We just had our team building seminar last Sept. 6-7 at the Centennial Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Iloilo City. So far, of my 4 years in the office, it was the best team building we ever had. Thanks to the funny and witty Tatay Jojo. Bo Sanchez couldn’t have a much better substitute and I can only speculate at the savings the office made. Everybody was game (as usual), even the bosses, and for a while we forgot that these persons are the same persons we might have cursed every now and then. It’s always fun to watch your bosses act and look as stupid as you.

Modesty aside, I think the office hires much better employees than other government agencies. The screening and selection process is not fault free but I can truly say that people are hired according to their merits and not because of their affiliations. I could only imagine the exam and panel interview I went through, it’s not a pleasant experience. I believe my credentials were pretty good but I was only hired a year after I went through that harrowing experience. I guess I overrated myself.

You put together the “mangin-alamons” and what do you have? A relationship-challenged organization (read: a mess). Don’t get me wrong. We tolerate each other but sometimes we (and our bosses) expect nothing but the best and any other outcome means you failed. We can make a very good case study in Human Behavior in Organization subject. We put to test the theories of Taylor, McGregor, Maslow, Herzberg, and whoever. But we are not yet beyond redemption. So we call on Tatay Jojo for help (Bo Sanchez was not available).

It’s quite a marvel for me that I actually have a few realizations during the team building.

1) We make good presentations. Oh yeah, be it dancing, singing, acting or a combination of the above, we rock! From the big boss down to the driver, we’ve got talents. That, or we are simply members of the Alpha Kapal Muks. At least now we have a fall back if we ever get tired of the office or if we get kicked out of the office.

2) No matter how much we disagree with each other we always see to it that we deliver nothing but the best for the public. No stir. Promise. Don’t be surprised, we’re actually one of the top 5 least corrupt government offices. At the end of the day, all that stress is for the public’s interest. Trabaho lang, walang personalan. As what Tatay Jojo said, it’s just words and it can’t kill you. I say, it’s not you, it’s HIM.

3) Even if we sometimes hate our office, we still choose to stay because we love our jobs. More than the pay, we get a different kind of satisfaction with the thought that we are doing something good for the country. Ok, most choose to stay while others scurried away like rats being chased by a cat. It’s survival of the fittest. If you survived for a few years then you’ll survive anywhere. In other words, those who chose to stay are masochists.

I don’t know how long we can keep the peace. May be as long as we keep on singing Your Love Is In Me until the next team building seminar.