24-hour party people

It’s definitely more fun to party during the day than at night!" answered a gal named Kat (at least I think that was her name) over the continuous holler of singer Mocha exhorting everyone to get up. I was asking her why she’d come here, the Metro Phi bar in Metrowalk, at 6 a.m. straight after working a nine-hour shift at a call center. If anything, rather than getting up (as Mocha was still very adamant that everyone should do), I’d draw the blinds, crave oblivion and sink into bed. Before I could complete my thought (midway between Mocha and oblivion, I think) Kat is lost, having already lost much party time. The place is packed. I’m the only one here asking questions.

The answer is that everything today is 24 hours – including people. Dubbed the "D2N lifestyle" (or "day-to-night") they are best exemplified by those employed in call centers. Despite working crazy shifts, they make it a point to have fun… even if that means partying after work and till noon.

Recognizing this, popular drink I-ON sponsored the first-ever call center party, inviting employees from several prominent call centers determined and eager to have fun. Clutching cans of I-ON, they were there to party hard no matter what.

The highpoint was a contest between the call centers wherein representatives from each demonstrated creative ways to drink I-ON. It was E-VANTAGE, though, that impressed everyone with their verve, creativity and – hold it – drop splits! No matter, everyone remained happy, as though they had all won. In a sense, they did.

Working long hours – even weekends – and maintaining one’s composure and good humor talking to an irate caller is not easy. ("You have to plug it in, sir.") No fun? Not necessarily.

For E-VANTAGE’S Regie, there’s always something to be excited about. "Work is a lot of fun," says the boyish-looking Regie, who also sings for his own band. His manager Bob is an industry veteran. Playing DJ with his iPod, he knows that to keep focus you’ve gotta keep the juices flowing no matter what. Admittedly, music is not enough.

What is?

Both Regie and Bob attest that I-ON certainly keeps them going much longer than anything else they’ve tried before. With no "down feeling" afterwards, officemate Jerald manages to bartend during his off hours and stage weekend shows. This 20-year-old prefers to be referred to as a performer rather than just a dancer. For the contest, it was Jerald who brought the house down by doing a split after taking a sip of I-ON.

"It tastes great," they tell me, handing me a can of I-ON to try. "It’s tastes like a soft drink, not like medicine." Quite tasty, I agree.

They say they need only three hours of sleep each day.

Burnout?

"We don’t work in a boring environment," Regie says. "As long as you’re having fun, it’s all good."