Moving Gestures
When the lockdown was announced, UP Technohub property managers Shine Estrella and Mikaela Rivera had to help pull out office equipment for thousands of tenant employees—and they did it while working from home
Words by MARGA CONSTANTINO
It’s the night before the Enhanced Community Quarantine. Kristane “Shine” Estrella, 36, and Mika Rivera, 25, are on yet another con call, as they scramble to help their clients pull their equipment out of UP Technohub and work from home.
An uninterrupted stream of messages bubbles up from their laptops and phones as they work with their on-site security team to coordinate this massive undertaking for thousands of employees. Shine and Mika’s voices sound crackly and distant through their devices, and they realize it will be months before they talk face to face while they, too, work from home.
A test of commitment
UP Technohub, comprised of 16 BPOs and 30 retail tenants, is home to more than 20,000 employees. When the announcement was made that the majority of these employees would have to work from home, Shine and Mika had to find a way for clients to pull out their equipment on short notice. The usual procedure would have taken three days, but the resourceful APMC Property Managers put their heads together to expedite their process. This was especially challenging for them as they, too, were working from home to make this happen.
“UP Technohub is home to more than 20,000 employees. When the announcement was made that the majority of these employees would have to work from home, Shine and Mika had to find a way for clients to pull out their equipment on short notice.”
“We were caught off guard by this pandemic, but we needed to act with speed and urgency. We needed to exhaust all our efforts to make sure that we helped all our clients in the fastest way possible that wouldn’t affect their business. Our mantra is ‘the ease of process,’ meaning that we give our clients more convenient procedures to manage their businesses, without jeopardizing our security measures and our budget,” recalled Shine, who is also the Area Manager for North One.
Luckily, their quick thinking shortened their security process and helped thousands of employees pull out their equipment, some as quickly as overnight. It was a stressful situation for Shine and Mika, and though it tested their character, they never wavered in their dedication to keep their tenants safe from the deadly virus.
On Lockdown. Home to 16 BPOs and 30 retail tenants, the sprawling Ayala Technohub campus waits for the return of 20,000 employees who, for now, must work from home.
From clients to friends
COVID-19 affected Shine and Mika’s job in a major way, and they felt that their responsibilities were enhanced by the genuine desire to protect their clients. They always did love their job, but the pandemic made their work feel more personal.
“It’s more on being compassionate about the things you do. [The pandemic] gave me a chance to collaborate with our clients more closely and communicate more openly… it made us feel closer to them,” said Mika.
Marching forward. Shine and her UP Technohub coworkers return to work—armed with masks and an even stronger sense of teamwork.
“Their weekly client meetings, which were previously limited to business operations, now start with a sincere kamustahan.”
#AyalaCitizen Diary: Technohub reopens after thorough disinfection and signs that remind everyone about the strict safety protocols.
Mika, the eldest of three siblings, said that her “Ate instinct” kicked in when it came to caring for the UP Technohub community. This heartfelt care was so deeply appreciated that it transformed the team’s relationship with their clients. Shine noted that their weekly client meetings, which were previously limited to business operations, now start with a sincere kamustahan.
“It’s like talking as friends,” Shine said. “There is personal malasakit there because we care for them and their families.”
Let’s volt in. Quarantine helped the team realize that they can do anything as long as they work together—even if they’re working apart.
A tighter bond
The UP Technohub Property Management team had always been friends, but their constant communication during the two months they spent working from home somehow made them feel closer.
“We became tighter when we had the work-from-home setup. Everyone was always in touch, updating not just about work but also the personal things. We shared what we do at home. So we became closer and it made the job easier, actually,” said Mika.
Shine agrees that despite the stress, the team formed a much deeper connection that made their load feel much, much lighter. She believes their daily collaboration helped them to not just “survive” a difficult time but actually discover their strengths, and shine. “Distance can really make you closer.”#
PUBLISHED AUGUST 26, 2020
