Tough Nat to crack

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