MANILA, Philippines - They say a woman who espouses strong family values will always be a winner before men and God. Taking that into consideration, it is very easy to tell the way she honors her father and mother Erica Sotto will always be victorious.
You ask Erica Sotto, 28, about the biggest blessing in her life and without skipping a heartbeat she will joyfully tell you: “My family.”
“My family inspires me to be the best I can be and to always enjoy life and value the people around me the best way I can. I have a very close-knit family. All of us in my clan are taught to look up to our parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents,” says Erica, the director of communications of Makati Shangri-La Hotel since last year.
Her moral moorings were firmly set by her parents, Aster and Peanuts, who taught her that, “those who are determined and committed are rewarded, both in life and love. From them I have learned that hard work certainly pays off, and there are no short cuts to success.”
“Their love for each other inspires me,” she adds.
Because she has experienced how to be cared for, Erica, a Business Economics graduate of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, knows how to let others experience care from her, too. To the hotel that she works for, she also knows how to give her all.
“I’m just very grateful for the opportunity and overwhelmed by the support from both the hotel and the people I work with daily,” says Erica, who was the director of communications of Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa in 2009. Prior to that, she was Makati Shangri-La Hotel’s assistant communications manager in 2007. Before her stint at the hotel, Erica was doing corporate banking for Citibank for two years.
She quips, “Communication is a very dynamic field, more so for the hotel. Since no two working days are alike, you have to be ready for anything; and this is actually what makes the job very exciting.”
Challenging as her job maybe, Erica always faces the day with confidence.
“Pray for the best but be ready for the worst. And at the end of the day, prayers are not left unanswered if you have an honest heart and you know how to pay it forward,” Erica concludes.
Photography by MAU AGUASIN • Creative direction
by LUIS ESPIRITU, JR. • Styling by MIKKA VELASQUEZ • Makeup by PIA REYES • Hairstyling by TERESA MATIC • Jewelry by MILADAY JEWELS • Shot on location at the DIAMOND HOTEL PHILIPPINES • Special thanks to the management and staff of Diamond Hotel Philippines