BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Many people lost their jobs amid the pandemic, but flight attendant-turned-DJ Angel Villaronte saw this as an opportunity to pursue a new journey. This is her story.

Many accomplished people would say that success isn’t linear, and that’s what Angel Villaronte believes, too. Angel, who was named among Asia’s Top 10 Hottest DJs in 2018, is a former flight attendant-turned-DJ-turned-entrepreneur. 

A consistent achiever since her younger years, Angel was raised to have an equal chance with her siblings to excel in their chosen fields. She was part of Assumption College’s swimming team for four years, where she was named Most Promising Athlete of the Year. 

Her skills and determination won her several medals at the Women’s Colleges Sports Association (WCSA), too. 

Apart from swimming, Angel also played tennis and badminton, where she also excelled at. An outstanding sports enthusiast, Angel became a sportswriter and an officer in several varsity organizations.

Angel’s Eventful Journey as a Flight Attendant

You’d expect someone as athletic as Angel Villaronte to pursue a career related to sports. But instead, she became a flight attendant.

A job fair back in college landed Angel the dream job of many female wanderlusts.  “I was fortunate that right after graduation, I was called by Cebu Pacific for screening, and thereafter, I was accepted.”

“Lady luck smiled on me because during that time, airline screening was very exacting where, usually, among 100 applicants, only two would make it to the next round where an impact interview, panel, exam, three months training and check ride awaited,” she recalls.

Angel pointed out that being a flight attendant isn’t a walk in the park. One must be patient and diligent in studying and training to be successful in their career. “To be honest, I chose the aviation industry as a fresh graduate because I wanted independence.”

Angel went on to spread her wings and soon became a senior cabin crew. She emphasized that patience is a virtue every cabin crew should possess. “You need to be pleasant to everyone, even amid raucous behavior. You need to be able to handle crisis situations properly.”

She recalled an incident in 2015 where she had to handle an unruly female celebrity passenger. As Angel tries to restrain the rowdy passenger, she is hurt in the process. “I was the most senior cabin crew in the flight. Hence, it was incumbent upon me to handle the passenger. It was one experience I would never forget as I became, modesty aside, the toast of social media.”

Leaving the FA Life to Become a DJ

While pursuing her career as a flight attendant, Angel Villaronte worked on the side as a club disc jockey (DJ) for two years. “It was an unlikely combination, which I was able to pursue to the hilt,” she says.

“Time came when I realized that my DJ job was making three times more than my salary as a flight attendant. Thus, I decided to resign to focus more and excel in my craft. I wanted to enjoy life while I’m still at the prime of my youth,” Angel adds.

In May 2015, Angel decided to enroll at Beat Project Manila. DJ Aryan Magat saw her inclination to music and potential as a DJ. “At the onset, I just wanted to give it a try. Then, before I knew it, one gig came after another. From one gig to five to seven gigs per week, I became the face of the nightlife scene.”

The Downsides of the DJ Life

As a DJ, Angel Villaronte was out and surrounded by people with vices. Asked whether she was worried about this kind of lifestyle having ill effects, Angel shared that it struck her that it might compromise her health. 

“Being a DJ for six years, five of which were during the pre-pandemic times, I was, literally, living the life, drinking almost every night, fast food dining, early morning arrivals at home. It finally struck me that my health would soon be compromised and in peril,” Angel narrates.

While bane to many, Angel considered the pandemic a blessing in disguise as she realized that she should start taking care of her health. “The crackdown on illegal drugs often associated with the Philippine nightlife scene and the onslaught of the global pandemic made a huge dent in the DJ world, constraining me to make the quantum leap from the DJ sphere to the world of entrepreneurship.”

Exploring a New Journey as an Entrepreneur

Just like many people whose livelihoods were severely affected by the pandemic, Angel had to explore other opportunities to weather the crisis. Obviously, it would be tough for her to go back as a flight attendant, given that the aviation industry was among the hardest hit.

So, she explored the world of entrepreneurship. Angel shared that now, she gets to practice the skills she learned from her corporate management degree. 

Angel is currently in the vape industry, managing her own businesses, Tipsy Vapor and Relx 1900 and a Regional Distributor of VVILD e-cigarette products.

“Realizing my sharp increase in sales has been a fulfilling experience as my business is currently expanding by metes and bounds. From a one-woman crew, I now have riders and staff as my market and target sales exponentially increase. This way, I can now find time to rest, watch Netflix, enjoy JCI activities, and work out in the gym.”

Pursuing Bolder Goals

Angel clearly didn’t have it easy. From dealing with unruly passengers to putting her health at risk, Angel’s journey was full of hits and misses.

Now thriving as a businesswoman, Angel says she plans to expand her business while investing her profits in another kind of business and reserving her weekends to pursue her passion for deejaying. 

“As an independent lady, I need to push my limits to meet my needs. I am a goal-driven dreamer. I give my 200% in everything I indulge in. I am a sucker for excellence, and I won’t stop until I have perfected my craft,” Angel quips.

Asked for her advice to all aspiring entrepreneurs, Angel Villaronte has this to say: “Follow your passion and focus on your goals. Be bold yet calculated in your moves. Be patient because a business is never an overnight success, but a product of patience, diligence, and strong will.”

At present, Angel remains physically active by cycling and working out at the gym during her leisure time.

 Apart from keeping herself productive with her businesses, she also dedicates her precious time to JCI Manileña, a leadership organization honing the youth to be top-notch leaders of their communities.

Angel shares that the organization, which she considers her family, has been a silent witness in her journey since her flight attendant years. “Who knows, destiny might open an opportunity for me to be a Chapter President. In JCI Manileña, we are not only sisters but empowered women who endeavor to create positive change in the society.”

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from Angel Villaronte