To celebrate CPI’s 20th year in the industry, the company hosted a party for its current employees at its Penthouse office. Former employees were invited to grace the party and witness the first ever Search for the CPI-dol.
In keeping with tradition, a thanksgiving mass was offered by Fr. Adonis Mamuyac, OSJ of the Santuario De San Jose Parish. There was so much to be thankful for looking back and much to pray for even as prospects are bright looking forward.
After the mass, employees from their respective client assignments started trickling in. Upon registration, certified current employees were fitted for size. They each will be given a smart, limited edition 20 th anniversary jacket, which they can wear to work. This jacket hopefully will send the message to our clients that CPI has the staying power, and that we are here for the long haul!
The dinner tables set up in the two training rooms eventually got filled up. There was fantastic food served on a buffet table with a bubbling little fountain of sorts. The food was so good, we saw people going back for seconds. With eighty’s music on the background, dinner felt like a time to reminisce on pre-Windows days.
Next up was the program proper emceed by the very hilarious tandem of Raymund Serrano and Wency Paguntalan. An opening prayer was rendered in song by selected programmers from the GENIISYS team with the coaching of Ging Zabala.What a holy way to start the program. In her opening remarks, Ms. Bebette Ventura thanked everyone for their contributions without which CPI would not have reached 20 years. She mentioned that there’s much to look forward to in terms of new projects for CPI. This was encouraging to hear. The Admin group responded via a modified version of “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko”, dedicated to programmers with lots of pun intended. A short video compilation of clips was also shown with former CPI employees from around the world conveying their congratulations and well wishes. This just goes to show the kind of world-class training that employees get at CPI.
The official CPI Idol '07 One Sheet
(click image to enlarge)
Highlight of the night was the search for the first CPIdol. Judges for the contest were Ms. Ito Gruet, Mr. Boyet Muñez and Mr. Jinko Misa. The weight of the judges’ scores is 50% and the other 50% will come from the audience’s votes in true American Idol fashion. There were ten brave souls who sang songs from the 80’s. Each of their performance was well applauded, whether or not they exhibited talent, promise or simply entertainment value. The candid comments solicited from the judges indicated their pleasure, amusement, disappointment, as well as disgust! The good thing is all the contestants took these comments in sport, all in the spirit of fun!
While the CPI accountants dutifully tallied the votes of the Idol wannabe’s, the emcees kept the audience laughing in stitches with their funny antics one after the other. They were hands down the life of the party!
Reminiscing wasn’t over till a blast from the past photo presentation was played with live singing of “Through the Years” by the Idol contestants. 20 years is a rather long time to compress in a 4-minute photo collage. Other intermission numbers followed: a dance number from Mang Romy’s eldest son, Mark Andrew Golo and a heartfelt song from an ex-CPI employee Rosch Juliano.
When finally ‘the’ envelope was handed to the emcees, Romy Golo was announced first CPI-dol for his rendition of Marco Sison’s “For My Love Will See You Through”. The teary-eyed Mang Romy gratefully accepted his trophy and cash prize. No sooner had he recovered from his victory, Mang Romy was in for a second surprise. Ms Ito Gruet in her closing remarks revealed that CPI is sponsoring two of his remaining chemotherapy sessions. This was to be CPI’s act of charity for the gift of 20 years.
This night to remember was coming to a close. The emcees Raymund and Wency cracked their last jokes but it was as if the audience did not want to leave their seats as yet. So, instead of saying goodbye, Raymund and Wency’s parting words were “See you soon!” They have just been declared the official party hosts from here on.
"See you soon!"
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