Through franchising, the Mont Albo Massage Hut team keeps expanding in numbers, giving more job opportunities to Hilot-trained therapists.
After earning his degree in medicine in
2006, he opted not to pursue his specialization in order to help support the family,
especially since they were deeply in debt.
There were stories of him blending ingredients, packaging soap bars and even
walking several miles to personally deliver
products to clients when he was still
starting to grow his soap business.
Despite the struggles, he never thought of
quitting. His success in the soap business
would later pave the way for him to
venture into the spa world and open the
first Mont Albo Massage Hut, a humble
massage clinic with four massage beds, in
Makati, one of the Philippines’ bustling
cities.
Specializing in Hilot
When Dr. Montalbo opened his first spa
in 2007, his vision was clear: Highlight
Filipino healing traditions, especially Hilot.
This age-old Filipino healing technique is
characterized by slow deliberate strokes
that employ the use of banana leaves as
wrap and virgin coconut oil as massage
oil. “Mont Albo Massage Hut was the first
to introduce a 100 percent Filipinothemed spa with services consistent with
the Filipino brand,” he says.
The Philippines has a rich culture of
healing traditions which are still being
practiced and followed by many communities even up to this day. “By focusing
on Hilot and other related services like
Dagdagay (Kolkolis or indigenous foot
massage), Suob (herbal steam) and
Bentosa (traditional cupping), we have
created our unique selling proposition that
would separate us from other spa brands.
Before, many spas in the country had
been carrying European or Asian spa
themes and services,” he says.
Staying True to its Roots
The Philippines has one of the most
competitive markets in day spas. This is
primarily due to a deep connection with
traditional healing, making treatments
offered in spas widely accepted by many.
While this may translate to an expansive
clientele, it also means a cutthroat
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