Thank you MBB for the opportunity in working in SMB Marketing. I never had any Marketing working experience but you trusted me enough with my first brand. I am also grateful as it also gave me the chance to work with wonderful people – some of whom will be lifelong friends.To my first brand team:
Miles, thank you for introducing me to the world of pinoy rock. I’ve never even heard of Slapshock nor Greyhoundz when I first started in RHB. I don’t know if you noticed how uneasy I was in my first Jam Tayo session in Dayo Bar. Look at me now, I can sing parts of Carino Brutal and one of the band managers regularly posts gig updates on my FB wall. You rock Miles! We rocked!Elaine, I know we didn’t start of well with me trying to learn brand work on my own while you were more than willing to assist me. I am happy though that we worked better thru time. I respect how efficient you are and I truly appreciated our RHB-GEB tandem. I also admire your “unedited” view of the world which you share with your close friends of which I feel I am one of. Thank you as well for letting me ride and drive WGD and PQT. I will miss the story telling times with you, Jelle and Berna. They were good times indeed!
Jelle, thank you for being my “default” group secretary even as I was moved from Other Core. I will miss how you will listen to my simple joys like stories of my boys, “open season” and my “observations”& comments on how people look and or walk. Thank you for sharing your food (and even utensils!) and drinks (at least I know you don’t like sharing your straw!) with me, for buying me nail cutter during my first Muziklaban Grand Finals and for giving me feedback on the person behind your office when I need it. Don’t worry, we’ll still be friends
even if you decide to look cut your hair like Rico Puno circa 1970s or Katrina Halili. Peace! :P 
Jules, I continue to have a high regard for your attempt to be low key and let your work do the talking. I also admire your strength when your Mom got sick and passed away. I’m sure she’s very proud of your attitude and your work ethic. Thank you as well for the chicken pies and the krupek. Continue to be extra strong ‘Dre!
Affie, thank you for showing me how to be generous with gifts. Thank you for the Zara polo, Ed Hardy shoes, etc. Thank you also for the privilege of being your confidante during the most trying times – I know you would have done the same for me if the roles were reversed. As you always say, no worries Bro!
to my carryover friends from Corporate Marketing:
Anne, thank you for being my first co-BM in Other Core. We’ve talked about “RL” since 2008. After 3 years I’ve finally done it! I hope you find the work-life balance that we are all looking for.
Stella, thank you for being one of the first persons to uncover my own naughtiness. Thank you for your unintentional (the waxing of our friend, the no _ _ rule before singing engagements, etc.) and intentional sharing of living and loving experiences. Thank you as well for putting together the “diveo.” Thank you for the art and the songs. Good luck on your singing career!
Marge, thank you for the gifts and especially for the hugs. I appreciate your confidence in sharing with me your challenges in work and your concern for my own issues, medical or otherwise. I know wherever you choose to be, you will continue to “razzle dazzle” people with the output of your work.
Nins, thank you for trusting me as you shared your life experiences with Andi and the “one” we will do a press con on. I will always be a fan of “the walk” but I’d rather forget “the run.” Thank you for being one of the few who came to Jack's baptismal party. Thank you as well for having a picture with me whenever you get the chance.
Au, thank you for the food (including take home!) whenever we’re near your hometown – Muziklaban in Balibago, Extreme Sports in SM Pampanga, Oktoberfest in Robinsons Starmills, Party All Night in Angeles, etc. Thank you as well for keeping me grounded with your after-6 pm rule, for being tough for me (vs. the other BAT Manager is an example!) when I become too soft or too kind, and for having patience with me when I always ask for the signing authority, per diem guidelines, car rental requirements, etc.
Ms. Vinky, thank you for all the lessons on event management and commercial production. My only regret is that I only got to work with you directly for less than a year. I admire your boundless energy in work and even in your exercise routines. I hope I can do the same. I appreciate your efforts of continually convincing me to stay with SMB up until my last week. Thank you as well for the animated stories and the daily dose of fruits.
Ms. Pop, thank you for always listening and for the friendly / motherly / professional advice. I truly admire your objectivity which I hope to emulate. I will miss your “thought balloons” and I am very grateful for the options you help me pursue.
to my fellow BATMEN, thank you for all the activations we worked on and for the last activation you, Au and Stella prepared for me…
Pao, thank you for showing me how to sweet and smooth talk our colleagues in sales and our different suppliers to get things done. I hope you can teach the young batmen this skill. Thank you for the light moments at work – for the one liners and the magic tricks. Do it! Do it! Do it!
Vito, thank you for helping me pull off my first major event as Marketing Services Manager (on your birthday!) and the biggest Muziklaban at that. We fully utilized our E52s on that historic day. Thank you as well for helping the rest of the team when I took my month long leave.
Migz, I am privileged to have worked with you and your trusted calculator in bringing the biggest Oktoberfest Kick-Off to date. I welcome your efforts to let go of your English “default language” to converse with our suppliers and our friends from sales. I can relate to your wanting to deliver results on your own but do seek assistance as we all can’t do everything on our own. Lastly, relax Migz!
Aids, even as I casually dismissed your effort to thank me on my last day, I truly appreciated the gesture. I hope you continue to prove to everyone that you’re “not shy” and continue to learn the ropes as you work in Marketing. Confidence Aids!
to my other Marketing friends:
Berna & Julie, thank you for all the research data which coincidentally was almost always in my brand’s favor during my stint as BM.
Berna, thank you for the company when you ride with me going home. It lessened the boredom of driving. I found comfort in telling you my work concerns as you were never in my group yet you were quite aware of the challenges and peculiarities that I face at work.
Julie, thank you for your sharing on your experiences in dealing with your Dad’s dialysis as I was introduced to the same situation in 2010. I also appreciate that during my last weeks at SMB, you always told me that you are saddened and that I will be missed.
Tita Nora & Tita Angie, thank you for the fruits, vegetables, bread, and the kamote. Thank you for telling me who to contact on various concerns across the different SMB departments and SMC divisions. Thank you for the feedback on when it’s a good time to talk to the MM and the GPMs. I am also thankful to both of your husbands who have been kind enough to take me home door to door. Lastly, I also appreciate that you took the time out to attend the despedida for me.
Joemar & Bert, thank you for being good examples of working hard but also having fun. Joemar, I will always remember the dance steps and your advise that our work maybe difficult but it’s nothing compared to the life and death situation that soldiers face. Bert, thank you for giving me the nickname Ray Pinoco and thank you for the various “updates.” May both of you continue to simultaneously bully and teach the younger people in beer marketing. 
Barbie & Gab, thank you both for helping me with Muziklaban. Barbie, I admire and appreciate your quiet efficiency when I was starting out as RHB BM. Gab, I am grateful for your help and your presence when I was left without a BAT for the Muziklaban in Metrowalk and Pulp Summer Slam in Amoranto. I wish you both the best in your careers in Brand.
Erik & Gerry, thank you for sharing my interest in stock trading – it wouldn’t have been as fun if I didn’t get to talk to people who were also into it. I would also thank both of you for sharing with me some of my “firsts.” Gerry, thank you for working with me in my first Pulp Summer Slam. Erik, thank you for sharing with me my first experience in sleeping in one bed with a fellow grown man. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to Summer Slam nor will I share a bed with another man.May God Bless Us All!
