Friday, 15 December 2022 – For the first time in 3 years since fully adopting a hybrid work setup, the Barhead Global Development Centre (GDC) held a face-to-face Year-End Party (YEP) at BTTC Centre in San Juan City, Metro Manila.
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Welcoming employees — some of whom were meeting colleagues in person for the first time — was the GDC’s Delivery and Capability Head Inoy Castillo. ‘It’s so great to see everyone again, old faces and new faces alike,’ remarked Castillo. He added, ‘We have an open bar and lots of prizes to give away this evening — I hope everyone has fun!’
For this year, the theme was the ‘90s. The nostalgia was cranked up as GDC employees came in their best ‘90s attire. There was an impressive array of costumes, but there could only be one male and female winner of the Best in Costume Award. In the end, it was Mark Villanueva and Rowena Olivera who took out the top prize while the runner-ups were Joezer Concepcion and Pauline Maunes.
From left to right, Rowena Olivera, Pauline Maunes, Joezer Concepcion and Mark Villanueva.
Of course, the Best in Costume contest was just one of the many highlights at the event. GDC members got to showcase their slick dance moves and impressive vocal chops in Barhead’s Got Talent (BGT), with five teams competing for the cash prize. The Lady Bugs eventually emerged as the BGT Grand Winner, with The Group with No Name and Friendster taking second place and third place respectively.
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Throughout the night, games were played, prizes were raffled away and guests were serenaded with feel-good OPM hits from the ’90s. With heavy nostalgia filling the room, some GDC members even went on stage to sing some of their favourite songs.
As the party drew to an end, GDC Delivery and Operations Head Thea Yambao gave her closing remarks. She said, ‘Our mantra is we work hard and we play hard.’ ‘However,’ she added, ‘during the holidays, you should also take this opportunity to rest, relax, spend time with our family and loved ones and, most importantly, to focus on yourself.’
To mark the end of the party and the year, all event photos were combined into this mosaic, symbolising the partnership that stretches from Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane and Manila, where Barhead’s Global Delivery Centre is based.
