SM Ayala: At Your Service???!

 

At around 6PM today, December 19, 2012 I went to SM Makati to buy toiletries. I paid my groceries/toiletries to the cashier worth Php166.25. Since I have no change, I gave my Php1000 bill to her in payment. She checked the bill to see its authenticity. Having used to that kind of attitude to all of SM cashiers, I let her do her routine and even smirked at it. After all she is just doing the right thing.

She checked it about three times before finally deciding to sensor it via the counterfit detector machine. I saw it through my eyes that the serial number was found in the bill. However, the cashier was left unsatisified and re-checked it three times. In my irritation, I asked her (in polite way): "Wala bang serial number?" She answered politely and said: "Meron naman po." She re-checked it one more time (or I guess three more times). I am getting irritated already but of course I kept my calm because it is her job to protect your business.

I thought this ended her doubt. But to my surprise, she opened the cashiers' box and compared the bill to the other Php1000 bill inside the drawer. Still not enough, she raised the money on air checking to see if the bill is a counterfeit. To validate her findings, she caught her nearby cashier's attention and voiced out her doubt on the authenticity of the bill. The nearby cashier even asked very loudly: "Bakit, hindi ba ano?" That's when I started freaking out because the other customers were staring at me as if checking if I was a fraud. I then told her she is insulting me and directed her to get a supervisor to check my bill. Upon arrival, the supervisor advised it was authentic and directed her to close the counterfeit detector machine and that resolved the issue on my Php1000 bill.

However resolved, I still felt that the insult to my pride was greatly damaged. Just imagine the humiliation I felt at that time when people were staring at me simply because that cashier doubted a Php1000 bill. I wonder if this is the kind of training SM produces and provides with their employees. Working in the same customer service field, I learned that you don't humiliate a customer simply because you are doubting something. Instead, you do your investigation quietly and if still in doubt, you immediately seek your superior's expert opinion. However, the cashier was fearless to humiliate me and maliciously treat my money as a counterfeit. I wonder if it was because I wasn't wearing fancy clothes that she doubted whether I have the capacity to pay with a Php1000 bill. Last I check, people shouldn't be judged the way they look.

Let me just clarify however that I wasn't complaining because she did her routine in inspecting my money. After all, I understand that fraud is present anywhere. Plus I wasn't too scared about it as I know my money isn't a counterfeit. What I cannot accept is that she had to be so loud catching other people's attention and thereby compromising my reputation.

Allow me to remind SM supermarket that as they instruct their employees to protect their business, they also have to remind them that they also have the duty to protect us -- customers. After all, we are also part of their business. It is okay to perform your job but please don't overdo it. I certainly hope this will not happen to other customers like me.

To be honest with you, I highly doubt I will ever consider SM again as my one stop shopping place. The neighboring stores may be able to protect my interests more. They may be offering more expensive products but I think it is worth their customer service.

Nakaraan, Ngayon at Bukas

Nung bata pa lang ako, pinangarap ko na magiging doktor ako pag laki ko. Hawak ang laruang stethoscope, nagbibida-bidahan ako sa kunwaring pag-gamot ko sa mga kalaro ko. Nung makita ko na naglalaro ng baril barilan ang mga kapatid kong lalaki at natatalo nila ako, inisip kong maging pulis para makaganti ako sa kanila pag laki ko. Pero dahil malalakas sila, at kulang ang powers ng laser sword ni Shaider, naisip ko na lang maging isang ninja ghostbuster. Cool yun. Ano nga ba ang laban ng lumilipad na bala sa lumilipad na taong si Jet Li sa pelikulang Once Upon a Time in China. Parang tumalon lang si Jackie Chan ng walang double sa isa sa kanyang pelikula. O di naman kaya para madugo gagayahin ko ang stunts ni Rain sa pelikulang Ninja Assassin. Ang lufet!

Ngunit nung mapanood ko sa TV ang bidang artista na gumanap bilang titser napag-isip isip ko na mas mainam maging guro. Biglang nagunaw ang pangarap ko na maging doktor at walang gatol na pagsisisi ang nadama ko. Mga ilang buwan ko din naman ninais na maging isang guro. Sa katunayan pa nga, nagiging tutor ako ng mga kalaro ko sa mga assignments nila. Kaya madalas akong mapagalitan ng nanay ko. Paano kasi natapos ko ang homework ng kalaro ko pero ako walang tinapos. Bwahahaha. Pero nang tumuntong ako sa grade 4,  tumibay ang pangarap ko na maging isang abogado. Uso kasi noon yung palabas na Ipaglaban Mo. Kaya ayun hanggang mag-kolehiyo ako, heto ang pangarap na gusto kong maabot.

Nakakatuwang isipin na sa mga nakaraang yugto ng aking buhay, ang dami ko palang pangarap na hindi ko binigyan ng pansin. Kasi parte ito ng aking kabataan. Wag lang ako malingat, may iba na akong gusto at pinapangarap. Masarap balik-balikan ang ganitong eksena ng buhay ko.

Madaming pangarap, libre lahat. Ang kalaban ko lang noon ay ang kabataan ko. Hindi ko man naabot ang isa sa mga pinangarap ko, masaya pa din ako dahil kahit papaano naging normal pala ako nung bata pa ko.

Sa pagbabalik tanaw ko sa nakaraang 30 taon ng aking buhay, dama ko ang sarap ng aking kabataan. Simple lahat. Libre lahat. Masarap gunitain ang mga nagdaang taon ng aking buhay. Salamat sa mga taong naging bahagi ng aking 30 taon. At ngayong malapit ng mawala ang edad ko sa kalendaryo, ano naman kaya ang magiging takbo at antas ng aking pamumuhay?

Nung isang buwan, sinabi ko na ililista ko ang lahat ng mga accomplishments ko. Pero nagahol ako sa panahon. Kaya mga blessings ko na lang ang isusulat ko.

1. Buhay pa din ako pagkatapos ng 30 taon. Thank you, Lord.
2. May trabaho pa din ako kahit reklamo ako ng reklamo.
3. Kumpleto pa din ang magulang ko kahit ang hirap nila palakihin.
4. Kumpleto din ang mga kapatid ko kahit hindi kami makumpleto sa mga pagtitipon.
5. May mga kamag-anak ako na nakakilala sa akin tuwing Pasko. Nagniningning tuloy ang Pasko ko kasi ang daming bibigyan ng aginaldo.
6. May bahay pa din akong tinutuluyan tuwing umuulan.
7. May bahay pa din akong tinutuluyan tuwing tag-araw.
8. Nakakain ako ng madami kaya ang taba ko.
9. Nakakainom din ako ng madami - tubig at alak pagsamahin mo na.
10. Nakakapanood ako ng korea novela at updated ako sa mga latest series.
11. Kahit matanda na si Garfield, mukha pa din syang bata. Kaya siya pa din ang paborito kong cartoon character.
12. Marunong ako magluto kaya madami din nabubusog at tumataba dahil sa akin.
13. May mga kaibigan akong tapat sa akin.
14. May mga kaibigan akong nangagamit sa akin - dahil sa kanila alam ko ang pakiramdam na maging uto-uto at di ko na ito uulitin pa.
15. Marunong ako mag-sulat kaya may blog page ako. Kahit konti ang follower ayos pa din yun.
16. Mataba ako kaya nauuna ako sa mga nag-uunahan makahanap ng masasakyan. Sorry na lang kung mabangga sila ng taba ko.
17. Maganda ako kasi wala namang baboy na hindi makinis ang balat. Lahat pa ng baboy ay babe sa paningin ng lahat.
18. Madaldal ako kaya walang nagpapatago ng lihim sa akin. Magkabukingan man, hindi ako ang sisisihin sa mga kasalanan.
19. Makulit ako kaya hindi ako inaasar ng ibang tao. Ayaw kasi nila maramdama ang ang kakulitan ko. Asarin man nila ako, nakakasiguro sila na ibabalik ko ng doble sa kanila iyon.
20. Blessing din sa akin ang malabong mata. At least kung may makasalubong ako na di ko gusto makita, maiisip nya na dahil malabo lang ang mga mata ko kaya di ko sya binati man lang.
21. Blessing din sa akin ang malinaw na pandinig. Dahil dito, kaya kong marinig ang mga chismis ng bayan. At dahil din dito kaya hindi ako mapag-tsismisan.
22. Blessing din ang pagiging matakaw. Kung hindi ito blessing, hindi ko isusulat ang number 8. (uy, babalikan nya ung number 8)..
23. Blessing din sa akin ang mga galit sa akin (kung meron man). Masaya paminsan-minsan na may kagalit ka. Para maramdaman mo na normal ang buhay.
24. Blessing din sa akin ang pagtanda. Nararamdaman ko na may deadline ang lahat ng bagay.
25. Blessing din ang pagsulat ng blog na ito kasi nagagamit ko ang konting brain na meron ako.
26. Blessing sa akin ang mga kamay ko -- bukod sa maganda ito -- nagiging instrumento ito ng pagsusulat ko.
27. Blessing ang mga paa ko. Hindi ko ata magagawa ang 1-26 ng hindi lumalakad o gumagalaw man lang.
28. Super blessing ang hindi pagtalikod ni Lord sa akin.
29. Super blessing na hindi Siya humihingi ng bargain sa mga kasalanan ko.
30. Super blessing ang pagmamahal ni Lord sa akin. I who is nothing and have nothing.

Nananabik ako sa magiging buhay ko sa hinaharap. Alam kong magiging makabuluhan ito, sa awa ni Lord.

ENSOGO'S LEAST EXPECTED SURPRISE

Back in April of this year, this blog featured the incompetence and un-reliability of  Ensogo. In my entry My Experience with Ensogo and La Carmela de Boracay, I have itemised my disgust to the level of experience I had with Ensogo vis La Carmela de Boracay. It was not a secret I have filed complaints against the kind of treatment me (and my friends) received from them. In fact, I even seek damages through DTI. And believe me, I nearly forgot them.

It was already almost four months ago and though it is still fresh from my memory how I should never trust both Ensogo and La Carmela, I barely remember the feelings I had in writing the blog nor the feelings of my friends associated with it. Surprisingly, the bastards pissed me again -- in a perfect time when I nearly dropped the complaint into thin air.

I just read my emails and one of the representatives of Ensogo has sent me this email:

Good day!

I hope this email finds you well.

This is regarding the La Carmela deal you purchased before. I understand that you were already refunded for the amount spent for the said vouchers but you were also requesting for compensation on the expense for your Hotel accommodation. I included the email conversation from La Carmela stating that the requested date was already blocked as confirmed. My apologies for the inconvenience but we would also like to let you know that Enosgo made sure that your requested reservations would be blocked. Please let me know on how I can assist you in your complaint.

Thanks.

 

Upon reading this email, I was astonished on how the people from Ensogo are trained. I think that they lack the greatest skill of all - CUSTOMER SERVICE. This email appears as if they are asking me why I need further compensation when they have already refunded me my voucher amount. To be honest, I don't really like to further the complaint but because I am so disgusted with their response, this was the response I gave them:

 

Good day!

I sincerely hope that you do not address all your customers the way you are addressing me at the moment. To be exact, I least expected a very delayed response for my complaint which I have filed in April. I certainly hope not all customers are given the same treatment as I did.

Furthermore your email attachments aren't necessary because I have received this numerous times from your employees -- I hope this was communicated to you prior to this email.

And I will confirm that yes we have been refunded of our voucher costs. I have also informed DTI that you have refunded me the amount of our vouchers. But I totally believe that this isn't what is due us considering the stress, embarassment and hassle this has caused us.

To answer your questions however, I would like to pass you on the reason for my claim for compensation which I will itemised so that it will be clear -- for any legal purpose this may serve.

1. YOUR RESERVATION EMAIL indicated that the days have been blocked already. Let me just remind you however that we never claimed that there was no email communication. What we were stressing as our biggest point of contention is that there was no clear coordination made between Ensogo and La Carmela regarding our reservation. If it was clearly communicated and was coordinated with La Carmela how then did we end up having no hotel accommodation on the day of our vacation. Are you implying that because there was an email notification you are already free of obligations with your clients/customers? I hope by your phrase Ensogo made sure your requested reservations would be blocked, you do not mean that because an email has already been sent, everything has been settled already. If this was clearly coordinated to them, how come La Carmela did not send us an email confirmation of our booking? Please bear in mind that the purchase of the vouchers were made between us and ENSOGO not us and La Carmela. Therefore the contract of obligations lies between us (me and my friends) and Ensogo. It is your obligation to re-confirm a reservation with La Carmela because it was you who booked it for us. In your website and voucher confirmation you clearly indicated that we need to call ENSOGO not the establishment for reservation. This, I assume is your confirmation that you are waiving La Carmela the burden of obligations regarding our reservations. We assumed that until we consumed the full value of our purchase, you are also liable to the terms and conditions attached to it. Therefore it is your obligation to ensure that La Carmela provides confirmation of booking to your customers - not just Ensogo to its customers.

2. POINT OF CONTACT. If it was La Carmela's fault despite your so called "BLOCKED RESERVATION" email confirmation, how then did we not get assistance from Ensogo about the failed reservation? Does this mean that because someone messed up, you totally don't care about this? How did we end up resolving our issues ourselves? If it was your intention to help, then how come all the contact numbers you have on your site is unreachable? You may want to realise that your offered products can be availed during weekends regardless of time. Although I understand that your office do not operate 24x7, we expect assistance from you in whatever way possible considering Ensogo is prepared to offer a product available during out of office hours. If you were in our situation travelling far from home in a stranger island, wouldn't you expect friendly faces to see in times of crisis such as this? But Ensogo didn't seem to care.

3. WE DECIDED TO GET OUR OWN ACCOMMODATION not because we wanted to but because we were forced by the situation we were in. We have been denied of accommodation and therefore we can't push and force ourselves in a hotel who will not be able to give us lodging. It was almost 8PM that night barely surviving hunger and La Carmela already said that they don't have available rooms. Forcing ourselves for accommodation is already degrading to the current state we were in. I certainly hope you didn't expect us to stay until the morning in a hotel who will not honor our proof of your so called "BLOCKED RESERVATION." In a logical and practical sense, we need a place to spend for the night despite limited budget.

4. THE PURPOSE OF OUR BORACAY VISIT is relaxation and enjoyment. But since we had the failed accommodation, everything is but a stress for us. My friends were joining a running event the following morning in Boracay but thanks to the hassle Ensogo has caused us, they barely had enough rest to regenerate their strengths for the event.

I hope by now our (me and my friends) points have been raised clearly for your understanding. I am also working for a customer service industry and in times like this, a simple and sincere letter of apology addressing each of these points would have sufficed our hearts to ease. But up to now, Ensogo has failed to provide it to us.

Too late, apology can no longer be accepted.

Now I rest my case. Let the readers of this blog decide Ensogo's competence. 

CALENDAR

Exactly one month from now, I am celebrating my 30th birthday. It is kind of nerve-racking because I am now in denial that I've reached this age. While I am not really bothered about getting old, I firmly believe that after this year, I am going to stop counting my age.  Why shouldn't I when I am already losing the numbers in the calendar. Or are you suggesting I start basing it on the numbers from the lottery?

On a serious note, the 30 hard years of my existence made me who I am right now. The past years contributed to my being both for good and bad. As early as now I want to list my top 30 accomplishments in life. The accomplishments which may have impacted the value of  my life.

I will start counting them one by one.

I may not be really at it but to be honest I don't think I've made any accomplishments at all. But anyhow, I have thirty days to list them.

Metro Manila Monsoon Floods 2012

Once again, the Philippines got drowned with water. No one was spared. Even the grandest house in the metro have not been immune from the flood. Considering, there was no typhoon. Yet, the damage was more than what a typhoon can create to every household.

Even up to now where rain already subside, flood in the areas of Pasig, Navotas, Malabon, Sta. Mesa, and Recto has remained to be mudwater pool for the citizens. You see people getting sick and still living under the shade of the evacuation areas. You see hungry children forcing themselves to be fed by the relief goods. And you see adults and young adults alike hoping to board their homes again.

We are grateful by multiple foundations so immediate in extending help. How inspiring the young volunteers are in aid of the flood victims. And we can see multiple generous hearts making a sacrifice to give more for those in need.

However you see it, the natural calamity is bringing back the treatment we've done to mother nature. Isn't it ironic that the mud and garbages which entered our flooded house were the same trash that we dumped? Much more, the dirty waters around the metro came from the rivers that we ruined and bashed.

And now everyone else is cleansing hands off this sin. Not a single one of us has said that it was our fault it happened.

I just hope that despite these catastrophes, we find in our hearts to pray forgiveness from the Lord for ruining his creations and thank him for sparing our lives.

Murphy's Law

Rule of Accuracy: When working toward the solution of a problem, it always helps if you know the answer.    
Corollary: Provided, of course, that you know there is a problem.


Some other points to ponder:

In any hierarchy, each individual rises to his own level of incompetence, and then remains there.

There's never time to do it right, but there's always time to do it over.

When in doubt, mumble. When in trouble, delegate.

Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral or fattening.

Murphy's golden rule: whoever has the gold makes the rules.

In case of doubt, make it sound convincing.

Never argue with a fool, people might not know the difference.

Great ideas are never remembered and dumb statements are never forgotten.

Whatever you want to do, is Not possible, what ever is possible for you to do, you don't want to do it.

Traffic is inversely proportional to how late you are, or are going to be.

If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

Smile . . . tomorrow will be worse.

In nature, nothing is ever right. Therefore, if everything is going right ... something is wrong.

It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious.

Every solution breeds new problems.

Disclaimer: Content of this blog is not mine. I copied it from different sources.

My Prayer

Lord, thank you for the life you gave me. Thank you for forgiving me and staying with me despite my inadequacies.  Thank you for my everything.

Lord, make me understand the things I don’t. Make me fill in the gaps I so long for others to do so for me. Help me realize your plans for me.

Lord, please provide me an open heart to love unconditionally. To accept and not complain. To give without receiving. To survive and extend the support to others.

Lord, please don’t leave my side so that I will be hungry no more.

Amen.

Isolated

Life is about survival. Sometimes you’re up and at times you are down. You just need to go with the flow and trust that the Almighty is there to care for you. There will be moments when you are questioning your existence or your purpose in life. But it’s all about acceptance.

It was a fine sunny day. Everything seems to be according to how I planned it. Road traffic is on its perfect shape, no disturbance with my preparations, no disputes around me. It was a peaceful day. The latter part of the day however  didnt go on as to how I imagined it. It rained. It was a sign that a big thing is coming up and i have not brought my umbrella with me.

I had the longest waiting in my entire life. Eight hours was pretty tiring, exhausting and nerve-racking. It was like waiting for a pregnant woman to deliver her baby. It felt as in the plane getting stuck in air traffic and you don’t know how long it is going to stay up in the air. And it was like waiting for flood to stop after drowning several hectares of newly planted crops. I guess, the time called me to prepare for a bigger storm which I never took seriously. And for the first time in so many days, I was seeing my own downfall.

That night, I knew I was alone. I knew there were no familiar shoulders to lean on. And it is time for me to make the biggest decision of my life. It was the same night that all my unanswered questions have been replaced with a period. Though monetary issues can broke my heart, it shatters me that my life support is unplugged and detached. It was unbreakable and my well hidden tears came falling from my eyes.

I  had the longest day in my life. It felt like it will never end at all. But it was a day that I realized that I only have God with me.

In Vain

I never had the chance to test my EQ. And I don't think I am ready for that. I only know that if I were to undergo EQ evaluations, I would definitely fail for that. Not a slightest would I ever score the standard or normal score for that. No, I'm not proud of it. But yes, I am damned if I am not at it. 

For someone's patience as little as I have, waiting beyond deadline is an expectation. I was never trained to wait diligently and I will not compromise my precious time. Not in the wildest have I ever dreamt of waiting for someone not worthy of my time moreso for someone whom I know would never find the time of waiting for me in return.
No, waiting is never an option.

My experience with Ensogo and La Carmela De Boracay

This is the complaint I had with La Carmela. While I am not saying they are the only ones to blame, I think that they also played a big role in our misfortunes from our trip in Boracay.

As part of our running activity, me and my running club friends planned to join Skyathon Run 2012 as early as December 2011. On December 10, 2011 we found an accommodation package to La Carmela de Boracay through Ensogo which perfectly fits our main purpose of our visit to Boracay for April 2012.  We purchased (on the same day) vouchers entitling us with 3D, 2N accommodation (quadruple sharing) with your hotel. We purchased a total of 8 vouchers amount of Php1740 each paying a total of Php13,920. We followed instructions and received confirmation (vi a email) indicating our definite booking for two (2) rooms with 3D 2N accommodation with Buffet Breakfast and Free Use of Swimming Pool at La Carmela de Boracay from April 20-22, 2012. The reservation was made a couple of months ahead of our trip.

We believed in good faith and trusted that we will receive the best customer service available since we are transacting with the highly acclaimed hotel/resort in Boracay. Sadly to our demised,  La Carmela didn’t live up to their brand.

Upon arrival and check in to La Carmela on Friday, April 20 at around 7p,  the reception desk advised that we don’t have the reservation. Though polite, we felt we were treated like pessants begging for a room accommodation. Our voucher and our email confirmation of appointment was never honored. We have asked to speak to a supervisor on duty to escalate our concern. Her response (in Filipino) says: “Naku, sakit talaga ng Ensogo yan. Nagko-confirm pero hindi pino-forward sa amin ang booking.” Soon after -just like how Pilate treated Jesus in his pilgrim-she turned our back on us completely cleansing her hands off the issue. The only explanation provided to us was that there was no room avaiIable hence we need to -- in our own accord-- find another place to stay. The reservations desk officer directed us to a lodging completely different from our expected ammenities and facilities not to mention we have to shoulder the cost of the lodging.

Now I am deeply questioning the level of customer service La Carmela implores to their employees and customers like us. It was already past 7p at that time, we are barely surviving exhaustion, hunger and thirst from our long delayed flights and the only escalation procedure they have is for a supervisor to utter a least helpful comment which directed us to nowhere but to resolve our own problems. 

We spent one sleepless and stressed night which we least expected considering our running event is the following morning and we needed to be in perfect condition.  But thanks to this Accredited Class AA resort, this didn’t help much with our state and being and that one night was one of our darkest nights. We feared we will not survive our stay in Boracay with limited financial resources (as  our budget will be allotted for our hotel lodging and breakfast fees). Our so called vacation turned into exhaustion as we have little help and support. And on personal stance, my first trip to Boracay turned to be my not so favorite ones.

The following morning April 21,we received a call from La Carmela's reservations officer that there is a vacant room already. We were startled for a moment because finally we can put our hearts at ease. However to our most disgust, we were advised that we can only be offered a Celebrity Suite which costs Php13,500 and we were asked to shell out Php6200 more plus another room which costs Php13,500 more as the room is only good for 4 pax. We went and spoke with the hotesl's reservations officer. I personally asked if she can convert the voucher that we have into the value of the suite considering we paid for Php13,920 for it and that we will only be using the voucher for a night. We already lost half the value of the voucher and we can’t do much about it. Of course, it no longer surprised me when I was told nothing can be done about it. She even suggested that we call Ensogo (on a Saturday) and coordinate it with them.  She even said that it is a known problem of Ensogo for the deals being offered and coursed through to their hotel.

Here’s my point, if the management knew that this is an ongoing issue with Ensogo, I wonder why there’s no escalation procedure in place for this type of concerns.  Much worse, they still continue partnership with Ensogo and allow this type of acts and support fraudulent relationships with its clients. To date, these deals are still being offered and I have yet to hear another script that they have rehearsed for another “victim” like us. They continue their prestige over all forms of media available and yet they don’t bother on “small” clients like us. Whilst they don’t have full and direct control over Ensogo, isn’t it standard courtesy to have a coordinator with them contactable after office hours, since most of their deals are being coursed through them? How then do they plan to handle situations like this in the future?

For Ensogo, isn't also standard that each client have a specific contact person who will liaise such reservation to La Carmela? Why would there be a confirmation email such as ours when the booking never happened? When people try to call their trunklines, they shut their lines and pretend the phone is not ringing. I can't believe that an entity such as Ensogo is running out of staff who will watch over their phones to answer their customers. How on earth do they write a contact number (mobile) which is unreachable or unrecognizable numbers.

Because of this experience, I'm doubting I'll ever transact with them again. Let this serve as a warning to all.

Insatiable

This is a repost. Just for the heart of it.

Man is an insatiable animal. They never get contented. They have selfish hearts. They have most of the time evil intentions. Vested interests reign in their life. They have worldly desires. They can't get enough.

You give them a fruit and they'll ask for a tree. You give them food and they'll ask for the recipe. You give them a coin but they'll ask for a bill. You give them water, they'll ask for a cola.

You give them a hand, they'll ask to get everything done. You offer them a seat yet will seek a lounge. You give them a ride, they'll find a car. You give them a script after which they'll ask for a book. You give them your heart, they'll ask for your life.

Whatever happen to simple and pure hearts? Wherever did morals and self-less love go? Is understanding too hard to give?

When man ask for something, they must also offer something in return. You cannot ask for something you cannot give. Or you can't demand for something you never did. You cannot point a finger if you also did something like that. We have no right to be choosy. We have no right to qualm. Everything we are now is a result of how we speak and think. How we have become is a result of our ingratitude. Everything is just how it is supposed to be.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Parang shooting lang ng pelikula. May spotlight, may queue board at may script. May direktor at may mga aktor.

Pag-gising ni haring araw, animo’y lutang na kaluluwa ang mga katawan na sasabak na naman sa hanap-buhay. Mabilis na pagligo. Salamat sa shampoo na mabango at sa sabon na malambot.  Pagkatapos na maligo, panandaliang titigil ang buhay sa pakikipagsapalaran sa kaunting almusal na nakahain sa hapag-kainan. Sabay tuloy ang pakikipagsapalaran patungo sa nagdadala ng kanin sa inyong lamesa – sa opisina. Heto ang unang eksena sa script ni direk.

Sa opisina, magpapatuloy ang telenovela. Doon makikilala ang mga kontrabida  na ali mo’y mga halimaw na nakabantay at nakaabang sa pagkakamaling iyong magagawa. Samantalang nakasunod naman ang mga mata at mga naghahabang tenga ng mga ekstra – mga taong parte ng istorya – pero mga walang ganap sa magandang istorya. Sisigaw si direk ng “cut” at lahat ng tao ay pansamantalang titigil at kunwari’y magugulat sa galit-galitang reaksyon ng mga staff ng produksyon. 

Isang minuto para sa isang yosi at isang basong tubig ang kapalit ng pahingang iyon. Sabay iilaw muli at magtutuloy-tuloy na ang shooting ng pelikula. Babalikan at uulitin ang mga eksenang palpak pero walang matututo sa mga pagkakamaling iyon. Dahil ang pinunong produsyer ay walang pakialam sa kahihinatnan ng kanyang mga aktor. Ang mahalaga ay masunod ang deadline at maibenta sa merkado ang pelikula.

At matatapos nga ang pelikula at itatampok sa takilya. Ngunit hindi ito kikita. Sapagkat bulok ang sistema ng produksyon.  Lahat ng pawis at hirap ay mauuwi lang sa mga luhang natuyo na sa hapo.

Pero gaano man kahaba ang napakahabang drama ng pakikipagsapalaran sa tagumpay at pagkabigo, lahat iyon ay magtatapos sa pamamagitan ng paghalik sa buwan. Tanda na tapos na naman ang araw.

KUNYARI LANG YUN

Mapapansin ng isang bidang baboy ang isang kahindik-hindik na pagkakamali ng kapitbahay nyang biik. Gawa ito ng isang kapabayaan na nagmula sa katamaran ng pagluluto ng pagkaing kanin-baboy para sa kanilang hapag-kainan. Dahill dito, pinagalitan ng bidang baboy ang pangit na biik ng bonggang-bongga.  Sumama ang loob ng pobreng biik hindi dahil sa pinagalitan siya kungdi hindi nya inakala na pagagalitan sya ng bidang baboy  na kapitbahay nya. 

Dahil sa kalunos-lunos na pangyayaring iyon,  magtatanim sya  ng sama ng loob. Ikukwento nya sa mga kapatid nyang biik ang maitim na budhi ng kapitbahay na bidang baboy. Ibubulong niya sa pagitan ng pagngasab ng darak ang sumpang di na muling iisipin na mabuti ang damdamin ng bidang baboy.  Hindi sya matututo sa pangyayaring iyon.  Sa halip, aakayin nya pa ang mga kapatid na biik sa karumaldumal nyang katamaran. At hahaba pa ang litanya. Mas mahaba pa sa blog na ito.

Akala ng biik ay nagtagumpay sya sa paninira sa bidang baboy. Hindi nya alam na ang bidang baboy ay nakapagtanim na ng alyansang tutugis sa mga gaya nyang lumalamon ng hilaw na darak. Ang kabesang baboy ay napagsabihan na.

Nakakaliw at nakaririmarim.

Walang nanalo sa kanilang dalawa maliban sa pagnanasa ng bidang baboy na ituwid ang kahunghangan ng bobong biik na iyon.

In Memory of Avigail Cardona

I have mentioned this in my previous blogs. There are two things I hate doing in my life: saying goodbye and surprise. The death of my friend Avi came as a surprise to me and is one of the most painful goodbyes I had in this decade.

I met Avi in 2003 in my previous call centre job. Having an equally strong personality as I do, we didn't click immediately. But as the years go by, our common interests became the foundation of our deep-rooted friendship which I must say made impact to my life. We started as a group but ended up with only four loyal and loving friends - Avi, Gladys, Armi and me.

We start our everyday shift by sharing merienda she brings everyday and end up our stressful nights by dropping at McDonald's to ease our burdened hearts. She was outspoken and never fails to correct you if you are wrong. And who would ever forget her "flashlight" eyes when she's upset.

She was my concert buddy: singing til our lungs go out, we never missed a videoke night without singing our national anthem: Through The Fire. She was our bank: she's very frugal to her finances. She was our warrior, a frontliner when we needed a knight to defend us. Avi was my laugh-mate while watching Vice Ganda on stage. She was and she did live her life in its fullest. And she was my friend.

Nine years of friendship is too short for us. So forgive me Avi for I can never say good bye to you. But I am letting you go for you are now with out Saviour. I trust you will be our nearest connection to heaven.

Since you are there, tell the Lord to take care of your dearest ones on earth.

I have never thanked you for everything so I pray that you will read this from heaven. My sincerest thanks for sharing your life with me. I will surely miss you...

I don't intend to see you anytime soon but in God's time let's meet and continue our friendship.

Cream Dory in Stir Fried Vegetables

Recipe Blog number 2

Cream Dory fillet

String Beans

Sibuyas

Bawang

Oyster Sauce

Flour

Asin

Paminta

Bread Crumbs

Timplahan ng asin at paminta ang cream dory. Pahiran ng konting harina, bago ipagulong sa bread crumbs. Iprito at isantabi.

Igisa ang bawang at sibuyas. Pag brown na, ilagay ang string beans atsaka muling igisa hanggang sa half-cook na ang gulay. Lagyan ng oyster sauce. Budburan ng paminta. Takpan hanggang sa maluto ang gulay.

Ipatong ang napritong isda sa ibabaw ng gulay bago ihain.

Pork Hamonado with Onion Rings

Marunong din po ako magluto. Hindi lang mukhang onion rings ang picture pero heto ang mga recipe ko:

Pork Kasim

Tomato Sauce

Pineapple Juice

Laurel Leaves

Tubig

Asin

Paminta

Timplahan ng asin at paminta ang kasim. Pagkatapos, bilutin ito ng pahaba. Itali ang buong katawan ng pisi para hindi ito maalis sa pagkakabilog. Ilagay sa kaldero o kawali depende sa haba ng karne. Lagyan ng tomato sauce, pineapple juice (mas madami sa pineapple juice), kalahating basong tubig, asin at laurel. Pakuluan hanggang sa lumambot ang karne.

Hanguin ang karne at ilagay sa baking dish. Lagyan ng pineapple juice ang baking dish at ipasok sa oven hanggang sa matutuyo na ang pineapple juice. Palamigin bago hiwain.

Onion Rings

White Onion

Asin

Paminta

Itlog

Konting Tubig

Paghaluin lahat ng ingredients bago ilagay ang sibuyas. I-deep fry sa mantika. Hanguin pag nag-brown na. Patuluin sa paper towels ang ekses na mantika.