I actually want to put the spotlight on Mike’s farewell. I left Seafood Club and got to Fish & Co just in time for the main program. I was pleasantly surprised that ALL the ATT guys are there, including the non-office members! This rarely happens to us lately because there usually is someone missing on a particular event. Come to think of it, we never had an AAT outing where all of us are present. We’re usually missing a person or two for different reasons. But I guess last night was different – we were all there not just to have fun but we were there for a good friend.
The main program of the night was when we lit up a candle, said our farewell message to Mike, and then gave our gifts to him. Everybody was smiling and accommodating; partly trying to hide the tinge of sadness we were feeling. The mood was mellow-dramatic and the messages were purely honest. It’s not very usual that we enter a company thinking that we’re there purely to work but then find people who will transcend the confides of the office space and share our life-memories with. That was AAT for us. It made working enjoyable and tolerable at times.
With Mike signing off, I really do not know what is its effect on the dynamics of our group. He was there from the start – vehemently organizing and participating in all our ATT outings in the beginning. In those trips, he always finds a way to juice out all the personal details of our lives. We might have hated it at first but that was the bridge that brought us closer to one another. We exceeded being just co-workers and started being good friends. Case in point is Sean & Omi (need I say more?! Hehe)
Even at the office, Mike was a loud voice. And I mean that literally. He never fails to express all his thoughts and feelings disregarding or maybe purposely including other people who might hear him. He always had strong opinions on everything, specially management decisions and policies. Hehe. Most of us will admit to being embarrassed at times by his loud opinionated mouth but for the most part, we are secretly glad that he expressed those things out in the open – things that would have been suppressed if not for his nonchalant attitude. We might not admit it totally but Mike sometimes becomes our own voice in the office. He becomes the microphone of the group. We have a lot of office talks in AAT and everybody knows the sentiment of everybody else. So I’m sure that most of what he says is influenced by other people in the group and thus their sentiments as well.
Well that is Mike for us (or at least the ones I am able to write; this is getting too long!) He is one hell of a colorful character! It’s either you love him or you hate him! No in-betweens! Of course you know where AAT stands right?! Hehe
Apart from these there’s a couple more things that Mike is – a father and a husband. These are probably the 2 main roles that lead to his resignation. He not only dreamed for himself but for his family as well. He will not only work for his own but also for his wife and little daughter. That side of Mike, we all respect and bow to. For the courage to take your destiny into your own hands, the strength to endure the loneliness in a foreign land and the determination to give your family the best life that they deserve, you are the man!
So Mike, here’s to your good life ahead! Good luck on your new job! Show those bastards what a Filipino can do! We will miss you and God bless to you and your family! Cheers!
PS: Give us your new email address so we can send you our resume when we’re ready. Haha! ;p
