Sun, Games, and a Whole Lot of Chaos: Our Team Outing at Solea Hotels and Resorts
Some normal days at the office don’t compare to a day like this. On July 18, our supposed day off, we swapped a lazy Saturday of rotting in bed for sand and scavenger hunts.
It proves that our team is just as competitive off the clock as we are on it, this time back at Solea Hotels & Resorts for ROUND TWO. Excellent timing too, since the date also happened to be our HR’s birthday, Miss Rod, giving everyone one more reason to celebrate.
We’ve been here before. Last year’s team building happened at the same place, and honestly, it wasn’t a hard decision to come back.
The space is huge, more than enough room to run games, take photos, enjoy water activities by the pool or by the sea, and let everyone spread out without stepping on each other’s toes.
And then there’s the food. Chef’s kiss, every single time.
How the Day Started
Sir Edgar giving a short speech before the main event starts
We kicked things off with a prayer and a few words from Sir Edgar, our General Manager, setting the tone for a day that was less about titles and more about togetherness.
Before diving into the games, each group was given a quick challenge of their own: come up with an impromptu cheer to represent their team.
Cue the last-minute huddles, the scrambled chants, and a few groups clearly winging it in the best way possible. It was a fun, chaotic way to get everyone hyped and officially mark the start of the games.
Round One: Telephone Relay “Written Edition”
Telephone Relay “Written Edition” was the perfect way to kick things off, and the perfect way to watch a message fall apart. Each group lined up with five members: the first person reads the phrase, passes it down the line one by one, and by the time it reaches the last person, chaos has usually taken over.
The last person’s job was to write down whatever phrase finally reached them, typos, mishearings, and all.
Each group is busy relaying the message and passes it down the line, one by one
Perci from Group 3 is writing down the phrase/message that reached him
Teams were whispering, guessing, laughing, and occasionally blaming each other for getting it wrong. A few phrases got hilariously lost in translation by the time they reached the last person in line, and in the end, only one person got it right, spelling included.
As per Miss M, our Sales Manager, only Jerome from Group 3 came through in the clutch, and his team wasn’t shy about celebrating it.
Photos, Food, and a Whole Lot of Singing
Group Photos and Lunch
Once the first round of games wrapped up, everyone gathered for the obligatory (and very necessary) group photos, employees and department heads, including Miss Katie and Sir Ludwig, all in one frame.
Groufie with the Boss, Miss Katie, alongside Sir Ludwig, Sir Edgar, Miss M, Miss Archel, Miss Claire, and Glophics buddies
Lunch followed shortly after, and if there’s one thing our team agrees on, it’s that a good meal after a morning of games hits different.
Lechon Manok garnished with a colorful medley of grilled peppers, onions, and fresh vegetables the Solea way
No matter the season, Lechon steals the show, and everyone forgets they’re on a diet
Glophics ladies lining up for food and patiently waiting for their turn
An Impromptu Karaoke Session
While some were still finishing their plates, Miss M found a mic and kicked things off, and just like that, an impromptu karaoke session broke out.
A few surprisingly strong vocals came out of nowhere, none more surprising than Michael from the Dev team. He sounded like someone you’d book for a bar gig, a wedding reception, or pretty much any event you can think of. For a moment, it felt like we got him for free.
A few others reminded everyone why they stick to their day jobs. Either way, the group went all in, cheering, singing along, and hyping up whoever dared to grab the mic next.
Michael playfully serenading Miss Steff and the whole crowd
🎵 “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang,” turning lunch break into a full concert, no complaints here 🎵🎤
“I Finally Found Someone” hitting a little too close to home for a lunch break duet 🎤
Department Pictorials and Two More Rounds of Games
With lunch and karaoke behind us, each department took turns for their own pictorials, small moments that will probably end up as everyone’s new profile pictures or shared on their FB and IG stories.
Sir Edgar and Miss M with the Admin Team
Marketing Team with Sir Edgar and Miss M
Sales and Designers Team with Sir Edgar, Miss Claire, Miss M, and Miss Archel
Sir Edgar and Miss M with the Development Team
Round Two: Animal Charade
Kyla putting on her acting hat for the Animal Charade game
Then came round two: Animal Charade. And if Telephone Relay tested patience, Animal Charade tested everyone’s acting skills, or lack thereof.
Kyla from Group One had everyone in stitches, whether she was the one acting out a word or the one trying to guess it, her frustration alone was half the entertainment. Then there was Kuya Mark, who broke the room when he blurted an actual “meow” mid-round, completely forgetting that charades is a silent game (though in hindsight, a meow was oddly on-brand for a round about animals). The whole place burst out laughing.
It was a close one in every group, with barely any gap in the scoring, but Group 2 edged out the rest and took the win, much to the other teams’ disbelief.
Round Three: Scavenger Hunt
Miss M amusingly tallying Group 2’s orange-coloured finds for the Scavenger Hunt game
Round three brought the Scavenger Hunt, this time with a colorful twist. Each group had to track down items matching their assigned color: purple for Group 1, pink for Group 2, and orange for Group 3.
With only five minutes on the clock, teams grabbed whatever they could find: leaves, leftover food, slippers, beauty products, and other personal belongings, as long as it was somewhat the right color.
Some picks were spot on, others were a stretch that got approved out of sheer desperation.It made for one of the funniest and most exciting rounds of the day, with teams scattering across the resort hunting for their colors, racing against the clock, and sprinting past each other in the least subtle way possible.
In the end, Group 3 wasted no time reclaiming the lead, closing out the games with their second win of the day.
Winners, Wind Down, and Whoever Wanted to Stay Longer
After three rounds of games and a fair share of friendly trash talk, the winners were announced, with each game win worth 5,000 pesos. Group 3, led by Miss Tine, took the day with two out of three wins, while Group 2, led by Miss Archel, held their own with a well-earned win in between. Even though Group 1, led by Miss Claire, didn’t take home a win, they were just as much a part of the fun.
Presenting Group 3 led by Miss Tine
Here comes Group 2, led by Miss Archel
Presenting Group 1, led by Miss Claire
The main program officially closed shortly after. But the day wasn’t quite over for everyone.
Those who weren’t ready to leave stuck around for more karaoke and a dip in the water, because why rush the end of a good day?
More Than Just a Day Off.
The pillars of Glophics, all in one frame: Miss Katie, Sir Ludwig, Miss Claire, Miss Archel, Miss M, and Sir Edgar
From staring at screens, to debugging code, to posing for the camera real quick
At the end of it all, this wasn’t just a break from work. It was a reminder that the people we spend most of our weekdays with are also the same people we can laugh, compete, and completely embarrass ourselves with, in the best way possible.
Here’s to more days like this.