Getting to Know the Lourd: The Man Behind Creations by Lourd Ramos

Getting to Know the Lourd: The Man Behind Creations by Lourd Ramos

Friday, January 4

As long as there are people who want to look their best, Lourd will deliver.

Lourd Ramos has become a household name in the beauty industry. Since opening his Creations by Lourd Ramos Salon at upscale locations all over Metro Manila, Lourd Ramos has, so to speak, lorded over the beauty scene.

Besides being the creative director of his eponymous salons, he is the reigning Hair Care Expert for TRESemmé. He was also named the brand ambassador for internationally-renowned brands such as Smashbox from 2006-2009 when he trained, lived and worked in Los Angeles; and the Davines Italia Philippines Grand Winner in its 2007 Hair Competition.

Lourd is also the current president of the Philippine International Cosmetology Association. As the head of the in-house makeover team of the series since Cycle 1, Lourd was tapped as judge at Asia’s Next Top Model Season 3 (2015).

“I will never reach this point in my life without faith. And with that formidable faith came people who have been constant sources of inspiration for me. From esteemed men and and women who created worlds of wonder through their lenses to comrades who continuously prodded me on, from peers I called family backstage to icons who willingly shared the spotlight on-cam, I salute you all,” he writes in the self-published Imprint: The Book of Creations.

An eager student at the onset of his career, he trained under Victor Ortega at the BCBG Salon 6750 in 2000. A string of industry legends soon mentored the young and promising upstart: Ricky Reyes, Tony Galvez and Henri Calayag.

“I got hooked: the fun of shampooing and blow drying, the buzz of trusted conversation between a client and her stylist, the scent that lingered in the whole area as we fluttered around to make everyone beautiful,” he fondly recalls.

“At Emphasis Salon, we were handled and personally taught by my teacher/icon/mentor/idol Teng Roma. It was about this time that ‘parlors’ turned into ‘salons’ and with the change in terminology came an entire change in mindset and innovation. The salon industry transitioned into what it is today--- a status of luxury living,” he shares.

Working in the cutthroat world of beauty has been a constant learning process. “I am constantly moved by people of pure talent and great substance. When I meet people whether through work or socials, I look at them with awe and admiration, instantly becoming a fan of their work, their presence, their person. Because of who and how they are and what they stand for, I am constantly inspired to make my own mark in the world,” Lourd says.

Through the years, his magic hands has touched the country’s most beautiful, the influential and powerful: Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi, Cristalle Belo Pitt, Juana Manahan-Yupangco, Helen Ong, Judith Tan, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Katarina Rodriguez, Maxine Medina, Maggie Wilson, Kelly Misa, Jodilly Pendre and Catriona Gray.

In all branches of Creations (including BF Homes, Paraňaque; Greenfield, Mandaluyong; Somerset Olympia; and BGC Taguig), clients can choose from several services: haircut, color, hi-lites, Keratin, treatment, rebond, manicure, pedicure, and hair and makeup. Or they can avail themselves of either of Lourd’s Vidal Sassoon-level signature styles: the Rihanna cut or the short symmetrical bob.

“I’ve admittedly undergone a series of evolutions in my life and throughout my career. During each phase, however, what remains the same is my desire to create. Together with equally fired-up artists, I thrive on this uninhibited process of creating,” Lourd declares. “When one is in that mood, there are no limits to freedom of expression. There are only continuous nudges to move beyond one’s comfort zone. I find that I live to create and re-create. This has defined both my passion and purpose.”

“With a chain of salons to my name and a formidable reputation as a hair and beauty expert, I am filled with the same zest for my craft,”Lourd assures. The excitement has never wavered. I still feel as eager as I did on that life-changing day in 2000.”

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Baldwin Cham Velasco: A Finance Man with a Generous Heart

Baldwin Cham Velasco: A Finance Man with a Generous Heart

Friday, March 23

“You are defined by three things: your passion, your words and your loyalty. In business, I always believe that a man is as good as his words. Business is not about scheming or going under the table, but rather, strategizing and being successful through merits and keeping your promises. Loyalty and trust are earned through time and lost in a minute. Business is an opportunity to create relationships wherein all stakeholders are happy, in the ideal world. When faced with inevitable challenges, strive to stay positive, optimistic and endure. Failures create opportunities for us to become better versions of ourselves. Everything is about having setting a goal and achieving it, if circumstances do not lead you closer then it, then it only derails you. Always have a grateful heart and a purpose. These are the principles that I try to live by in business as well as in life."

As eloquently said by the successful Executive Vice President of Filcredit Finance & Capital Development Corporation, Baldwin Cham Velasco, who has been with the company since May 2012. In just a span of 6 years, Velasco now manages a portfolio close to PHP500 million and manages all aspects of the financing company.

“I ensure the maximum recovery and collections of all regular, remedial, delinquent and bad accounts through negotiations, compromise, amicable settle and legal remedies. I make sure to exhaust all means necessary to collect through amicable settlements while maintaining good relations and proper documentation for the maximum security of Filcredit,” said Velasco.

Filcredit Finance and Capital Development Corporation (Filcredit) is a finance company that has been offering financial products and services since 1990. Filcredit provides a reliable source of working capital financing to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The company continues to further reinvent itself and is now diversifying their products, including micro financing in its financial offerings. Composed of a team of highly-skilled professionals, Filcredit’s goal is to help companies better manage their cash flow so they can focus more on production, sales, business development, and of course, increase their bottom line.

As with any financial company, Velasco admits that constant creativity and resourcefulness are very important aspects which are needed to successfully manage the company’s treasury and renegotiate with the company’s non-cooperative accounts and convert them into cooperative compliant ones.

“I lead a very lean organization while ensuring to manage the treasury of the company the best way I know how. I create various business solutions and remedies for various SMEs to ensure their continuous survival and further grow their business through financial partnering. I am very passionate of this and I believe that in business, as well as in life, there should always be a win-win solution, regardless of the situation,” added Velasco.

And to always achieve a win-win solution for both parties, Velasco says that it is crucial for people to always maintain good professional relationships with everyone around them, most importantly their banks and other financial institutions they are in business with. This way, their line of credit will always remain to be a viable option, should the need arises.

Velasco is in the business of managing relationships and as with this kind of business, relationship, being the operative word, is all about honesty, transparency, and trust. These three key traits comprise the secret to his success and continue to be the driving force to his management style.

“I truly believe that my success really stems from these three innate qualities – being honest, transparent, and being trustworthy. I always try to incorporate these in the work environment that I am in and manifest itself in how I work with people and vice versa. By championing these traits, whether it be in the workplace or with my clients, I find that when the trust has been established, the sense of security is increased and people start feeling more empowered, thus leading to more productivity and a better outlook on life. Yes, over time, these priorities may change but what should never change, is my personal commitment to be as open, honest and be as transparent as possible, with the people I work with, and this I feel has made all the difference,” said Velasco.

As an aspiring philanthropist, It is Baldwin’s passion to also help the gay community and is a donor at the Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines, focusing on empowering HIV-positive occasional or habitual drug users who want to change by providing them with medications, assistance, counseling and other interventions that would help them have better lives.

Baldwin Cham Velasco took up Master of Arts in Psychology, Major in Industrial Organization, as well as Bachelor of Arts in Management Economics at Ateneo de Manila University. His works has been published including his research on LGBT Workplace Discrimination; provided research on Social Entrepreneurship entitled, “Pathways” and contributed content for the book, “For the People, With the People: Developing Social Enterprises in the Philippines”, which won the Cardinal Sin Catholic Best Book in Ministry during the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 2010. He was also the presenter for the Psychological Association of the Philippines for the research that he did on Social Entrepreneurship, Pathways in 2009.

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