Brighthouse’s Teresa Prieto believes in clean living

Making sure that shopping malls and hospitals are clean is a lucrative business for Teresa Prieto, owner and president of Brighthouse. Six years ago, Teresa started her business by doing the dusting and vacuuming of private houses herself. Customers were impressed by the industriousness of our bachelorette. Thus, the company grew. From one young girl lagging her vacuum cleaner up the steps, Brighthouse now has 200 employees. Janitorial work like polishing the floors of Rockwell and Crossings shopping malls keep the company busy. Her other business venture GQ Manpower employs 100 waiters who are stationed at various restaurants.

Teresa, 30, has yet another company called Clean Team which cleans windows and facades of buildings. Nothing is too small a job for Teresa who is happy to clean sofas, vacuum beds and scrub bathrooms for residential homes.

Still eager to conquer more territory, Teresa is planning to open a salon for dogs. Pampering dogs is her pleasure and with the grooming skills she learned on a three-month course in New York, she plans to open her parlor on P. Burgos Street, Makati.

What is the first thing you look for when you meet a woman?

Most of my friends are men; I like gregarious people who are very outspoken about everything.

Which living person do you admire most?

All the people who can give other people jobs and those who are very compassionate. People who are selfless.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?

My family. Right after my family, it is Ripley, my cocker spaniel, whom I saved from a dog pound in Florida.

What is your passion?

Being around animals and scuba diving.

What sports do you like most?

I just started playing badminton at Power Smash and Polo Club.

What film influenced your life?

One of the best films I have seen is The Big Blue.

What is your greatest fear?

Hmm… Not being able to reach out to people.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I can be very impulsive at times.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

That they judge people without actually knowing them.

What is your motto?

"Until you can…"

What is your greatest extravagance?

Diving.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Am not really sure but maybe that I am able to help all these people that work for us.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Living at the beach with friends and family and many dogs.

Which living person do you most identify with?

Well, I see a lot of myself in my mother, Nini, and in my dad, Mike.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

I can’t say because I don’t like contemplating on miserable things and I try to think only of happy thoughts.

What does your mom often say to you?

"Try always to be compassionate."

What is your favorite journey?

Spiritual.

Name an embarrassing moment at work?

When I submitted the wrong quotation… I was able to fix it before the customer realized that it was the wrong one.

How do you see life?

As a challenge.

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E-mail: babycamp2 @yahoo. co.uk.