LAST year, I wrote about three ladies from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao who started as colleagues and became the best of friends. Another article was about company benefits beyond monetary ones, like team-building. Our recent team-building event paved the way for these three Titas to reunite. Thank heavens for that! Didn't we meet last November with our respective families?
It all happened on a month-end. Can you imagine the horror in our minds? All we could think about were loan bookings and targets. Our mobile phones never stopped ringing.
There we were, answering calls and sending emails right in the heart of BGC. Etelle confidently crossed the street while engaged in a phone conversation. Good for her—she's used to the big city. Meanwhile, Liza and I had to keep our eyes on the road for fear of jaywalking mishaps.
Despite all the organized chaos, we still had fun. Liza’s video captured “Tita problems” in the middle of BGC, oblivious to the curious stares. You might wonder what’s with the commotion. Easy for Gen Zs—all about Google Maps, portrait mode, and the famous 0.5x zoom on our camera phones.
I got lost even when using Google Maps because I didn't know which direction to face. If only I could do a Joey—literally stepping inside the map. Liza couldn't resist teasing, “Ano ba, Mae, mawawala na tayong tatlo dito.” We all laughed when Etelle confessed she had no clue about 0.5x and the portrait. Liza, our resident paparazzi, was quick to say, “Etelle, ano ba? Wala bang 0.5x sa Pampanga.”
And there was that persistent seller who kept calling. Each time I answered, she would ask, “Sino ‘to?” She called more than ten times. Every time, I had to identify myself and my company.
What made my day was when Etelle commented on the traffic light as blue. Liza seized this opportunity: “Wow, Etelle, iba talaga sa Pampanga, blue ang traffic lights.”
Dinner time, and we were clueless. Instagram came to the rescue. We walked a mile to the first recommendation, only to be met with, “Do you have a reservation?” OMG! Back in the province, our faces served as the reservation, especially for Liza.
Off we walked another mile to the next spot. Guess what? The same question: “Do you have a reservation?” We relayed the hundred-mile tale that led to tiredness. Thankfully, the lady understood and showed us to our table. We could only stay until 8:30 PM, but that was good enough.
Ultimately, it wasn't the fancy restaurants or the bustling city that made our reunion special. The getting lost, friendly banter, laughter, and the simple joy of being together made it special. Despite the chaos of our busy lives, moments like these remind us of the importance of friendship and taking the time to reconnect. The bond that connects these three islands is the force that keeps us close, no matter the distance.
