Traditions need to be understood for us to appreciate their meaning, their value, and their significance.
When the proposal to conduct a topping-off ceremony for DCCCO Hotel was presented by the TWG to the BOD and make it one of the highlights in the 52nd founding anniversary of DCCCO Multipurpose Cooperative, I did not understand what it was about. Its value dawned on me during the actual ceremony. I had goosebumps and I became emotional especially with the background music.
Architect Gerard Uymatiao of G.L. Uymatiao Construction, our contractor, explained that a topping-off ceremony is a long-standing tradition of construction workers, particularly steel workers, to commemorate the completion of a building’s structure specifically the placement of the final steel beam.
In keeping with the tradition, the beam will be placed atop DCCCO Hotel building. It was adorned with a small green tree on the end side and the DCCCO banner on the other end side.
During the ceremony, the BOD led by myself and the management led by CEO Flordeliz Bokingkito, wrote our names, signature, and some prosperity wishes on the prepared beam of the hotel. After which, the beam was slowly raised by a guided crane up to the rooftop of the building. The beam was the last to be installed in the construction process. It was so touching and meaningful.
Architect Uymatiao said the most difficult part in the five-storey building construction is the structure. Now they are into the finishing touches of the 54 rooms, toilets, paintings, etc., a painstaking process where so much effort was involved.
The construction of the five-storey hotel with a rooftop swimming pool will hopefully be finished in December this year. Construction commenced sometime in June 2018, targeting 780 construction days for its completion. It has a function room that could accommodate up to 100 people, 54 rooms of different types, street-level parking, an area for concessionaires, and other amenities. It is located along Luke Wright St. but will sit on a through-lot next to the DCCCO multi-purpose cooperative main building.
DCCCO hotel will not just serve its members and city visitors, it will be an asset to the city since it will be accommodating Dumaguete’s growing tourism industry.
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Among those who signed and wrote wishes on the steel beam were the members of the Board of Directors, Incorporators, CEO, Managers, PDO, Officers, construction crew, and others.
Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Gomez officiated the ceremony. Members of the Board, Vice-Chair Vivian Maquiling, Directors Marina Mendoza, Lowell Andaya, and Mary Magdalene Villegas; incorporators Dr. Sylvia Flores and Patria Fortich; TWG Vice-Chair Engr. Teodoro Torrevillas, Fernando Uy, Architect Frankie Magalso, and Ian Rivera; Audit Committee Vice-Chair Grace Caseres and ETIC officers, Dr. Consolacion Unabia, Carmen Baylon, and Charlemagne Calunsag; the CEO and the managers from Bayawan Branch, Siquijor Branch, Kabankalan Branch, Sibulan Branch, and Carcar Branch; the Main Office and Head Office Staff; Sibulan Branch staff; and selected staff of other branches; G. Uymatiao Jr. Construction’s management, engineers and construction crew, headed by Architect Gerard and Engr. Greg Uymatiao, were present to celebrate the placement of the last beam.
In his remarks on the significance of the ceremony, Architect Uymatiao said, “This occasion celebrates the completion of the hotel building structure,” and added that the white-painted beam bearing the many signatures will be seen on the 5th floor for many years to come. He was thankful that the construction so far had been safe and that there were no loss of life or injury.
In his rite, Father Gomez said: “Let us pray that God’s protection will keep those who work on the Hotel safe from injury.”
While I was watching the beam being installed, a sudden thought zoomed in my mind, BeAM (Beyond Achievement is a Memory).
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