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.

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.

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:-((