR2) perfectly understood that being a Human Resource major and a team leader requires an extra level of responsibility. In her second year, she reigned after Lexis Talaue, an alumnus, who had chosen her to take the seat of leadership—when Concepcion devotedly juggled her duties in the team alongside her obligations outside the organization. She then prevailed under the guidance of the Marketing Department Chair, Mr. Francis Lawrence B. De Jesus, Ph.D., as their official adviser.
As the hell and high waves curve around her, she dominates the demands of academics and the org-life like a superwoman while she takes the extra weight on her shoulders to beat up the obstacles in the team as she brings it together. “Giving full effort and sportsmanship at all times is an important aspect of being a team captain,” she remarked. Being a role model herself wasn’t a rosy journey after all, as a student who also signed up in CBASC and the Commerce Volleyball Team, this extraordinaire considers herself as someone who is pursuing the track of a “Bachelor of Science major in Student Organizations.” Scrambling around requirements from your professor can be downright tiring already, however, only a flare-driven leader desires to become part of the Top 5 for her Pautakan team in the university-wide list.
The Commerce-Pautakan Team is more than the mock tests they take to overpower their weaknesses in every category, they are the brains of the College that are obviously well-suited to win with their hearts strong in the competition.
Being an achiever knows no boundaries whether you are a man or a woman. It does not discriminate. The only important thing is to work hard in following your passion, just like how Angela Marallag had shown that one’s creativity and knowledge in business could turn it into a gainful advantage. Marie Kadomura and Kate Concepcion had shown that they can both balance academic and extracurricular activities without affecting the other. These three women had embodied a competent Thomasian and have shown that they could handle the challenges of a Commerce student victoriously.