babble mix

Who's Complaining?

I’ve always been lucky to work at unconventional corporations, even while I was still in the Philippines. When I found 1-800-DENTIST, a marketing company for dentists, I realized I brought that luck with me. Their culture is so much like that of GASSO (the agency I used to work for in the PI) – very casual, flexible and laid-back, even with the same pressures of a typical marketing/advertising company. So though I’m not exactly paid right (about 50% less than what other copywriters here with my experience are paid), it’s not so bad, considering everything I’ve experienced in this company in less than a year.

Over the Roof
June 2006
I didn’t believe my now co-workers when they told me in my “grilling” (panel interview where ALL of the people from the marketing department “grills” the applicant before they get accepted - some form of initiation) that they all witnessed somebody having sex at the rooftop of the parking garage across the street from our office in broad daylight. Not until I saw an episode myself – one that lasted over 35 minutes.

Somebody screamed, “sex at the parking garage!!!” and brought the entire 7th floor to that part of the building, spreading into about 10 offices with that particular view so we can all see what went on (we were surprised the building didn’t lean over). Those idiots probably thought nobody can see them because they were at the rooftop of a 5-storey parking garage and nobody else was there. They obviously weren’t thinking that about four other buildings that were taller than five floors surrounded that place and had a very clear view of what they were doing.

I couldn’t believe what I saw. I’ve never seen an actual live show like that my whole entire life! What was more unbelievable was the fact that I sat there – I had a good spot along with about 10 other people in our PR Manager’s office, which, by the way, included our CEO and two other officers – and STAYED there even if my conservative self was scandalized by what was happening.

That day, the company had about an hour of unproductive time – 35 minutes of watching two underage kids having sex at the rooftop of a parking garage (they were on their 5th round before security got to them) and the rest of the time chatting about that highlight of our day. They were confirmed underage by two of my co-workers who walked there to tell them that ALL OF US saw them, which kind of brought a sigh of relief to my male co-workers who said this guy made them look bad after the 4th round – because he was still going (well, he still has raging hormones).

That day also happened to be my 2nd week at work. Talk about an, eventful warm welcome.

Afternoon Delight
July 2006
Patron Tequila at 4 in the afternoon, poured in shot glasses by our CEO, President and CMO. That’s what we had when management made the tough decision to cancel one of our major events that was the marketing department’s baby. Right after that consolation toast, we were treated to more drinks at a restaurant across the street (there was a mall across the street from our office) complete with pulutan. That’s what I call pampalubag-loob.

Crazy Hair Day
July 2006
It’s one of those days when we didn’t have to worry about bad hair days, because bad hair day was very welcome – as bad, or rather as CRAZY as crazy can be. We were to wear red wigs, afros, even tin foil with ribbons (that’s what I had AS my hair) all day and go around the office in that. If you didn’t join in, you’re the outcast. They take “school spirit” seriously.

Little Shop of Horrors
October 2006
Costume parties in any other company won’t compare to what we have in this office – the whole place turns into a theme park – that’s the best way I can describe how the whole office transforms itself into whatever the department says it is. Each department competes with another department (or teams of departments) for the $2,000 price. This Halloween, as I was told, was the most intense, because decorating cubes didn’t begin the day before the event, but a full week BEFORE – and everyone was just so competitive, nobody will settle for 3rd place – so we prepare skits and song-and-dance numbers where even managers and ALL officers participate in.

Our department won for the first time in the company’s history, as the “Little Shop of Horrors.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VezkQdg4t4
I could be their lucky charm.
* see more of our 2006 Halloween videos at youtube, keyword: 1-800-dentist

Over the Roof Part II
November 2006
Yes, it happened again. This time, it was a different couple and they may have been trying to put on some show, and they probably knew they were being watched. It didn’t last nearly as long as the first one, however, probably because somebody in the other floors/buildings didn’t find that funny and called security right away. We doubt they even got to do anything but grope each other and display the girls bu*t as he hiked up her skirt in our plain view. That 10-minute show was again, of course, the highlight of the office’s day.

Flexi-Month-and-a-Half
November 2006
I was prepared to quit my job if they didn’t let me to come home for our wedding, because I was just with the company for barely five months, and I was asking to leave for a month and a half. That could have been an unreasonable request with any other company, that’s why I didn’t really expect them to let me leave. But they did. Maybe it’s because I’ve proven to them that they needed me (our CMO said he’ll hunt me down in the PI if I didn’t come back), or because they’re just really awesome like that (our CEO/owner was also a copywriter in advertising for a while, hence the company culture he cultivated) or I’m just really lucky. Whatever. I’m so not complaining.

Labels: 1800dentist

posted by meL @ 4:07 PM