Merry Qwerty Christmas! Christmas Party 2019
Fancy, this is what company parties usually emulate during Christmas. It is around this time of the year when ladies and gentlemen are all dressed up to impress. As for QwertyWorks, the company has done it before and certainly looked the part. This time, however, the company chose to do it differently.
Perhaps it was because of the newly ended SEA Games that was held early in the month that the competitive vibe rubbed off on us all. We looked flashy with our theme, Sports Academy. We were all geared up for a sporty night.
We held the celebration at EOD Skyview Events Place which was few blocks away from our office site. The party area was situated at the third floor (with no elevator), so it was really a workout right from the start.
EOD Skyview Event’s Place. Here is a glimpse of the venue before it was transformed into a party place.
The theme posed its own challenges for the Christmas Party Committee as the venue organizer revealed that they didn’t have any props that could support a sporty themed event, other than the colorful lights and smoke machine that could definitely pump up the atmosphere. With this, the committee did their best to pull their resources together and maximize what other things they could add up to liven up the place and keep up with the plan.
Here is the venue after! Thankfully, things worked out and the place was decorated in an enticingly sporty, but still fit for a formal company party way. The place was dimmed at this moment as the band was doing a sound test.
The backdrop was designed by our own graphic artist, Alyssa. Streamers were also hung to match the theme. One by one, every seat was occupied. It was a pretty sight as people came in and were teasing each other about their “sports apparel,” but looking obviously pleased.
Here are some of the faces and poses!
Ready to beat the holiday blues!
It’s Christmas all over the world. Peace out!
Here is 2E Team being generous with their smiles.
Their smiles were charming as could be, but their competitive spirit was all set for the night’s challenges and games.
The host did not disappoint as well. His energy matched the goal of the party. He was very attentive of his audience and his presence was a balanced mix of playfulness and work mode as he effortlessly made Qwerty people feel at ease while keeping track of the program flow.
Before we got all charged up, those who attended and really looked the part with their sporty outfit were given acknowledgements. They were even feeling sporty enough to give us a demo of the sport they were representing.
Here is Karlo of 2E as a biker. He may be among the quiet ones in the office, but you will be surprised for he has some tricks up his sleeve. He was game enough to show us how to ride an invisible bike.
Here is Maan of TG as a martial artist and you wouldn’t want to mess with her. One contagious giggle from this toughie and you’ll be defenseless.
Ms. Amy of Finance Team looked so happy here. Well, she also made us happy with her leg tricks and kicks. A happy footballer, isn’t she?
Now, what is a sports event without a cheerleader, right? This is Ms. Joy, the cheerleader of the night. Her name clearly defined what she brings in a room.
Mercy, our TB newbie, gracefully strutted down the aisle to show her baseball outfit.
Joe here raised the bar high by being the basketball ring. How creative!
The party was off to an exciting start, but we also had to make our brains do some warm-up before we get into action. So, it was time for some Q&A! Each table formed a group. For each question, a representative was asked to stand and answer. There was no specific area of expertise and the questions were very random.
As the questioning begun, loud cheers could be heard across tables from groupmates who “volunteered” their fellow member. What lucky person (or not?). It was quite an awesome display of moral support, really.
Regardless if the question was answered correctly or not, everyone was a sport about it. Christmas comes but once a year anyway so why instantly let go of the holiday spirit just because of a bruised ego from one wrong answer? Plus guessing for the correct answers was fun.
These guys were competitive. They would race to the host just to give their answer. At that moment, nobody cared if one got it wrong because people were not focusing on who or how one failed, and that kept the competitive spirit healthy. Everyone was concentrated on getting the answer right and this made everyone supportive and helpful of their team members.
The host sharing a lighthearted moment with Ms. Angel, pretty in pink, from our Finance Team.
Here is IT Head Mackoy, panicking over a question, but still cheerful and pleasant! This quiet character, though, was not so quiet as the night continued. Hahaha!
The first round of games was finished, and everyone was feeling hungry. We needed our energy for the next activities, so buffet was opened, and it was dinner time. The live band wasted no time as well and pumped up the volume. It was time to party!
Admin ladies patiently waiting for their turn at the buffet table.
Taking some time to mingle with friends who are seated in other tables.
Right before dinner, the band started their 1st set.
Another happy bunch smiling for the camera.
Some of the TB members with their Business Unit Head Myka and her peace sign.
Business Unit Head Sir Marco with the TG and 2E teams.
Sir Jake in grey with Qwerty’s reliable members.
HR Team with other TB members relaxing under the blue light.
The bar was ready to serve as well. Surely, things got blurry after this.
Amid the burst of energy fueled by dinner, music, and some drinks, there were two groups who were lowkey practicing their song and dance routine in the background for the “Qwerty Got Talent” portion.
After dinner, everyone was asked to settle down. The audio and lights were also ready to back up all performances. Judges were called to take their seat in front of the stage. It was time to showcase some Qwerty talents! First up is the group Circle Fusion.
Presenting Group 1, Circle Fusion.
Hmm…a lover’s quarrel? The plot thickens… Intriguing. (We could imagine the fun during their group rehearsals.)
Thankfully, they were all up for a dance and there is nothing a group dance could not fix. See, they are all friends again!
Reaching for the stars…err, balloons in the tune of trendy K-pop songs.
Here is Circle Fusion being their own star. Yey! Good job, guys!
What a thrilling performance that was with all the singing and dancing, and of course the skit about the couple was fun to watch. The judges looked pleased and the group certainly had an impact on the audience.
Unfazed, the next group did not back down. Stariray was the name of this all-female feisty group. They had a story to tell, so that is what they did. The lights were dimmed and the stage was set.
Off the smoke machine went and the sound of a music box started playing in the background. The audience was instantly captivated.
How cute! They were toys that came to life! They play, dance, and sing!
Christmas carols here and there.
These girls captivated everyone with their props, costumes, and story. The audience was intently watching them as the story unfolded.
Great story! Cheers, they reached the finish line!
The first group bagged the prize for this contest. It was all good and everyone shared cheers and laughter. The performers were relieved as they could finally enjoy the rest of the night.
Going back to the theme of the party, this would not be dubbed as a sporty night if there were no games, would it?
The competitive spirit that was tamed for a while was now back and members were excited as they were grouped together. The venue turned into an open area as tables and chairs were pushed and arranged to create a space. In other words, it was an organized chaos.
Here are the leaders for each team.
Each group had to make their impromptu cheer. Game instructions were being announced and people were going around, discussing game plans, and a lot more. These photos would speak for themselves.
Impressive cheering skills, boys!
Some naughty cheer and dance. This team was hyped as well.
No, they were not playing horseback riding. They had the cheerleader in the team, of course they would have some pyramid going.
Silent but ready to fight. Team spirit quietly brewing.
The players were ecstatic. Most of them were teasing and strategizing. And of course, teamwork led them all to victory and they were all rewarded accordingly.
During the party, it was only right that employees were acknowledged for their loyalty to the company and for excelling in their areas of work. Their years of service, dedication, and hard work were all given spotlight. Here are some of those moments.
After exhausting their energy during the games, employees were on the edge of their seats once again. This time it was not to participate in another set of games. It was because exciting prizes and giveaways were up next. Here are some of the lucky winners.
The grand prize was Php 100,000.00! Truly, A Merry Christmas!
The scenes happening around were wrapping up well. Everyone was in high spirits because of the prizes.
Now as mentioned earlier, the bar was open and serving drinks. What followed were moments of blur, more dancing, and more merry making! See Qwerty in different colors and feel the holiday spirit!
2019, what a year it was for us all. We don’t know what 2020 holds for us, but we must never forget to “come up for air” whenever things are overwhelming. We cannot afford to be too idealistic either because reality is just waiting to bite us if we are not careful. Coming up for air can mean a whole lot of things. It can be a new situation for us or clearing our minds from any distractions or defying any negative energies that are draining the best of us as a team.
This Christmas party allowed us to take our minds off work and appreciate our position collectively and individually. But like any other night, this also needed to end. We could only hope that amid the glitter and cheers, we were able to take away with us the team mindset like how we expressed it passionately during the games. We hope that in the years to come, may we always remember to rejoice even in small victories until we get used to it and aim for bigger ones.
Merry Qwerty Christmas to all and may we all have a blessed 2020.
