Blanca Manzanilla, the assistant general manager of the recently opened luxury condominium project Chabil Mar Villas in Placencia, Belize, represents a success story not only for all women around the world, she also represents an inspiration to the Meztizo peoples her native country of Belize. Born to Mother Marisol and father Rual in the northern Belizean town of Corozal, Ms. Manzanilla proves first and foremost that hard world and dedication can indeed make dreams come true.

Blanca is the oldest of five children. Along with brothers Raul Jr. and Angel and her two sisters, Julie and Gaby, Blanca was born and raised in Corozal Town, Belize, Central America. She attended Mary Hill Primary School in Corozal before she attending high school on a government scholarship at the Corozal Community College. Blanca went on to major in Biology, Mathematics and Chemistry at Corozal Junior College.

After attending one year again on a Belizean government sponsored scholarship at the University of Belize, Blanca received a prestigious Fullbright Scholarship. She used the scholarship to attend the University of Wisconsin located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA. Blanca Manzanilla graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Biology with a minor in Environmental Science three years later.

Today Blanca is a Belizean woman with direction and drive. She is well travelled having visited nature centers in Mexico, the United States, Guatemala and her homeland of Belize. She soon hopes to visit simliar facilities in the country of Honduras. Her interests include reading about magic and working on tarot cards as well as solving mathematical puzzles and brain teasers. The later were inspired by her junior college professor in Belize who use to give extra points and a few dollars to whomever solved the puzzles and teasers first. And whenever Blanca is faced with sadness or fatigue after a long day, in order to relax, Blanca either draws or goes for a long run.

When asked what she would like to see happen for other Belize Meztizo Maya women, Blanca quickly responds, "Not only Maya Women, women in General - those who have the talent to show it, not just talk about it. Use that head that is on your shoulder - think; look at things from different angles. If you don't know something learn; show people you can do it. Treat other people with respect and you will get respect in return. Times are changing and women are starting to get noticed; give scholarships; given opportunities; being heard and men are starting to appreciate these women. I'd like to see these women grab these opportunities and show that they are worth it; that we do have attention to detail which is important. Who knows maybe we will have a woman leader for our country soon - that is how far I would go to say that anything is possible as long as we have the will. "

Blanca started at the Lamanai Outpost Lodge in 1997 as a naturalist tour guide and has since worked her way up to the position of General Manager and a ownership position within the newly formed Belize Expeditions. As the former General Manager of Lamanai Outpost Lodge in the Orange Walk District and co-owner with Mark Howells of the destination management company Belize Expeditions, Blanca Manzanilla's new position for the company is assistant general manager for Chabil Mar Villas in Placencia. She understands that management of such a premier property as Chabil Mar Villas is a lot of hard work and extremely challenging. Having now been in the hospitality industry for over eight years, Blanca rises to the occasion to insure that the guests and the villa owners are happy with the level of service at Chabil Mar Villas. Together with the support staff, Blanca maintains the level of attention to detail required to guarantee great service, great food and comfortable and well-appointed accommodations. With Blanca Manzanilla in the lead, Chabil Mar Villas is well on it's way to becoming one of the best escape destination properties not only in Belize but throughout the Caribbean region.

In the end, Blanca Manzanilla is not quite sure where she will be careerwize in ten years. But she is no doubt focused and she suggests to other Meztizo Maya women and Belizean women as a whole, "when an opportunity arises, take it and make the best of it. And if there are people around you who think you won't make it; use that as an inspiration to do even better - show them. "

For Blanca Manzanilla life is summed up in her life's motto, "do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Blanca Manzanilla, a 21st century Belizean woman's story of success.