Tough Nat to crack

“At my age, I've been through a lot. I always believed in the saying that, 'If you fall seven times, stand up eight.'”

THE word resilience should have been part of Nat Arcega's name.

“At my age, I've been through a lot,” Arcega, chief executive officer (CEO) of Arce Tours and Travel Inc. told The Manila Times.

“I always believed in the saying that, 'If you fall seven times, stand up eight.' When I sent the Marikina branch launch video to my family, former colleagues and to everyone who witnessed my journey, they were so happy and proud of me.

“They can see happiness in my eyes. Not everything that glitters is gold. That's why I've been strategic with the way we accept clients and meet their demands.”

In 2001, Arcega put up her travel agency where she was the CEO from the onset.

“Arce Tours and Travel was born from a unique blend of passion, expertise and a touch of serendipity,” Arcega shared.

With a background in the airline and travel industry, Arcega nurtured relationships with her clients like PTV4, a connection that would later pave the way for remarkable opportunities.

Arce Tours and Travel now has two branches — one in Ortigas and the newly opened Marikina branch.

“The Ortigas branch started in 2019, and it was starting to get traction with new and old clients requiring our services when the pandemic hit,” Arce offered.

“The travel industry was one of the gravely affected industries where everything stopped. That's why it took four years before we opened a new branch.”

The travel agency recently partnered with the Malaysian Embassy in visa processing for Filipino professionals and students who wish to go to Malaysia. The ambassador (Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino bin Anthony) even went to the Arce Tours and Travel's Marikina office when it opened last month (October).

Arcega is a member of the Rotary Club Malate Prime. Her fellow Rotarian endorsed her to the Malaysian Embassy. “They are also my clients, and they liked the service and professionalism of Arce Tours and Travel,” the owner beamed.

With a lot of travel agencies just around Metro Manila, Arce Tours and Travel stands out by providing not just destinations. “Rather, it provides experiences,” Arcega said. “That makes our office different or stand out from the others.

“Our company provides assistance to corporate clients with incentive tours, international conferences and seminars, visa processing for international destinations as well as seamless transportation arrangements via land, sea and air for domestic travelers.”

In the third decade of Arce Tours and Travel, Arcega expects her travel agency to still expand and even make residents abroad experience the services of the company.

“It's my dream to make any kind of travel accessible to every Filipino,” Arcega said. “Whether by land, air or sea travel, Arce Tours and Travel will make your travel better.

“Right now, we already have two branches in Metro Manila, but eventually, we want to also be available abroad to cater to travelers who want to visit the Philippines. I want other nationalities and our kababayans abroad to experience the service that Arce Tours and Travel provides here in Metro Manila.

“Travel has always been my passion. Clients get to go to the places that they've been dreaming to go to without scrimping. With Arce, they won't feel ripped off because we give them their money's worth.”

During the long pandemic, Arce Tours and Travel was closed down.

“Everything was paused, so I set up an online order of food delivery as a side business while on lockdown, and I'm the one who actually cooks the dishes,” Arcega disclosed.

Through the years, everything that Arcega ventured in was related to travel. To work in an airline industry was her initial childhood ambition.

“Everything that I've worked for is related to travel,” Arcega shared.

“I don't want to do anything else that's not related to travel assistance. I wanted to work in the airline industry because of the influence of my mother. But it didn't happen because I got interested in entrepreneurship eventually.”

Arcega took up Tourism at the University of Santo Tomas then finished her MBA (Master of Business Administration) at the Ateneo Business School.

“I went to London in 2019 with my daughter, Anastacia, and I didn't realize that that was the last time that we would be traveling because of the pandemic,” Arcega shared. “We were supposed to go to South Korea, Japan, Singapore and back to London, and some parts of Europe, but the pandemic hit.

“My daughter has been exploring, so we have our go-to places like the Disney Sea and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.”

Arcega does get a balance between her work and home. “I make sure that when my daughter is in school, that's the time I need to do my work and attend to my business,” she said. “If I go home late, then she wakes up for breakfast, I make sure that I'm always present.”

Golf is Arcega's me time and one of her favorite ways to unwind. “I do work while playing golf, but in between, I can clear my mind,” she said. “Travel is my bonding moment with my family. My daughter is super into K-pop, so I support her and accompany her to concerts.”

Helping children in a coastal community in Pampanga, where she grew up, is an advocacy close to her heart. “I donate school supplies and food supplies to grade school kids,” Arcega offered.

“Especially during the pandemic, together with family and friends, we provided food and clothing to struggling families as well. Helping never stopped because as long as we have something to give, then we must help.”

Her normal day is filled with meetings with potential clients or her marketing agency to discuss plans and approve proposals for the brand.

“On weekends, I try to squeeze in some more me time by golfing while my daughter is doing her extracurriculars as well,” she allowed.

Back in 2001, the person who pushed Arcega to start her travel business was Ariel Arcega, her Toronto, Canada-based husband.

“He was also the one who pushed me to take my MBA,” she said. “In 2007, when I was taking up my MBA, I had a coach, Francis Felizardo, previous SVP (senior vice president) of Holcim Philippines. We exchanged business readings (like “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap” and “Others Don't” by James C. Collins), and we have discussions and he coaches me.

“No matter how many times I've fallen, I can't be discouraged because of the people who've helped me. Another person that helped me hone my skills is Bibi Aquino (HR professional and certified coach). She really pushed me to get up no matter how many times I fall down, because travel is my passion and nobody knows the ins and outs of travel assistance better than me.”

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Quick questions

What is your biggest fear?

Failure.

What really makes you angry?

Tardy people. I value my time and other people's time.

What motivates you to work hard?

My daughter, Anastacia Luise Arcega.

What makes you laugh the most?

Exaggerated reactions to any mundane thing.

What would you do if you won the lotto?

Invest in real estate.

If you could share a meal with any individual living or dead, who would they be?

My grandparents because they nurtured me growing up.

What was the last book you read?

Stephen Covey's “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” I'm rereading it.

What celebrity would you like to meet for a cup of coffee?

George Clooney, so I can also meet his wife, Amal, and talk to her about her advocacies.

What is the one thing you will never do again?

Eating raw fish in Amsterdam. That was a disaster.