have shown disappointment over local business Lola Nena’s co-founder Steffi Santana’s now-viral video, claiming that it has “ruined Lola Nena’s marketing.”
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In the controversial video, Steffi met with her staff during their lunch break, which irked many people.
Here, she said: “Siyempre, yung lunch, hindi lang yan break. Isa pa yang chance to clarify and remind ourselves: Ano ba yung main goal natin? And paano ba natin make-keep yung sarili natin [na] accountable to those main goals?”
The next part of the video showed Steffi visiting another Lola Nena’s branch to pick up some products for a photoshoot. Here, she said that she found it difficult to visit their branches.
“Ang dami kong nakikita, ang dami kong gustong additional training, ang dami kong gustong innovations na ipasok sa store,” she explained.
After visiting their Makati branch, she then went on to her photoshoot for Alike Magazine’s Top 50.
She said that stepping in front of the camera isn’t something business owners want to do, as many other responsibilities must be attended to.
She added: “Kailangan pa ba natin magpakita at magpa-picture to be online? But I guess if gusto talaga natin mag-connect with our audience and customers, the best way is to be transparent and authentic to them.”
She explained that the only way to do that now is to show one’s real self, without a filter.
She ended the video by asking people to stick around as she continued to learn, grow, and share more behind-the-scenes tidbits of Lola Nena’s.
Originally, the video was posted to Lola Nena’s TikTok. It has since been deleted.
Netizen reactions online
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A popular Facebook page entitled “We Are Millenials” reposted Steffi’s video to their Facebook page.
In their caption, they wrote: “Nasira ‘yung fantasy ko na family-owned small business na sila nag-iisip ng gimmicks because someone decided to chase the clout and have their moment.”
They added their insights on working lunches as well, saying that they should be illegal.
They – and many others – have also said that due to this video, they will no longer be buying from Lola Nena’s.
Under the comments of the post, netizens wrote that for them, what saved Lola Nena’s was the charm and relatability of their employees, with their marketing team often using Gen Z trends to expand their reach.
This video, however, seemingly reduces the business to the wealthy owner making it about herself.
One netizen wrote: “Behind a successful, strong, and empowered woman, are a few more women who were forced to work during their lunch break.”
“Steffi, lunch break is lunch break,” wrote another.
“Respect the “break.” If you can’t give this to your people, Lola Nena’s workplace is screaming toxic environment.”
Meanwhile, others under the Reddit thread “Chika PH,” stated that for some, it was normal to continue to work or talk about work during their lunch breaks. However, they still found the video to be rather off-putting.
“Takeaway ko after watching the vid is wow, may pagka-narcissist pala ang co-founder ng Lola Nena’s,” one Reddit user wrote.
Under the same thread, one user said: “Kahit kami sa work minsan, pag walang mapagkwentuhan during meal break, work na lang din naman ang pinag-uusapan. Sinira niya lang talaga yung brand na Lola Nena is a family-owned business with warm, caring, and humble human beings, kasi dun sa vid, talagang alta alta ang atake.”
Another explained that while they were fine with working lunches, they were not interested in what happens in the owner’s life.
Steffi issues an apology
Since her video blew up, Steffi has since posted an apology online.
“I’m sorry for being so careless and irresponsible with my words and actions,” she wrote.
“Hindi po ito ang intension ko. Ako po missmo galit din kapag may unfair o naaagrabyado. I’m sorry for posting it without context.”
With regard to the work lunch, she explained that the colleagues she was with were an executive, a department head, as well as other members of higher management. It was rare for them to be together at the office, as they had big responsibilities, but they also had the privilege of deciding their working hours and when they were going to take breaks.
She explained: “In our roles, hindi maiwasan na sumasapaw ang meetings into eating time. Kapag nangyayari yun, we make sure that our breaks are still taken, even if they’re moved to another part of the day. Pero regardless of roles, importante pa rin ang healthy work-life boundaries.”
She noted that she realized that she and her team constantly preached in their training that they value love, care, and respect, but she failed to show that in the video.
She also apologized for posting a video of her day in the life to both her and Lola Nena’s pages, explaining that her vision for her own page, “@steffi.lolanenas”, is meant to share the behind-the-scenes, as well as the ups and downs, of a growing business.
She saw this whole situation as proof that there was still much she needed to learn as a business owner and leader, even after 12 years of being in the industry.
Steffi further wrote: “I need to be more purposeful with my words and actions. I need to take this platform even more seriously because it is a privilege and a responsibility to support not just the comfort but also be the protector of our people. I need to use my time as a leader to be a part of making a positive difference in our workplace – and to constantly show it.”
