Not a lot of things last for ten years. Clothes can barely last for five. A brand-new car depreciates after purchase and takes a lot of effort to maintain. A relationship can last that long with a lot of work, open communication, and trust between partners.

This is why reaching a 10-year milestone is extra special. When something lasts for a decade, this means riding out the highs and lows, overcoming challenges and changes, and coming out the other side wiser and more experienced.

At Vitalstrats Creative Solutions (VCS), we are proud to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of our Senior Finance and Human Resources Supervisor, Noemi Borrinaga.

Meet Cute and an Invitation

Affectionately known as Ms. Noemi to Team VCS, Ms. Noemi’s VCS journey began at an unlikely place—at another Events and Video Production Company in Quezon City

In 2002, Ms. Noemi was working as an Assistant to the General Manager at another company, undertaking admin and finance roles. This was where she met a newly-hired fresh graduate Production Assistant, Amrei Dizon.

Ms. Noemi and young Amrei worked closely through those years on tasks involving budget releases and liquidation. Ms. Noemi would catch and correct Amrei’s liquidation mistakes, tell Amrei not to use the food budget allowance to buy magazines, and remind Amrei not to waste too much toilet paper as all of that is reflected in the company’s expenses.

“Naabutan ako ni Noemi as a defiant, immature, artist kid,” says Amrei. “She was like a big sis to me, often equipped with kwento and wisdom on how to navigate the super stressful work.”

In a couple of years, Amrei would decide that she was not a good fit with her work. By 2004, Amrei started her own Quezon City-based creative advertising agency, VCS.

During VCS’ early years, the marketing agency tried to work with a couple of administrative personnel, but they were young and inexperienced and didn’t know how to set up efficient systems. VCS even tried hiring an experienced admin personnel from an established multinational advertising company, but this one made a huge printing mistake that cost VCS ₱100,000 to correct.

In 2008, Amrei invited Ms. Noemi to work with VCS as a freelance administrative personnel, with permission from Ms. Noemi’s regular job. The task involved bookkeeping, record keeping, cash flow management, reporting financial transactions, and coordinating with the agency’s accountant.

“Every Saturday, I went to the VCS office to do their payroll and admin stuff,” says Ms Noemi. “After I resigned from my previous work in 2011, I became a simple housewife. My dream in life is to raise a simple family and have no other focus but the family. A year later, I asked Amrei if I can work for VCS full time. I was hired on Feb 15, 2012.”

“Being a 23-24 year old with no Finance or Accounting background, madali akong mapaikot noon,” says Amrei about VCS’ early years. “I had trust issues. But when Noemi joined the team, nakampante ako. I knew I could trust her. We could not have made it in the start-up phase without Noemi’s help and contributions.”

Through thick and thin

”When I first joined VCS, it was like a baby company,” says Ms. Noemi. “There was no system. The employees were always late.”

All companies go through growing pains in its early years, and Ms. Noemi has seen VCS through some of its roughest times. A true testament to her character was that she was able to stay until the marketing agency found more stable footing.

“There were times when the creative agency was running out of cash and we had no more funds for salaries,” says Amrei. “We were a poor and struggling company when we started. Just getting by project after project, and not really certain if there would be new projects coming in. Noemi was always the one breaking the news to me. “Amrei, sweldo na uli. Kulang na ang funds natin.”

“Kinabahan din ako noon, pero nagagawan lagi ng paraan,” says Ms. Noemi. “Dumating din yung point na umuutang kami at may interest, para mabayaran ang payroll ng VCS. Pero nabayaran naman yun agad!”

As Ms. Noemi witnessed the creative agency grow and change through the years, she has contributed much to its systems and found opportunities to mentor others as well.

“When I joined VCS formally as a partner, I became Noemi’s immediate manager,” says Finance and Human Resources Director, Teejai Joson. “Noemi taught me a lot of things. I didn’t have any exposure to admin and finance processes for a small business at the time. Galing ako dati sa corporate and banks. Noemi was really helpful in making me comfortable in this new role. The team really looks up to her as someone na solid sa VCS, a pillar.”

Loyalty is a two-way street

“From day 1 at VCS, I felt valued,” says Ms. Noemi. “I joined the marketing agency because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I saw how VCS focuses on building a passionate team. VCS has made me feel like family. I have the full support from Ms. Teejai and the VCS team.”

”Noemi is able to live the core values of VCS and really cares for the agency,” says Teejai. “Talagang makikita mo sa work ni Noemi na she likes what she is doing.”

“Noemi is very trustworthy and reliable,” Teejai adds. “She handles the agency’s finance transactions among other function, and that is a major thing. We trust her to ensure na okay ang finances, na bago pa magkaproblema ay ginagawan na niya ng paraan. Also, because of her calmness and kind and motherly nature, kumportable ang team na lumapit sa kanya pag may concerns sa admin and HR.”

At a time when younger employees believe that jumping from one company to the next in a handful of years helps them grow their career, Ms. Noemi is a rare gem. The secret, Ms. Noemi says, starts with the employer.

“Employee loyalty starts with employer loyalty,” she says. “Employees should feel that the company supports them to do the job with competence and efficiency.”

“VCS culture is about always looking out for the team’s welfare,” she adds. “The creative agency truly values employees’ work-life balance, and is very generous in benefits that enable us to grow.”

“Company loyalty is a two-way street,” agrees Teejai. “A company cannot expect an employee to be loyal if it does not promote their welfare. There has to be genuine care for employees. When employees don’t feel that they are valued, they will always seek out something better.”

In this vein, VCS is committed to recognizing the efforts and contributions of each team member, and is dedicated to rewarding team members accordingly through promotions and merit increases. More than that, the marketing agency is wholeheartedly invested in its employees’ growth by giving Team VCS opportunities to learn and be the best version of themselves.