Mix it, Shake it, Pop it: MGCNLCA Alumna Janelle Ang Defies the Conventional in Manila Marriott Hotel

“Being the rose among the thorns may seem to be something to be proud of because what the men can do, you are able to do —sometimes even better.” 

Last September, former New Lifer Janelle Ang made history when she gained a spot as the first-ever female bartender at the Manila Marriott Hotel. In this interview, she sheds light on her experiences, from her triumphs to the obstacles she faced. She also shares how her education at MGC New Life Christian Academy (MGCNLCA) shaped her for the workplace. 

Prior to starting her journey in the bartending industry, Ang was actually planning to pursue event management because of her exposure and participation in numerous college organizations. Her initial aspirations were soon challenged as she was selected by De La Salle College of Saint Benilde to represent the school in a bartending competition called “Whiskey Live Manila.”  In spite of her limited training in the field at the time, she found herself captivated by the endless possibilities and the uniqueness of the bartending world. 

From that point on, Ang became more involved in bartending, which was not without its challenges. One such instance was when she had an exceptionally long list of drinks to prepare and her assistant at the time was fairly new to bartending. In response, bartenders with more experience were brought to the scene and took over the work that needed to be done. 

This experience made Ang reflect on her own bartending journey, as there was a time when she, too, was once like her assistant, thrown to the sidelines of the operations. “I still remember the words of motivation I wrote on my little notepad as I was trying to lift my own spirit and encourage myself that there will come a time when I will go into the bar and be the bartender in charge of all cocktails. And now here I am. I am finally the bartender working on cocktails. Here I am, finally being trusted with serving the drinks on time. Here I am, finally, reaching my dream position” she shared about her journey, while also pointing out the importance of having an open mind along with adaptability skills in order to excel in the industry. 

Needless to say, the moment Ang found out that she got accepted as a bartender at the Manila Marriott Hotel, her mind was flooded with immensely surreal emotions. It is indeed a remarkable feat how she was able to achieve these milestones at just the beginning of her career. However, this accomplishment also comes with a degree of pressure. “Being the only female bartender, my uniform would really stand out. Imagine if I did something right or wrong, they could easily describe me as ‘the girl in a bartender’s uniform’ and it would, without a doubt, point directly to me and me alone.”

Now a part of the bartending team at Marriott, Ang attributes her momentous accomplishment to her takeaways from her alma mater, MGCNLCA. The school mantra “Strive for Character, Strive for Excellence'' reinforced in her a can-do attitude and a strong work ethic as she entered college and the professional field. She extends her overflowing gratitude to her past teachers and mentors for playing a vital role in her life as well as instilling in her the proper foundation for her faith in God. “When I entered college and the workplace, no doubt there were a lot of temptations and many experiences that led me to question almost everything I know and believe in.” Regardless of the issues she encountered, she was able to get past them, learn the truth and strengthen her relationship with God. 

With the Christ-centered environment that MGCNLCA fosters, reconciling being a Christian in the bartending industry can be challenging. Her strategy for dealing with such, she revealed, is by having a different perspective. While the bartending industry is commonly associated with unbiblical activities, Ang has a different take on it: “The way I see the industry is sharing stories, sharing feelings, sharing a message through beverage innovation.” When dealing with people from the field who have entirely opposing principles, establishing proper priorities and morals helps in resisting temptations—which she is able to do through her consistent attendance at Sunday church service, a practice she is committed to despite her fatigue from her irregular work hours.

In male-dominated professions, women aspiring to enter and succeed in the same field may face hindrances and challenges. Bartending is no exception, which Ang remarks is one of those careers that naturally come with numerous challenges and discrimination, inevitably testing one’s limits emotionally, physically, and mentally. Ang has this advice for those who hope to break barriers : “Be prepared to be strong. Be prepared to be hurt. Most of all, be ready to be okay not to be okay. It will be hard. It will make you cry and question everything you know but always remain resilient and also remember who you are doing it for.”