May Bernad: Comfortable in her own skin
MANILA, Philippines - For May Bernad, true beauty is being comfortable in one’s own skin — and wearing it well.
The head of operations and business development at Dr. CRB Aesthetic & Laser Clinic, May has been exposed to dermatology and the beauty industry for most of her life. She admits that she has struggled with being comfortable in her own skin growing up but she eventually overcame it.
“I always find the most beautiful in people who let their natural beauty radiate and don’t overdo anything. Inner peace and happiness manifest on one’s skin and face, and it can mean the difference between ‘smile lines’ and ‘wrinkles’,” the 30-year-old charmer says.
May, who grew up in Cebu, is the only child of dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Cecilia Ramos-Bernad and Aboitiz Power Corp. executive Cholo Bernad. “I learned things from observing my mom and seeing how she became successful. Her formula for success is hard work and loving what she does. I am always reminded by her to ‘go with your gut,’ ‘always try to negotiate,’ ‘family comes first,’ and ‘charity begins at home’,” she says.
“My dad exudes quiet intelligence but never talks about what he has accomplished. He is very simple but he is brilliant because of how he sees the world. He is the most dedicated and hardworking person I know. Those are what I learned from him — humility, simplicity and less is always so much more.”
May, who graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Management Engineering, occasionally shuttles between Manila and Cebu as she helps in growing their family business. The bulk of her work now centers on the retail brand her family intends to launch next year. On the side, she has been utilizing her business skills as a certified investment solicitor for Rampver Financials, a mutual fund company.
“I’m enjoying the business side (of Dr. CRB). There is no pressure because there is a personal angle to it. My mom and I take care of different aspects of the clinic,” she relates.
May also sees beauty in being close to nature and being in tune with oneself. She enjoys diving, a hobby she started when she was 12, when her dad needed a diving buddy. She also started practicing yoga three years ago. An avid reader, May can never be pulled out of the house on weekends when she is caught up in one of her favorite works of fiction.
In the many years she has worked for the family business, May is proud of the direction Dr. CRB and Skinplicity (a subsidiary company of Dr. CRB Derm Center) have taken, especially with the launch of their product lines. “The products we designed are based on 20 years of patients’ experiences and statistics from our clinics. They are based on how our patients evolve through the years and what they want.
“My mom and I work well together and we have accomplished things we didn’t think we could a few years ago. After eight years in Dr. CRB, I now understand what mom means by loving what you do,” she says good-naturedly.
Photography by Rita Marie • Creative direction by Luis Espiritu Jr. • Makeup by RIA AQUINO for MAC Cosmetics • Hairstyling by Kierlo Velasco • Fashion styling by Bang Martinez • Jewelry by Miladay Jewels • Skirt by Banggo Niu and white dress by Sari Lazaro • Shot on location at the Presidential Suite of Conrad Manila
