From May 27 to 30, 2015, teachers from the Pacita 2, Phase 6 and Calamba branches together with some staff members went through a team building process which included the dreaded rappelling supervised by Branch Administrative Officer Mr. Ramon Belizario.
More than 10 activities were prepared for the CDN employees who were fielded into 5 teams of 12 members each. The innovative games and exercises were exciting and effective as the members had to find strategies that would make them successful at planning and execution. However, most, if not all of the participants, had second thoughts on whether to go through the courage-testing Rappel exercise where one had to dangle from a rope while navigating the wall by walking backwards from the 4th floor to the ground. Watching the teachers go through this station was thrilling and proved to be one of the most memorable highlights of the summer.
CDNSSI CEO Ms. Farah Acierto Cabanban spearheaded the activities together with VP Dr. Mark G. Acierto who both encouraged the employees to participate as the event was designed to make them more effective, enthusiastic and innovative.
On the third day, the teams went all the way to an island in Nasugbu, Batangas for the final stage of the event and to beat the heat of summer before classes start. In the end, Team Violet na Malupet emerged as the champion after tallying scores garnered in the different contests. It is worth noting that said team was the most diverse in terms of campuses as they were the only group that was composed of employees from the three different branches. Ms. Farah said that “Despite the perceived weakness of the group, they overcame the obstacles because of strategic planning, focus and doing their best at everything.”
The group had one last exciting experience as they boarded the boats back to the main island. Everybody had to wade in waist-deep water to get to the boats because the vessels could not get any nearer. Judging from the faces of the teachers when they got to the Pacita 2 campus to get their salaries Saturday evening, the team building exercise was a successful though a very tiring event.