Despedida

A traditional welcome party or "bienvenida" is given to friends and relatives who return home from abroad. Some companies also celebrate the first working day of a newly hired employee with a bienvenida.

For people going to live and work overseas and employees who are leaving a company, there is the farewell party  known as a "despedida."

The bienvenida or despedida is a celebration, like a birthday party. But when John King Ong recently resigned, his co-workers at Western Guaranty Corporation surprised him with a different kind of despedida.

A video of the occasion that Ong provided to the TV news show "Saksi," which went viral on social media, showed his co-workers entering the office and walking solemnly in one line toward his cubicle.

They were carrying candles,  a cake, and gifts for Ong. The deep "bong, bong, bong" in the cadence of a church bell was heard over a portable speaker in the background, turning the office atmosphere into that of a church.

An employee separating from a company is usually a sad occasion because it feels like losing a family member. The procession and the somber mood of the despedida for Ong went one better as it drew comparisons to a funeral mass or some such solemn religious ceremony.

"Let us celebrate the happy resignation of our loving friend, John King Ong," one worker prayed aloud, eliciting laughter from their co-workers, according to "Saksi."

"May you be successful in your love life and not always only experience the talking stage," another worker prayed.

Ong's friend, Denise Mata, described the despedida as fun because his last day at work seemed to be his last day on earth. But she said they just wanted to replace the sadness of his leaving with gladness to prevent people from crying.

Ong ended two years of service with the insurance company, but the funny, sad farewell party made it all the more memorable for everyone.