Dampa, Manila: Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We don’t have Turkey! But we have Seafoods! This was how we celebrated thanksgiving. You may be thinking now, there’s a thanksgiving in the Philippines? Well, none! I know this is an American celebration but good thing we are working in a U.S. based call center so we had a chance to feel and enjoy this, everyone didn’t have a schedule, we are totally free. We may not in the states but the fact that most of us had given another day off it was already like you won jackpot on the lottery, too bad I’m not one of them since this holiday fell on my rest day anyhow this one day was really precious too us, we don’t really have long time to get bonded, only this day so we made the most out of it. In this kind of industry where we are working, our rest days are really important especially if you came from your last shift of the week with high volume of calls all you just need is too have a long sleep so that you can rest your throat and voice. I know you can relate.

Double Celebration! We have also celebrated the birthday of one of our team leaders in the program, TL Noemi. Since we are in the Philippines, thanksgiving and eating turkey are not religiously practiced we just had our very own Filipino version that time. We went to Dampa, this is really famous place in Manila, you get to see different restaurants serving great foods. They are very well known for serving  sea foods.  It was roughly my fourth time to go here though. I just couldn’t wait to eat buttered shrimp that time.

Dampa, Market. Before we go inside the resto we just took pictures of these fresh seafoods. I remember when the vendor was joking and said to me that I needed to pay for every picture I’d take. So, I just gave a 5 peso coin tip as a way to thank him allowing me to take some pics. Then, we went back to Sharmila.

Want to go here? If this is your first time to go here, expect as you enter the place, there’s a lot of invites coming from different restaurants, they will talk to you without hesitation and ask if you are with someone or if you already have place to eat if not they will welcome you inside their restaurant, seems treating you like a King or a Queen. This is understandable, they want to earn profit from you. If you find it irritating, the best way is not to entertain them right away, go straight ahead to the market and buy fresh sea foods or meat, if you buy a lot you can ask for discount, I’m sure they will give you. Then, once done this is already your time to look for a restaurant that will cook for you, depending on their menu and what you like. For example if you buy 1 kilo of shrimp, you will just check on their menu if you want to cook it as buttered shrimp. Here is the place where you can experience “Paluto” it’s like I’ll buy, you’ll cook.  No worries, to those who are allergic on sea foods they also have menu for white and red meat.

Sharmila Restaurant. We spent our whole time here, place was clean and very inviting. It was my second time to eat here. They have private rooms where each has long and wide table, perfect for group of roughly 10 up. Plus, it will not be Filipino celebration if there’s no karaoke, a very much loved when it comes to entertainment.

The Groupies Addict! We waited roughly an hour for all the foods to get cooked and also for remaining people still on their way that time we expected to join on this once a year celebration. So while waiting, to break the awkward hour this what happened. It was a non-stop picture taking.

Time to Eat!!! Fresh from the Sea. We waited for an hour but that’s ok though. Foods were really great. What a gastronomic experience. It was like everyone wouldn’t wanted to talk and we just continued eating.

Great Foods with Great People. Everyone was bloated after and we just continued this photo shoot.

Happy Thanksgiving!!! They say that in America, this time is a celebration of thanking our Creator for all the blessings. Well, I believe that every day is a blessing, so never forget to thank Him. This was really special. This day served as a reminder to give God like a tap on his back and say “Thank You for all, I hope You continue showering me with these blessings” This day also gave way for us to get know each other more and spend quality time. I am just so blessed that I have colleagues like them so cool. We may have a lot of differences but that’s spice up a great team in a company. I had so much great memories on this last thanksgiving, I know you too. I’m hoping for more blasting holiday next year.