Settling Into the Hustle at The Company Cebu

As the days turned into weeks, I slowly eased into my internship, leaving the house at past 6 o’clock to avoid the traffic in Colon and getting to the office just shy of a few minutes from eight o’clock. 

It had been a change from the usual, as I had gotten used to waking up at 7 in the morning to prepare for a 9 or 10 o’clock class. Waking up early was one of the challenges I experienced, and still do, in those initial, slightly overwhelming days. 

Adjusting to the Hustle

Let’s be honest—the transition to the corporate ‘hustle’ was a stark contrast to my previous experiences. The days were a continuous blur; tasks spilled into evenings, and deadlines constantly shifted. It’s a fast-paced environment, and I’m learning to adapt as much as possible.

The most significant adjustment was my daily commute. Living nearly an hour and a half away, I faced a multi-leg journey, often involving crowded jeepneys and long walks. 

There were days when I arrived at the office feeling drained, but I quickly learned to adapt, finding ways to maximize my time and energy. After arriving, I would walk around the office, drink some water, and, of course, have a cup of coffee to officially start the day. 

Despite the hassle of transportation (and traffic!), each commute has become a time for reflection, a moment to prepare for the day or unwind.

From Brainstorming to a Project

As interns, one of our key tasks—whether in marketing, accounting, or human resources (HR)—was to propose and lead at least three milestone projects. This required all the interns to come together, brainstorm ideas, and agree on feasible and meaningful projects. We spent hours meeting online and in the office’s meeting room, exchanging ideas and refining our proposals. It was exciting to have the chance to pitch and lead an event ourselves—a first for some of us.

Our first project was EmpowHER, a Women’s Month event aimed at inspiring and empowering women through two talks by accomplished female speakers and open discussions. Securing the speakers was our first challenge, but we were thrilled when both quickly agreed to participate. It gave us a boost of confidence and energy as we moved forward with the event’s planning.

However, securing sponsorships was more challenging than expected, even with the company’s existing list of sponsors. I started by looking through the existing list of sponsors  whom I could contact for our event. Then, I prepared the spiel for my message that focused on the details about the event and took note of their contact details such as email address, Facebook or Instagram accounts and their contact numbers. One by one and over the weeks leading up to the event, I contacted them through Messenger, Instagram, and email. Some responded, where I discussed the details about the event, and how they could help the event. Among those I’ve reached out to, and talked with personally, agreed to support our event by sending two members to attend EmpowHER. 

Despite reaching out to numerous businesses and individuals through Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and email, most didn’t respond. Those who did often declined due to valid reasons like scheduling conflicts or budget limitations. 

As the one handling sponsorships, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed and frustrated by the lack of positive responses. But as the event date approached, I realized that dwelling on setbacks wouldn’t help. Instead, I shifted my focus to assisting in finalizing the event details—preparing the food and providing materials to decorate the venue. 

A Lesson Learned 

The hectic weeks leading up to the event blurred with a flurry of activities, papers, and memories immortalized in pictures. It was easy to get caught up in the flurry of activity; but what guided me during the creation of content was the lessons my instructors have taught me over the years.  

Learning about branding and marketing strategies in our marketing communication had been one thing I was grateful to have, as we adhered to the established branding guidelines of The Company Cebu. It was extremely helpful, when we created content for promotional materials like the meeting room promo campaign, ensuring our promotional materials maintained a consistent visual identity, a key principle we learned in our branding and marketing strategies class.

Aside from that, I also got to use what we learned in our content writing class, how to handle our social media strategy for our women’s month event, EmpowHER. Me and my fellow marketing interns, King and Steven collaborated on the creation of social media posts announcing our event, designing the theme for our event, and contacting our speakers to shoot promotional reels with them as the subject to promote our event to the public. We posted updates on social media regularly in order to keep the attention and interest of the audience from announcing the event, teasing the reveal of our speakers, and presenting the registration details and the identity of our speakers for EmpowHER. 

In the midst of applying the theoretical knowledge from my university courses, I also gained invaluable practical insights when I got to meet other people besides the staff, like Ate Ruthie, Miss Nin, Sir Lanz, and Miss Joy.

One conversation that stood out was with Ate Rona, who manages various tasks behind the scenes, from prepping the pantry to coordinating with suppliers and handling company mail. As she shared her experiences, I realized how crucial her role was—maintaining the office and ensuring both staff and clients had what they needed.

Her presence reminded me that coworking spaces don’t just rely on marketing teams or client-facing staff. They thrive because of the people who quietly keep things running—those who support the day-to-day operations with efficiency and dedication.

Looking Ahead

With my internship nearing its end, I find myself reflecting on the uncertainties ahead. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, the lessons I’ve gained at The Company Cebu will stay with me.

Some lessons came from challenges, like handling sponsorships. Others came from unexpected moments—conversations with people like Ate Rona, whose steady presence and warm smile made each day at the office a little brighter. 

Each evening, as I ride a Mango Jeep home after a fulfilling day, I carry these experiences. They’ve shaped my understanding of work, teamwork, and the value of the people who make it all possible.