Brown Group of Companies held its 1st Quarter Manager’s Forum on March 6-7 with the theme: “Defining Brown Group of Companies’ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System” last March 6at XSCCI Function Rooms. There were 31 employees who attended the one-and-a-half-day forum represented by managers and supervisors from different groups in operations: Construction & Development, Sales & Marketing, Plantation and from the support group Accounting, Admin Services, Compliance, Credit & Collection & Human Resources.
The forum was facilitated by Mr. Noel Sales, a retired Senior Software Engineer of IBM Hursley Laboratories Ltd. in United Kingdom.
The primary goal of the forum is to define and understand the importance of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System in the company and be able to create the requirement document which will be the basis in coming up with the program/system application.
Pope Francis, dearly called by Filipinos as Lolo Kiko, visited our country last January 15-19, 2015 primarily to comfort the Filipinos stricken by typhoon Yolanda and devastated by the quake. He communed with the youth, mingled with the poor and homeless, reached out to the victims of calamities, soothed the pain of those who are hurting and quenched the thirst of those who are experiencing spiritual drought. All of these, and even more, he has done, all for one mission, to deliver God’s message for us Filipinos.
Pope Francis was a good shepherd. He was chosen by God to touch our hearts by His message. To be merciful and compassionate missionaries of faith, that is what God wants us to be. That very message has pierced deep into the hearts of Filipinos.
In the words of Manila Archbishop Antonio Luis Cardinal Tagle (to Pope Francis), “Every Filipino wants to go with you, not to Rome, but to the peripheries. We want to go with you to the shanties, to the prison cells, to hospitals, to the world of politics, finance, arts, the sciences, culture, education and social communication. We will go to those worlds with you, to bring the light of Christ. Jesus is the center of your pastoral visit and the cornerstone of the church. We will go Holy Father with you, where the light of Jesus is needed.” This only goes to show, that we have clearly listened, and heard God’s message.
My prayer for us Filipinos is to continue living up to our mission, to be missionaries of faith—full of mercy and compassion as people of God.
BY QUARREN M. DEL ROSARIO, SHAI LAGARDE AND KHRISTINE ECHEVERIA
“Sharing Love, Spreading Hope, and Celebrating Happiness” is the theme for this year’s Christmas Party, celebrated last December 5, 2014 at Xavier Sports & Country Club Convention Hall.
The Brown Group of Companies’ celebrated another year of thanksgiving as employees came in their cowboy & cowgirl attires. It was a fun-filled night of dance competitions & showcasing of different talents.
Four teams competed for the Cowboy Dance Competition, namely: ABERDI’s Finest (4th Place Winner), Team Bulabog (3rd Place Winner), Cowboy’s Treasure (2nd Place Winner), and Club Maneuvers (1st Place Winner), each team rocked the dance floor with their cowboy/ cowgirl moves.
1st Place Winner: Club Maneuvers
2nd Place Winner: Cowboy’s Treasure
3rd Place Winner: Team Bulabog
4th Place Winner: ABERDI’s Finest
Another highlight during the said event was the Mr. & Ms. Rodeo 2014 contest represented by the finest men & women in each team who presented their talents and handpicked their question as a pair. The employees were entertained by the four lovely pairs who displayed poise, confidence, wit and intelligence.
Mr. & Ms. Rodeo 2014: Mr. Ranier Ridao & Ms. Maben Jane Lumpas
1st Runner up: Mr. Juan B. Galon Jr. & Ms. Eira Kristian Pajo
2nd Runner up: Mr. Haresh Frederick Dela Serna & Ms. Pauline Parcutilo
3rd Runner up: Mr. Gusflor Rambat & Ms. Emmarmel Bandoles
A Cowboy Fashion walk followed, where employees stride along the catwalk and took a pose on their best cowboy/ cowgirl attires.
Special awards were also given to employees.
Best Dressed: Ms. Maben Jane Lumapas
Scene Stealer: Ms. Eira Kristian Pajo
King of the Dance Floor: Mr. Ian EblacasQueen of the Dance Floor: Ms. Kristina Pizarro
The most awaited part of the night where everyone was very excited was the Christmas Raffle. There were 26 winners for the minor and major prizes and among the prizes that were raffled are 24”, 29” and 32” TCL Televisions.
The night ended with dance, music and live band.
Manila celebrations
The Manila office’s Christmas rodeo may not be as huge, but it was a fun and intimate afternoon.
Held in Rack’s El Pueblo, Ortigas on December 11, plaid and peasant tops were the order of the day for the cowboy theme.
The party games were judged by Dr. Walter and Mrs. Annabelle Brown, Mr. Roel and Mrs. Jas Castro, and Atty. Rosanne Duavit Santiago.
Ms. Shai Lagarde and Mr. Bok Lamayan presented intermission numbers, a song-and-ukulele and a harmonica performance respectively.
Of course, raffle prizes were at hand at the end of the party. Everyone went home with full tummies, cool gifts and wonderful memories.
Sporty stuff
After the Christmas party, A Brown Manila headed to SM Megamall for a good old game of bowling.
Meanwhile, on the same day in Cagayan de Oro, Brown Group of Companies held its first ever basketball tournament at XSCCI’s indoor and outdoor basketball courts. The said event was participated by 5 teams from all companies.
Team Green Lanterns
Team Black Cougars
Team Blue Eagles
Team Red Stallions
Team Yellow Minions
The program kicked off by the parade of colors accompanied by a drum and bugle corps. All groups presented their team’s Cheer and Chants, and then they got the basketball rolling.
Winners for the Men’s Division:
Champion: Red Stallions 1st Runner up : Black Cougars 2nd Runner up: Green Lanterns 3rd Runner up: Blue Eagles Male MVP: Juan Paolo Pizarro – Red Stallions
Winners for the Women’s Division:
Champion: Green Lantern 1st Runner up: Blue Eagles 2nd Runner up: Black Cougars 3rd Runner up: Yellow Minions Female MVP: Rosemay Simbajon – Green Lanterns
If these events are any indication of the fun times and camaraderie up ahead for 2015, then A Brown Company, Inc. and the entire family are in for a wonderful year.
A birthday surprise and a short tribute was prepared by the employees for the diamond birthday of Sir Robert E. Pizarro last October 20, 2014.
The President of the Brown Group of Companies’ celebrated another milestone of his life as he turned 60 years old last October 21.
Sir Robert was surprised by his family and employees as they entered the XSCCI Bar-Lounge right after the Monday Flag ceremony and serenaded him with a birthday song.
Mrs. Annabelle Brown, the older sister of Sir Robert, gave her warm birthday message and shared his inspiring story of success during his younger days.
A short skit was also presented by the talented employees from A Brown, depicting Sir Robert at home with his family and kids followed by a heartwarming birthday video presentation showing a glimpse of his life. Mrs. Teena Pizarro, the beloved wife of Sir Robert imparted her words of gratitude to the employees who made the said event meaningful for her dear husband.
The program ended with a message of overwhelming gratitude from the birthday celebrator.
A thanksgiving mass was also celebrated at the Immaculate Conception Chapel attended by the employees.
While December is the most festive month of the year, November is perhaps the just as well-awaited, since we get to receive our 13th Month pay at this time and the Christmas Bonus comes next. We would then think of splurging out our money for self-gratifying stuff—reward that we could give ourselves for all the hard work done for the year. However, before hitting the mall shops, going on vacation trips, or even clicking on the “add to cart” button, I think we must all pause and think a few times over, how to spend our 13th month pay and bonus wisely.
Purchase gifts early for Christmas
It isn’t necessary to buy expensive gifts, inexpensive ones would be enough. Spend a portion of your 13th Month pay and bonus to buy gifts for your ina-anak and love ones. Start buying gifts as early as now so it wouldn’t hurt so bad buying gifts all at once. You may even start buying every second or third quarter of the year so you could spread out your budget for these. After all, you may just keep all the stuff you have bought without damaging them.
Pay one’s debt
Instead of replacing your old phone with a trendy and in gadget, it is often best to have a debt-free year-end. Prioritize paying off debts.
Save
It’s always best to save for the rainy days. Keeping a small portion of your 13th month pay, your monthly salary and all other monetary benefits for the year, keeps you a step forward from panicking when emergency situations arise. It makes us feel secure that whenever there’s a need, we have an emergency fund which we could immediately use. We really do not have to run and look for some “Bombay” for 5-6 and be in great debt.
Aside from saving for emergency purposes, it’s also nice to save for retirement this early. Even just a small percentage of your monthly salary, 13th month pay and bonuses would pile up as time goes by.
Aren’t we all excited for our 13th month pay and Christmas bonus? I bet you are. Woohoo!!!
Coral Resort Estates, Northern Mindanao’s first residential resort launches its Mediterranean-type clubhouse. Sprawled on the northern part of the estate, the 1,000-square meter clubhouse houses an open lounge, a restaurant, and 3 function rooms which can effect seating anywhere from 10 to 70 persons.
The infinity pool, gazebo, parks and playground, meditation garden, and viewdeck complete the setting. A hanging bridge is also built leading to the half-a-kilometer stretch of beachfront. Next to be built are the floating jetty, putting green, aquasports area and pool by the sea.
To complement nature and the environment, home designs follow the Balinese architectural style featuring wide verandas.
Coral Resort Estates, owned and developed by A Brown Company, Inc., was launched in October 2013 and is the first residential resort estates in Northern Mindanao.
It is strategically located in Initao, Misamis Oriental. Coral Resort Estates is seated about 60 kilometers west of Cagayan de Oro City and 29 kilometers east of Iligan City. It is 27 kilometers southwest of the new Laguindingan International Airport.
BLESSING. Fr. Victor Melvin Abejero of St. Francis Xavier Parish Church of Initao blesses the Coral Resort Estates
TOAST FOR PROSPERITY. ABCI Board of Director and Xavier Sports and Country Club (XSCC) Chairman Atty. Antonio Soriano (3rd from left, 2nd row) leads the toast for prosperity with (L to R, 2nd row) Lolit Alon of JCA Realty, Linda Chee of Chee Realty, Matet Alcantar of ABCI Sales & Marketing, (L to R, 1st row) Amor Valdehuesa of JCA-Westbridge, Joy Madrid of CDO Brokers & Associates, XSCC Director Justina Uy and Jane Villono of JCA-Eagleridge.
MESSAGE. Mrs. Annabelle P. Brown gives a message highlighting the vision of ABCI on creating enlightened and happier communities during the Launching of the Coral Resort Estates Clubhouse on November 8, 2014.
RIBBON CUTTING. ABCI Board of Director and Xavier Sports and Country Club (XSCC) Chairman Atty. Antonio Soriano and Initao Municipality Vice Mayor Cora Sayre cut the ceremonial ribbon during the Launching of the Coral Resort Estates Clubhouse.
The guests
Overlooking the tranquil waters of Iligan Bay, Coral Resort Estates offers a sanctuary for the privileged few. A great way to enjoy your weekend… in your own resort home.
A Brown Company, Inc. is also the owner and developer of Xavier Estates, Teakwood Hills, Ventura Residences in Cagayan de Oro, Valencia Estates and Mountain Pines Farm in Bukidnon and West Highlands in Butuan City.
For members’ and member-recommended-guests’ functions at the Coral Resort clubhouse, call the Xavier Sports and Country Club at 088-8588942. For inquiries on residential lots, call the A Brown Co. Marketing Office at 0917-7938785 or 0999-8892946, email at marketing_cdo@abrown.ph or check out www.abrown.ph.
The Manila office enjoys a white Christmas this year with some frosted adhesive paper, metallic Japanese papers, poster paint, and whiteboard marker.
DIY snowflakes
Snowflakes make for very pretty decorations, and they’re actually very easy to create! Simply follow the photo collage, with steps detailed below.
1. Get frosted adhesive paper (the kind that you use to wrap textbooks) and cut into square pieces.
2. Fold the square diagonally into 1/2 to make a triangle.
3. Fold the triangle into 1/2.
4. Fold that folded triangle further, into a 1/3 triangle. I’m holding it with the left “wing” over the middle portion.
5. Fold the right “wing” over the left “wing” in picture 4. It should look like a letter A.
6. I made three A triangles to cut into three different snowflakes later on.
7. Go crazy with the cutting of patterns. It takes a bit of practice, and it would help if you would search for cutting guides on Goodle.
8. Unfurl the folded triangles and voila!
This is what the frosted adhesive looks like on a glass door or window.
I also made one using silver Japanese paper, with a bigger square to start with. Since Japanese paper is really thin, you can cut even more intricate patterns out of it.
I stuck the Japanese paper on the pantry door as the focal design. Using gold Japanese paper, I cut out tassels to attach to the top of the door, and little stars to surround the snowflake. As for the snowballs, I simply mixed white poster paint with a little bit of water and dabbed into those circles using a small brush! It’s easy to wipe out once Christmas is over.
DIY Snowman
Hello, Olaf! I used the white poster paint for the snowy parts (see how the water drippings actually give it a more icy effect), orange poster paint for the arms and nose, and black whiteboard marker for his clothes.
This is how it looks along with the snowflakes and snowballs.
What do you think? Go ahead and try these merry decor tips!
With Halloween landing right at us in a few weeks, the Food & Beverage and Kitchen Departments of Xavier Sports and Country Club spiced up our office area and gave a fresh Halloween-themed ambiance to the office. It also gives an opportunity for guests and customers to take some quick photos.
Through time, Halloween has grown into an important event to look forward to and is now one of the most popular holidays, second only to Christmas. When you ask a random person what he or she thinks about this time of the month, most likely you’ll get Halloween as an answer. We Filipinos love traditions, and Halloween is a season for us to visit our departed love ones in cemetery and for the kids to engage in scary costumes and play trick or treat. It is also one of the best holiday traditions to celebrate with our families and also at work.
For a company, it’s also a great way to spice up the work place. Celebrating Halloween at work appeals to the kid in us and helps create a sense of fun and it’s also creatively entertaining.
Well, first a little disclaimer: when I say celebrate Halloween at work, I’m not tellingyou to pull a scary prank on your officers or to your co-workers. I don’t want to be responsible if anyone is called up by HRD for misbehavior!
As with any corporate activity, we all look up to Human Resources for events and activities. But, in our small way, we can spice up our office for Halloween. One great idea to celebrate Halloween is to beautify our own cubicle or table just like the way we adorn it with Christmas decorations, this will put fun on an otherwise dull office ambiance. We can then offer prizes for the best and most festively decorated work stations. Here are some.
Attract good spirits with these treats.
You may not have a sweet tooth to drool on this, but this will surely catch your attention.
This spider web decoration can lure unsuspecting co-workers wandering in the Lanai area. Smile!
This cake display guarded with little goblins will make your day. Great for photo ops. Just be careful not to lean on the glass.
Keep an eye on the blood stained window pane.
Oh, that’s scary.
Don’t disturb the ghosts.
They’re real. No strings attached.
The Blair witch project.
There are more creepy dolls scattered around the pool area. Be very careful.
Look! It’s a bat.
Grace your haunted cubicle with one of these, and it’ll surely be an attraction.
Another great idea is office Trick-or-Treating (but without the tricking.. We can encourage all employees to bring treats in loot bags to be shared and employees can then go cubicle to cubicle or officer to office trick or treating for fun.
To appeal to our corporate social responsibility, we can partner with some community events for charities and company employees then can participate in full costume and passed out treats. However, this activity needs the participation of the whole corporate community so this needs some serious planning.
I believe that celebrating the Halloween tradition at good for boosting employee morale . This will greatly enhance the team building aspects of the group by encouraging everyone to work together to decorate their shared work area. These ideas will spark creative thinking and open up boxes of possibilities for celebrating Halloween at work.
Additionally, when a certain department makes their own ideas to celebrate holidays like Christmas, employees are more likely to participate in it, just like what we experience every time we decorate our office for Christmas.
Sounds fun, right? Do you have some Halloween ideas for the workplace?
