Those who work at a bar or restaurant, and sometimes in private homes are called waiting staff or restaurant staff.
They are the one responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction, resolving complaints of the customer, and addressing any questions or comments that customers may have.
From taking customers’ orders, assemble the orders, and even act as cashiers. Each of them must follow the rules and guidelines that are implemented by their employer and complete different tasks that were given to them.
Some of the common tasks include food-running, polishing dishes and silverware, helping bus tables, and restocking working stations with needed supplies.
Being a waiter or waitress is not an easy job. You will be the one to serve food and beverages to customers in restaurants and other dining venues and the work is physically demanding.
But for some young individual, working as a waiter serves as an initial career step for them and luckily landed to have a career of a lifetime.
Get to know some of the most well-known personalities who initially started out as restaurant staff.
1. Coco Martin
Coco is a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant Management, he used to be a waiter at the homegrown restaurant chain Max’s.
He was discovered by Rene Dela Cruz, an assistant of Johnny Manahan, who is the big boss of Star Magic, that time. Coco Martin was supposed to be launched, together with Heart Evangelista, as part of Star Circle Batch 9.
But he opted to finish his studies first because of his grandmother’s advice. He even worked as a janitor in Canada after college.
In 2005, Coco returned to showbiz via the film Masahista. Two years later, he starred in eight movies, and become the “Prince of Philippine Independent Films”.
In 2009, this year marked his status as a mainstream actor when he got the male lead role in the afternoon soap Nagsimula Sa Puso.
2. Jericho Rosales
The actor became a food server when his mom decided to work in a restaurant. Before that, he was once become a fish vendor in a public market, together with his mother who was also a vendor at that time.
Twenty years ago, he joined Eat Bulaga!’s “Mr. Pogi” and won the title, hoping to make their life better. Today, Echo remains one of ABS-CBN’s most promising prime time actors.
3. Marvin Agustin
The actor started out as a waiter at the Alabang branch of Tia Maria before becoming the youngest member of the Mexican restaurant’s marketing staff. He used to be a vendor, a driver, a mascot, and a clerk at a video store.
Marvin was eventually launched as part of Star Magic’s Batch 2 in 1996, along with Diether Ocampo, Mylene Dizon and Patrick Garcia.
Today, he is considered one of the country’s top celebrity restaurateurs and the owner of an entrepreneurship school and still remains active in showbiz.
4. Piolo Pascual
Aside from working as a security guard. The Kapamilya hunk worked as a waiter during his high school days.
In 1994, he joined That’s Entertainment, the late German Moreno popular show.
After that, Piolo’s family migrated to the U.S, in 1966
The actor finally got his big break in Esperanza, when he returned to Manila in the late 90’s. Together with Judy Ann Santos, who became his screen partner. Today, he is now a successful actor, endorser, recording artist and producer.
5. Diether Ocampo
The hunk actor initially studied Physical Therapy in De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, but he never likes his course. He quit his studies and worked as a service crew member of Pizza Hut, which later on Made him as their endorser, and as a bartender in Steel Bar, Quezon City.
In 1996, Diether was launched as part of Star Magic Circle Batch 2 and became one of ABS-CBN’s popular actors. But before that, he also worked as a dancer.
6. Richard Gomez
Richard Gomez was working at a McDonald’s fast-food chain before he was tagged as the country’s Adonis of Philippine Movies.
He was discovered by his former talent manager, the late Douglas Quijano.
He is now happily married to Lucy Torres and they have one daughter named Juliana, and he is currently the mayor of Ormoc City, Leyte.
7. Martin Nievera
Martin spent his teenage days flipping burgers at their own restaurant in Hawaii. In 1982, inspired by his father who was also a singer, Nievera returned to the Philippines and followed in his father’s footsteps and today he was dubbed as the Philippines’ “Concert King”.
Apart from that, the son of Bert Nievera didn’t just become a singer as he also ventured into acting and hosting. He is currently part of the Sunday noontime show “ASAP” and remains visible in showbiz.