ILOILO CITY -- For the first time, employees of the Iloilo City Hall will be spared from wearing their office uniforms as they are encouraged to wear attires that represent their feelings on Wednesday.
Lawyer Hernando C. Galvez, city administrator and officer-in-charge of the office of the city mayor, on Tuesday signed Memorandum Circular 010 for the optional wearing of office uniform on February 14.
Every Wednesday, employees are supposed to wear a green uniform.
In his memorandum, Galvez said the “existing guidelines on the wearing of uniform would in the meantime be suspended and had no force and effect for tomorrow, February 14”.
“All city government employees, job hires, contractual and honorarium-based workers are given the widest latitude of discretion to wear attires with colors, which are representative of their feelings or emotions,” his memorandum stated.
Employees have choices to include pink for searching, blue for broken hearted, red for in a relationship, black for “Walang Lovelife” (No Lovelife), grey for “Muntik na Maging Kami” (We were almost a Couple), white for “Work first”, yellow for “Single and Happy”, green for “It’s Complicated”, brown for “Friend-zone”, violet for “Love wins in LGBT”, and orange for “Move On Na Tayo Bes” (Let’s move on friend).
Eireen Manikan, city assistant department head, said she would wear red on February 14 because she was “happily married with one kid after 12 years”.
She lauded the initiative of the city government for coming up with this gimmick for the first time under the leadership of Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
“This activity makes us relax. It espouses camaraderie and a happy environment,” she said.
She added that allowing them to wear colors that best represent their emotions makes them know their peers in another angle. Also, it has no distinction between the boss and the subordinates.
“Mayor Espinosa is always very supportive of employees’ welfare,” she said.
Jack Tentia of the city population office said that he would wear a ‘technicolor’ dress on Wednesday.
Nonetheless, he lauded the activity as his officemates were enjoying, simply thinking of what color to wear.
He said at least the city government was able to ride with the gimmick of the millennials.
Thessa Ordales, a job hire, said she would wear red because she was already married.
“I’m very happy with my relationship now,” she stated adding that the red color symbolizes “pure love”.
She also approved of the idea because while they may not know their officemates personally, yet they will have an idea of their status.
Merianne Grace Ereñeta, also a job hire, said that she would wear white because she prioritized work over lovelife.
“I already have my mother and her love is enough. I don’t need someone to make me happy because I am already happy. But when it comes, then I will welcome it,” she said. (PNA)
Photo by Perla Lena
