ANGELES CITY \u2013 Rommel Robles Dobluis of nearby Mabalacat City is not your typical image and hair stylist.
\nDobluis endured the prejudice and biases of some people believing that hairstylists are \u201calways gays.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI respect and admire gays. In fact, my brother and some relatives are gays working in beauty shops,\u201d said Dobluis.
\n\u201cBut why can\u2019t they accept that real men can work as image and hair stylists?\u201d said Dobluis.<\/p>\n
In the country, it has been a wide perception that men working as stylists are gays.
\n\u201cBut it has been noticed that of late, real men are working in beauty salons,\u201d said Dobluis, who was interviewed at the Spa Signature in Marlim Mansion, Balibago.<\/p>\n
Dobluis partnered with businesswoman Lea Bais, owner of the Spa Signature, to give the \u201cbest all- around beauty service.\u201d<\/p>\n
CHAMPION
\nDobluis gained popularity in 2007 when he topped the national search for Hair Diva sponsored by Ricky Reyes. The entire series was aired over Channel 11 owned by GMA 7 Network.<\/p>\n
Dobluis said what had contributed to his victory was his disclosure of his experience shortly after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.
\nDobluis said he had to start as janitor in one popular barber shop in front of the old Mabalacat municipal hall in Poblacion to help support himself and his family.<\/p>\n
He added that he was later asked to be one of the barbers.
\n\u201cLife\u2019s difficult in Pampanga in the early \u201890s shortly after Pinatubo had erupted. But I did not give up,\u201d said Dobluis.<\/p>\n
INVEST IN TRAINING
\nDobluis got at least P500,000 in parlor packages from Reyes. But the organizer of the contest had asked Dobluis to put up the shop along MacArthur Highway, City of San Fernando.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted the shop in Angeles City and preferably in Balibago because my market is there. But I have no choice. The shop was not earning and I had to sell it,\u201d said Dobluis.<\/p>\n
Dobluis disclosed that he had sold the shop for at least P250,000.
\nHe added that he had used all the money to enrol at the Elle Hair Academy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was already quiet known then, especially after I won Reyes\u2019 search. But I believe in investing to improve more,\u201d said Dobluis.
\nElle is one of the top hair schools in the world, having branches in Singapore, France and other nations.<\/p>\n
Dobluis\u2019 gamble had worked. As of late, he has at least 100 regular customers, including celebrity Sunshine Dizon who married a businessman from Guagua, Pampanga.<\/p>\n
Dobluis said he had worked with the most prominent and popular spas and saloons in the country but \u201cSpa Signature is the most deserving.\u201d
\nDobluis said the spa \u201cis located at the heart of Balibago,\u201d regarded as the center of business and entertainment in the city.<\/p>\n
More importantly, he added, Bais \u201chad allowed me to mix what we use in front of our customers.\u201d
\nDobluis said that his service is not that expensive and what we use \u201cadds to the price.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI left one shop because it began to dupe our customers by giving less of what they should get in the medicines and materials we use. I don\u2019t like that,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Dobluis said he will have long working relationship with Bais of Magalang town because \u201cwe both agree in giving only the best and truest to our growing clients.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dobluis said \u201cI am all-around and I know everything except do the nails.\u201d\u2019
\n\u201cI am known to do hair well for both men and women. But now, I enjoy doing make-up,\u201d Dobluis said.<\/p>\n