Nurse shifts focus, tries luck in business

CEBU, Philippines -  A registered nurse, ramp model and beauty queen decided to take a gamble and enter the world of business at her young age in order to prove something to herself and to her family.

A travel agency is the first business venture of Cristlet Rase Gerona as the 21-year old risk-taker wanted to shift from her usual routines.

Gerona was crowned as Ms. Pagadian 2011, joined the Ms. Philippines Earth 2012, and was awarded as Ms. Photogenic and Ms. Ever Bilena.

She admitted that she decided to become an entrepreneur since it is hard to find a job nowadays.

Describing her business venture as a “suicidal step” since she does not have any experience or entrepreneurial background, Gerona strived to undergo trainings, seminars and self-study program on how to manage and run a business.

“This is really a big responsibility for me. I want to make sure that we offer quality service when handling and dealing with our clients to ensure customer satisfaction,” she said.

Gerona bought the first franchise of Travel Lab Agency in Cebu with an initial investment of P400,000.

Travel Lab Agency is a full-service agency that provides travel-related products and services to customers on behalf of suppliers such as airlines, car rentals, cruise lines, hotels, railways, sightseeing tours and holiday packages.

With Gerona’s case, it is also a ticketing channel for 5 domestic and 198 international flights.

The company also offers promo packages, fun tours, educational tours, spiritual tours, passport processing, NSO assistance, visa processing, hotel booking and reservations and international calling.

She recently opened the 20-square meter branch of Travel Lab Agency at The Boulevard, Osmeña Boulevard, Capitol Site, Cebu City.

She further revealed that she will expand her travel agency by offering money exchange and transfer business services by next year.

As a travel person herself, she considered the travel business as a booming enterprise with the influx of domestic and foreign travelers and tourists in the country.

She cited Cebu, in particular, has good foot traffic especially with students from other provinces who have to study, temporarily stay in the city and travel back and forth the provinces who account majority of the domestic market share for travel agencies.

Travel Lab Agency was founded last December 26, 2010 at Guisokan, Zamboanga del Norte by Irene, Clariz, Dimple, Charisse, and Cherryl Labadlabad. (FREEMAN)