Office Life

Looking Forward to the End

By: Justin Carlo Estor, Senior Digital Associate

When you watch a movie or your favorite TV show, you sometimes find yourself trying to guess how it will end: will good win over evil? Will the true villain reveal itself? Will there be a part two? In the case of this pandemic, however, what you really long for is a happy ending, and you want it  to come as soon as possible.

As a TeamAsian, you tend to overlook the daily musings of everyday work life: making sure the elevator reaches the 18th floor before 9:01 a.m., figuring out where to get your lunch, thinking if  you wanna walk to CENA (arguably the office’s top foodie destination) or if you just wanna order from FoodPanda, and even considering whether or not you need to go overtime for a deck or if you can pull it off tomorrow. These things are usually part of a possibly tiring cycle as a TeamAsian. However, this cycle isn’t something we get to experience today anymore – and it’s a cycle that, in my opinion, we’d surprisingly welcome to go back to soon.

The people you can call home inside the office

The people you can call home inside the office

We also want to go back to our office mates feeding us (Erika <3 Aire)

We also want to go back to our office mates feeding us (Erika ❤ Aire)

Apart from that, I think it’s a general feeling that people even in other organizations are experiencing right now:

“I miss the office.”

“I miss going out.”

“I miss eating at restaurants.”

“I miss talking to people… face-to-face.”

I miss hugging sad officemates, too (Don’t be sad, Darell)

I miss hugging sad officemates, too (Don’t be sad, Darell)

Some of these things you may have taken for granted when everything was still normal. Now, we’re stepping into what people call the “new normal” –  physical distancing, curfews, paranoid hand washing, and whatever you consider as a precaution in this pandemic.

Still, you can’t help but still wish for things to go back to the way they used to be, and a part of me is saying that it will.

Instead of hating being stuck at home, we’ll go back to ranting about long traffic lines.

Instead of hating on eating the same home-cooked meals, we’ll go back to getting mildly disappointed for wrong restaurant orders and gently asking for the correct dish, which is the one you ordered.

Instead of hating on becoming physically distant, we’ll instead chat about that one friend that forgot to pay their share on the bar tab.

Instead of hating on figuring out what to watch, we’ll go back to struggling to book a flight during a seat sale, but still being excited about the entire trip you’re planning.

Office Rant #43: “Why can’t this be an email?”

And once we’re back to ranting on all the things we seemingly dislike, we’ll realize that we actually loved these instances. Because, let’s face it, it really is easy to take most things for granted – especially when even the simplest forms of freedom are taken away from you. It’s safe to say that we now have a newfound appreciation for things we’re actually privileged to have – from being able to hang out with friends and officemates to simply being able to go outside.

I imagine myself, sitting back in my office chair, smiling after internally complaining about fully booked meeting rooms, water dispensers that go empty fast, and excruciatingly long meetings then thinking:

“We finally made it to the end. Things are back to normal. We can already start anew.”

So if you ask me, I’ll choose that cycle anytime over this pandemic, and I’ll be forever thankful once it’s over.

I’m really looking forward to it.

Be sponTAneous when things don’t go as planned

by Johanna Amancio, Media Relations Associate

Like a singer losing his voice or a bride getting stuck in traffic, nothing is more upsetting for an organizer than a plan going out of hand. When I was assigned to create a three-day program for this year’s TeamAsia geTAway, I knew I had to make a foolproof plan. After all, it was my first time being a part of the outing committee. After a few meetings, meriendas, and revisions with my fellow committee members, we came up with the theme “Slip ‘n Slide”—inspired by the huge inflatable island in our resort, MB Cove. With the help of our directors, the committee came up with an engaging plan, even for a group of rest-seeking individuals (including yours truly). But as they say, the future is promised to no one.

No power, no problem
After three hours of travel, TeamAsia made it to the MB Cove Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas. Our bus, however, was too big to enter the resort’s parking space so we had to make a short walk to the place. Upon reaching the resort, I had a sudden urge to dive into the sea and play for the rest of the day, but being the supposed adult that I am, I went to our designated room and began unpacking like the rest. Before I could even open my bags, one of my colleagues came in and said that there was no electricity. Power outages are not that uncommon especially in a remote area such as our resort. From my previous family outing, I learned that some areas in Batangas had a power distribution schedule so a brownout is nothing to me. But after three hours of travel and walking under the stupefying heat, I knew that such slight inconvenience can come a long way for some. Upon stepping out of our temporarily aircon-free room, to my surprise, I saw an active crowd. The power outage somehow kept everyone from locking themselves inside their rooms. Everyone was out, appreciating the place, playing cards and beer pong, and enjoying each others’ company. And just after enjoying our sumptuous lunch, the power was back at one!

TeamAsia geTAway 1

Letting nature take its course
After a brief siesta, we called everyone for a short game briefing. The game was a one-shot music video that each team can shoot in the afternoon before we play it during the evening program. In preparation for our President’s, Monette Iturralde Hamlin (MIH), talk in the afternoon, we took a personality test that would determine our temperament type. In a bright and sunny day such as what we had, a destructive storm is the last thing you would expect—but that was exactly what we got. Just as everyone started to put their ideas into action, a violent storm hit our area. Tents, plants and even the inflatables were all over the place just as everyone was running aimlessly, looking for a safe and dry spot. After the unexpected downpour, everyone entered their respective rooms and tried processing mother nature’s stunt. But despite being disruptive, I realized that a brief and violent storm was just what we needed after hours of scorching heat. It even gave way to a longer personal and rest time. Some even took this time to bond and share stories. After the rain, the resort staff also put the inflatables aside. But even without it, the team had an amazing afternoon swim together and had fun even with just each other’s company.

In the evening, right before dinner, MIH gathered us for a brief session about the personality test we took earlier that day. I learned that there are four temperament types namely Sanguine, Choleric, Melancholic, and Phlegmatic. I turned out to be a Popular Sanguine and just like everyone else, I was surprised to discover how on-point my characteristics were. The night ended with a bonfire session near the beach with a few cold drinks and warm company of each other.

TeamAsia geTAway 2

Improvising is the key
The next day was filled with adventure. Vince, Thea, Althea and I from the Content Department decided to go island hopping with Abi, Gena and Justin from the Experience Department and Enzo, Clarisse, and Joyce from the Marketing and Accounts Department. We went to the nearby islands, which are owned by two prominent politicians in the country. That day was filled with many firsts–my first boat ride, first island hopping activity, and my first coral injury. But despite our wounds, the fun must go on!

TeamAsia geTAway 3

In the afternoon, everyone was gathered to join the highlight of the outing– the obstacle relay in the inflatable island. But just as everyone got out of their rooms for the game, a heavy downpour struck our area again. With that heavy rainfall, it was almost impossible to go through the obstacle relay and the staff would not let us play in the inflatables until the rain stopped. But with everyone already by the shore, people began to improvise and started a game of agawan base (stealing base), which brought out the kid in us. After the storm, there was a go signal to use the inflatables. Though it may look easy from afar, using the inflatables was no easy task. It was slippery, bouncy, and made everyone fall on their backs. But now that I think about it, the short agawan base game became sort of a warm-up exercise for everyone, with the team running around and jumping in the shoreline. Everyone enjoyed the inflatable island particularly the human projectile inflatable slide. By the evening, everyone had a chill time over a fun trivia game.

Last Day
As expected, almost everyone was up late morning and had their breakfast. Some of us stayed in our rooms after and enjoyed an anime series called “The Promised Neverland”. By lunch, some of our colleagues were still swimming at the beach. I was so jealous and wanted to follow, but I had to tend to my wet clothes and towels. By noon, the teams were gathered just before our departure to declare the winners. And even if I enjoyed the activities from afar as a committee, I still felt like a winner because I got the rest and adventure that I badly needed. Throughout the geTAway, a part of me was consistently worried given that the outing did not entirely go as planned. Storms would come and go, the power would be out, and activities will be put to a halt. But at the end of it all, I learned that just like life itself, things won’t always go as planned. And sometimes, the key is to not wait for the perfect moment. Instead, let’s take the moment and make it perfect instead.

TeamAsia Pop-up!

Making TeamAsia POP!

I do not look the part but I have already been working for well over a decade and a half. TeamAsia is the latest stop in this crazy adventure I have been on since I graduated from college.

When I got here, the first thing I noticed was the culture. You felt it in the air. It animated the way people spoke and interacted with each other. Even though the backgrounds are as diverse as in any organization, there is a palpable sense of a singleness, a unity that you just cannot define. It makes the word “team” in TeamAsia more real somehow.

The question is: what makes TeamAsia tick?

Read our feature from BusinessWorld SparkUp! About Pop-Up! here: Staying Alive – Employee Engagement in 2028.

WHAT’S OUR SECRET SAUCE?

“A culture is strong when people work with each other for each other. A culture is weak when people work against each other for themselves.” – Simon Sinek

Forbes.com defines employee engagement as how much employees are emotionally committed to the organization and to the organization’s goals. Employee engagement is important because of how it affects the bottomline – Brilliantfuture.se reports that companies that have engaged employees experience at least an 8.6 percent increase in profits.

That same employee engagement is important to creating the culture we have in TeamAsia. When employees put an emotional investment into their organization, it leads to a smoothing of egos; a unity of ideas; a single language that pervades each and everyone on the team.

A big part of why TeamAsia’s employee engagement is so pervasive is also because of its engagement activities. If we pride ourselves in bringing next-level experiences, it should be fitting that we also bring next-level employee engagement.

Enter TeamAsia Pop-Up!

MAKING TEAMASIA POP!

Work Stops, Everybody Pops

Here at TeamAsia, we have our own employee engagement tradition which we call Pop-Up! Every month we set aside a few hours for meaningful activities with the whole team.

My first Pop-up! happened just a few days from my first day in TeamAsia – the annual TeamAsia GeTAway (note the use of TA in our activities which stands for TeamAsia). For the following month, we all stopped working for a few hours to do some spring cleaning and create something wonderful from all the things we accumulated over the years.

Just last month we had our special Halloween Pop-up! called TAkot. We all dressed up in our musical Themed Halloween costumes presented a twist to happily ever after.

The Experience Department

The Creatives Department

The Marketing and Accounts Department

These activities have an impact on the people that participate in it. For Justin and Chiara, two of our newest members on the digital team, TAkot definitely left an impression. “TAkot was a reminder that at the end of the day, people need to experience life even in the workplace,” says Justin. Chiara notes that TAkot was a great opportunity to get to know her new officemates better.

This concept has been a hit for TeamAsia, garnering it two Quill awards for Employee Engagement.

CONCLUSION

The Digital/IT Web Teams

In all my years working, I have always believed that the deepest bonds are formed on the proverbial battlefield. It is not the stress that forms that bond, it is the moments in between that create stronger relationships.

That single purposeful voice in TeamAsia leads to us taking that next step in making brands more engaging. That energy makes us all bright and shiny and renews our commitment to taking brands to the next level of experience.

Read all about our latest Pop-up! here: Staying Alive – Employee Engagement in 2028.

TAkot 2018: Happily Never After

TeamAsia TAkot

All Dressed Up And Ready To Scare

October 31, 2018, Alabang. Yesterday afternoon’s TAkot 2018 was a riot!

Every last Wednesday of the month, TeamAsia celebrates Pop Up, a beloved employee engagement activity where everyone stops work to get together for a few hours of fun, fellowship and camaraderie. It is also a time when birthday celebrants are greeted, and friends break bread (though it was barbecue, noodles and doughnuts yesterday). New employees are welcomed, but first, they have to either perform a talent or butt-spell their name, a hilarious exercise that has everyone cheering them on.

The most awaited of these monthly Pop Ups is Halloween. This time around, we moved Pop Up to Tuesday as many of our employees will be traveling to the provinces today to celebrate Undas, the Filipinos’ way of honoring their dead by visiting the cemeteries and coming together as families to pray and remember loved ones that have gone ahead.

Happily Never After was this year’s theme for TAkot. A twist on musicals that end happily and make everyone believe life is dandy, the theme had everyone thinking creatively of a different and unexpected ending for Halloween. One where you witness something terrifying and unnerving, and you are lucky enough to escape and tell the tale.

Five departments competed in the quest: Creatives with The Lion King, Digital/IT and Web with Moana, Marketing and Accounts with The Wizard of Oz, Experience with Trolls, and Content with The Little Mermaid. With imaginative minds and creative juices working overdrive, the TeamAsians delighted us with their productions, and made my job as judge difficult. Luckily there were other judges to spread the work around.

The Creative folks danced with abandon, representing the animal kingdom rejoicing the birth of the Lion King, when suddenly they removed their animal costumes and turned into zombies dancing to Michael Jackson’s Bad.

Starting with a video clip from Moana where she saves the island from devastation, the Digital/IT and Web boys danced to their own ditty of “mag walis, mag-bunot, mag-laba, mag-sampay” as their fitting welcome to the triumphant Moana, ably played by Chiara, who they then kill as “women are not allowed on their island.” Undertones of gender bias, but happily, we have our first female team member in what for the longest time was an exclusive male domain.

Pam’s baby Coco adorably dressed as a princess troll stole the scene from the Experience Department’s performance. Coco didn’t even cry when she was taken from her “dying” Mama Troll Queen’s arms and given to the Troll King as sacrifice. Abi Bibat ably led the group in singing.

Lynda surprised everyone with her singing for the Wizard of Oz, as the unlikely group of friends, Enzo as the Scarecrow, Joyce as the Tin Man, Erika as the Cowardly Lion, and Patrick as Dorothy hop-skipped their way through the Land of Oz. Aire as the Wicked Witch of the North and Denise as the Wizard herself completed the cast of characters. And when Erika the Lion received her badge of courage and stopped being cowardly, she pounced on Dorothy and killed her, then gave away Dorothy’s heart to the Tin Man and her brains to the Scarecrow. It was indeed a surprise ending, and a hilarious performance.

Content’s Little Mermaid’s story addressed the environmental crisis, weaving in undertones of the ocean’s desecration by the massive garbage and plastic being thrown into the sea. As Johanna, alias Ariel, sang longingly of exchanging her fishtail for feet so she could explore the earth, the other content staff swam, or rather bobbed, around. There was Luigi as a seahorse, Tony as a starfish, BeaF as an octopus, Ana as Nemo. Vince told the story, while the other team members served as extras or production staff; throwing the garbage and blowing bubbles in the air. Intent on achieving her dream, Ariel goes to Ursula, devilishly played and sang by Axl, complete with sidekicks Flotsam and Jetsam. Ariel gets her wish, while Ursula is caught by a fisherman. And once on dry land, hungry Ariel decides to stop by a kiosk to buy takoyaki, a popular Japanese street food made of octopus balls. Goodbye Ursula! A deadly twist indeed, reminding us that the garbage we throw out into the sea, end up in the seafood that we consume. Hats off to Elton, the master storyteller and scriptwriter!

After the performances, we headed off to the pantry to get food, while the young ones went around to collect goodies. It was heartwarming to see the little sons and daughters of our staff having fun and playing in TeamAsia.

And we all had fun dressing up! Bea was the evil queen holding a box with a heart, while I dressed up as Esmeralda of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The night before, Bea asked me to make her a crown for her outfit, and I remembered all those halloweens past when my children were young and we dressed up in outrageous costumes.

Soon it was time for butt-spell. We had a record number of butt-spells this time, with BVernie of Content doing it so fluidly it must have been cursive! Bea then announced the winners of the competition: Content bagged the first prize, followed by MAD and Creatives.

Takot 2018 was definitely a blast, an occasion for TeamAsians to unleash their creativity while having fun. I look forward to what our Pop Up team can come up with for the next one.

Original Content from: http://www.monettehamlin.com/2018/10/31/1449/

Work and Play: What I learned about TeamAsia during my very first GeTAway

by Patrick de Jesus, Marketing & Accounts Department

Coming in as a new Accounts Manager in TeamAsia, I immediately noticed how the culture is a great combination of work and play. I enjoy the fact that working overtime is not encouraged, even though it’s a trend among agencies. Because my personality is a mix of serious and quirky, I realized that getting along with the team would be a breeze.

LAIYA

This is why when they announced the summer outing, I was sure that it would be an unforgettable experience even though Laiya, Batangas is a familiar place. The theme was Summer TAmbayan–very characteristic of the fun and laid back TeamAsia culture. In fact, we were given the liberty to do what we wanted upon arrival. I for one enjoyed the morning sunshine by the beach with my awesome teammates from the Marketing and Accounts department.

MADness

Being a new member of the TeamAsia family, I had reservations about spending time with the other departments; but everyone’s warm welcome and easygoing manner quickly washed away that feeling. The team activities especially helped me warm up with the others, as we were grouped in random. It was a great chance for me to get to know them better.

YAY!

The “The Longest Waste Line” was a highlight for me. The goal of the game was to collect as much trash in the resort and beach front as we can to make the longest line of trash possible. Aside from honing our competitive spirit and uniting us as teams, the activity also served as an opportunity for everyone to take part in conserving the environment. It was a memorable experience that made an impact in the way I see the trash we leave behind.

Beachside

Upon sunset, we concluded the day with a bonfire and a heartfelt speech by our principals. Afterwards, a handful of people decided to stay up to hang out or take a dip in the pool with music and some drinks. As I chatted and talked about life with my new colleagues under the stars, I realized that they are the bunch I want to stick around with. 

geTAway 2018

Even though I’ve only been with TeamAsia for over a month, people treated me as if they knew me so well. What’s more, it was interesting to see how everyone took the activities seriously all while having fun. It was a clear picture of how everyone is able to balance work and play–a culture that I personally look for in a company. It’s no fun when your colleagues treat you as merely colleagues, so I’m glad that in TeamAsia I feel like I am part of a family.

 

The Passion for Helping Others

by James Chiong, Marketing Manager

Last 2017, we celebrated our silver year with the battle cry: Driven by Passion. The theme was fitting as we have been marching to the beat of its drum for the past 25 years.

The recipient of the TeamAsian of the Year Award is at the core of every project. She worked behind the scenes, and helped others until the plans of the team are realized — i.e. someone that embodies passion.

teamasia-lorna (2)

Lorna Cadiang with Mic Oberio from the Exhibits and Productions team (left), and Jeff Enriquez, Web and IT Director (right)

Passion is the life blood of Lorna Cadiang, TeamAsia’s Procurement Manager. It’s the Filipino value of malasakit that enabled her to be recognized as the Rookie of the Year in 2016 and eventually, as the TeamAsian of the Year last 2017. We sat down and had a chat with her, and asked her to share how she stays inspired amidst the daily hustle.

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: My passion and purpose in life is to serve other people. Growing up with a single parent, I had to learn how to do things on my own from an early age.  Instead of having my mom prepare my uniform and baon for me, I did it for myself. I took summer jobs and stitched together unused pages of old notebooks, and reused school supplies to help my mom financially. Because of all of these,  I know how lonely it can be to do things on your own. I know the value of having someone who is constantly there for you. I know it makes a huge difference so I aim to be this person for the people I work with every day.

Q: What inspires you to wake up and go to work everyday?

A: My family is my top priority. Kumakayod ako para sa pamilya ko. And of course I am inspired to go to work for the people who need me. Knowing that I contribute to bringing brands to the next level experience, I am inspired to go to work.

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Lorna (right) with the fam-bam

A: I really like reading quotes, and this one really struck a chord within me: “Don’t feel bad if people remember you only when they need you. Feel privileged that you are like a candle that comes to their mind when there is darkness.” I know that the work I do is valuable for TeamAsia, and my heart is filled every time I am able to help others.

Q: Tell us more about your work principles and how you developed them.

A: My first work principle is putting my heart in everything that I do. I believe that by doing things wholeheartedly, at merong malasakit sa kapwa at sa trabaho, we are able to elevate our work. I equate this with serving my loved ones, because for them, we are able to go beyond the call of duty.

A: The second principle I live up to is that I aim to be optimistic. I don’t see obstacles as challenges, but as opportunities through which I can learn new things that are beyond my current abilities. My job description exposes me to a lot of new learnings, and thus, new mistakes. Thinking about them positively enables me to learn from them and not dwell on them too much.

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Lorna (second from the right) with Bea Lim (rightmost), and Monette Iturralde Hamlin (middle, in the foreground) and the rest of the volunteers for My Dream in a Shoebox last 2016

A: My third principle is to open my heart to everyone that I work with. I believe that by treating everybody with openness and respect, we cultivate an engaging work environment—and that’s what makes work more fun, right?

Q: How do you seize opportunities, overcome challenges, and work excellently at the same time?

A: My work for TeamAsia really brings a lot of opportunities and challenges, and for me these things really bring out the best in me and in everyone. These things really mold us into better versions of ourselves. And personally, I get bored without challenges.

From trying times, we gain strength and fortitude

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Lorna embodies the steadfastness in her job, but she also admits that there are days when she feels burned out. There are days that the stress sometimes overcomes her. But, she shares that she feels a genuine joy of doing her job and of learning from other people, enables her to be stronger and pull through with the requirements of her job.

Q: What was one memorable challenge that you had, and how did this experience help you grow?

A: I remember my first biggest project was to facilitate and put into motion the relocation of the TeamAsia office – from its former home in Northgate Plaz@ B to our current home in Aeon Prime Building. And because we are relocating to a PEZA zone, we also had to file PEZA-certifying requirements. It was a monumental task because it meant a lot for the agency – a new leaf that we’re turning, in line of our 25th anniversary in 2017.

A: I was new back then, and I didn’t know so much about TeamAsia. Still, I was accountable for making this happen. The task required back-tracking all company documentation, invoices, and records; and making sure that all the requirements were on point. I had to work with people who, prior to the task, I did not get to know personally. This made me uncomfortable, but with the bigger goal in mind, we succeeded.  

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Lorna with the Finance team, during the blessing of the new office in 2016

A: At this point, I cannot recall the details of how I completed that challenge but I am thankful that I did. And through the support of my TeamAsia family – I am grateful that we succeeded in this task.

She embodies the virtue of malasakit

Humbly, Lorna tells us that she is honored to be recognized for all her effort and hard work. Believing that all the opportunities and challenges that she has faced in TeamAsia is rewarding enough, being recognized for it is simply the icing on the cake for her.

She also shares with us a secret ingredient in working excellently. “Having a sense of malasakit is something that allows me to push for my best effort all the time. Malasakit. This is not something that you learn in a seminar – it comes naturally when you do things out of love,” said Lorna.

Q: Has working in TeamAsia contributed in making you a better professional today?

A: Yes! What I like about the company is that it’s very generous in giving you chances to excel. It exposes me to a lot of opportunities to learn and show my capabilities. Even though I do not know some of the things I am tasked to do, they show their trust and confidence that I can pull through. I also love the feeling of belongingness, that no matter the circumstance, the team has got your back.

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Lorna receiving the Rookie of the Year award in 2016

Q: How do you envision TeamAsia five years from now?

A: There’s definitely no other way for TeamAsia but up. I know that TeamAsia will be recognized more for its passionate and committed people, and be able to provide next level experiences for more international brands. Being part of the team that envisions and realizes this is an honor, and I will make sure that my efforts are excellent and consistent.

Q: What’s the best advice that you can give to your TeamAsia family?

A: My advice is to never lose the ability to dream. That whatever our circumstances are, we should always be able to dream, set goals, and realize them. These achievements fuel us to do better. And her second advice, and possibly the most important advice, is to know our passions. Embracing our passions help us to do great work – for ourselves and for the people we love.

 

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A Gallery of Terror – TeamAsia’s TAkot 2017

by Derek Primo, Marketing and Accounts Intern

TAkot 2017 was a gallery of true terror.

Hours before the annual Halloween tradition last October 30, everyone in the office was working as usual. Their eyes were glued on their laptop screens, calmly minding their own business, and acting as if they did not prepare for the impending horror of the day’s event. Or so I thought.

A week prior, each department was notified of this year’s challenge. The teams were tasked to organize a hair-raising experience revolving around the stories of ghosts living in each room within TeamAsia premises.

As soon as the bell was rung to prompt everyone to stop working and start gearing up for the event, the atmosphere of the office changed completely. The competition started to heat up and the people prepared to bring their A-game in unraveling what they have planned to terrify everyone else.

To add to the thrill of it all, TeamAsia clients were invited to be judges for the day. Capital One Country General Manager Peter Hayden and J. Walter Thompson Manila Managing Director Golda Roldan were great sports as they walked through each scary room. Before my eyes was a total transformation, as everyone embraced their characters and dedicatedly enacted their stories.  

EXPERIENCE TEAM – The House of the Occult

The Experience Department lived up to their name as they gave the judges an unforgettable experience that transported them to a scenario that can only be seen in movies.

They won first place for their story entitled “The House of The Occult,” which is centered on the story of a little girl seeking for help to save her mother, who was kidnapped by evil elements while they were buying dolls at an unknowingly occult house.

Passersby Peter and Golda showed mercy on the little girl. They went inside the house, found the mother, and tried to set her free, only to find out that she is actually evil herself. Beside her were cohorts waiting to feed on fresh prey. With barely enough time to escape, the terrified lot watched in horror as the little girl locks them in and watches them perish with a menacing grin. It was a trap all along.

CONTENT TEAM – #NasaanSiJunJun

Winning second place, the Content Department masterfully narrated a realistic tale about JunJun, the ghost that resided in the old TeamAsia office. They capitalized on the terrifying possibility of the scenes actually happening, as it was based on true to life experiences.

As Peter and Golda entered the room, the voice of a young boy started talking out of nowhere. It was JunJun, who was beginning to reminisce. He told them stories of the times when the old office was filled with the smiles and banters of TeamAsians, which brought him joy. However, his stories of fond memories slowly transitioned to bitter complaints as he recalls the pain of being left alone when TeamAsia moved to its new office. Wanting to reconnect with his “friends”, JunJun decided to haunt the Think Big Conference Room to seek revenge and make sure that he will never leave his “beloved” TeamAsians ever again.

MARKETING AND ACCOUNTS TEAM – Driven Mad by Passion

In third place was the Marketing and Accounts Department, who wittingly told the horrors of creative work.

Their story entitled “Driven Mad by Passion” is about Kia, a very passionate worker who would do anything to get the best and biggest ideas. In this journey to greatness she would go the extra mile and kill anyone who opposes her idea with a better one, lock their souls in the room and steal their ideas.

One night, Peter and Golda witnessed what happened when she was alone with the last member of the team. The member gave an amazing idea and this kindled the monster inside Kia. This revealed the morbid truth that Kia has parts of her victims inside her head that talk to her. The souls of the dead people will remain in the room forever unless Kia is stopped.

CREATIVES – The Overtime Meal

The Creatives Department showcased their remarkable craftsmanship to narrate their story entitled “The Overtime Meal”. It is about a group of employees who had to work overtime to complete a deliverable by the end of the day. The group labored non-stop as they worked against the clock. Exhausted and hungry, they realized in the dead of night that they did not have money to buy food.

Out of severe starvation, Hardy, one of the employees, slowly became possessed. This led him to perform a ritual and sacrifice one of their own, which ended up in cannibalism.  

DIGITAL – Emily

The Digital Department told a gripping story that is set in a closet. The closet used to be a refuge of solace for an eight year-old girl named Emily, who suffers from Juvenile Schizophrenia.

Found within the closet is a page from her diary, and her disturbing medical records. Her stories detail a troubled childhood. With her parents struggling with drug addiction and peddling illegal substances, Emily found comfort with her stuffed toys, which she would pretend to have tea and have play dates with. Until they all became real for Emily. And Emily became gruesome with her play dates with her toys, ultimately deciding on her demise by jumping off the window.

FINANCE AND ADMIN – The Haunted Office

The Finance and Admin Department told a story about TeamAsia’s auspicious move to its new headquarters. The team worked hard to set up operations in the abandoned building, only to discover later that there are restless spirits living within its halls.

As TeamAsia tried to ignore the threats, the spirits and dark elements lurking in the office grew more and more restless, deliberately disturbing the peace of the mortals who call this haunted place their home.

WEB & IT TEAM

Finally, the Web and IT Department told a story about a newly hired employee who was bullied for being a newbie. The pain and shame that he experienced led him to experience depression and eventually, commit suicide. The news spread in the workplace quickly, causing shock, fear, and accusations. Since the incident, the once happy office became haunted. The new employee’s restless soul stayed in the office to take revenge by picking and killing one person each year. Everyday, he haunts like a poltergeist, shaking things up, and reminding everyone of his presence.

At the end of the frightful showcase, everyone proudly applauded their colleagues. Looking back, I can say that it is truly one of the highlights of my internship experience as I witnessed an excellent exhibition of teamwork, creativity, and amazing storytelling.  

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Experience team’s The House of The Occult won first place

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The Content team won second place with #NasaanSiJunJun

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Marketing and Accounts team won third place with their enactment of Driven Mad by Passion

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Why working in the south is awesome

By: Marielle De Guzman, Content Department Intern

When I found out that I was going to have my internship at TeamAsia, one of the top PR agencies in the country, and what some call “The Ahensya of the South”, I was pretty excited. While most of my classmates wanted to work in creative agencies and companies in central business districts such as Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Quezon City, I looked forward to spending my days in the south as I worked with the Content team to help out with their PR campaigns for the duration of the program.

When people hear the word ‘south’, they usually associate it with food trip destinations and malls, and not so much with building a career here. Although there are some pretty great places to visit in the other business districts in Manila, I have to admit that for the past couple of weeks I’ve been here, I have become a work-in-the-south advocate.

Together with the awesome folks over at TeamAsia, we have compiled a list of things we love about working in the south:
”Dito, isang tumbling lang.”

Most of the employees from TeamAsia live nearby — in Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, Cavite, and Laguna, although we have a handful who reside in the north. For those fortunate enough to live near work, having an office that doesn’t require us to pass through EDSA and other congested highways makes life a lot easier. It doesn’t mean we’re the only business here though. Did you know that Filinvest City’s Northgate Cyberzone, the BPO IT Park of the South, is in the same area as our office? This 18.7 hectare PEZA-registered IT zone was designed and built to accommodate the needs of technology-based companies engaged in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO), and other IT support businesses.

And even if TeamAsia is happily based in the south, majority of our clients are situated in the north. In fact, it’s rare for all TeamAsians to all be present at the office since everyone almost always has an offsite meeting or event. They wouldn’t have it any other way though — after all, it keeps things exciting! With clients such as Jollibee, Board of Investments, Schneider Electric, and more, there’s a variety of events and industries they get to work on and learn from.

Whether it’s for a client pitch, an alignment meeting, a press conference, or an event, it isn’t difficult for them to reach their destination in the north since the office is located near the Skyway.

”No need for you to unleash your ‘inner ‘mandirigma’.”

There are around 2.35 million cars competing for road space in the Philippines. Edsa, the most frequently used road of office workers, has a capacity of 200,000 vehicles a day. If the volume nears capacity, the speed decreases. These days, the average speed there is approximately 10 kph.

Doesn’t it sound stressful? Well, southern residents working in Alabang won’t have to experience that. The roads here aren’t as congested as its northern counterparts. You won’t need to leave the house four hours early, only to still arrive late at the office due to the traffic regardless of whether or not you brought a car. And if you do bring a car to work, you would never have to pay toll fees every single day. It’s an instant sweldo-saver.

”Working for an Ahensya of the South, you don’t just get any ordinary cityscape.”

One of my favorite things to do at TeamAsia is to work at the pantry because of the view I enjoy from there. Everyone at the office is usually free to work wherever they want to so it’s a common occurrence to have people from different departments busily typing away on their laptops there. Unlike the other offices in the more crowded areas of Manila wherein the only views you get are up close and personal views of nearby buildings, the TeamAsia office lets us catch a glimpse of the Alabang cityscape, which features a few buildings, open fields, and a view of the Laguna Bay. Who wouldn’t be inspired and/or relaxed with that view?

Some of TeamAsia’s visiting clients have been as equally awed by the view, remarking how they wished they had it too. In fact, we’ve had clients who’ve gone in for a meeting and stayed a little longer just so they could appreciate it more.

”You can always go for casual strolls, or a night out with your colleagues or friends outside work.”

Working in an agency can be incredibly busy and fast-paced, and sometimes it’s also necessary to find time to take a break and unwind. I’ve been part of some of the Content team’s brainstorming sessions, and there have been times wherein the Best Idea Ever for a pitch came when the team had been out for a quick stroll to grab a snack from Family Mart or Fastbytes. Taking a walk can be a relaxing experience because of the wide roads and the laid-back feel of the area — and it sometimes does wonders too for idea generation!

When it comes to a fun night out, there’s a lot of talk about how Makati and Bonifacio Global City are the must-visit areas. That’s all well and good, but the south is also actually a great place to hang out in after a busy day (or week!). The malls and restaurants here are 10-15 minutes away, and even if the roads get crowded, you will never have to endure a 2-hour stay on the road because everything is right around the corner. You might want to check out the restaurants in Alabang, such as Neil’s Kitchen, which serves traditional Filipino food with a modern twist, or Butumaru and Ramen Yushoken, both of which can whip up some delicious ramen for you.

Some of the TeamAsians here usually head out to Molito, which is directly in front of Alabang Town Center. Given the nature of the job and the fact that they spend a lot of time together working on their respective accounts, the teams are all pretty close and they like unwinding after a busy week. It was nice to see that they don’t just treat each other as colleagues, but as friends they can also laugh and share fun moments with.

“Work-Life Balance is really in the South.”

For me and my fellow southern dwellers who don’t have to encounter heavy traffic spanning for hours on our way home, working in the area enables us to save a lot of time since we’re not on the road that long. Decreasing our travel time enables us to make more time for our loved ones.

In fact, one of the newest TeamAsians, shared how working in the south has enabled him to go home early to see his kids. He had worked in Makati before and would at times arrive by 11PM, only to find his kids already asleep. Now, he gets to see them by around 7PM, enabling him to bond with them.

Not only that, there are schools in Muntinlupa that are also near the business area in Alabang. TeamAsia, for example, is near schools such as De La Salle Zobel, Woodrose, and the like. It’s easy for some of the TeamAsians to pick up their kids after work because of the proximity, giving them more time to bond.

Of course, work-life balance also applies to making sure that you also take some time to take care of yourself. Whether this is in the form of spending time with your friends food tripping or taking some alone time to focus on your health by hitting the gym or going to the spa, you won’t have a problem because of the myriad of gastronomic and recreational establishments nearby.

Some of the TeamAsians here have their own badminton group wherein they would make time to play after work, and some of them just prefer to hit the gym or watch a movie with their coworkers. How’s that for awesome?

I’ve learned so much during my stay in TeamAsia, and I’m thankful that I got to experience what it’s like working in the south. Although convenience due to its proximity to my house was one of the things I loved about being an intern there, I realized that what made my time there special wasn’t just working in the south. It was working in the south with the TeamAsians who have been nothing but welcoming and helpful.

Each work location definitely has its own perks, but if being based in the south appeals to you and you want to work in a creative and challenging environment filled with awesome people, then TeamAsia might just be a great fit for you. I know I definitely had a blast there.

Interested in learning how you can be part of this awesome Agency of the South? You can send us an email at hr@teamasia.com or visit https://www.teamasia.com/careers to learn how you can join our passionate team!

TeamAsia’s sweet LU escape: three days in Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel

by Axl Ross Tumanut, Kaye Chua, and Luigi Almario 

Three days at Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel in La Union could fill any traveler’s newsfeeds with all sorts of upload-worthy snapshots–beach selfies, groufies, sunset photos, surfing shots, influencer poses, live videos, stories, and more. For us at TeamAsia who are all too deeply absorbed in the fast-paced agency life, our getaway was a chance to unplug from the busy city life.

And though it’s been weeks since we had our outing, we still look back fondly to the moments we spent in surfers’ haven away from the Metro’s concrete jungle. Here are our newbies Axl, Kaye, and Luigi sharing about their very first TeamAsia getaway.

Pre-getaway: the anticipation builds

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Axl: Planning this entire adventure was like pitching for an event and bringing it to life. All of us who worked behind the scenes knew that the entire experience is not just about sights or sounds. We needed to tell a story like we do for our clients. After all, this is not just another out of town trip, this is a celebration of TeamAsia’s 25th anniversary.

There were brainstorming sessions and timelines to follow, and everyone worked together to make it happen. The time, talent, and effort we all shared to make our clients happy were shared with equal dedication so that our colleagues could have a wonderful time.

Kaye: As a person who is so enthusiastic to explore the great outdoors, I have always believed that travelling to places and trying out new things are like bringing my dead-tired body back to life. Adventures do not just introduce me to new places; they immerse me into diverse cultures.

I was excited about going to La Union because I have always wanted to try surfing there. Aside from that, I’ve seen how everyone in the committee exerted so much effort in putting everything together to make sure we all enjoy our three-day break.

Luigi: I have never been to LU but it has been featured extensively on my friends’ Instagrams, so much so that I already have a gameplan in mind of what I’m gonna do when I get there: swimming, surfing and most of all, trying out that hipster coffee place – El Union Coffee – that seems to be a main fixture on my friends’ IG posts.

DAY 1: Getting to the surfers’ haven

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Wooden artisan chairs and tables at the Flotsam and Jetsam (with Abi!)

Axl: The last person you would expect to miss the call-time is the person who wrote the “be on time” EDM, who is no other than myself. On the day of the departure for La Union, I woke up at the very minute that the bus should leave.

The bus left without me, and I managed to ride with my colleagues, who happened to be holding an event that day. When I arrived at Flotsam that evening, the chill night program that my colleagues from the outing committee planned was underway.

Kaye: LU captivated my heart instantly not just because of its beauty and laid-back vibe, but also because I was with a bunch of amazing people. There were a lot of new people in the team, and there were games such as Charades–but with a twist! We had to act out a song, a movie, and mimic the mannerisms of TeamAsians. It resulted in a lot of laughter and amusing guesses from everyone.

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So much team spirit!

Luigi: Our home for the duration of our stay is the Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel – it has this “wooden shack” vibe that I’ve always been very fond of. During the program, I had to do the infamous butt spell for the second time in my thus short stay here in the company. You see, it’s tradition here in TeamAsia for the newbies to perform the butt spell during their first week in the company, and even though I already did it a task I undertook as tradition permits.

After the program ended, drinks were had, songs were sung, and guitars were played til the wee hours.

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Crashing of the waves

DAY 2: Game on!

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Group activities under the sun

Axl: The TA getaway day two was a day for games and surfing lessons for most of us. One part of the day that I really looked forward to was the fun night, which I had to host. And since my co-host was sick that day, I had to do a solo act.

Hearing my colleagues laugh while I do the hosting was such a rewarding experience.Though a long time have passed since our outing, remembering my colleagues’ laughter that night still inspires happy thoughts.

Of course there is only one part of the entire getaway that can top all performances–the toast led by our president and founder Ma’am Monette Hamlin. Most of us imagined a quick celebratory toast around the bonfire but she asked us to form a circle and arrange ourselves based on our birth order–a scenario which meant to show how long TeamAsia has been elevating stories and experiences to the next level.

 

 

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We gathered around the bonfire by the beach

Then she asked each one of us to share about the things we are grateful for. Some of us are grateful about work, some of us about life, some of us about our families, and some expressed their gratitude to God. The toast served as a reminder of the things we are passionate about and how passion fuels everything that TeamAsia does.

Kaye: We played games by the beach not minding the scorching heat of the sun and made a group yell out of spontaneity. On the night of the awarding, our team, Live, placed last among the four groups but we really didn’t mind because we all had a great time!

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The beautiful beach of La Union at sunset

After the awarding, we all headed to the beach for the toast. That was the most heartwarming moment that I never thought that I’d actually feel home with this family that I have now. Being the not-so-confident person that I am, I grabbed the opportunity that night to to thank everyone in TeamAsia for believing in me when I can’t even believe in myself.

Luigi: Day 2 was wholly devoted to contests of skill, cunning and intellect, of which, my team was in abundance of. Hence, we emerged victorious. (I may or may not be exaggerating, but we really did win.)

The true highlight of the entire trip, though, would happen much, much later. In the night, we started a campfire beside the shore and a formed a circle around it. Our esteemed president, Ma’am Monette Hamlin, delivered a thoughtful speech to kickoff the proceedings, and then, it was party time!

It was an unbelievable atmosphere – a campfire by the beachside, people jamming to the sound of acoustic guitars and free-flowing drinks all around! Y’know, just wholesome stuff. For the first time ever, I got to witness people from other departments bond with each other. Drinks were being passed around and while the fire eventually burnt out, the feeling of being just under the stars only served to heighten the experience.

Post-getaway musings

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TeamAsia fambam!

Axl: Of course, not everything turned out the way they were planned no matter how meticulously they were put together.  Yet for all these challenges that came along the way, we knew that the show must go on. And then there were surprises such as the amazing TeamAsian talents who really caught the spotlight during the two evening programs of our getaway.

For those of us who worked behind the scenes, it was a rewarding feeling to watch everything we planned (and didn’t plan) unfold. And all those unforgettable moments would not have happened if our TeamAsian colleagues were not equally willing to share their time, talent, and efforts to create unforgettable moments during our getaway.

Kaye: Aside from the usual happy stuff and good food we shared that day, there was something else that came up. Sarah, Dezza and I had to look after one of our colleagues who had so much fun on our last night and got a massive hangover before we left LU! Hint: his name starts with an L and he may or may not have also written about his experiences here.

My stay in La Union was beyond amazing, and I definitely look forward to more geTAways with these bunch of people I love to call as my family.

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Content team in Flotsam and Jetsam

Luigi: I woke up to the view of the sun directly above me and the sand beneath me, with only the faintest recollection of how I ended up there. Then, it hit me: I recalled resting my head on one of the beanbag chairs we had set up on the beach after taking what would’ve been my last shot of whiskey sip of grape juice. I passed out on the beach! was probably so exhausted from last night’s festivities that I fell asleep where I laid by the shore.

Still tired and suffering a massive headache after a night of fun, I skipped breakfast entirely and barely touched my meal at lunch time. If I’m going to be completely honest with you, everything was a blur that day. Even the long, six-hour journey back home was a blur.

And so there it was, two days of pure, unadulterated fun, followed by a day of headaches. That being said, even though I was not able to do everything I set out to do in LU: the surfing, the hipster coffee experience, not to mention suffering through a massive hangover migraine, it was time well spent with the most amazing people you can ever hope to work with. I would do it all again if I could, preferably minus the headache.As for La Union, I will be back! And next time, I may even try surfing.

Postscript

Those three days at La Union gave us TeamAsians a well-deserved respite from work. Every day was an opportunity to bond with our teammates and our colleagues from other teams. Each day was full of discoveries about our fellow TeamAsians–things we would not have found out within the familiar corners of our office. Those three days offered us glimpses of the things that our fellow TeamAsians are passionate about.

There is a bittersweet feeling at leaving Flotsam and Jetsam after soaking in the sun and waves with our friends and colleagues turned family, but we all came back more energized and refreshed, ready once again to bring our clients’ stories to the next level experience.

TeamAsia at 25: Looking back, moving forward

by Jeff Enriquez, Web Development Director

1They say that practical work and experience lead the young to maturity. That saying definitely came true for me when I crossed paths with TeamAsia.

It was July 9, 2004 when I received a call from one of my batchmates in University of the Philippines-Los Baños about a career opportunity. I was fresh out of school then, and with no work experience yet. She found out through Friendster (how old is that, eh?) that I was not yet employed, and she referred me to an Alabang-based company called TeamAsia. In retrospect, I honestly did not have any idea who TeamAsia was and what they did. But I decided to give it a shot.

I was hired as a Junior Web Developer under the Creative Department. My first few months consisted of maintaining the TeamAsia website, backing up files for my department, and creating a lot of eDM’s. I was the only web developer at that time. (A fun fact about TeamAsia: we were one of the first companies in the Philippines to have a company website back in the 90’s.)

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Going into my 13th year in TeamAsia—now as the IT and Web Development Director—here are glimpses of my journey and the milestones that I have achieved in the past years.

2005 —This is the year when I was regularized and first promoted, moving up from Junior Web Developer to Web Developer. This was the turning point when I realized that I had finally adjusted to the professional life, and that I was a good fit with TeamAsia. This was a huge deal for me because one of the biggest challenges I had faced was transitioning from the student to the professional life.

By this year I was able to contribute to the development of the TeamAsia website, I had worked on some Microsoft projects, and participated in events of clients such as Global Steel, Bayantrade and Microsoft as technical support.

32009 — Fast forward to this year when the Web Development team branched off from the Creative Department, I became the Web Development Director with one senior staff. Indeed, the practical work and experience that I gained from my past five years with TeamAsia led my young, fresh-out-of-school self to the maturity that I needed to possess to take on my new role as department director.

During my first months as director, I had to learn how to coordinate with the other departments on our processes. Aligning the Web Development Department’s plan with the company’s strategic plan also became a challenge. But with the help of my boss and mentor, the late Sir Mike Hamlin, I was able to overcome all these and learn new skills that I needed to accomplish my job effectively.

Our department was able to move beyond developing just the TeamAsia website to the website of our clients, such as ExcelAsia, International Outsourcing Summit, and Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

42010 — As TeamAsia found itself gathering more new clients and expanding its core services, the Web and MIS Departments were merged into one. In turn, this merger widened the scope of my responsibility. It was surely another challenge because it meant that my responsibility as director now went beyond my expertise. But with a team to back me up, we were able to streamline the processes, resulting in the elimination of redundant workload. I am proud to say that the Web Development Department became more productive, ready to cater and support the company’s internal requirements and its clients.

We had advanced the technologies we used for TeamAsia’s processes by utilizing Google Apps, moving some tools to cloud storage, and creating an online and on-site registration system for events.

5.png2012 to 2013 — These two years are certainly memorable for me because two members of the Web Development Department, Gary Aure and Darell Sapin, were promoted to Web Manager. Three other guys who completed our team were also hired during these years—Leo Halili, Marvin Desuasido and AC Esguerra.

I have always believed that as a leader, you should always bring out the best in your people. That is why I consider it a great achievement when I see my team growing professionally, gaining more knowledge in their fields, and being able to exercise their skills in their respective projects.

With our team of six we were able to improve our event technologies like mobile apps, audience response system, and tweetcasting. We had also begun adopting open source website platforms and creating website responsive design.

62016 — Moving to the new TeamAsia office proved to be a whole new challenge for our team. I certainly learned a lot from planning the logistics of our move to actually executing them. One moving mishap that I won’t forget anytime soon was when our IT supplier informed us that they will not be able to deliver the service we hired them for. It was definitely a cause for panic, but thankfully, we were able to switch to a new, reliable and cost-efficient supplier under a short amount of time.

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8People ask me why I chose to stay this long in one company. I will be lying if I said that leaving has never crossed my mind. But I chose—and I still choose—to stay because TeamAsia has become more than just a job to me. TeamAsia has become my family, which I have learned to love through ups and downs.

TeamAsia provided me with the best mentors back when I was still a fresh graduate with no work experience. They have given me opportunities to learn, to grow, and to lead. Most of all, they trusted me enough to challenge me with tasks that I honestly thought were impossible to accomplish—but I was proven wrong every time.

This year, as TeamAsia turns 25, I am confident that we will continue to come out strong as a seasoned independent IMC agency, full of bright people who are passionate about delivering the best out of each day.