Current mood:

cheerful

MB Out of the Office (the Cebu Sojourn)
A much delayed post on my third(!) day-away with Millward Brown. First there was Bohol, then Bangkok, now the Bay--Plantation Bay to exact. Anything to bring a third B to the lineup :).

It was my first time in Cebu, and it was a treat to see both the uppity and the ordinary side. The first two and a half days were spent in the famed resort, while our group (composed of me, Ina, Jody, Des, Jeff, Robbie and Cean) extended for another night to frolic in the city proper.

A few things learned or thoughts culled from the trip:

How Christmas can actually be trumped as the season for unrestrained chow
How some clients cannot seem to understand the concept of having days away from the office (just ask Des)
How pleasure is easily derived from a hammock, a good view and streaming music
How I re-confirmed that staring out at bodies of water can be far more relaxing and enjoyable than being in them
How it also doesn't hurt to take a dip, actually swim a few strokes and be out in the sun
How I cannot become a professional synchronized swimmer, but can still get a kick out of pretending to be one (thanks to Ina, Robbie and Cean)
How to catch a frisbee with one hand
How to avoid being 'killed' by an unknowing officemate at the pool (Hello Jen!)
How videoke isn't just about the singing--or even singing in chorus--but also about the dancing
How 5-star service can be so quick and efficient that you feel a bit guilty about a no-tipping policy
How pension can be spelled differently (read: Pensionne)
How to make sure there is a difference between a wacky and a serious shot (right, Jody?)
How to expose oneself in all naked glory (well, almost) during a massage
How the nation does not entirely revolve around Manila, where coup threats in the capital are not representative of the state and mood of the country
How three simple letters like KFM can consume endless hours--even days--of purely meaningless, ridiculous fun (blame it on Jeff)
How it feels to be scolded like a bunch of rowdy students, when no longer a student
How Jobert Sucaldito should fear for his life
How Datu Puti, Mang Tomas and Papa Ketchup are no longer just condiments
How we may yet be on the cusp of a new way to evaluate emotional 'brand affinity' (harhar)
How expensive doesn't always mean good food and how 'value for money' is brought to another level with Krua Thai
How exhorbitantly expensive everything is in Manila
How you also get what you give (i.e. pay for) when it comes to accommodations
But how, in the end, it seriously doesn't matter where you stay, but the company you're with


And funny how the question is not exactly where the next trip will be, but whether we'll be around for the next one.

***

Captioned pictures that tell the story at My Multiply.
Thanks to _leche, Robbie, Ina, sunm00nandstars and Che for sharing photos!

For even more Cebu chronicling, here are some links of interest:
Warning: Possible repetition of photos, but hey, it's always good to get a different perspective.

Ina's pictures at MB at Cebu!
Jeff's pictures at MB at Plantation Bay, Cebu
Jody's travelogue at Memories to Keep
Ina's videos of our Olympic moment here and here
Des's pictures at Cebu Day-Away