Despite the calamities that befell our country recently, starting with the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Bohol and Cebu, followed by the strongest typhoon on earth, Yolanda, that hit Tacloban and Northern Cebu... yes, despite all this... life must go on. We are so blessed that The Freeman Chairman Jose “Dodong†R. Gullas and President Miguel G. Belmonte have agreed to go on with the celebration of Christmas for the employees of The Freeman. So, a three-hour celebration started with a Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Fr. Eduard Verame of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
Right after the Mass, the spirit of the employees were lifted up when Vice Chairman Johnvic Gullas gave an inspirational talk re-Christmas. Then a hearty lunch followed.
In his short message, President Miguel Belmonte said: “We have to go on with the party as we are celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!†Amen to that sir Miguel. Actually, Sir Miguel flew in from Manila just to be with us on this auspicious occasion. After the Christmas gathering ended, he immediately left for the airport to catch up with his plane back to Manila where a very important meeting was waiting for him.
On the other hand, Sir Dodong Gullas, our very generous Chairman, acceded to hold the Christmas party, although he added, just a simple one, but we had to have our Christmas celebration. He also told the employees that his group was the first to reach the devastated town of Medellin and Daanbantayan. Upon reaching Barangay Tapilon, he saw that the church was heavily damaged, so he promised the people of Tapilon that he would restore their church to what it was before it was damaged by typhoon Yolanda. Praise the Lord Sir Dodong, and God bless you more!
Before the short program came to an end, raffle prizes were given to the lucky winners plus gifts from The Freeman management. Mrs. Nena Gullas also distributed to all employees boxes of cup cakes she herself baked for them.
To one and all, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!