Women of the World: Cathy Valencia and Charisse Tinio

Gone are the days when women were relegated to just doing household chores. Generally, women are now respected for what they can do and are no longer degraded just because they were born biologically different from men.

What changed the game were women who turned their passion into notable success. Business owners Cathy Valencia and Charisse Tinio proved that they can still perform their womanly duties while pursuing a burgeoning career.

On the GMA News TV-11 show “Powerhouse”, they shared with host Kara David their beauty secrets, business strategies, and stories of success.

On looking good and being good

Even before establishing her name in the industry of skincare and beauty, Cathy Valencia, owner of Skincare Clinic, was already trained well in that department. “Vain kaming lahat sa pamilya,” she joked.

Her mother was also very strict about keeping physical appearances. “‘Yung mom ko, very meticulous — ayaw niya kapag faded ‘yung damit ko, mahilig siya maglagay ng pulbos. Gusto niya talaga laging malinis and very feminine,” she said.

Cathy studied Communication Arts in college, but she pursued her passion in skin care by doing home service for her friends. “Nag-focus na ako on my business that time,” she said. It was her friends who recommended that she open a clinic in Medical Plaza because they were satisfied with her service.

“Mayroon akong friend noon na problema niya ‘yung back niya. So sabi ko, sige gagawin ko ‘yan. Tapos after two weeks nakita ko siya, naka-sleeveless na siya at happy-ng happy siya,” Cathy recalled. “Sabi niya kahit sino daw hindi siya mapagaling, sumuko na daw ‘yung mga dermatologists sa kanya.” And that was how and why she opened her first clinic in 2002.



Cathy’s success in skin care goes to show that if you have enough passion to fuel your fire, then you do not need to drag yourself into being successful. “Passion ko talaga is beauty. Sa totoo lang, blessing itong business ko, hindi ko ito pinilit.”

It was actress Anna Capri who opened the doors to Cathy providing services to celebrities. “Kilala si Anna Capri noon as tan. Ako lang ‘yung nakapagpaputi sa kaniya, and then na-notice ni Kris Aquino sa kanyang show,” she said. Some of Cathy’s current clients are Kapuso stars Marian Rivera and Dennis Trillo.

It did not even take much for famous celebrities to endorse her. “Sila ‘yung lumalapit sa akin, it’s not like ‘okay, I’ll get you; endorse me.’ It’s more of ‘I want to try your treatment that’s why I’m going to endorse you,’” Cathy shared.

On nurturing your passion

Nice Print Photography owner Charisse Tinio, on the other hand, did not have any formal training in photography. Her only investment was her interest in taking pictures even as a child.

“Wala akong technical background. Hindi ako nag-aral ng advanced courses ng photography,” she said. “Mahilig lang talaga akong mag-picture kasi napaka sentimental kong tao.”

Her skills in handling a business, however, were rooted from her parents who are both businessmen.

Charisse took up International Studies in college, but her love for photography drove Charisse to opening a photography studio. “Noong time na ‘yon, sa sobrang hilig ko na talaga mag-picture, napapagastos ako sa film,” Charisse shared, “so naisipan kong magtayo na lang ng photo developing business. Doon na nagsimula [ang career ko sa photography.]”



Charisse’s business also gained fame from having celebrities as clients. In fact, she is now known as the “Wedding Photographer to the Stars.” “Mahilig talaga ako sa showbiz. So meeting them in person is a bonus, and more than that, magiging kaibigan mo sila,” she said

Her career as a wedding photographer to celebrity couples started when their common friend, Claudine Barretto, recommended her to then to-be-wed Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez. “Noong nag-present kami [ng proposal] sa kanila, nagustuhan naman nila ‘yung mga ipinakita namin,” she said.

After the success on their coverage of the Velasquez-Alcasid nuptials, various celebrity couples started approaching her for their wedding photography services. Her company has already covered the weddings of Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi, Kyla and Rich Alvarez, and Kapuso reporters Raffy Tima and Mariz Umali, to name a few. “Siyempre natutuwa kami kasi hindi biro na ipagkatiwala sa iyo ‘yung ganoon ka-importanteng event sa buhay ng isang tao,” she said.

Charisse treats her being a woman an advantage in handling her photography business. “Noong pumasok kami sa wedding photography, it’s male-dominated,” she recalls. “I think my advantage is that wedding is all about the bride. So, ako bilang babae at naging bride na rin, naiintindihan ko kung ano ang service na gusto ng nila.”

On managing a business and a home

Cathy Valencia’s living room is filled with mother and child artworks alongside pictures of her with her son. She is a very hands-on mother. In fact, her favorite room in the household is the playroom where she bonds with her 3-year-old son Cedrick.

Even in motherhood, Charisse shows her love for photographs. Displayed proudly in her living room is a studio picture of her while pregnant with her son. “Gusto ko kasi maalala from time to time ‘yung feeling ng buntis,” she said. She also showed “Powerhouse” her volumes of coffee table books of their family trips, which she made herself.

Though not celebrities, Cathy and Charisse both have fair shares in the limelight not only because of their clients but most importantly because they excel in their respective fields. “Kailangan ito talaga ‘yung passion nila para hindi maging ‘work’ ‘yung trabaho nila,” Cathy advised aspiring businesswomen.

“If you’re doing what you love best, you can never go wrong,” Charisse said. She also believes that success does not happen overnight. “Bago ka magnegosyo, kailangan mong magtrabaho. Hindi ka magiging mabuting employer kung hindi ka magiging employee,” she added. —Isabelle Laureta/CM, GMA News