Topping off of DCCCO Hotel
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 is about, I couldn’t grasp yet its significance even after they have explained. Its value dawned on me only during the actual conduct of the ceremony. I had goosebumps and I became emotionally affected especially with the background music.
Architect Gerard Uymatiao of the 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.
Arch. Uymatiao said that the most difficult part in the 5-storey Hotel building construction is the structure. But they are done with it. Now they are into the finishing touches of the 54 rooms, toilets, paintings, etc. These are not as hard as the setting up of the structure of the entire building, however, it was a painstaking process and so much effort was involved.
While I was watching the beam being installed, a sudden thought zoomed in my mind, BeAM – “Beyond Achievement is a Memory.”