Thank you, Isentia Content Hub: An open letter to my colleagues.
Eleven days ago, it has exactly been two years since I first started working at Isentia. I remember feeling scared whether I’d belong, and what kind of people I’ll be working with. I remember I kept telling myself “Bawal maattach, Grace, as some alumni have said, when you enter the real world, you’re there to work. Just do your job well and be a team player, but don’t invest your emotions.” But here I am, after two years, with so many beautiful memories with amazing people. I did get attached after all, and it’s worth it. Because I did not only have colleagues, I met a new family.
This was my open letter to Content Hub, which I hesitated to send at first after writing, because it’s too long. But thankfully, two of my teammates encouraged me to send it because they said what matters is I wrote it from my heart and it’s my farewell message to my friends. (I was one of the employees who got laid off.) It was here that I learned tears are really contagious, because after sending this letter, I received texts saying they shed a tear, too. Perhaps that’s because when I wrote it, I was shedding tears myself. Why do I feel like graduating from high school? Haha! I guess this is how close we have been. So here goes my letter, and pictures of some of the memories we have made. :)
Dear Content Hub,
This August 20, it has been exactly two years since I started working at Isentia. And now, 731 days and 41,283 summaries later, I just finished my last working day as a Broadcast Monitor. Permit me to be cheesy, I just want to thank the amazing people who made the past two years a memorable journey. I apologize in advance for the length of this email, but please know this letter came from my heart.
I'm really blessed that I got to work with you. I did not only have colleagues, I had a family. That is why whenever I reached the office, my update to my parents has always been "Happy place". It meant I arrived safely, I'm at OSMA already. And I know there have been hardships, times heartbreaking news crushed me, or times I went home way past my shift. Yet whenever I was on my home, no matter how tired I got, I just looked forward to facing the next day and working again. If world news were a play, we all get front row seats, binge-watching current events for at least 40 hours a week. It genuinely excited me that our job allows us to literally learn something new every day. But, I don't feel that way all the time; sometimes I just have burnouts and frustrations. So I think the real major reason that kept me going through it all is I had colleagues as supportive as you guys are. Allow me to thank you.
To Sydney Swans, my first team.
Working with helpful teammates like you added to my motivation as I traveled from LB to Ortigas every day for five months (when I was not yet able to find an apartment in Manila). Thank you for your devotion to Qld Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. It showed me what client-obsessed looks like, and I committed to following that example. Your compere inside jokes and reactions to news added a lot of fun to our job. Until now, I enjoy backreading the group chat just to see your new musings or memes. Thanks a lot especially to John, Julianne, Zennon, Marco, and Kuya Ronnie.
To Fremantle Dockers, my afternoon shift team for more than a year,
Thank you for everything; for being supportive colleagues, helping me whenever I struggled, and celebrating with me whenever I improved.
Kuya Coily’s last day at our team.
How we help one another, especially during the Christmas dinner just so everyone can go to Sambokojin on time, inspires me. This was our post-Sambo bonding at Greenfield. I am also relieved that you never judged me as “walang pakisama” even though I only drank iced tea or milkshake haha. Others tend to force me to drink, but my friends at Isentia just let me finish all the food. HAHA. I appreciate people who can respect our preferences and differences. And you are witnesses that I don’t need to drink to be drunk. Based on my energy, I am drunk by default. Haha I will miss all these sessions with you and my batchmates!
I will miss our movie nights and billiard sessions (tho I'm just watching you haha) at the lounge. I wish we played more board games, too.
Isentia Outing 2019
Thank you so much also for being there for me when I lost my mother, you had my back and that will always mean a lot to me. When my Momi was still alive, she always knew I was working with great people. Thank you to every single one of you especially AJ, Morris, Evann, Aly and Kuya Mel.
I look forward to a Dockers reunion when this pandemic is over!
And my favorite teammate, Czesar. The best meetings are the ones you participated in. Thank you for all the laughter you gave us.
I also want to thank my friends outside my team, including Tomie, Zendee, LA and Nico from Collingwood Magpies.
Thank you for the dinner sessions and conversations on life and dreams!
This was LA’s birthday salubong at Kanto Breakfast :) While the next photo is a “panel discussion” at Goto Believe haha! We talked about the news we monitored, and boi, we went home at almost 5am.
Tomie, thank you for our never-ending laughter on our way home. Normally, I just want to be quiet and regain energy while traveling, but with you, it's okay to chat all the way to Quiapo.
To my favourite comperes, who will not read this but I feel like thanking anyway because some of you might share love for them: Marc Fennell, Jan Fran, Kanoa Lloyd, Jules Schiller, Sonya Feldhoff, Anna Vidot, Dave Sutherland, Tamara Oudyn, Sammy J, Paul Barry, Jeremy Corbett, David Speers, Leigh Sales and my inspiration Jesse Mulligan. Thank you because I learned so much about the world and about life from you. I will miss blogging about your stories and reacting to your insights.
To the leaders who managed me and/or accommodated my concerns,
This is my former TL, Kuya Coily :)
TL Coily, TL Angel, TL Rem, TL Nico, TL Nic, TL Jonna, TL Geoff, TL Alni, and Sup Mitch. Thank you for all your help! Thank you for the times you inspired me and my colleagues to grow as well as the times you coached me, gave constructive feedback, and helped me overcome my weaknesses so I can continuously improve.
To our Trainer Rachel, who we can consider as Content Hub's matriarch,
thank you so much because you patiently equipped every single one of us before we transitioned to live operations. To OM Dean, thank you for your feedback and praise during my regularisation.
And most of all, to Western Borlogs fam, my home for two years, I don't even know how to thank you enough.
I'm grateful you've been my batchmates at our training--and for everything after that.
Isentia Outing 2019
Sibyullee, farewell samgyup party for Jai (her last day in the company)
Seoulgyupsal, farewell samgyup party for Aiona (before she flew to Spain to teach)
office memories :)
Pantry catch-ups. I usually eat at my desk because of all the work but I’m grateful for the times I was able to join their dinner breaks hehe.
Sambokojin, Christmas dinner 2019
Dear Borlogs, thank you for all the memories, endless laughter, samgyup sessions (a regular segment haha), Friday nights, and times we comforted each other when some of us are facing a hard time. Thank you also for comforting me and my family when you and B visited the wake of my Momi. She has always heard about you (and I'm happy she met some of you) when she was still alive. Thank you for being such a great sounding board, a safe space where we can be vulnerable and strong at the same time. Also, I've never been a milk tea person until I met you guys, so thanks for that, too. My BM experience would not be the same without you. Naz, Janelle, Joey, Patty, Billie, Lou, Aiona, Jai, Nee, Mau, C, Ady, Sarah. Thank you, sists!!
If you've read until here, thank you for bearing with my lengthy cheesy, farewell note to Content Hub. I attached some photos that captured a few of the memories I spent with you, as well as some jokes I've randomly thought about while monitoring. I was reserving them for Christmas Party or something, but anyway, here they are. I am confident they will make you cringe.
So there, I will miss you and I appreciate you always. I will not forget the memories we've made along the way. Thank you for everything, Isentia Content Hub! God bless you all and stay safe.
Arrivederci :)
Always,
Grace / Mariel
(this was me when I graduated from training and was so excited to be part of Content Hub haha)
PS. Thank you to Janelle, Jai, Joey, Jai, Kuya Coily, LA, Zendee, Dots and Troy for the photos!
PPS. Thank you so much for your heartwarming replies!!! And the food/gifts some of you sent!! I love you guys. (There, I said it. Haha! I was too shy to put that sentence in the email I sent. But this is my blog, I can write what my heart says without holding back)
^letter from AJ with a Bebi plant. She sent me oatmeal cookies and three novels too huehue she knows my weaknesses well haha thankuu ajj
^Matchaaaa from Patty thank you sist! <33
^Carbonaraaaa from Tomiee thank you siz!!!
Thank you to every single one of you. I was emotional when I wrote the open letter, but I got more nostalgic when I read your responses. I will always be thankful for the privilege of working with you and being your friend. Keep in touch, okay? We’ll still meet again. :)
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I am filled with gratitude and awe. Today is amazing. The past six months were amazing, and I'm more psyched for what's to come because they'll be more exciting, so much more learning awaits!
Thank you so much, Lord, for bringing me to my dream role at my happy place, Isentia. I cannot do all this without You. You are my strength, my source of growth and excellence. Whenever I am struggling, You keep me going. Your grace always sees us through. Thank You for the chance to work with great teammates, both in Singapore and the Philippines. Thank You for the Insights Asia Team!
I have always been surrounded with fun and positive colleagues, from the time I was a Media Writer/Broadcast Monitor during my first job in Isentia, to my time as a Content Writer at Sevron Safety Solutions, and now to my endeavor as Senior Insights Analyst at Isentia Singapore (Manila-based).
Thank You for answering my prayers and providing not only interesting roles, but always a positive culture to work in. I am thankful for this job, our tasks, our company, our team, our clients, everything!!! This has been my dream role since 2018 and I can't believe I am about to be regularised soon, and with great feedback on my performance and attitude huhu. Kayo po talaga, Lord, ang dahilan ng lahat ng blessings na ito. All glory is Yours! (and my parents' glory, too! hehe)
There is still so much more to learn, and I am here for all of it <3 With Your grace, and with the guidance of my managers and teammates, and with my very supportive loving father, doctor, family, and friends, and my prayerful mother up there who is still with us albeit spiritually, there is a lot to look forward to :)
PS. This was written out of gratitude on a personal level. I am aware that when we look at the national level, there is so much threat in the coming years and we have to fight disinformation and fight for the rights of every Filipino. I sincerely hope everyone has the same privilege we have access to (the privilege of having a job), but I understand majority of Filipinos didn't have that for decades now. I look forward to the day everyone in our country can live peacefully and with access to all their needs and the opportunity to pursue their dreams and break the cycle of poverty. I look forward to a continuous democracy.
#MHaffiezMNazri is happy to see them all! #isentia #reunion #excolleagues #Bangsar #KualaLumpur #Malaysia (at The Ganga Cafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3uAQE3HDu2/?igshid=b8r9e427rl0
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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#MHaffiezMNazri is a super early bird when he thought he would be the latest one! #isentia #reunion #excolleagues #Bangsar #KualaLumpur #Malaysia (at The Ganga Cafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3t5gOHHn_x/?igshid=xh1de5urwxa2
#MHaffiezMNazri attended former #isentia partner in crime's wedding! He is still in #Jakarta #Indonesia #SoutheastAsia #Asia #travel #tour #viaje #digitalnomad (at Cyber 2 Tower) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1TuSuCnvLH/?igshid=l79cq8tryxgo
