Residents' Christmas Party in One Serendra

I have been organizing events ever since I joined my current employer last March of 2009. To be frank, I had no background in organizing events - back in New World Makati City Hotel, I was with the Front Office. Nonetheless, in Ayala Property Management Corporation, the position of Head Concierge is expected to be the events organizers of the properties they're assigned to. 

As it turns out, I have a knack for organizing events. It was a talent I did not know I had. When I joined One Serendra in 2012, it was to be the culmination of my career as an events organizer, because the events in this property have a budget of PhP 300,000.00 to PhP 500,000.00, not withstanding sponsorships that we can still get for each event. 

Big budget, unlimited possibilities for events equals loads of challenges, which glad to say, I have weathered through. 

Why am I being sentimental as I post this? Well, today is my last event in One Serendra. I will be managing a different Ayala residential complex come January 2016. 

My first day in One Serendra, I was asked to attend the Residents' Christmas Party for 2012, organized by my predecessor. And now, I'm sitting in the Piazza Veranda, 3 years later, praying so hard it won't rain for, surprise surprise, my last event which happens to be this year's Christmas Party. 

Currently I’m caught up in such a flurry of activities, as everybody’s racing to finish the set up for the party. Our caterer is Omakase, I have a Bonanza roast calf station, I have 100 bottles of wine, and 60 liters of beer – it’s supposed to be an epic night, I’m just really praying so hard for the clouds to blow away. Everyone, please pray with me.

Here’s to my last event in One Serendra!

Mason Jars as Christmas Gifts

This idea actually came from my mother. In one of our Dapitan trips a few weekends ago, she purchased several Mason jars from a stall we frequent for gifts for her secretaries and assistants.

When I had started bringing Christmas gifts to the office this week for my co-managers, I noticed my assistants waiting eagerly for presents. Realising that I forgot to buy something for them, I intended to drag Kim to Dapitan to purchase Mason jars and, basically, steal my mother's concept.

A Mason jar is a molded glass jar used for storing preserves for storage or selling. You normally see these used for home-made jams and jellies that are being sold. They were invented and patented by John Landis Mason, a tinsmith from Philadelphia, back in 1858.

The ones being sold in Dapitan come with the tin lid. They, however, lack the rubber seals, which are needed if you intend to use these for sealing preserves. These would suffice, however, if you're to use them for storage. Mason jars are also used, now, in lieu of mugs. Some hip coffee shops use Mason jars, those designed with handles, for their drinks. Some Mason jar lids already come with holes punched in the centre for straws to go through - these types were actually available for sale in Dapitan.

The ones I purchased had handles and an embossed design on the side. A quick search online, and I saw the exact same Mason jar I had.

borrowed from homewetbar.com

Was able to purchase this at a price lower than Landmark's retail price, which is sweet, especially if you're buying 20 pieces,

My source had an option for gold tin lids, though.

Borrowing from my mom's concept, I filled the Mason jars to the brim with candy from the grocery.

I'll be tying gold and silver ribbons, and these are all ready to be given to the assistants, Finance staff, and Housekeeping supervisors of One Serendra.

I really hope that they start using it in lieu of the mugs that they have in the office.

Mason jars are so the rage right now. And several people will be giving these as gifts this holiday season, which would be a fresh alternative to the usual gift staples given as gifts.

Hope my mom and I gave you a cute Christmas gift idea. Try placing something else instead of candy. Toys, shells, pebbles, jawbreakers, loom bands, scented beads - play around with the things you'll put inside, and the receiver will be in for a surprise. There's really no need to wrap it up, because the vintage look of the Mason jar will jazz up the bottom of the tree perfectly.

A lot of people also collect vintage Mason jars, so visiting Dapitan might be a good idea, since they have so many options there.

Christmas Tree and Christmas Decor Shopping

Need to unload this and make this available in the office, but realized that Christmas trees and Christmas decors are always such a treat, I needed to share it with you guys!

Was at SM Makati the other day looking at Christmas trees. We need to purchase two for the building, one to be placed in the lobby, and the other to be placed in the 5th floor. These were the trees that were shortlisted:

 

This beautiful tree is a mix of hard and prickly leaves, and the soft twine type. Pretty expensive and out of budget though, so I needed to look for other alternatives. Here's a close up of the combination of the leaves.

The other tree is better priced at around PhP 24,499.75. It's also a combination of hard and prickly leaves and soft twine.

The color of the leaves isn't as bright as the first one though. Here's a close up of the tree's leaves.

The cheapest is about PhP 11,000.00. No combination of leaves here, just twine.

 

 

You guessed it, we're getting 12-ft Christmas trees, hence the extreme price-range. 

This is the motif we were looking to implement for this year's Christmas. Silver!

This one is silver with a platinum bordering on white accent.

I usually don't go around feeling the Christmas spirit this early, since my birthday is during the last week of November. But for the past few years of having to decorate lobbies with Christmas trees, I have had no choice.

So, advanced Merry Christmas to everyone!

Birthday/Christmas Gift Wants

Still home from the surgery. I should be going back to work by Monday of next week. For this week, since I have near exhausted things to do at home, I will concentrate on deciding what I want to get myself as my birthday/Christmas gift.

Currently, these are the phones that I am using. My Globe work-line is in a Blackberry 9700, awaiting the activation of our Blackberry service.

I am very much happy with the performance of the Blackberry, and have been a loyal Blackberry user for almost two years, one my of previous Blacberries being a white Blackberry Bold 9000, which I absolutely adored. My only issue with my Blackberry is... everybody has one! Blackberry has turned into the new Nokia here in the Philippines.

For my Sun Cellular, I was using a Blackberry until I chanced upon a sale in Globotel Greenbelt 1, where I was able to purchase a Nokia N8 for almost 40% off the list price, 0% installment onto my BDO credit card, at that.

The specs of the phone are great. I love the camera, at 12MP. I don't need to bring a camera wherever I go anymore. If I need to take a quick picture, I just bring out the Nokia, and snap! Oddly enough, it's easier to sync my phone to the laptop via Nokia Suite, compared to Blackberry Desktop Manager.

My only issue with the Nokia is it doesn't have that much accessories. Unlike the Blackberry, or the, *sigh*, iPhone, not a lot of designers try to dress up the Nokia. So, as much as I am happy with the N8's performance, I may need to give this up to my sister pretty soon and get myself a new phone.

So what are my options for a new phone as my annual birthday/Christmas gift to myself? Here's the list, and I hope people reading this can help me out:

1. White Apple iPhone 4/White Apple iPhone 4S

This phone is the most dressed by designers. All the accessories for cellphones I see online are almost for the iPhone. I want one just so I can dress it up like a pooch. What I don't like about it?

a. Everybody has one too. Every Tom, Dick, and Juan dela Cruz riding the cab, jeep, bus, and MRT has one. Where's the exclusivity, then, for a device that's priced astronomically here in the Philippines.

b. It's astronomically priced here in the Philippines! Really, it's being sold for over Php 40,000.00 (for an iPhone 4S) and that's Greenhills price already. It's cheaper in the US, HK, or SG. Which means, if ever I do decide to buy this, I'll have to wait for the next trip abroad and purchase it there. Because even if I were to go to HK just for one day to purchase an iPhone 4S, it'll probably come out cheaper than buying it here in Metro Manila.

And yes, it specifically has to be white, because I want it to match my white iPad 2.

2. Blackberry Torch

The Torch is a good option because the price point is way lower than that of the iPhone. I have had no bad experiences with my previous Blackberries, and trust me, I've used a Blackberry Curve 8520, Curve 8900, Pearl 8100, Curve 8320, World 8800, and a Bold 9000, and I have had no complaints. What's stopping me?

a. For you to enjoy the Blackberry, you need BIS. If my company will activate my 9700's BIS, I don't need another Blackberry with BIS, and all I'll put is my Sun cellular postpaid.

b. Everybody has a Blackberry Torch! Every Tom, Dick, and Juan dela Cruz walking on the sidewalk is toting a Blackberry. Even the crass prostitutes in the P. Burgos area have a Torch. And these people don't even activate their BIS, so what's the point of their having a Blackberry, more so a Torch?

3. Blackberry Bold 9900

This phone is more expensive than the Torch. Plus, I do love the form factor. What's preventing me from getting this model?

a. For you to enjoy the Blackberry, you need BIS. If my company will activate my 9700's BIS, I don't need another Blackberry with BIS, and all I'll put is my Sun cellular postpaid.


b. It's more expensive than the Torch, which means the price point is close to the iPhone 4S already, so why not get the iPhone 4S instead? Not much worried about a lot of people buying this phone, because not a lot of people can afford it, and if they do splurge their life's savings on a phone at that price point, I'm sure they'll get an iPhone instead.

c. I want to wait for this model to come out in white!

4. Acer Iconia Smart

I love this phone because of the screen-size. Its screen is so big, a family of 3 could live in it! And it's made of metal, shiny metal! Love! It will catch so much attention if I'm on a call because it's longer than the usual cellphone, and would go rather well with my slightly longer/larger face. Plus, it's the cheapest phone in my list. So why not buy this very unique phone?

a. It's such a unique phone, I'm sure no one will be making any accessories for it.

b. Repair center? Is there even one available in Manila?

5. HTC Desire HD

Now among all the phones I've listed, this phone has to have one of the best technical specifications. The product's hardware probably has good support here in Metro Manila. The screen real estate is great as well. Resolution is superb. 8MP camera allegedly is one of the best. So what's stopping me?

a. Accessories. No designer has ever come up with a leather holster for an HTC Desire HD. 


So dear readers, if I have any, please help me decide by commenting which phone I should probably get. Thanks a lot!