Gifts

Dad caught the cold virus early evening of the 24^th so we’re not able to go to our grandma’s place this year. My sister and a cousin invited me instead to go strolling around the Christmas Bazaar and after which, I treated them to McDonald’s despite the crowd of at least 8 people lined in each lane and despite that they announced running out of spaghetti noodles and chicken 15 minutes apart.

On our jeepney ride bound home few minutes before 11:00, I saw this sight which made my heart glad and reminded me the joy of the season. Sitting beside my sister on the opposite side of the jeep was a lady who looks to be in her late 20’s. She’s wearing a pale orange blouse and skirt of similar shade which I recognized to be a uniform of servers in a local food store. Since the jeep was packed, she’s only partly seated. With one hand, she’s clutching a plastic bag with four gifts the size of pouch bags and while the jeep weaved through the traffic, she tried her best to hold a gift steady while she wrote on its tag. Once done, she’d quickly return the package in the bag and bring out another and do the same until all were done. I smiled discreetly.

Yes, it was not as moving as those stories of charity to the poor and seriously ill people but for me, it’s the most apparent picture of thoughtfulness and giving I saw this holiday. I cannot tell if the woman is a mother (she doesn’t look like one) or for whom were her presents but that doesn’t matter. The presents were wrapped in cheap paper without glossy bows and the contents may not be expensive as well. Yet, in my mind, I admire this woman’s effort to grab these things for her loved ones despite being exhausted from a day’s work. I’m thinking how she might have felt when for hours at work, she’s served food to unknown customers while desiring to be home and prepare Christmas dinner for her own family. In this holiday when people doing office jobs are on vacation or at least had the privilege to go on leave with pay, there she was taking orders and setting tables. Maybe during the short times when she’s not handing out the menu and waiting for orders, she’s thinking what gift would her loved ones like. I can imagine how eager she was to punch her card out and rush before the stores where she got the gifts from close and have them wrapped. And in the packed and dimly-lighted jeep, she lovingly wrote the names of its recipients.

I just wish for this woman that in her whole day at work someone left a generous tip or at least none was rude to her. I wish that whoever received those gifts had liked it much and would take good care of those. And lastly, may this woman be blessed more than what she gives to other people.

Unknown to her, she’s also given me a gift and that is by inspiring me that there’s always joy in sharing what you have and more importantly sharing yourself to others.

“Christmas is a special time to give special people your gift. Whether it’s the gift wrapped in colorful paper, a message or a hug, Christmas allows us to reach them and let them know we care.” Anonymous

Retro Party

Our company relived the 70’s disco craze for this year’s Christmas Party. I didn’t know that such would be the theme neither would there be a theme (the previous years’ simply, Christmas) although it so happened that last year our department party was themed 80’s.

The previous week, I had decided to skip the event since it coincided with exams in school. However, a memorandum declaring a shortened working time on the big day came in a couple of days before the party hence my office pals convinced me to take the exam earlier than scheduled. Fortunately, my prof agreed.

The party was held in the long hall of the Exhibit and Convention Center which was used as the banquet during the Ad Congress. The program took off with energizing numbers by a guest band which played the era’s hits with an enthralling rendition of “Stand by Me” first in the playlist. Watching how it stirred the crowd groove- ecstatic in the early part of the program, I must say that the music of the 70’s isn’t as old school as I thought it was. I myself was bobbing my head along with the beat in no time!

Every department had to prepare its own meal but still each office was given a whole lechon (Philippines’ traditional roasted pig) as a compliment from the management. A feast indeed! Various prizes were raffled at intervals ranging from bags, cash, cell phones, and appliances such as DVD players, microwave oven, 21” TV, etc. There are plenty of prizes that the raffle wasn’t done even if most of the crowd had left late in the night. The small items (although not small in cost/worth) were just tossed to the crowd.

The highlights of the program include the dance competition among the different business units with 25K pesos at stake, and there’s this surprise digital presentation where the bobbing heads of our CEO, one of his deputies and a manager were placed on animated bodies dancing to the beats of “I Will Survive” and “Rock This Party” . We laughed hard and cheered on for the bosses who participated in the dance competitions as well.

Employees of different sizes and ages who dressed for the occasion are also noteworthy. I enjoyed looking on intensely colored bold prints, geometric patterns, and plaids, and of course wide headbands on the ladies and bushy afros of the men. My outfit (shirt and hat were bought just that morning) was likewise a scene-stealer which earned raves although it’s more pop than 70’s. Well, unconventional is my style. Besides, what do I know about the 70’s? My parents are not even acquainted with each other yet during those times.

From the Convention Center, we proceeded to my boss’ place where a bountiful dinner was set. Certainly, it’s a season of merry-making!

Night Swimming

The gorgeous protocol volunteers of the Philippine Advertising Congress made waves once again quite literally during our reunion cum victory party held in Ocean View Beach Resort two weeks after the AdCon concluded.

As if having imbibed the Congress industry’s way of life, we took advantage of Friendster bulletin and SMS to ‘advertise’ the event. Through the social network of a fellow volunteer whose family owns an established printing business in the city, we had booked the beach for half the price.

If I construed it right, it was our etiquette mentor, Sir Albert - err… Albert rather (he hates the ‘sir’), who spearheaded the idea before setting back to Manila hence that Sunday afternoon, he, together with Cam (the only protocol volunteer who’s not a resident of the city) traveled back to join us. Albert took care of almost everything; food was lavish as well as liquor leaving to us the cooking of rice and few fishes only.

Some arrived and prepared things around lunchtime while most came by sunset. Everybody had fun chatting, splashing in the water and of course our common favorite, posing for the camera that is. Few of the girls who didn’t plan to swim due to their period hadn’t resisted the inviting water which was a bit chilly.

Unfortunately, many failed to come for various reasons and some left early due to exams. Before we left, Albert talked to me things about being a good person and an achiever, pursuing my dreams and being happy with whatever I do although there’s this thing which he cannot describe properly but seems similar to my tendency to be stubborn and snobbish. Whatever that he’s trying to say, whether he’s right about it or he just misinterpreted me, I know his intentions are good and that is for me to become a better person. Just as how he put it, “whatever”.

(Credits to all owners of these photos)

Sole Companion

The verge of flipping my calendar to the last sheet was a national holiday. I grabbed the chance to go somewhere without needing to use another leave credit; I commuted to SM City Pampanga. Surprisingly, that was my first time to go to a mall with a set purpose other than roaming about for hours and honing my skills in impulsive buying. I’m getting myself a new pair of brown shoes. My old pair, although still looks good when you glance down on it, is already worn out even if its surface haven’t flaked despite the few scratches and the typical creases.

I bought my old pair from the same store the last time I was there more than a year ago. I loved its elongated toe cap although it still is square-toed. Its top vamp that runs from the tongue to the toe is slightly slimmer than the actual width of the shoe and is emphasized by bold stitches therefore created an illusion of being pointed. A tiny stud is fastened on a narrow strap that runs across near the tongue. Sleek – that’s how dress shoes must be. Many were mistaken by thinking it costs at least a thousand pesos.

Several months since I first used it, I lost a stud; a couple more after, I lost the other. Nevertheless it still looked good. When I’ve been using it long enough, the spacious and rocky parking lots I always pass by going to my school punctured the top lift of its heel. Sometimes, stones get stuck in the compartments of the heel which, fortunately don’t hurt me through the insole but nonetheless causes quite a noise when I walk on smooth surfaces.

One particular rainy day on my way to work, I was surprised to feel rainwater soaking my socks. I discovered that the outsoles of both shoes had thinned hence a cut runs across it and each have holes the size of my little finger. Then I knew it – my sole companion has to retire.

A similar pair of black lace-up bought with those brown shoes depreciated first but the browns are dearer to me. Foremost, they were my first brown dress shoes. My desire to acquire brown shoes started after imaginary fashion police sirens blared in my consciousness: black shoes never go with brown pants. Since two of our office uniforms prescribe brown pants, I decided to invest on a nice pair.

My brown shoes were with me during several memorable moments. I wore them for the pictorials and during the finals night of a pageant in 2006 where I finished as a runner-up. They were with me when I first gauged my skills in extemporaneous speech first in the city level and later in the regional. They complemented my all-brown ensemble when I was invited to judge a contest. More frequently, as I’ve mentioned previously, I used to wear them twice a week to work and since Monday is brown pants-day, they’re what I’m wearing when I was asked impromptu to lead the national anthem in our company flag ceremony. Once I also lent them to a friend who was in a pageant and I was amused to learn that another friend who’s in the same event preferred to wear it too than the one he brought along hence in one segment of the show they took turns wearing it depending who needs to be onstage.

My first brown shoes served me more than how much I paid for them. They may have been worn out but the fond memories associated with them remain intact.

Pretty People, Courtesy, Meal Stubs and the New Order (Part 3)

The New Order: A Personal Interpretation

The theme of the 20^th PAC honestly didn’t make much sense to me when I first saw the TVC with a tribe of aetas doing a native dance while inspired with the thought of conceptualizing and producing ads just like modern advertisers do. It was through the message of Ms. Yolly Ong, Overall Chairperson for the 20^th PAC, during the venue launch and a similar one that was printed on the maiden issue of the Congress’ publication that I was able to fathom somehow the idea behind “The New Order” – advertising today must extend beyond the typical audio, visual, and print media consumers are accustomed with thus advertisers must be more creative, innovative and aggressive to stay competent. Further, to produce an effective ad today needs a different number of manpower as compared to yesteryears.

All of us Protocol Volunteers started as individuals aloof from each other. Diverse personalities and maybe academic conflict draw the line among us all. In fact, we didn’t even have the chance to be acquainted with some of our schoolmates before; we were but mere faces to each other. The 4-day Congress provided a great opportunity for us to try reach out to each other and pull down the social barriers. We worked as a team and despite the differences, everybody was willing to adjust and share him/herself thus making the experience fun and worth all the exhaustion. The promise of a lasting friendship can be felt in our farewell hugs and kisses. As we return to our respective academes, we’ll show people that camaraderie can spring between people wearing different school uniforms and this is the new order.

We were chosen to be protocol volunteers with our good looks as the obvious advantage. The Congress made us more beautiful people with refined manners, meek attitude and extended patience thus the new order.

We have experienced how difficult it is to please people and moreover, to stay pleasant at all times despite discomfort. The next time we visit a fast food or a department store and the service/sales crew greets us, try returning the favor; that doesn’t add up to our bill anyway. This could be a new order.

Finally, we must be grateful for the wonderful people who helped us all throughout – our stylists, groovy nanay who pressed all our uniforms, our couturier, etiquette mentor, and the rest of the Protocol bosses and staffs – they were equally diligent and never ceased to give us a hand. We should draw inspiration from their selflessness and serve others to our greatest extent. Let this be a new order.

The 20th PAC used a snowglobe for its official logo. The whole experience shook us all in different ways. But as how it is every time we shake a snowglobe, every particle swirls around and settles at the bottom in a new order but indeed it is beautiful. May we continue the new order of friendship, hospitality, perspective and quality service. Go ahead, smile and greet the world, “Have a great day everyone!”

MGGM