BONDING TIME LAST JANUARY 29, 2011

January 29, 2011, Saturday
Capitangan, Abucay, Bataan

Joint 58th Anniversary and 15th Birthday Celebrations

Tatang Peping & Inang Nelly's  58th Wedding Anniversary

Four daughters out of  Seven Children (from left) Daisy, Ellen, Susan & Lory (Not present: Nick, Bhoy, and PJ)

Five grandchildren out of 12.

                                                           

Johanna Danielle, at 15, born in the Year of the Rat

Say caaaaaaaakkkkkke!

Clowning around

Born in the Year of the Monkey

Waterlilies?

The joint celebrations were held at Tatang & Inang's Farmville. Hannah and I left Dasmarinas, Cavite at 6am and arrived at the place by bus around 11:00am. The food were already laid out on the table under the mango tree. Because of Lory and Ellen, there were chicken yakitori, fried chicken, menudo and pancit palabok. Daisy and Tony's troops arrived bringing with them, boxes of brownies and cakes for the celebrations. Thea was lugging the tripod for the camera, she was the official photographer. She took the photos above and some.

Our three brothers have their own reasons why they could not make it --- Kuya Nick, whose family lives in Silang, Cavite, just left for his job in Saudi after recuperating from an operation last October; Bhoy, whose family lives in Bulacan, has to service students to and from school; and the youngest PJ, whose family lives in Olongapo City, operates some meat stalls in the city market. 

Hannah and I almost didn't make it because of our present financial situation, stemming from the delays in my salary. Thinking of the overdue bills especially the Meralco and Nawasa won't make any enjoyment impossible. At the last moment, Lory sent us  money for our fare to be sure that we can come and not disappoint the parents. All they wanted was for us to go home---to celebrate her birthday as her grandparents celebrate their anniversary. I remember when Hannah celebrtaed her 7th birthday. It was held in Bataan  together with Inanag & Tatang's Golden Wedding Anniversary. Bongga! When Sunday came and it's time to go home, Daisy also left money for our fare back to Cavite. Now, if Hannah will only hand me her cash gifts to be able to pay our electric and water bills...

hannah, thea, & kaila

kaila and hannah

 

CHRISTMAS PARTIES ala PJI

Christmas Parties
Marketing & Advertising, December 17, 2010,  Friday
Editorial Department, December 18, 2010, Saturday


Despite the prevailing situation in the PJI offices, I was able to join in the Marketing & Advertising Christmas Party on the 17th, and the Editorial Division's Christmas Party the following day, December 18, Saturday.

Show me some teeth!

The M&A Christmas party started at 1pm instead of the 4pm prior schedule. Catering was done by Nixon Canlapan's children. We had an exchange gift and raffle prizes. Thank you to Traders Hotel thru Tita Lourdes Arrieta, Elro Corp. thru Cel and BF Bheng L. and GeiserMaclang thru Miss Amor, who send  raffle prizes to our delight. Those who joined were given Ever Bilena Cosmetics gift packs, aside from the raffled off items. For my efforts, I won a Mang Inasal voucher worth P250.
 I did better last year, because there were lots of prizes then.

Joane: picture picture! Ces: I'm ready! Tita Me: wait lang, wait lang!

At the Editorial Christmas Party, those who did not win any of the raffle prizes --- of refs, flat screens, and other appliances --- were given an envelope each with a P500-bill inside. Reimbursement for expenses in coming to the party, I guess. The food was okay, too with the presence of lechons. I saw some of  the editorial staffs holding Unilever gift packs. Unfortunately nobody gave me any. Are they for the lucky ones only?  Yes, last year I won a Panasonic refrigerator, because there were a lot of prizes then, too.

Times are really hard. . . And getting much harder for the employees of PJI.


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Christmas Atmosphere at the PJI Makati Offices

With no knowledge as to when the much anticipated 13th month pay will be given, the usually gregarious Journal employees became restless, the author included. Some employees put up Christmas decorations just to liven the atmosphere. Ms. VAM of the M&A Division started makings plans for a Christmas party for her sales personnel while Tata Gus did the same.  Budg made a Christmas lantern out of the disposable PR CDs which were scattered everywhere. Taking their cues, the desk ladies of the Taliba and People's Journal put up their own versions, somewhat enlivening the whole Editorial Department by hanging on the ceiling gift-wrapped empty boxes, miniature Christmas trees and Christmas lights, too. Yes, and spending for the decors with money out of their own pockets. Management's mantra? No budget (always!)

FYI. Full payt. of the 13th month balance was given second week of January 2011:-((