Old friends from CSI

I called an old friend last Monday, Doyit, and we gossiped about an ex co-worker from CSI. The conversation brought a lot of fond memories of old friends I met when I was still working in the agency.

You see Creative Synergy, Inc. or CSI is a small agency that was created to serve the marketing needs of the local IT industry. It was run by Mr. Romano, patriarch of the Romano family and of CSI, hence the agency was run as a family business and everyone was treated like part of the family. For three and a half years it was my second home.

The staff was a motley crew of men and women; each individual was so different from the other, it is a wonder how we ever survived each other. On some days the craziness would escalate, especially when there was a big project ahead, or when John did something crazy, then things would really get out of hand. You could, if you’re lucky, witness someone getting a seizure causing a minor disturbance where some of the boys will be carrying the patient out to the nearest hospital and another girl screaming directions like a football coach in halftime. Or, there was a time when I was nearly whacked by an officemate with a yard-long metal ruler! Actually looking back I think his intention was to kill, but a split-second decision saved me, he probably thought I was not worth the jail time. My near death experience was caused by a certain client named Mr. Valentine. Yes, things could get dangerous in CSI, but those were the most fun years I had during my whole working-life.

Some of the things that I miss:
- the stairwell and the two-cigs-long breaks
- kwek-kwek and squid ball meriendas
- occasional beer sessions at Guijo
- ingress and egress
- Baguio Christmas party
- assisting backstage
- my favorite clients: the Rotary guy, Imee Marcos and Mara & Marie of ECR
- arguing with Mike
- peeping tom sessions at the 6th floor
- Doyit, Ella, Mike, Summer, Ria, John, Emil, Bry, Roma & Weng

Below are some photos of us during our spectacular Christmas party in Baguio way back when.


Myself, Bry, Ella & Ria

(clockwise from top) Bry, Weng, Ella, Myself & Roma

Myself, Weng & Ria

Ria, Bry, Myself, Summer & Doyit

Ria, Mike, Bry and Myself