Long hard climb

IMELDA «Mel» Dominguez hails from a family of achievers, with all 12 siblings completing college through the hard work and dedication of their parents, Francisco and Esperanza.

As the president and chief executive officer of Dominguez Marketing Communication Inc., Dominguez credits her parents for their values of integrity, honesty and humility.

«My parents taught us respect, fairness and kindness,» she shared with The Manila Times.

«My father, an aircraft mechanic, eventually started our family business, Transman Machine Shop, while my mother ran a store from home. They worked tirelessly to ensure we received a good education.»

Growing up, Dominguez and her siblings were no strangers to teamwork and responsibility.

«We all shared household chores,» she recalled. «Even with limited means, our home was clean, and there was always good food for family and guests. My father was a fair businessman and a loyal, devoted family man — a great role model.»

In 1995, Dominguez launched Dominguez Marketing Communication Inc., armed with just a laptop, business cards and determination.

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«Courage became the cornerstone of the company, sustaining it as we near our 30th anniversary next year,» she said proudly. Her motivations included achieving financial stability and flexibility as a single mother of three, a passion for her work in public relations and seizing opportunities, particularly in information technology (IT) and the emerging internet industry in the Philippines.

Dominguez's company played a pivotal role in introducing IT concepts to media professionals and the public.

Over the years, Dominguez Marketing became a leading PR agency in the IT field, launching well-known brands like HP and Cisco.

The business expanded with Events@Work in 1999 to meet growing client demands for event production, digital marketing and creative services.

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Today, Dominguez Marketing operates as a lean team of 25, working closely with consultants, freelancers and partner agencies.

«We keep our overhead low, a lesson reinforced by the pandemic,» Dominguez explained.

The agency has diversified beyond technology, taking on clients in various industries, from health care