As the Christmas season fast approaches, employees eagerly anticipate the holiday bonuses, 13th-month pays, and Christmas baskets. Our company is particularly generous, providing bonuses as early as November. Just yesterday, we were thrilled to receive Christmas baskets in addition to the cash bonuses we got as early as November.
As I was scrolling through my social media feed, I noticed many of my friends and acquaintances sharing their Christmas and year-end party pictures. I can definitely relate to this because I have been in this industry since 2016 and have attended numerous Christmas parties and Year-End Parties of several business process outsourcing companies in the past. However, this year feels different with the company I am currently working for.
Our company decided not to hold any Christmas or year-end parties, choosing to be practical instead. Rather than spending money on renting formal attire, they gave us a Christmas bonus on top of our 13-month pays, which is mandatory here in the Philippines. In addition, we also received individual performance bonuses, making it more desirable to receive money rather than attending a party.
Personally, I believe receiving cash bonuses would be more beneficial than attending year-end and Christmas parties. While I enjoy socializing, financial stability is crucial in today's world. Of course, everyone has their own preferences, and I respect that.
Of course, I'm not going to put into detail the money or exact total amount of how much we got on our bonuses, but I will share one thing that we got on top of all the cash bonuses, and it made me so happy to receive it. Our company gave us a Christmas basket.
At my age right now, every time I receive something from people in our company as a whole, whether it is a gift, no matter how small or how big it is, it excites me and keeps me thrilled because I always believe that it will always be the thought that counts.
Now that we are adults working hard, we are at the point when we are the giver and not the receiver. So every time I receive gifts, no matter what, no matter how small or how cheap, I always value them because I rarely receive gifts, and with that, I am grateful.
This photo was taken when I received my Christmas basket in the office and I haven't opened it yet, so this is what it looks like when we got it.
I was very excited to come home and open it after my shift. I then went home with my Christmas basket, but on my way home, I was amazed to see the Christmas lights in the Cebu IT Park area.
The Philippines is a place where you can feel the Christmas spirit everywhere you go. Public plazas, malls, and other public places are adorned with Christmas lights, which create a festive atmosphere and keep the holiday spirit alive. What's great about celebrating Christmas in the Philippines is that it starts as early as September, so everyone is excited and ready with their decorations and lights, adding to the overall joy and excitement of the season.
As soon as I arrived home, I opened the Christmas Basket I got from my company. This is what is inside.
1 KILO UFC SPAGHETTI PASTA
In the Philippines, spaghetti is a staple dish during occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas. It's a favorite among kids and adults alike, and I personally enjoy it a lot. Even on regular days when I'm craving for it, I go to the popular fast food chain that serves some of the best Filipino-style spaghetti around.
1 KILO SPAGHETTI SAUCE
Thankfully, my company provided 1 kilo of spaghetti pasta along with 1 kilo of spaghetti sauce. However, as any cook or fan of cooking would know, 1 kilo of sauce is not enough for 1 kilo of pasta, which would result in dry spaghetti. To avoid that, I will add 1/2 kilo more sauce to make it saucy. As Filipinos, we prefer a sweet flavor in our spaghetti, which is why we love the Filipino-style sauce.
CORNED BEEF
It's unclear whether the corned beef is an ingredient for the spaghetti or just an extra. A few years ago, I attended a birthday celebration for someone dear to me and saw her make spaghetti using spaghetti pasta, spaghetti sauce, hot dog, corned beef, condensed milk, and cheese for toppings. Despite using corned beef as a substitute for ground beef, the dish tasted good. While it may not be as delicious as ground meat, Filipinos are resourceful and always find ways to make do with what they have.
FRUIT SALAD MIX
Christmas celebrations are incomplete without a delicious fruit salad, and luckily, my company has provided us with a free fruit salad mix that I will be bringing home for Christmas. This way, I can save money on my budget and enjoy the festive season without any financial burden. I have always had a special liking for fruit salads during Christmas, and the addition of young coconut or Buko Salad (a popular Filipino dessert) makes it all the more special and appetizing.
CONDENSED MILK
ALL PURPOSE MILK
To make a delicious fruit salad, we will be using condensed milk and all-purpose milk along with the fruit cocktail. If you prefer a creamier texture, you can add more milk. However, I am content with the current amount of milk and would like to add some other ingredients to enhance the flavor. Please note that I only have a limited quantity of additional ingredients at hand.
CHEESE
Cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in various dishes. For instance, you can sprinkle cheese on top of your spaghetti or add it to your fruit salad for a unique flavor. Additionally, you can use cheese as a filling for your bread or simply eat it on its own. The possibilities are endless with cheese as it can be used in many ways to enhance the taste of your food.
COFFEE
We also got this black coffee that I'm not a fan of because I often palpitate it and cannot sleep, so I'm going to bring this home and give it to people who love to drink black coffee.
COOKIES
To summarize it all up, we got some cookies, I guess, to pair with the coffee if you want to enjoy your afternoon snack. You can eat your cookies and drink your hot coffee, but since I'm not a fan of coffee, I'm just going to eat these cookies alone and pair them with water, perhaps, or dip them with fresh milk because it's best to eat cookies and drink fresh milk.
I am more than satisfied with what's inside our Christmas basket. Not only did we receive cash bonuses since November, but we also got this lovely basket filled with goodies. Our company showed its generosity once again, proving that they truly care about their employees. They may not be into grand parties or celebrations, but they made sure we had enough to celebrate with our families and loved ones. It's one of the reasons why they are one of the most admired companies here in Cebu City, Philippines.
As a Licensed Professional Teacher, I passed the board exam in October 2022 and currently work at one of the largest consultancy agencies in the world located in Cebu It Park, I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and feel fortunate to be surrounded by supportive colleagues and such generous company who gave us ample bonuses and loads of goodies. Certainly one thing I am such proud of.
In this Christmas season, it's heartening to see that our company cares for us employees and our families. They ensured that we had enough food and financial support to take care of our loved ones. This is what I appreciate the most about our company, and it's something that job seekers and current employees should consider when evaluating whether they're in the right place. Ask yourself if you feel valued in your workplace.
Let me remind everyone that it's important to appreciate any gifts or goodies we receive, regardless of their value. It's the thought that counts, and we should be grateful for the effort put in by those who gave them, especially if they are fellow hardworking employees. No matter how big or small the gift is, it's important to show gratitude and acknowledge the effort put in by the giver.
Hope you all got your bonuses and Christmas baskets. Merry Christmas! Ciao!☺︎♡
