‘I have learned to love the life I share with dogs.’
Monique Toda is a lovely stalwart of the hotel inudstry,an expert when it comes to providing five-star luxury dining and living.
But she has this noble dream of providing comfort — not for humans — but for senior dogs. But more on that later.
“I have been working in hotels for almost 30 years now,” says Monique, director of communications of Raffles and Fairmont Hotels, as she welcomes me into her cozy home. Monique started working in a hotel shortly after she graduated from Assumption College with a degree in communication arts specializing in public relations and journalism.
“I got my first job in late 1988 at Century Park Sheraton,” Monique continues. “My first job was as PR assistant of Charisse Chuidian (currently the VP and public relations head of City of Dreams). She is my mentor — she is the best.”
After a short stint at Century Park Sheraton, she moved to New World Makati where she spent the next 19 years in public relations. “My work started with public relations but it has evolved through the years. Today, it is now called marketing relations, which includes digital marketing.”
On the verge of retiring because she thought that she had seen and done it all as far as her career was concerned, she got a call from Raffles and Fairmont Makati.
“I moved to Raffles and Fairmont Hotel where I became part of the pre-opening (December 2012) and opening of the hotel (February 2013). If it doesn’t work out, then I will retire.”
Monique obviously likes the new challenges that come with being the director of communications because there is so much she has learned.
“There were changes in the way marketing communications was developing with the advent of digital marketing,” she explains. “It was something I had to learn as I was in a new environment. Today, I am fulfilled (although) I feel that I am still creative, resourceful and I still want to grow in the industry.”
Digital age for hotels is here
Digital marketing has grown through the years, says Monique. At the start, there were just Facebook and TripAdvisor — now, there is search engine marketing (SEM).
“My work involves overseeing the content of online travel agencies (OTA). I have to give them rates and time content for their sites,” she adds. “Our hotels need to be present online, including on social media.”
What makes a presence in digital marketing challenging is that it happens in real time — unlike before with print where it takes a few days before a review comes out since digital is real time Monique always has her smartphone close by. With the current type of marketing, the hotel has a farther reach, and it is a measurable one.
Monique knows how many people see the hotel online because of the click-through rate. She immediately sees if a person has visited the hotel’s website and has actually made a booking.
“From thinking that I already knew everything about public relations work in the hotel, I have come to a point where I discover there’s a world out there I don’t know yet,” she adds. “It has renewed by interest in my work, and I still enjoy what I’m doing.”
Two loves: Monique Toda with 14-year-old Chihuahua Pablo, a gift from her husband — adventurer and nature photographer Bengy Toda. Pablo is the first dog that Monique has called her own.
Dream for the future
After a few more years, Monique will be retiring and she hopes to fulfill her next dream: to establish an animal hospital with the profits to fund an animal shelter. “I have this dream because I live with two senior dogs — and I have learned to love the life I share with them.”
There is her baby, Pablo, a 14-year-old Chihuahua, who was given to her by her husband — adventure and nature photographer Bengy Toda. And there is 14-year-old Gloria, a Jack Russell Terrier who is Bengy’s dog.
“I became a dog lover when I got married to Bengy, who grew up with dogs,” shares Monique.
Life with senior dogs is not easy, she says. She gets nervous whenever she notices little changes in either Pablo or Gloria’s behavior.
“With senior dogs, like Pablo and Gloria, they lose their sight, become deaf, and sometimes even develop dog dementia,” says Monique. “I read up a lot on older dogs and I am in close contact with Pablo and Gloria’s vets.”
Cancer be gone
“Pablo was diagnosed with cancer sometime between 2008 and 2009,” she relates. “I was the one who brought him for his laser treatment. I did not want to leave his care to anyone else. I wanted to be the one to do it.”
And then recently, Pablo developed arthritis. Every Saturday, she takes him for treatment so that he can walk a little better.
Gloria, 14-year-old Jack Russell, is blind and deaf.
Monique makes sure that they have the best vitamins and medicines on the market to address their health needs.
“I am committed to their care until the end of their days,” she sighs.
Monique prepares herself for the time when the dogs may have to be put to sleep.
“I will know when that time comes,” she says. “I have done it in the past where I had to decide it was time to put Bengy’s dogs to sleep — it was very hard, but I knew that their health was deteriorating.”
Monique has already planned what to do when Pablo’s or Gloria’s time comes — but she adds that she will never really be ready for it.
“I don’t want them to be in pain, so if they are in chronic pain, I will know that it is time,” she says. “I will make sure that they are in my arms, so that they will go knowing that they are loved.”
But for now, Pablo and Gloria are just two senior dogs living life as healthy as can be.
“I am happy knowing that I am going to be with them as they go through all their ailments,” she shares. “I am going to see them through it all. I will care for Pablo and Gloria the best way I can.”
Monique says that she has even started following Instagram accounts that focus on senior dogs such as @susiesseniordogs owned by Erin Stanton. Susie’s Senior Dogs on Facebook, with its advocacy for the welfare of elderly dogs, has over 500,000 fans. Erin started drawing awareness to the rescue and adoption of senior dogs right after the death of her own dog Susie.
“I started to follow her because I found her admirable,” adds Monique. “And I learned that there are people who actually adopt senior dogs who are sick.”
These things are all-too-familiar to Monique. She loves spending time with senior dogs Pablo and Gloria.
She says, “They know when I am hurt — it’s as if we were connected on another level. And even if Gloria can’t see me, she can smell me and sense my presence. The dogs just want to be with me.”
After a hard day’s work at the hotel, that is something Monique Toda loves coming home to.