Ria Domingo: Life on Cloud Nine
MANILA, Philippines - Her business card spells out her name in full glory: Ma. Sylvia Carrion-Domingo. Her nickname Ria, which means “from the river’s mouth,” aptly describes her charming and winsome personality, just like a bubbly body of water that refreshes everything that it runs through.
As the assistant vice president for product loyalty marketing/product development and communications of Philippine Airlines, Ria handles the Frequent Flyer Program (Mabuhay Miles) by answering the needs and wants of its members, thus assuring their loyalty to PAL.
“Since we’re in the service industry, it doesn’t hurt to go the extra mile if you can extend much-needed service to your customers. I’m basically a people person. It’s very easy to get along well with other people because what you see in me is what you get,” she shares.
Ria adds, “We also want to make sure that the changes we do are innovative, to make PAL at par with the other airlines. Our team’s vision, after all, is to make the program an efficient marketing tool (for the benefit of our valued clientele and passengers).”
Having been with Asia’s first airline for 23 years now, Ria initially started as a reservations agent after which she made the airport her homebase. She was then assigned to the PAL Head Office and eventually ventured into the marketing department. 
Sans the corporate image and away from her executive office, Ria simply remains to be the doting mother to three lovely daughters — Monicca, 26, an Ateneo de Manila University graduate; Katrina, 24, an alumna of De La Salle University; and Czarina, 16, a sophomore at Saint Pedro Poveda College.
“I’m lucky because my children are at an age where they can be on their own already. Now that I’m on a stage in my life when I have a bigger (work) responsibility, the load becomes more manageable. Two of my daughters are also working, so it’s just the youngest whom both ates can look after. I just make sure I have quality time with them,” she says.
Happily married to Ernesto Domingo Jr. for 26 years now, Ria is quick to add that her family has always been supportive of her occupation. “Bibot (her husband) has his own world with his family business (which has around 5,000 employees). He has his kingdom out there so there is no need for both our egos to clash; rather, we certainly complement each other. My daughters also look up to me when it comes to my work. When they were younger, my girls would often say, ‘Mom, I also want to work. Mom, ang sarap your work’,” she fondly reminisces.
“I believe that your work should be something you really like so that in the end, it doesn’t take its toll (on your health). This 2011, focusing on the more important and permanent things in life is now my priority — family and bonding time with my parents. One cannot bring back time so we have to make the most out of each moment,” Ria affirms.
