Marline Dualan: Championing culture

MANILA, Philippines - As marketing manager of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Marline Dualan was able to bring fascinating facets of local and international culture to a broader range of people. Some of the projects she helped conceptualize and implement during her 12 years with the mall were concerts featuring celebrated artists and orchestras, film festivals highlighting the best movies from here and abroad, and pocket events for arts and crafts.

Marline, in her own way, was instrumental in helping more people appreciate art because they were able to experience it for themselves at the mall. She admits that she was greatly influenced by what she has experienced in the line of duty.

Now that she has chosen to take a respite from corporate life, she plans to further champion art and culture and make it more accessible to a wider audience. “What made me enjoy my work is it is into arts and culture. It is something I want to keep on supporting in my personal capacity,” she shares. “I believe that art and culture is good for the soul. It is food for the soul and it makes life more beautiful.”

For Marline, her experience and exposure in her previous post have helped her get ready for the next phase in her career, which is to help fledgling artists. “I like creating concepts and ideas, but I think my strength is that I am able to conceptualize and at the same time, implement a project. In my mind, I know how to make it work.”

Marline, a Mass Communication graduate from the University of the Philippines, built a solid career experience in corporate communication and mall marketing, starting with her first job with the PR group of Insular Life. She then transferred to San Miguel Corp. and worked her way up to become the corporate communications head of the beer division. She also had a brief stint with Philip Morris Philippines before she started with Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Never one to stop learning, she also took up a master’s degree at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and finished the Management Development Program of the Asian Institute of Management.

Now that she has more time on her hands, Marline spends it with her husband David and son JM. She also catches up with friends whom she has not seen in a long time. She also has more time to spend with her nonagenarian parents during the weekends.

“Before, I would pass by my parents’ place on Sundays, and it was always rushed. Now, I can even do the Cenacle with my mom. There is a lot of catching up to do.”

As she enjoys her quiet time, Marline reflects on the lessons that she learned in the course of her corporate career. “For the past 12 years, I had put in so much hard work, time and passion to succeed in what I was doing. While all the long hours, weekends spent away from the family and personal sacrifices have all been worth it, at the end of the day, what matters most is the relationships you have built with the people you’ve worked with.

“I am overwhelmed by the shower of affection and the kind wishes of people I’ve worked with all these years, and humbled to know that I have touched their lives as they have enriched mine,” she concludes.

Photography by Rita Marie • Creative direction by Luis Espiritu Jr. • Makeup by KLENG ONING • Hairstyling by MACKY HILARIO • Fashion styling by DIANE LASAM • Jewelry by Miladay Jewels • White button-down off-shoulder linen dress from Seek the Uniq and green top with bow detail and pom pom shorts from Two Chic Manila by TC Alvarez • Shot on location at the C Lounge of Conrad Manila