How a Filipina Conquered Global Cruise Entertainment

Pursuing a career in theater was not something that Minay Capile had envisioned for herself. She decided to take up Communication Arts in the hopes of becoming a broadcaster. But sometimes, fate takes us to unexpected places. When an opportunity opened up for her to get a scholarship at De La Salle University–Dasmariñas by becoming a performing artist, she seized it.

In her freshman year's second semester, Capile received a 75 percent scholarship, which later increased to 100 percent. As the daughter of a contractor father whose income was seasonal, this was a welcome blessing. It was still tough having to cover other miscellaneous school fees, transportation, and meals. Nevertheless, the good Lord provided through simple side gigs and the help of people she met along the way.

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"Throughout my entire college years, we didn't pay for a dormitory. My father would pick me up at the Carmona checkpoint to go home to San Pedro, Laguna. But most of the time, the evening rehearsals finished late, so I would either just sleep at my friend's dorm. Doon na din ako nakikiligo or minsan sa CR ng DLSU," she recalls. "On nights when I get locked out of a friend's dorm, I simply spend the night at the 7-11 in front of DLSU."

Capile during her stint as a theater freelancer. 

On most days during her freshman year, a classmate would treat her to lunch because she had no money to spare. "There were times I would already feel too ashamed to accept a free lunch, so I would just go to the DLSU chapel and pray. Doon ako luluhod sa first row at ang lagi kong dasal kay God, 'Ako naman ang pinakamalapit. Unahin mo naman ako,'" she whispered in desperation.

During her junior year, with numerous school projects to manage, she sustained herself by selling earrings. "I'd buy them at Kadiwa for P5 a pair and sell them for P15," she shares.

She finished her college education through sheer diskarte. "Kaya talagang ever since naniniwala ako na kapag may gusto ka, the universe will conspire for you to get it," she says with conviction.

Carnival Cruise Line is part of a family of companies owned by Carnival Corporation, which includes sister lines Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Cunard Line, among others.

Breaking barriers

She initially worked as a stagehand at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), earning 250 pesos per show, with a guaranteed 12 shows over two months. After four years of theater freelancing, she knew she had to do something to improve their family's quality of life, so she decided to try her luck in a cruise line.

"The first agency said they couldn't hire me due to the height requirement," recalls the 4-foot-11 theater professional. But thanks to her involvement in multiple Filipino productions, she got hired as an entertainment production manager by the next cruise line she applied to.

As entertainment director, her main job is "to make sure everything runs smoothly and safely, and that the integrity of the shows stays intact." 

After years of working in the said company, an opportunity to work at Carnival Cruise Line as its entertainment director beckoned exactly a year ago. The position entails taking charge of the overall entertainment programming of the cruise ship. "My main job is to make sure everything runs smoothly and safely, and that the integrity of the shows stays intact. Think of us as the production gatekeepers and the ones who keep everything safe and sound," she says.

They host musical variety shows every night as well as licensed game shows like Family Feud and Deal or No Deal. In her last assignment, about 80 people working in different departments report to her. "Carnival Cruise Line's branding centers around being a fun, family-friendly cruise ship. We have a roller coaster on board, big slides, a ropes course, zip line, among other amenities," she adds.

The Liquid Lounge at Carnival Radiance

Opening doors for Filipino talents

Capile is grateful for the unique opportunity her current work has afforded her. "A lot of people from my batch work here in the Philippines in order to save money for travel. Whereas I'm doing it all at the same time—doing theater, traveling, and earning money. I have been to most of the continents, I think. It's also amazing because I'm also a breadwinner and I get to support our family," she says.

The tricky part about her job is having to adjust and adapt to different cultural preferences. "Nowadays, everything must be politically correct. In entertainment, we have many big personalities. There are people who are sensitive to a lot of things. But Carnival Cruise Line's culture of openness helps us meet in the middle and ensure that everyone feels supported without stepping on anybody's toes," she says.

Capile and her team provide a variety of entertainment on board, including musical performances.

In terms of providing entertainment, the Carnival Cruise Line market is not hard to please, observes Capile. "They come on board to have fun. We simply provide the entertainment we've planned, and they enjoy it," she says.

Her team is very diverse, with members from Australia, Europe, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Britain, the U.S., and the Philippines. "We have many Filipinos on our entertainment technical team. They're highly skilled, often trained in TV networks or the CCP," she says.

The best part about her job, says Capile, is that her work allows her to do theater, travel the world, and help her family. 

"I feel like the biggest blessing of having this job is opening doors for other talents here in the Philippines. Kasi napakadami natin magagaling na stage managers, production managers, and technical people. At ang daming opportunities abroad," she says, adding that they are also looking for content managers and sports staff to facilitate the rides and other amenities.

Capile eagerly anticipates helping her fellow Filipinos achieve their dreams and provide better lives for their families.