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