One of FICOBank’s time-honored traditions is the holding of an annual summer outing. This once-a-year bankwide team-building activity is necessary for everyone to have a healthy and balanced work life. As is often said, “all work and no play make one dull.”

After a hiatus during the preceding year, the summer outing was back with a vengeance. Aboard four buses and more than 20 cars, the whole FICOBank family numbering over 300, trooped to the Boating World Resort in San Fabian, Pangasinan for the two-day extravaganza. On April 9-10, 2010, FICOBankers threw aside their worries and enjoyed the sun-drenched beach in historic Lingayen Gulf. Occupying the whole resort, they availed of its amenities like the swimming pool and numerous videoke machines for those frustrated belters, and rides including the traditional and banana boats, and the trendy jet skis. They partook of the fresh bounties from the sea, even taking home some of its ill effects―for those who have ingested one-crab/shrimp-too-many!

An integral part of the annual summer outing is the sportsfest. Represented by four colors, the management and staff were grouped into four, each group led by two MANCOM members and four to five members from the OPCOM. The groups, with over 70 members, then faced each other in four different events, namely: milk-drinking relay, sack race, tug-of-war and volleyball. Much to the chagrin of the shrieking FICOBankers, the said events taught them a few lessons: one is never too old to drink milk using a feeding bottle; the sack is not designed to be filled to capacity; size is not always the gauge of strength; and, the objective is to hit the ball over to the opponent’s side in three touches or less, respectively.

After the smoke of battle cleared, the Red Team was adjudged the champion with 90 points, emerging 20 points clear of the second-placed Yellow Team. Only five points adrift with 65 is the Green Team, while the Orange Team is the tail ender for this year’s edition with only 50 points. The victorious Red Team was led by Ms. Carlyn Viloria and Mr. Rommel Lindo of MANCOM, and Mr. Manny Bartolome, Engr. Tol Tabago, Jr., Ms. Vangie Sison and Mr. Johnson Pascual of OPCOM.

Results and awards were given on the second day, including the Best Performing Branches and Branch Managers. For a new branch, the accolade went to the Malasiqui (Pangasinan) Branch. Inaugurated in June 11, 2009 with BM Vic Quintos, Jr. as its first head, FICOBank Malasiqui qualified for a Special Incentive for a new branch to earn income in its first year of operation. The top two branches were clinched by Roxas and Alicia, both multi-awarded operating units of the Bank. FICOBank Alicia has done it several times during the past years. It is the second time under the dynamic BM Ma. Pilar “Lalah” Atienza. For its part, FICOBank Roxas has been the undisputed top performing branch for the past nine years, with the unbeatable BM Zorina “Ponet” Aradanas at the helm. Starting in 2001, the branch’s position in the Bank’s totem pole has proved impregnable to challengers.