Aziza Mondoñedo: Supplying deli snacks, jewelry & lingerie

Smokers in NAIA 1, 2 and Cebu airports dash into the Tinder Box lounge to have their nicotine moments while Aziza’s staff serves refreshments. With foresight, Aziza Clara Mondoñedo’s parents knew the advantages of securing the smokers’ lounges in the international and domestic terminals. Billy and Marlene Mondoñedo understood that where there are smokers, refreshments would eventually be needed; thus, Tinder Box was ready to supply deli snacks when the demand arose. As vice president of operations, the energetic, 25-year-old bachelorette helps her parents manage 150 employees. Aziza shuttles from running her Banilad restaurant in Cebu to dashing off each week to the Manila office. There she strives to understand the accounting, deliveries and purchasing details of their expanding, family-owned service company, The Tinder Box.

Aziza’s hazel eyes shine when she talks about her other ventures. She is the exclusive distributor in Cebu for the House of Vanita, a sexy lingerie line. She decided to show off her style by launching the silky bras and panties on beautiful Cebuana models. Buyers’ shows are held in her bar and the flattering underwear is on sale at Tinder Box. 

After being in business, I realized that homework and assignments don’t end when schooling does. There is a never-ending list of deadlines. The projects keep on coming! They never go away, like I was hoping they would while I was still studying.

If I wasn’t doing what I do, I do feel that I like what I am doing. I love that I am involved in a business about food; I appreciate wine so I love that I can be exposed to that. And I love that I can give back to my family because they have given me so much. They funded my school, so I love that I can help out and that I can start something of my own, which is my jewelry.

In school, I learned how to be independent. In Cebu, I am very sheltered with my yaya. In Switzerland, I learned how to do everything by myself: how to do the laundry, wash the dishes. Maybe 60 percent was life lessons like how to cope and not freak out when things go wrong.

One of my goals this year is to save money. I say that every year!

My personal style signifier is that I always wear something sparkly, or shiny, or glittery, and I never leave the house without my accessories!

What makes me happy is when I create a beautiful piece of jewelry, cook a delicious meal, bake some sweets, work out and play sports … and when I sing!

For grooming and style I rely on Philippe’s Salon for my haircut, Emi Ayag, Romero Vergara and Butch Coo for makeup, Belo for my skincare.

I work best under pressure or when I’m on the floor taking care of the food and beverage service at my restaurant, especially during big events.

Some of my fears are getting old, losing the people I love (even my pets!) and getting out of shape; not being able to do the things I enjoy doing.

What helped me to conquer fear is letting go, just relaxing, laughing as much as I can.

My best moment was graduating at the top of my class from Hotel Institute Montreux in Switzerland.

My worst moment was my first heartbreak.

Best quality about me is how I adapt easily to different places, people, cultures — I embrace novelty. And I stay positive, no matter what the situation is.

Worst quality is my short temper.

A recent find is a cotton-candy maker! I love sweets and I love that I can now make my own candy floss!

The last thing I bought and loved are Victoria’s Secret Secret Moments body mists and lotions — I’m addicted to sweet-smelling fragrances — and the cotton-candy maker!

The souvenirs I choose to bring home are local costumes. My favorite so far is the Turkish belly dancer’s outfit I got in Istanbul and the papier-maché masks from Venice.

The sight that inspires me is the European countryside. I like imagining how the Old World was, before technology and the modern age arrived. I imagine kings and queens or characters from novels riding through the pastures and fields.

A memorable place I have traveled to… This might be a little dark, but it is a trip that has affected me. We went to Auschwitz, the concentration camp. I went there when it was springtime in Poland. The grass was green, sky was blue and it was such a contrast to how history pictures it. To step into a place where so many people lost their lives, to see the shoes confiscated from these people, reminded me to count my blessings and be grateful that I did not live in such a scary time. To remember the people who suffered gave me a lot of respect for the survivors.

The best gift I have given recently… I’m still waiting to give the perfect one. One of our maids who has been with us since I was a little girl was recently diagnosed with cancer and I want to do something for her, but I don’t know what yet. The best gift I can think of giving right now is being there for her throughout this ordeal.

And the best one I’ve received recently… Materially, it’s diamond earrings. I can’t get enough of sparkle!

In my fridge you’ll always find Coke! Coca-Cola is my water.

My style icon is Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The books I am reading now are Dracula The Undead by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt.

The last time I cried was when Michael Jackson died. I am a huge fan.

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E-mail: aurorawilson@gmail.com