Having worked closely with female leaders who make up a significant part of leadership at AppleOne Group and consistently excel in their fields, Samantha Manigsaca firmly believes that women are leaders by nature, especially in the hospitality industry, which is built on service and thrives on human connection.
Manigsaca, the vice president for Hospitality at AppleOne Group, stands at the helm of a sector where women are not just present, but are actively and powerfully helping shape its direction. As a leader herself, she sees leadership as something deeply human, reflecting both the core of the industry and the values that guide her.
“I have always believed that women possess many of the natural qualities that define great leaders in hospitality: empathy, resilience, transformational thinking, and an innate ability to put people first,” she said.
“Leadership, to me, is about trust and empowerment. I entrust our leaders with their departments while ensuring that we all move in the same direction—toward growing and strengthening our hospitality business,” she added.
This perspective, she shares, is influenced by her mother, Engr. Venus Manigsaca, who together with her father, Ray Go Manigsaca, founded AppleOne. She describes her as the embodiment of the true essence of a woman leader. “While Mr. Manigsaca created the vision, Mrs. Manigsaca helped lead the way in turning that vision into reality.”
Leadership Principles She Lives By
At the core of Manigsaca’s leadership are values that go beyond metrics and milestones.
She embraces the idea that leadership is a continuous learning process, striving to grow and improve while staying anchored in a clear vision and purpose—understanding what the work is for and why it matters.
“One of the most important principles I live by is continuous learning—the belief that we should always strive to grow and become better than we were yesterday,” she said.
Alongside this is her grounding in humility and respect—values that are instilled in her during her early career in hotel operations, which she describes as “one of the best decisions I have made.”
“That experience gave me a deeper appreciation for the people on the ground who make the hospitality industry what it is,” she shared. “The work demands physical, emotional, and mental strength, yet these individuals continue to show up every day with dedication and grace.”
And at the center of it all is empathy.
“Hospitality, at its core, is about understanding people,” she emphasized.
Learning, Growth, and Resilience
Despite her current role, Manigsaca, the second-generation leader of their family business, considers herself a work in progress, someone who is constantly learning, recalibrating, and moving forward.
“Even as someone who is still relatively new to the industry, I see myself as someone who is constantly building and evolving. No matter how far I go in my career, I believe I will always maintain the mindset of learning, growing, and improving,” she said.
In industries as dynamic as hospitality and business, she acknowledges that uncertainty is an inevitable reality. But rather than fear it, she leans into it, seeing challenges as opportunities to grow stronger.
“The hospitality and business industries come with many uncertainties, so resilience is
essential. It is okay to fail at times. What matters most is having the courage to rise again—stronger and wiser than before,” she added.
She holds close the famous phrase: “Malayo pa, pero malayo na,” a reminder to honor both the journey ahead and the progress already made. It is a mindset that keeps her steady while pushing forward.
The Power of Showing Up in Hospitality
In conversations about the future of the industry, Manigsaca often goes back to these three principles: the 3 H’s—Hospitality, Heart, and Humility—not as buzzwords, but as anchors.
“These three values are at the core of how women leaders are helping shape the future of the industry,” she said.
“Hospitality requires a selfless approach in every interaction—whether with guests or colleagues. I often see this strength in women: the natural ability to care deeply and to put people first,” she added.
The path, Manigsaca admits, is far from easy. It requires a demanding heart, resilience, and humility. Yet she believes women possess these qualities to take on the role and steer the industry toward success and stability.
“In hospitality, titles and status do not define you. What matters most is how you treat people and how you show up every day. The industry has a way of humbling you, teaching you to understand, respect, and value everyone around you,” she said.
“And perhaps that is why women leaders are playing such a powerful role in shaping its future.” She is living proof that women are crossing borders and breaking barriers in the industry.
As a female leader at the top of her field, Manigsaca celebrates Women’s Month by encouraging young women entering the industry to choose their circle wisely, seek out those who foster growth, and seize opportunities with curiosity and hunger: “Say yes. Stay curious. Stay hungry.”
“The future of hospitality will always be rooted in heart, humility, and human connection—because beyond systems, structures, and innovation, it is the sincerity of service and the ability to make people feel genuinely valued that will always define exceptional hospitality,” she concluded.
