Getting to know Philthoma

MANILA, Philippines - What started as a group engaged in light banter has evolved into a cause-heavy organization. That pretty much sums up the humble evolution of the Philippine Tourism and Hospitality Officers and Marketers Association (Philthoma).

A core group of six marketing-specialist hoteliers banded together seven years ago with the idea of forming a kind of support group for fellow hoteliers. This group, mostly hotel sales staff and account executives, would meet after office hours and discuss personal and professional lives among themselves.

“When we noticed that the membership was beginning to grow,” says Philthoma founding president Edward Bancairen. “We thought it best to institutionalize it. Before I knew it, I was already chosen as the president. The president’s term runs for a year, after which a new leader would be elected by the members.” The current Philthoma president is Linden Suites director of sales and marketing Dominic Dorol.

Philthoma basically gathers together sales people of the hospitality industry for camaraderie, friendship, and networking. Members join the association on their personal capacities and not as representatives of their hotels or companies.

“We want to help fellow hoteliers,” Bancairen continues. “If there are vacant positions in various hotels or companies, we give suggestions and advice to new members. We are practically headhunters for them.”

The group’s advocacy is also to nurture young aspiring hoteliers in the hospitality management sector to train and mentor them. Philthoma’s officers and members, after all, also include hoteliers-turned-travel agents, general managers, directors and assistant directors of sales and marketing, and hotel owners. “So the network is really wide, from the hospitality industry to the travel industry. As a support group, we are here to help these young members find their place in these industries,” Bancairen says.

Philthoma is registered as a non-profit charitable organization. Two of its beneficiaries are the Asilo de San Vicente de Paul and the Family Foundation. Its annual charity events and beneficiaries continue to grow, too. If there is a calamity, Philthoma quickly responds through anonymous donations to leading charitable media institutions. Money collected from membership dues immediately goes to charity.

“Sometimes it is used for Philthoma’s leisure activities. Mind you, our gatherings are paid for using our personal accounts,” Bancairen says.

Aspiring members are pre-screened by the officers. These neophytes are required to attend three times the general membership meeting every 15th of the month. It is during these meetings that they learn about Philthoma’s values of communication, friendship, and professionalism, among others.

Philthoma’s ventures also extend to helping students, with the members accepting speaking engagements for hotel and restaurant management and tourism students. These engagements are done pro bono, as the young ones are encouraged to harness their potentials.

Those interested in becoming members may want to attend the group’s meetings at the Pearl Garden coffee shop in Malate, Manila, 12:30 to 1 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

Meanwhile, Philthoma is preparing for its seventh anniversary, wherein more charitable events are being lined up — indeed a far cry from the association’s early days. What probably started out as a joke has evolved into something that is no laughing matter.