When it comes to business, Jessie Maloles , CEO of Bless Amare Group of Companies, follows the simple philosophy of gratitude: “Share the blessings.”
By Kristel Dacumus-Lagorza
“Mahilig talaga akong kumain. Wala akong ibang bisyo kundi kumain lang. (I have no other vice, except for eating),” laughs Jessie Maloles, explaining the origins of her journey as an entrepreneur.
The mother of five and Mrs. Asia International 2014 runner-up was a happy homemaker for decades, but was recently tickled by curiosity to become a businesswoman. In 2016, she established Bless Amare Group of Companies with a partner.
A true foodie at heart, this proud Davaoeño who grew up in GenSan wanted to try her hand out in F&B. “I came into this with an open mind, to be honest,” shares the Business Administration graduate from Holy Trinity College. “The only experience I had prior was working in a hardware store for a Chinese entrepreneur when I was a student. And that’s about it!” she laughs. Despite this, she’s unperturbed in pursuing this new challenge.
A charming woman, who has a striking resemblance to actress Rita Avila (which was the very line her husband, Octavio “Rico” DeSantos Maloles II, son of an ambassador, used to break the ice with her on their first meeting), Jessie dove in, head first as an entrepreneur, taking under her wing the relatively known restaurant, Las Paellas, which was later renamed Bless Las Paellas.
Under Jessie’s management, Las Paellas, known for its Spanish classics partnered with Filipino favorites, flourished and is performing incredibly well. It currently has branches in Taguig, Parañaque, Laguna and Greenhills. Under the umbrella of the Bless Amare Group, Jessie also acquired another casual restaurant, Bless Okiniiri Japanese Resto, which is a tabehoudai (buffet) located in the foodie capital of BF Homes in Parañaque.
To date, Las Paellas has grown to four branches, and a second Okiniiri branch opened in February 2018.
From her love of indulging people with sumptuous delicacies, Jessie has expanded her business to nourishing the soul through her brand of boutique hotels. “Through our hotels, we want to offer our guests a beautiful, inspiring corner to relax and recuperate. Nurturing the spirit is as important as feeding the physical body,” she explains.
Jessie is proud to introduce their new properties, two of the many boutique hotels (which are already in the pipeline), which form part of her grander vision: Bless Amare Boutique Hotel in Parañaque and Bless Amare Sunrise Resort in Mindanao.
As a hands-on CEO, Jessie oversees the operations, and has even taken a keen interest in designing every detail of the hotel. “I’m especially particular with the interiors. I didn’t hire an interior designer, because I know what I want and I want it executed according to my vision,” she says. Bless Amare Boutique Hotel in Parañaque shows Jessie’s designer’s touch and her passion for travel with the Santorini-inspired interiors and Mediterranean architecture. Opened in 2016, the hotel houses 12 boutique rooms that exude a plush yet intimate ambiance.
Bless Amare Sunrise Resort in Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, on the other hand, is every beach-lover’s paradise with white sand beaches, clear crystal blue seas and a vibrant marine life and corals spread that’s found beneath serene waters. Guests can easily slip into a worry-free, laidback vacation experience with accommodations that are meant to help you forget the stresses of work—even for just a few days.
Soon, Jessie plans to introduce another Amare Boutique Hotel in Davao and Bless Amare Sunset Resort in Batangas. “More than just building the Bless Amare brand, I’m expanding my business so that I can employ more people. I feel that that is the best way I can help out my community,” she explains.
For Jessie, “blessed” is not only the word that best describes the state of her life now, but also captures how she aims to live her future days. “When you hear the word ‘bless,’ you normally associate it with ‘blessings.’ In Tagalog, pinagpala. And there are no obstacles to a blessing; it is freely given and received.
“So I live my life being grateful for all the blessings that are coming into my life, and by becoming a blessing to others,” she says. Paying it forward thus has become an integral part of her business.
“God has always been at the center of my life,” she shares. “He is the source of the blessings and the One who provides. In business and in life, He sustains.”
Her deep spirituality spills over and inspires the people who work for her. Every Tuesday and First Friday of the month, the company hosts Mass, and employees are encouraged to take part in the outreach programs, which the company regularly hosts.
“As much as possible, we want to give back to the community through activities held not only in Manila, but across the country. We’ve hosted feeding programs in Mindanao, helped the disabled through several programs and the like,” she beams proudly.
As dedicated as she is in her charitable efforts outside, when it comes to her own employees, Jessie becomes an even more generous mother figure. Aside from the law-mandated 13th month pay, Jessie offers additional bonuses to her employees throughout the year, especially when they meet their targets.
Jessie explains their company’s unique policy, “I believe in the circulation of money. When business performance is good, the profit goes around. We do not keep the entire profit to ourselves; we share it with those who work for us.”
Though just a few years into the new chapter of her life as an entrepreneur, Jessie Maloles has shown how success can be achieved through a powerful combination of hard work and a light heart. “I think we’ve found success so easily because we believe in sharing. Blessings are meant to be shared and paid forward. The more you share and give, the bigger the rewards you reap. Now that’s a return on investment that every business person wants,” she says.
(This story first appeared in the June-July 2018 issue of PeopleAsia)
