The Fruity Aboitiz Christmas Shindig

Just when you thought you'd seen and attended the best, you do a double-take and find yourself saying, "It keeps getting better."

Such was the thought of many a guest at the Christmas party recently held by the Aboitiz Group for its media friends. And in the spirit of friends with equal respect for and comfort with each other, the Aboitiz Group and their media friends whopped up a party numbering over a hundred.

"Sharing the Bounty of 85 Years" was the party theme. But of course... the Aboitiz Group marks its 85th years anniversary since incorporation, and what better time to share the bounty of those 85 years than during the season of unconditional giving like Christmas time!

For each of the 85 guests from the media, there was a gift, in appreciation of their presence. Then, for the daring, fun-loving and adventurous, there were the games, raffles and contests. They were prizes meant for giving, won in many ways... be it by completing a jigsaw puzzle, or jogging one's memory for some historical event, date or place. Questions centered on the memorable dates of the Aboitiz Group's history.

Cerebral-sounding at first, you think, except that all the guests had to do was find the answers staring at them at eye-level from the Aboitiz History Wall plastered all over the restaurant walls.

Of course, the media guests did not have the fun all to themselves. The Aboitiz executives as well, all 30 of them, as they watched, smiled or laughed when the contest was on and the guests scampered all over in search of the answers. Visibly enjoying themselves were top guns Jon Ramon - president and CEO of Aboitiz and Company, Erramon - EVP and COO of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Roberto - CEO of Aboitiz Construction Group and Jojoff Escobal - VP for Corporate Communications of Aboitiz Group. So were Steve Paradies - CFO and CIO of Aboitiz and Company, Antonio Moraza - President and CEO of PILMICO, Domi Chua -executive director of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) and other Aboitiz Group executives like Mikel Aboitiz of City Savings, Doug Border of FBMA; and Ramon Villordon of Supercat Fast Ferries.

The night began and ended with a bang! Just before guests went home, they were left free to load their baskets with fruits of any kind from the floors or on tabletops... grapes, oranges, apples, bananas, lanzones, etc. Last year, Christmas was on a Spanish theme and Cebu's media were among the first guests when the newly renovated Casino Español opened its doors to the public. The year before, it was a Christmas Cruise on the Supercat plying the Mactan Channel on a moonlit night.

What lies ahead in Christmas 2006? It can only get better!