February 2019 Advanced Professional Training MVP - Robertson Lampa

Congratulations Robertson Lampa - you are WWCE’s February MVP!

WWCE selected Robertson because he had exceptional comments on his Monthly Monitoring where he provided an in-depth report of his training and cultural activities. For example, he wrote:

I just experience how they celebrate the "Thanksgiving", that was my first time beacause usually in my home country we don't have or rather we dont celebrate that kind of event. I feel like thanksgiving is like same as the environment of celebrating Christmas in the Philippines.

Robertson’s employer, The Brown Hotel, supported Robertson as the MVP by saying:

 Since joining our team in October 2018 – Robertson Lampa has been one of the most eager and helpful Interns we have worked with. Robertson shows a genuine concern for our guests and his fellow staff members alike. Most importantly Robertson greets everyone with his award-winning smile and always friendly demeanor which makes everyone around him fell welcome. We are truly lucky to have Robertson on our team!

Name: Robertson Belaguas Lampa

Position: Food & Beverage Attendant  

Location: Louisville, Kentucky

Fun Fact About You: I love STYLE- very personal, it has nothing to do with trends. Trends is over quickly. Style is forever.

Why did you choose to come on a J1 I/T program? How are you hoping to apply this program once you’ve returned home? Internship programs are designed to allow foreign college and university students or a recent graduate like me to come to the United States to gain exposure to U.S. culture and to receive hands-on experience in U.S. business practices in their chosen occupational field. This is something that wakes my attention, the reason why I've chosen to come on a J1 internship program.  

 I'm hoping to apply this program once I've ruturned home through having a "#InternshipGoal", a motivational goal for me to share what I will learn & apply to myself after my internship to adhere my fellow Filipinos who'll to work right with me towards a better workplace when I get back to my hometown.

 I was a "Freelance Event Organizer/ Stylist" from the city of Iloilo and I want to apply American standards into my passion of making & handling events. I want to share this to my fellow Filipinos because I thought myself to believe that sharing learning objects saves time and reduces development costs when developing content for multiple learning audiences. It might be a sharing of American culture especially with the American standard incomes in the field of F&B or to adhere promoting American standards over Filipino culture. 

What has been the most memorable aspect of your program? I would like to share to all of you that I've been so happy and grateful to be part of the banquet staff of The Brown Hotel. It will always be my pleasure to provide an exceptional service in the hotel and to give my best in every crafts that I make to give impact as to provide additional presentation to our guests. I'm so thankful that some of our guest really appreciated and love the crafts that I made for them. The message below is from Mr. Walker, the Vice Presedent & General Manager of The Brown Hotel. This note from Mr. walker will always inspire me to do more better and to make more nice craft in the workplace, and that is something that marks on my mind on having this program.

Rob,

 Good morning.

Just a note to thank you for all your good work.
Your creative displays on the banquet tables and buffets have been a great addition to our presentation. Many guests have mentioned!
Good to have you on our staff.

Regards,
Brad Walker
Vice President & General Manager
The Brown Hotel

How have you kept your strong, positive spirit during the hard times? Keeping myself being strong & positive is what I must suppose to do. I want to be that image of strength to my workplace. Before, "I never know how strong I am, until being strong is the only choice that I have". I always taught myself that tough times never last, but tough people do. Never give up, and be confident in what you do. "I always know that I'm going to go through tough times - that's life…”

What is your favorite thing about American culture? They, the American staffs, always believe and supports me on my capacity in doing or granting things correctly and appropriately to be accurate in my exposition in my workplace and to have my skills to express myself with thoroughness and clarity. In my almost 3 months here in Louisville, Kentucky I'd notice some difference between American Culture and Filipino Culture. Americans are more sport minded, Americans are more open to gender equality, and Americans are more helpful (offering a helping hands). Filipinos are more hospitable, Filipinos are more respectful to elders, and one thing which is best about us Filipinos is we are (madiskarte) or more strategic in doing such different things. That is something that I love most about American culture.