Women at the Helm - Planters Development Bank

SMEFeatureMore often than not, we hear of flyby-nightstaking advantage of Filipinohopefuls in search of a better fortuneabroad. These “sharks”, as the industrylabels them, are known to siphon moneyfrom their client—hoarding outrageouslylarge sums and vanish into thin air,leaving their victims with two choices:either to learn from the experience,move on and turn such adversity intoopportunity or wallow in despair forlengths of time.Janet Altamarino of Ultimate VisaCorporation was a victim of suchdubiousness. But what could have beenthe most catastrophic episode in her life,she turned into a mine of opportunitiesand an avenue to give back.She realized that it was a necessary evilshe had to go through to establish abusiness that would soon help countlessFilipinos in fulfilling their dreams. Shedesigned her business in such a waythat their clients’ trust and confidenceare built in them. Trustworthiness,after all, is essential in a business whereconfidentialities are to be disclosed. Shehas been there. She knows quite wellhow it is to be swindled, and it is hermission not to let it happen again.Ultimate VisaCorporation:Your gatewayto the worldBy Reynard L. OngTeaming up with her friend, Atty.Jonnah John Ungab, Janet startedUltimate Visa Corporation in January2009 in Cebu. “At that time, I did allthe work—from the assessment ofapplicants to documentation to filing...everything,” Janet relates.Three months later, the business grewforcing us to transfer to a better locationin the city and to add more offices. Thebusiness just kept growing and growingthat today, we have about 60 to 80employees with offices both in Cebuand Manila,” she says.SME | 25