Franz.Papat.Speaks.: ePerformax: The Past and Beyond

Marking the 10^th year of ePerformax Contact Centers and BPO in the Philippines, this year’s Red and Black Ball was a celebration of the company’s ten years of great feat.

With the theme, “Party of the Decades”, ePerformax commemorated the milestones of the 50s to the 90s last December 8 and transformed Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino’s Pacific Grand Ballroom into a time machine.

Unlike other company Christmas parties, the Red and Black Ball is not only a celebration of the yuletide season, but is also an avenue for the employees to show their talents.

The Serenades proved how talented ePerformax’s employees are as they rendered a heavenly doxology and patriotically sang the U.S., Australia, and Philippine national anthems with much fervor and pride. Being the first performance of the night, they set the bars high for the rest of the presentations. The ball highlighted Cebu’s first BPO-organized couture fashion show as it campaigned for ‘dressing for success’ move wherein selected employees strutted 50s-90s inspired creations by two of Cebu’s top designers, Jun Escario and Ivan Belocura.

“The couture fashion show is the first of two fashion shows that we
will be doing. The second one will be held within company premises -
focusing on business casual and regular dress down attires,” Neil Iosif Ilagan, ePerformax Fan Club President told the FREEMAN.

Teresa Hartsaw, ePerformax President and CEO, considered the outfits ‘divine’ and would love to have Jun Escario and Ivan Belocura design for her for next year’s Red and Black Ball.

She congratulated everyone for the accolades ePerformax has earned over the years. The company celebrated their successes despite their diminutive number compared to other BPOs worldwide and recognized the individuals who went an extra mile in rendering quality service to their clients.

Eperformax may never be the biggest BPO firm, but they are and always will be the best. “We are so darn good at what we do. We are an awesome team,” Teresa acclaimed.

With all the accolades the company has been blessed, they deemed it appropriate to give back to the community. Talisay Mind Power Creativity Center, Incorporated has been their adopted school since 2010. ePerformax has helped the school in building a library, a science lab and a new classroom. The company has also been doing monthly English reading sessions with the kids and English enhancement sessions with the teachers. Selected pupils wowed the crowd and performed a dance number as their way of thanking the company for the continued support they have been giving the institution.

Moving on with the other exciting parts of the program, Teresa asked, “Andam na mo?” which gained the assembly’s appreciation and cheer upon hearing the CEO speaking in Cebuano.

Every department performed and highlighted the musical, dance, and fashion revolutions throughout the decades. EBay Australia started the ball rolling with their Elvis Presley inspired costumes and danced to the beat of Rock Around the Clock, YMCA, Thriller, Billy Jean, Material Girl, and Livin La Vida Loca. The performance ended with a bang when the whole EBay AU team went on to the dance floor.

DH Gate and Core may have less manpower compared to other departments, but they brought the house down with their song and dance number as they gave their own rendition on the 90s hit Backstreet Boys song, “Everybody”. Another show stopping moment was when Rain Villagonzalo, ePerformax’s Concierge Manager and the first Queen of Cebu, did the flash dance that was popular during the 80s.

Defending Champion, team EBay North America rendered a spectacular and lavish production number as they grooved to Abba’s “Dancing Queen”, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, and Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs”. They even sent in their own Victoria Secret Angels and a giant mascot adding to the festive mood.

Target, the last performer, took the FREEMAN to a Cabaret show to the tune of “All that Jazz” and went upbeat with “Mamma Mia” and “One Night Only”.

Dennis Lindley, ePerformax’s Chief Operating Officer, had to do the hard part – announcing the winner among the four brilliant performances. Target and EBay North America tied in third place, EBay Australia came in second place, while the joint efforts of DH Gate and Core snatched the title from last year’s champs. What sent them apart from the other departments and gave them the upper hand was their song number.

All good things come to an end, but ePerformax Contact Centers and BPO will continue to perform at its best as Teresa Hartsaw, Dennis Lindley, Mike Tanner, Louis Meeks, Jr. and the rest of the executive team see nothing but more accomplishments for the company this 2013 and for the years to come. Cheers for the Red and Black!

Here are the photos from Paulo Cañete and Eric Zapata: