Summer getaway, the RareJob way!
Employee JournalsTo celebrate a big milestone such as reaching 10 years, RareJob Philippines, Inc. held a raffle surprise that was revealed to be free roundtrip tickets to any of some select destinations in the Philippines.
The assembly area was filled with excited murmurs but these thrilled exchanges died down almost instantly and were replaced with held breaths when the draw started. When my name was called, I felt disbelief more than excitement that I had to wait for my peers to prompt me to claim my prize.
Now, when you receive free tickets to any place you want, the next thing you busy yourself with is deciding where to go. The first thing that came into my mind was Boracay. The newly-rehabilitated Boracay, that is. And for the simple reason that I wanted to see the changes for myself.
Touchdown, Bora! Now what?
It was after checking-in that the invisible ‘vacation switch’ in me was flipped. And so, here’s how my vacation went:
Day 1: Long walks on the beach
The ocean kept reminding me and my companion how nice it would be to have some seafood at that time. We went out looking for some good ‘dampa’ places in the island. The search started from one end of the beach, since we were staying at Station 3, and it was only upon reaching the other end that we came upon this restaurant that smelled like grilled fish and fried shrimp. We ended up ordering sizzling squid and garlic buttered shrimps from it, which we enjoyed with a bottle of ice-cold beer.
As we walked back to our place, I noticed that there were many signs to remind people about the rules on the beach regarding cleanliness. I liked how their implementation was not just limited to signs, there were color-coded trash bins every few meters and roaming enforcers who were actively looking out for rule breakers. It made me think, what if the implementation of these were upscaled to the national level? Will it help us grow and progress as a third world country?
Day 2: Ultimate with the local kids
Being an Ultimate Frisbee player, it’s almost a requirement for me to bring a disc every time I go to the beach. One afternoon, when we were practicing throws in the sand, it didn’t take a while before some locals asked us to join them in a friendly game. Nothing beats the feeling of warmth from the setting sun combined with the smell of the ocean in the cool air and the feeling of loose sand beneath your feet.
Day 3: Musings by the shore
This was the afternoon wherein I noticed the Paraw Sailboats. They were riding the waves and letting the wind push them forward. They sailed at varying speeds, but after sunset, all of them came back to shore. It made me think about life. We all have to cruise through it at our own pace. But eventually, we will all reach our destination.
The sunset, as we all know, is a regular phenomenon. It happens every day! But try to ask yourself, when was the last time you watched the sun set in the sky? Have you had time to pause and look at it? When I was doing it during the trip, I had a slight grasp of the reality of how time flies so fast. The sunset seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. If you don’t focus and pay attention to it, you might miss the chance to appreciate it.
The nightlife on the island drastically changed from what I remember from years before. After the sun has set and the sky went dark, there was no loud music playing in the background. There were no party lights flashing from the bars. There were no people drinking and causing ruckus at the beach. I could hear the leaves of coconut trees rustling in the wind and the waves breaking on the shore. There was peace. As I lay on the sand and looked up to the sky, I could see the clouds passing by underneath a huge sea of stars. It was different compared to the night life in the city. It was nice that I had the chance to enjoy a night with nature.
MNL bound
Four days happened so fast! Before I knew it, my trip was almost over. If I were to describe my trip with one word, I would say it was about ‘chances.’
I had the chance to go visit a tourist destination for free.
I had the chance to see this country’s potential for growth and improvement.
I had the chance to play the sport I love with people I just met.
I had the chance to appreciate nature at its finest.
I had the chance to appreciate the little things in life.
And all of these chances were given to me because I’ve had the privilege to work in RareJob, which recognizes that their employees are the “core” of behind the successes of the organization. I would also consider it as a fitting coincidence because of the company’s vision: “Chances for everyone, everywhere.”
Just like the “chance” that was given to me by RareJob, you too, can be part of an engaged and recognized workforce that contributes not only to the growth of the employees but also to their wellness and making sure they get the best experience during their stay here.
