OFW from Cavite, nominated as Asia Leader Awards
ROSARIO,CAVITE. – A successful CEO and Founder of an award winning international travel and tourism agency based in the Middle East and native of Baragnay Ligtong here and with a vast experience as a leader who is willing to listen and accept meaningful ideas, who is now nominated at “The Asia Leader Awards 2022” in the ‘Woman of Substance Finalist’ category.
Malou Quinto Prado, 45 years old, born and raised in the historic province of Cavite. Studied Grade School at Ligtong Elementary School now, Mayor Calixto Enriquez Elem. School, secondary school in Rosario Institute in Barangay Poblacion.
While still a student, Malou already saw this skill, talent, and self-determination. His classmates and even the teachers mock him. Like many, his parents believed that education was the key to lifting them out of poverty.
To finance college expenses, he helps his mother in selling “Tinapa” at the market. With his strong determination and perseverance, he graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration course at the Lyceum of the Philippine University – Manila. Later, she was able to work in Taiwan where she met her husband, Roberto Prado.
Like many Filipinos, he continues to hope that working abroad will give his family a more relaxed life. He dared to go to the United Arab Emirates with a Tourist Visa. His first months in the Middle East were not easy. He worked as a Hotel Helper, Cleaner, Food Server and many others, just to cover his expenses and bills while venturing in a foreign country.
After some time of persistence and persistence, a client at his former job offered to sell UAE Visa and Tickets. He only earns a small commission in this job but he does not realize the continuous growth of his connection in this field. Until an Arab friend offered him to run a company. It was here that his dream of getting out of poverty started to ignite as he remembered the trials he went through when he was just a new face in the UAE. He accepted his friend’s offer and here he started his career as a businessman in the UAE.
In 2013, he partnered with investors to help his business. He is constantly talking to those who want to invest in his business, explaining the services they can provide and how they differ from their competitors.
That same year he launched his own business, MPQ TRAVEL AND TOURISM LLC. The scope of his Travel Agency has also expanded which currently provides the opportunity not only to Filipinos to vacation in different countries such as France, Italy and Austria at an affordable price.
Some of the honors that Malou got as CEO and Founder of MPQ Travel and Tourism LCC are as follows: • Filipino owned travel agency in the USA • Only Filipino owned Travel Agency in the United Arab Emirates • Silver Award, Best Travel Company of the Year 2018 – Hospitality Excellence Middle East and Africa • Nominated Best Travel Agency of the Year in Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards 2018 • Awarded Best Friendly Travel Agency of The Year 2018 by the Filipino Times • Awarded Filipino Travel Agency of the Year 2017 by the Filipino Times • Awarded Friendly Consumer Travel Agency of The Year 2016 • 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf Brand Champions 2017 by Illustrado Magazine • The Only Filipino Travel Agency recognized by Fly Dubai Airline •
Top 40 Successful Filipinos in the UAE Featured along with 39 achievers in a 168-page book “Behind the Domes of Majestic Mosques: The Untold Success Stories of Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates.” By Ulysses V. Espatero Filipino Achiever: Featured in Kabayan Weekly and Kabayan of the Month, January 2017.
Pinoys truly have a unique strength and intelligence that can be proud of wherever you take them. Dedication is always related to our dreams. And our dreams are rooted in our dedication.
