When Eden Manalo Uchayan, CHRP, CHRM, first stepped into the workforce, she wasn’t chasing a lifelong dream of working in Human Resources. In fact, she hadn’t even finished college.
“Year 2007, due to my teenage era and all, I did not pursue my college studies,” she shared in an exclusive interview with Financial Adviser PH. “It’s like I am in a hurry to provide for myself and to run away from my parents.”
Eden’s first job was as an operator at Toshiba Philippines in Biñan, Laguna. But it wasn’t long before something caught her attention—something that would unknowingly spark her future career.
“During our training days there, I’ve got a chance to observe how the trainers do their job. Then I realized that it was one of my talent—to train people.”
In 2008, just a year after joining, Eden was offered the role of Training Assistant for newly hired employees. That early exposure to orientation sessions and employee welfare programs planted the seed: “It’s like this job is related to Human Resource. You know this thing—orientation about their benefits and all. It was really the care for people, I think.”
Five years passed, and Eden found herself searching for more. She applied for a role as HR Staff in recruitment at a Japanese company in Cabuyao—MPPI—even though she had no degree. Her competition? Two college graduates with polished profiles.
“I don’t know how this MPPI gave me this chance. When we had the interview before, we were three. Both of them were college graduates and really with pleasing personality. But they said they saw something in me.”
That moment changed everything.
“From 2014 ‘til date… I never knew I will be loving this job as an HR professional.”
But her journey wasn’t without challenges. “Unfortunately, since I am not a Bachelor Degree holder that time, I was not always given a chance to be promoted.” Despite that, she persisted—earning certifications and building her expertise one project at a time.
What kept her going? A deep-rooted sense of purpose. “It’s really the passion within, the care for the people around us. I want people/employees to be heard, like what we so called empathy.”
Through years of experience in recruitment and employee engagement, Eden also found herself growing personally. “The more people I got to know, the more it develops my character.”
Looking back, Eden acknowledges her unconventional path—and how it led her to where she truly belongs. “It may have taken so long, like a thousand years is a day only with the Lord. It’s just that it happened, happens, and will be happening at His right time.”
Her advice to others entering HR is simple yet powerful: “Others’ concern first—prioritizing other people who are expecting support from me.”
Eden may not have planned this journey—but HR gave her something greater than a job. It gave her meaning.
