“ You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’ re not passionate enough from the start, you’ ll never stick it out.”
— STEVE JOBS, Inventor and Co-Founder of Apple the health benefits of spa treatments, he wanted to broaden the client range by making his spa experience as affordable as possible.
“ Re-introducing and popularizing the Filipino traditional massage, Hilot, to every Filipino is by far the biggest accomplishment in my life,” says Montalbo.“ I grew up with Hilot. Hilot has been a part of Filipino culture for thousands of years and it remains as an integral part of many communities in the Philippines today.”
Hilot is a concoction of bodywork, art, instruments, herbal medicine and even religion. Montalbo remembers that he was laughed at when he included Hilot in the menu of his very first spa.“ Swedish and Thai massages were the most popular spa services during that time and it was a struggle for me to study and maintain the integrity of Hilot while suiting it in the spa setting,” he remembers.“ I really worked hard to unite traditional Hilot principles with spa standards. I merged my knowledge of Hilot and Western medicine. I fought hard to educate and convince clients that the‘ supernatural’ Hilot can be a professional spa service. And now, after 10 years, Hilot has been synonymous with the Mont Albo Massage Hut brand. And most important of all, almost every spa in the Philippines is now offering Hilot.”
Mont Albo Massage Hut has since grown from one small spa with only a few beds to one of the most successful spa franchises in the Philippines.
“ Starting an enterprise from scratch, without much capital and formal business education, was a huge challenge,” says Montalbo.“ I really have to be diligent in researching, attending seminars, enrolling in massage schools, reading books and asking around just to learn everything in a very fast pace.”
At 37, Montalbo is younger than most of his franchisees. He leads them through his extensive knowledge and reputation in the industry.“ I guess my reputation, years of experience and love for Hilot and the spa industry have permeated through them that before they sign the franchise agreement, they are fully aware of me as their leader. They have full trust and respect in every decision I make. My age doesn’ t matter to them.”
He does, however, understand the challenges his generation faces in finding a purpose in a career. His advice for young people wishing to be leaders in their field?“ Innovate but be sincere in your intentions. Be passionate in your industry because it will give you the thrill in life. Your passion will give you a sense of purpose and a never-ending reason to learn, improve and grow. Passion is like a rocket that will propel you forward and upward as a leader.”
Although Dr. Nol Montalbo is young, his leadership skills, dedication and enthusiasm have helped him go from humble beginnings to great success in the industry.
March / April 2017 ■ PULSE 35