Yesterday, P&G FSS (all P&G employees supporting P&G Asia shared services) had its Christmas party in Lokaldero, the Fort Strip. The theme: WHITE.
So in line with this event wherein I was to have two separate performances I had to scout around for the perfect white blouse and pants. Since I don’t wear white pants (they easily get dirty), I had to rush off to Landmark the night before the party to buy the first pair of white capri pants I saw. Luckily, they were just my size and my fave (pedal-cut).
Not that this was the only preparation I had to go through. Let’s not forget the cramming-mode practice sessions we had for our acapella contest piece. We also had to buy our costumes – red see-through shawls and santa hats, so that even if we performed poorly, we’d still look stunning while doing so. Haha.
But before the big event at 4pm, the gang celebrated one of our own’s birthday. Rich, the birthday boy, invited us all to the 20th floor pantry to eat the Red Ribbons coffee crumble cake (his fave) that his girlfriend sent over. After a slice each, a few poses, and a bit of chit-chat, we scurried back to our workstations to do some work before the party.
happy birthday rich! (birthday boy far right)
Due to last-minute practice I ended up going to the party with our department’s newest hires, Bobby (as I like to call him) and Raymond. On our way out Osma saw us and asked us to get in her car. So it was a tight fit in the back with Melai and Kristine. Somehow we got to the Fort, and I quickly made my way over to my gang’s table outside.
all-white table (yen, arni, liza & me)
A bit later, the program began. Now I could feel my head starting to pound because I had not eaten anything the entire afternoon and dinner would be served late. Yet I smiled and did my bit in our acapella performance. We placed fourth, but heck, at least we tried, and looked stunning while doing it. Hohoho.
my NEA teammates aka half of the P2P acapella choir
When dinner was finally served, we carollers could not eat yet because we were supposed to perform while the audience ate. So I ignored my throbbing head and cheerfully sang onstage with my fellow carollers.
After we were through there was no food left except for some rice and a few tidbits of veggies. It was a good thing some of my tablemates still had some food left so I was able to get a few morsels of meat into my tummy. The things you do for a cause. While eating I just thought of the poor Baseco children whom we were carolling for and how worse off they were.
alto vocals of H4H carol group for Gawad Kalinga
Later I got lucky when I won a raffle prize. I was supposed to claim some car accessories, but they couldn’t find them anywhere, so they gave me SM gift certificates instead. So much better, since I don’t have a car anyway!
The night would have been swell if not for one traitor: my head. Because nalipasan ako ng gutom, my migraine kicked in. My head was throbbing so badly, and I had to take several trips to the lavatory where I threw up everything I ate.
I finally had to ask to go home because I couldn’t take the pain and the nausea anymore. Yen, Arni, and JC tried to find a taxi for me, but no taxis go to the fort, so they finally decided to get Doms to drive me home in his car. While waiting for Doms to appear I wretched some more on the streets. I was a pitiful sight.
The ride home was one of the longest of my life, because all the way there I tried to hold in my nausea; not wanting to throw up all over Dom’s car. I could barely walk to our door because I was so dizzy.
I downed two painkillers and buried myself in my bed. When I woke up at dawn my head was still hurting a bit.
A few hours later, though, I was back to normal. Whew. I was beginning to fear this would be a repeat of last Christmas when I had migraine for 8 days straight. A nightmare indeed.
Next Friday we’re having two more company parties – a company-wide Christmas merienda in the afternoon, and a department party at night. This time, I’ll make sure to eat on time and bring my medicine, too, just in case.