Here we go again ...
I just arrived from Singapore. On the flight back , PR512, I had what I would probably consider as my worst Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight by far ...
This is what happened:
About half an hour after take-off, we were served dinner. The flight attendant, GINA DREYFUS asked: "We have beef and fish. Would you prefer beef caldereta or fish escabeche?"
Since I only eat escabeche if it comes from my kitchen, I went for the beef caldereta.
For those who are not familiar or for those who have not noticed, the Fiesta Class (Economy) food tray that they give typically consists of a salad, a bread, a slice of postre, a cup and your plastic eating utensils sealed in a plastic bag. This is standard; the entree plate is added to your tray, depending on your selection. What many people do not know (as I also did not know until it was explained to me by a Flight Purser), passengers seated on window seats are asked (as to their choice of entree) first.
Anyways, going back to my story ...
I received my food tray and as I opened the plastic wrap that contained the bread, I noticed that the plastic had water droplets. That would have been tolerable but guess what ... the bread inside was wet! Que ba, who in the world eats moisture-soaked bread?!
Never mind, I thought. I will start-off with the salad en vez. As I was opening the cover, I noticed the person beside me actually pounding on the salad! Oi lo que es esto?! The salad, which is actually macaroni with pesto, was frozen solid. As in ... frozen solid! How in the world can you eat such stuff?
When I opened my entree tray, lo and behold, the beef caldereta turned out to be, as the puñetera flight purser later told me, chicken afritada. Porvida! Didn't I make my selection clear?
I pressed the attendant call button but after waiting for exactly 48 minutes, I gave up and pressed the call button again to turn it off. The attendant would surely come to me come clear-up time, di ba?
And so this Gina Dreyfus eventually came to ask for the tray and this is when I told the tonta of the hideous food that was given to us! Her response, which came in the form of a question, was very typical: "Do you want a complaint form?".
I glared at her and replied with a curt "Yes!". During the remainder of the flight, the Flight Purser, ROSARIO RODRIGUEZ approached me with a wad of documents and explained why they were not able to give my preference. Even before the attendant reached our row, she says, my selection has been finished off. Oh yeah? So how come the passenger right behind me, including his companion were talking about how gross the beef caldereta tasted? Obviously, she lied! What a mentirosa de primera marca, this Flight Purser is! I have flown before with this Rosario Rodriguez (I think they call her Didi Rodriguez) on a long-haul flight and although I did not have any notable bad experience with her, there was nothing exemplary with her either. Now, I categorize her along with the likes of Flight Purser BETH LOPEZ and the rest of those hideous and menopausal Flight Pursers that PAL seems to cherish and behold. Para lo que, yo no sé!
This particular flight had all the wrong elements in it together: bad service, the worse food I have encountered by far and a combination of moron cabin crew. No thanks to ROSARIO RODRIGUEZ, GINA DREYFUS and another cabin crew by the name of MARK CESAR LEDESMA (who was so antipatiko and haughty you would think HE was the passenger).
Por favor Philippine Airlines, when will all these be addressed?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Imelda versus Evita
From its February 23, 1981 release and all throughout the Marcos regime, the television series Evita Peron (which starred Faye Dunaway), was allegedly banned in the Philippines because Evita's circumstance is apparently similar to that of Imelda Marcos. De verdad?!Too similar, they say, that it would be scandalous. O es el?
Eva Per
on was born about 10 years ahead of Imelda Marcos. Both were born to relatively poor families in provinces far from the capital (Buenos Aires, Argentina and Manila, Philippines).But while Eva Peron was born out of wedlock (illegitimate), Imelda Marcos was the first-born of Vicente and Remedios Romualdez.
on was born about 10 years ahead of Imelda Marcos. Both were born to relatively poor families in provinces far from the capital (Buenos Aires, Argentina and Manila, Philippines).But while Eva Peron was born out of wedlock (illegitimate), Imelda Marcos was the first-born of Vicente and Remedios Romualdez.
If at all true, Eva went to Buenos Aires with the then popular tango singer Agustin Magaldi with whom she was said to have carried an amorous affair. Imelda Marcos, on the other hand, was sent to Manila because her father wanted to take her away from the province because she was being courted by many barrio gentlemen.
Although both Eva and Imelda tried to stake a claim to popularity, their strategies had notable differences. Eva auditioned to be a movie actress, a singer then later on became a radio emcee. Imelda joined a beauty pageant and was then supposed to be made into a movie star.
While Imelda worked as a store clerk and secretary; Eva "worked" on her own, allegedly earning a living as a high-profile escort.Imelda married Ferdinand Marcos, a Congressman. Eva married Juan Domingo Peron, an army colonel.
Upon her death in July 26, 1952, Argentina went into a mourning frenzy. Their madre de todo contigo was apparently so well-loved that Argentina suspended government office and businesses for days, flower shops ran out of flowers and a number of people died and suffered injuries trying to get a glimpse of Eva's remains. Argentines went as far as proposing that their spiritual leader be canonized as "Sta. Evita".
This is something which I think our own Imelda Marcos would never be feted with upon her demise.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Reply to Query PAL Version (final installment)
We were already seated in the plane when I was approached by a gentleman who introduced himself as one Mr. Aldanese to ask me what happened. As I was already relaxed and was enjoying my mango smoothie, I recalled to him the earlier incidences sans the emotions.
This Mr. Aldanese, the PAL LAX Station Manager as I later found out, is muy gracioso! He apologized and said he will really look into the matter. And I believe him!
As soon as the fasten seatbelt sign was switched off (about 30 minutes after the plane blasted from the runway), the Flight Purser, Mooning Noel, approached me to ask about my experience with their ground personnel. After recalling the incidences for the nth time she, of course, apologized for and in behalf of PAL. I told her that although it was definitely not okay, it was also not the fault of the cabin crew. I reminded her to send me a CARE form and joked about sending some Häagen-Dazs® ice cream along.
I "enjoyed" the remainder of the 16-hour flight, especially talking with and reassuring the lady seated beside me would do a roll-call of all known Saints and Angels whenever there was turbulence (which was not much, thank goodness!).
So you see my dear friends and those who e-mailed me as to why I tagged a previous PAL post with Brand Loyalty, not all is bad with our flag carrier. Not all is lost on Asia's First Airline.
My job requires me to travel more than 60, 000 miles a year and majority of it I take with PAL. Sure, I complain, rant and bitch about it but it is not without purpose. I want to see PAL improve on where they can easily and almost effortlessly improve.
Now getting a response such as this:
"Thank you for the email we received apprising of your reported experience with us. At the outset, please accept our regrets for the disappointment you may have felt as a result.
A request for feedback from various offices had been initiated to provide us with the full circumstances of the reported incident. The handling Customer Management Officer will further communicate with you for the resolution of your concerns. Meanwhile, you are assured of our most preferential attention."
definitely requires improvement!
Perhaps I shall never tire of lambasting and commending PAL. I believe in the company and I want to be proud of my flag carrier! If only for these, I shall continue to be one of PAL's loyal flyer while continuing to be one of it's most (or at least I try to be) constructive critic!
This Mr. Aldanese, the PAL LAX Station Manager as I later found out, is muy gracioso! He apologized and said he will really look into the matter. And I believe him!
As soon as the fasten seatbelt sign was switched off (about 30 minutes after the plane blasted from the runway), the Flight Purser, Mooning Noel, approached me to ask about my experience with their ground personnel. After recalling the incidences for the nth time she, of course, apologized for and in behalf of PAL. I told her that although it was definitely not okay, it was also not the fault of the cabin crew. I reminded her to send me a CARE form and joked about sending some Häagen-Dazs® ice cream along.
I "enjoyed" the remainder of the 16-hour flight, especially talking with and reassuring the lady seated beside me would do a roll-call of all known Saints and Angels whenever there was turbulence (which was not much, thank goodness!).
So you see my dear friends and those who e-mailed me as to why I tagged a previous PAL post with Brand Loyalty, not all is bad with our flag carrier. Not all is lost on Asia's First Airline.
My job requires me to travel more than 60, 000 miles a year and majority of it I take with PAL. Sure, I complain, rant and bitch about it but it is not without purpose. I want to see PAL improve on where they can easily and almost effortlessly improve.
Now getting a response such as this:
"Thank you for the email we received apprising of your reported experience with us. At the outset, please accept our regrets for the disappointment you may have felt as a result.
A request for feedback from various offices had been initiated to provide us with the full circumstances of the reported incident. The handling Customer Management Officer will further communicate with you for the resolution of your concerns. Meanwhile, you are assured of our most preferential attention."
definitely requires improvement!
Perhaps I shall never tire of lambasting and commending PAL. I believe in the company and I want to be proud of my flag carrier! If only for these, I shall continue to be one of PAL's loyal flyer while continuing to be one of it's most (or at least I try to be) constructive critic!
Reply to Query PAL Version (continuation)
By the time I got back to my seat at the pre-departure area, my new found friends asked me why I went to talk to the ground personnel. I told them I just had to clarify something regarding my seat. "Ay kaya pala mukha kayong hindi natutuwa", the old lady said.
Que barbaridad! What an understatement!
Anyways, as if to add insult to injury, she said she is so blessed to have a "friend" amongst the puñeteros y puñeteras ground personnel otherwise she would probably not have gotten an upgrade.
Espera, espera! Es este verdad? Did I hear this right?
And so I told her that yes, indeed she is lucky and proceeded to ask where her "friend" is. She then told me: "Ay hindi ko alam pero baka andun sa check-in. Andun sya kanina eh. Hindi ko naman talaga kaibigan yun pero kaibigan sya ng churchmate ng pamangkin ko. Eh nung nalaman ngang uuwi kami sa 'Pinas, susbukan daw talaga kaming i-upgrade. Mabuti naman at na-upgrade nga kami!".
Did I hear that right otra vez?
Resigned to the fact that PAL LAX Ground Personnel work, think and behave like demi-Gods, I just tried to forget the horrible personas I talked to. Nevertheless, while chatting with my new found friend, I came across information that would have made me win any argument with the chonggo Nestor I talked with earlier.
1) It was senseless to ask if they had Mabuhay Class tickets. They were just ugraded, weren't they?
2) What time did they arrive at the airport? "Mga 6:30 kasi nanggaling pa kami ng Chino Hills eh.". So I arrived earlier ...
3) How often do they travel to Manila? "Ay huli kaming umuwi eh nung 1999 pa. Lahat kasi ng anak ko andito na sa Amerika. Uuwi lang kami ngayon kasi namatay ang kapatid nya (the husband).". So there is no way that they could have accumulated 45, 000 miles last year and so that does not make them Premier Elite Flyers ...
Hay naku! Those PAL LAX people talaga!
Que barbaridad! What an understatement!
Anyways, as if to add insult to injury, she said she is so blessed to have a "friend" amongst the puñeteros y puñeteras ground personnel otherwise she would probably not have gotten an upgrade.
Espera, espera! Es este verdad? Did I hear this right?
And so I told her that yes, indeed she is lucky and proceeded to ask where her "friend" is. She then told me: "Ay hindi ko alam pero baka andun sa check-in. Andun sya kanina eh. Hindi ko naman talaga kaibigan yun pero kaibigan sya ng churchmate ng pamangkin ko. Eh nung nalaman ngang uuwi kami sa 'Pinas, susbukan daw talaga kaming i-upgrade. Mabuti naman at na-upgrade nga kami!".
Did I hear that right otra vez?
Resigned to the fact that PAL LAX Ground Personnel work, think and behave like demi-Gods, I just tried to forget the horrible personas I talked to. Nevertheless, while chatting with my new found friend, I came across information that would have made me win any argument with the chonggo Nestor I talked with earlier.
1) It was senseless to ask if they had Mabuhay Class tickets. They were just ugraded, weren't they?
2) What time did they arrive at the airport? "Mga 6:30 kasi nanggaling pa kami ng Chino Hills eh.". So I arrived earlier ...
3) How often do they travel to Manila? "Ay huli kaming umuwi eh nung 1999 pa. Lahat kasi ng anak ko andito na sa Amerika. Uuwi lang kami ngayon kasi namatay ang kapatid nya (the husband).". So there is no way that they could have accumulated 45, 000 miles last year and so that does not make them Premier Elite Flyers ...
Hay naku! Those PAL LAX people talaga!
Reply to Query PAL Version
Thank you for the email we received apprising of your reported experience with us. At the outset, please accept our regrets for the disappointment you may have felt as a result.
A request for feedback from various offices had been initiated to provide us with the full circumstances of the reported incident. The handling Customer Management Officer will further communicate with you for the resolution of your concerns. Meanwhile, you are assured of our most preferential attention.
This is the reply I got for a complaint I filed (via CARE) against the Philippine Airlines (PAL) LAX Ground Crew. Que ba! This is so insulting!
This is what happened:
On my return flight to Manila (from Los Angeles) via PR103 last 13 May 2010, I was at LAX by 2:00PM. So when the check-in counters opened at 5:30 , I was the first to check-in for the Mabuhay Class queue. I asked for a seat in the forward section of the cabin instead of the upper deck since my carry-on luggage was a roller-type bag which weighed exactly 7 kilos.
The check-in counter representative, Melissa, informed me that since the business class seats on the forward section of the cabin were given according to booking class ("J" and "C" automatically get these seats. "D" and "I" booking classes are accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability), she is very sorry that my request cannot be granted inasmuch as I had a "D" class booking and that all seats in my requested section are taken because it is released on a first-come, first-served basis nga. Wow! I looked around and although the line at the economy class counters extended up to outside the terminal, I was the only one checking-in for Mabuhay Class. I voiced this out to her but the antipatika maintained her stoic expression.
At the boarding gates, the ground personnel were paging for passengers, asking them to proceed to the boarding gate "for an important message". Now for those who do not know in reality, the passengers receiving "an important message" actually receive a new boarding pass ... they get upgraded hence they are assigned seats in Mabuhay Class hence the issuance of a new boarding pass. Good for them!
Seated across me were a couple who happened to be very, very nice! We were talking when they heard their names paged. They went to the boarding gate and after about 5 minutes, they gleefully returned to their seats and they were happy because they got upgraded. They noticed my blue boarding pass and remarked "sana magkatabi tayo!". I replied and said I hope so too, so that we can continue chatting. The lady then said "saan ka ba naka-upo?" and when i told them I was seated on 14C, she said "ay malayo pala tayo kasi kami 2A at 2C eh". I told her that not only are we far from each other but more so, we are seated in different sections of the aircraft. And then it hit me! Que leche!
WHAT? I thought those seats were taken?
As this is too much for me to take, I approached the ground crew at the boarding gate and told a man by the name of Nestor what happened. The puñetero animal personnel, without even looking at me, told me:
1) "Nag seat request po ba kayo nung binili nyo yung ticket? Kasi po, pay mayroong nag-request tapos kayo hindi, hndi talaga namin mabibigay yung upuan maski na po gusto namin sana."
I told him that I tried to request for a seat but then I was told that the seat I am requesting for is on a first-come, first served basis. I also pointed out to him yet again, that I was the first to check-in for that flight. He then asked to see my ticket and after reading it, the moron had this to say:
2) "Ay kasi po eh maski Mabuhay Class yung ticket ninyo, "D" lang ang booking class eh. Eh first-come, first served ho ang release namin ng upuan so next time ho, agahan nyo na lang".
Yet again I told him I was there even before the check-in counters opened and siempre he had another excuse:
2) "Ang priority din po kasi pag ganyan, yung mga frequent flyer ng PAL, gaya ng Million Miler, Premier Elite o kaya ho ay Elite na members. Ganun po talaga kasi ang policy na parang loyalty program din ng PAL".
I took out my Mabuhay Miles Premier Elite card and showed it to the moron.
Then, and only then, did the chonggo straighten up, looked at me, smiled and then told me: "We are very sorry. I will check kung ano po ang nangyari. In the meantime, to address your concern, paki-hingi na lang po ng CARE Form sa inyong Flight Purser, fill it out and you will receive a Notice of Action from PAL. Sorry po talaga."
Of course he is "sorry"; he ran out of excuses already!
A request for feedback from various offices had been initiated to provide us with the full circumstances of the reported incident. The handling Customer Management Officer will further communicate with you for the resolution of your concerns. Meanwhile, you are assured of our most preferential attention.
This is the reply I got for a complaint I filed (via CARE) against the Philippine Airlines (PAL) LAX Ground Crew. Que ba! This is so insulting!
This is what happened:
On my return flight to Manila (from Los Angeles) via PR103 last 13 May 2010, I was at LAX by 2:00PM. So when the check-in counters opened at 5:30 , I was the first to check-in for the Mabuhay Class queue. I asked for a seat in the forward section of the cabin instead of the upper deck since my carry-on luggage was a roller-type bag which weighed exactly 7 kilos.
The check-in counter representative, Melissa, informed me that since the business class seats on the forward section of the cabin were given according to booking class ("J" and "C" automatically get these seats. "D" and "I" booking classes are accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to availability), she is very sorry that my request cannot be granted inasmuch as I had a "D" class booking and that all seats in my requested section are taken because it is released on a first-come, first-served basis nga. Wow! I looked around and although the line at the economy class counters extended up to outside the terminal, I was the only one checking-in for Mabuhay Class. I voiced this out to her but the antipatika maintained her stoic expression.
At the boarding gates, the ground personnel were paging for passengers, asking them to proceed to the boarding gate "for an important message". Now for those who do not know in reality, the passengers receiving "an important message" actually receive a new boarding pass ... they get upgraded hence they are assigned seats in Mabuhay Class hence the issuance of a new boarding pass. Good for them!
Seated across me were a couple who happened to be very, very nice! We were talking when they heard their names paged. They went to the boarding gate and after about 5 minutes, they gleefully returned to their seats and they were happy because they got upgraded. They noticed my blue boarding pass and remarked "sana magkatabi tayo!". I replied and said I hope so too, so that we can continue chatting. The lady then said "saan ka ba naka-upo?" and when i told them I was seated on 14C, she said "ay malayo pala tayo kasi kami 2A at 2C eh". I told her that not only are we far from each other but more so, we are seated in different sections of the aircraft. And then it hit me! Que leche!
WHAT? I thought those seats were taken?
As this is too much for me to take, I approached the ground crew at the boarding gate and told a man by the name of Nestor what happened. The puñetero animal personnel, without even looking at me, told me:
1) "Nag seat request po ba kayo nung binili nyo yung ticket? Kasi po, pay mayroong nag-request tapos kayo hindi, hndi talaga namin mabibigay yung upuan maski na po gusto namin sana."
I told him that I tried to request for a seat but then I was told that the seat I am requesting for is on a first-come, first served basis. I also pointed out to him yet again, that I was the first to check-in for that flight. He then asked to see my ticket and after reading it, the moron had this to say:
2) "Ay kasi po eh maski Mabuhay Class yung ticket ninyo, "D" lang ang booking class eh. Eh first-come, first served ho ang release namin ng upuan so next time ho, agahan nyo na lang".
Yet again I told him I was there even before the check-in counters opened and siempre he had another excuse:
2) "Ang priority din po kasi pag ganyan, yung mga frequent flyer ng PAL, gaya ng Million Miler, Premier Elite o kaya ho ay Elite na members. Ganun po talaga kasi ang policy na parang loyalty program din ng PAL".
I took out my Mabuhay Miles Premier Elite card and showed it to the moron.
Then, and only then, did the chonggo straighten up, looked at me, smiled and then told me: "We are very sorry. I will check kung ano po ang nangyari. In the meantime, to address your concern, paki-hingi na lang po ng CARE Form sa inyong Flight Purser, fill it out and you will receive a Notice of Action from PAL. Sorry po talaga."
Of course he is "sorry"; he ran out of excuses already!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Natural Beauty 1: Generation Talk
"It is easy to be beautiful because it is natural."
(quoted from the book Circles of Life by Imelda R. Marcos)
The office IT staff were talking about how beautiful actress Angelica Panga
niban is. They stopped when I entered the room but the beauty talk continued when I expressed my agreement. Indeed, she is guapa! As 23 out of 25 of our IT Department employees are males, I asked them why they thought Angelica Panganiban is beautiful. Of course, I got 23 different and 23 common opinions. Muy interesante!
They then asked me who else I thought was "beautiful". I sai
d I thought Elvira Manahan was beautiful. Definitely not perfect, but definitely beautiful, I said. They then looked at me as if I am talking about a biblical character! But of course ... I belong to an age bracket which is about 10 to 15 years older than the average age bracket wherein which the employees of the IT Department belong, so what can you expect?!
Yet on a similar conversation with my lawyer about who is beautiful, she expressed utmost surprise as to why I chose women whom she thought was way ahead of her generation. And mind you, she is about 16 years older than me!
So where does that place me nga ba in the generation timetable? How can I consider these women beautiful while most of people my age only know them by name (if at all)? Why did they leave an impression on me considering that they are generations ahead of me? What makes them beautiful for me, at least?
You see, I was a constant companion of my grandmother and aunt during my younger years. They knew these women and I have seen them and have been with them. You know how, when you are a child, you perceive the friends of your abuelita and tia to be old? That is exactly what I thought of these ladies. Nevertheless, I still thought they were beautiful. That is how I remember them.
I do not have a categorical answer as to why I think they are beautiful but whatever the reasons may be, it definitely goes beyond the physical (after all, these women were already probably in their 60's when I saw them). I think it is a combination of character, grace, poise and other similar or related descriptions one may use in describing them. Beauty, at least for them, comes naturally.
In my succeeding journals, I will try and describe these women THE WAY I REMEMBER THEM. Perhaps when I write it down, I will know why I find them beautiful.
(quoted from the book Circles of Life by Imelda R. Marcos)
The office IT staff were talking about how beautiful actress Angelica Panga
niban is. They stopped when I entered the room but the beauty talk continued when I expressed my agreement. Indeed, she is guapa! As 23 out of 25 of our IT Department employees are males, I asked them why they thought Angelica Panganiban is beautiful. Of course, I got 23 different and 23 common opinions. Muy interesante!They then asked me who else I thought was "beautiful". I sai
d I thought Elvira Manahan was beautiful. Definitely not perfect, but definitely beautiful, I said. They then looked at me as if I am talking about a biblical character! But of course ... I belong to an age bracket which is about 10 to 15 years older than the average age bracket wherein which the employees of the IT Department belong, so what can you expect?!Yet on a similar conversation with my lawyer about who is beautiful, she expressed utmost surprise as to why I chose women whom she thought was way ahead of her generation. And mind you, she is about 16 years older than me!
So where does that place me nga ba in the generation timetable? How can I consider these women beautiful while most of people my age only know them by name (if at all)? Why did they leave an impression on me considering that they are generations ahead of me? What makes them beautiful for me, at least?
You see, I was a constant companion of my grandmother and aunt during my younger years. They knew these women and I have seen them and have been with them. You know how, when you are a child, you perceive the friends of your abuelita and tia to be old? That is exactly what I thought of these ladies. Nevertheless, I still thought they were beautiful. That is how I remember them.
I do not have a categorical answer as to why I think they are beautiful but whatever the reasons may be, it definitely goes beyond the physical (after all, these women were already probably in their 60's when I saw them). I think it is a combination of character, grace, poise and other similar or related descriptions one may use in describing them. Beauty, at least for them, comes naturally.
In my succeeding journals, I will try and describe these women THE WAY I REMEMBER THEM. Perhaps when I write it down, I will know why I find them beautiful.
Bad Day ...
Dios Mio!
Today started really bad. I woke up with a headache. I have been experiencing this from time to time since last year and I do not know what causes this. Anyways, I came out of my room and asked for my coffee, like I do every morning for the past 2 or so decades. Heaven bless the creada as she still had to ask: mo-cafe ka? Haaay! I just looked at her and thank goodness she understood.
As I lit my first of about 20 cigarettes for the day (after all, what good is coffee without cigarettes, di ba?), I got a call from the office asking what time I would be in because I had a meeting in 40 minutes. Ay que ba, this meeting has been set since last week and I completely forgot about it! I asked for a taxi, which of course came late, and to make matters worse, the aircon was not working. Puñeta!
And then the traffic! I do not care at this point if a Noynoy Aquino victory would mean having to put up with la hermana Kristeta ... could he just fix the traffic please?!
I arrived late, of course, and gracious as my client was, I could detect an iota of irritation. After discussing what has to be discussed, we went into small talk and as I was talking about how important QA Audits are in the BPO industry, I heard someone in the room say that Boy Abunda will be the Tourism Secretary ... I thought, and hoped against hope, that I heard wrong. But unfortunately, that is apparently the buzz (sorry) around town. I could hardly believe it! When Noynoy Aquino expressed how he was having difficulty finding a good person to appoint to various cabinet posts, I did not realize it was THAT difficult. Boy Abunda? Oh, I love watching Mr. Abunda on TV and he is very good at what he does pero por favor Madre de Todas Misericordia, not as Tourism Secretary seguro.
The rest of the day had me dealing with the common problems of the office. I think it was just magnified because after all, I was off to a bad start.
I headed home at around 4:00PM, again taking a taxi. This time, the aircon was working and it was clean and smelled of lavanda ... I thought my bad day ended ya. But as it turned out, no todavia! The espabilado taxi driver asked me who I voted for and when I said I voted for Noynoy Aquino, he gleefully told me why he thought I made such a bad choice and went on to "lecture" me as to why I should have chosen Joseph Estrada en vez. Haaay! And I had to endure this for more than an hour because of, well, traffic, que mas?
Again, I do not care if the Republic of the Philippines just elected her first black Vice-President for as long as he could do something about the traffic!
As I am trying to relax at home and writing this blog, I hope my cadena de miserias for today is done and over with.
Now the maid is knocking and asking something about me wanting to eat dinner (which, incidentally, I have never skipped since she became my cucinera 11 years ago) ...
Dios Mio!
Today started really bad. I woke up with a headache. I have been experiencing this from time to time since last year and I do not know what causes this. Anyways, I came out of my room and asked for my coffee, like I do every morning for the past 2 or so decades. Heaven bless the creada as she still had to ask: mo-cafe ka? Haaay! I just looked at her and thank goodness she understood.
As I lit my first of about 20 cigarettes for the day (after all, what good is coffee without cigarettes, di ba?), I got a call from the office asking what time I would be in because I had a meeting in 40 minutes. Ay que ba, this meeting has been set since last week and I completely forgot about it! I asked for a taxi, which of course came late, and to make matters worse, the aircon was not working. Puñeta!
And then the traffic! I do not care at this point if a Noynoy Aquino victory would mean having to put up with la hermana Kristeta ... could he just fix the traffic please?!
I arrived late, of course, and gracious as my client was, I could detect an iota of irritation. After discussing what has to be discussed, we went into small talk and as I was talking about how important QA Audits are in the BPO industry, I heard someone in the room say that Boy Abunda will be the Tourism Secretary ... I thought, and hoped against hope, that I heard wrong. But unfortunately, that is apparently the buzz (sorry) around town. I could hardly believe it! When Noynoy Aquino expressed how he was having difficulty finding a good person to appoint to various cabinet posts, I did not realize it was THAT difficult. Boy Abunda? Oh, I love watching Mr. Abunda on TV and he is very good at what he does pero por favor Madre de Todas Misericordia, not as Tourism Secretary seguro.
The rest of the day had me dealing with the common problems of the office. I think it was just magnified because after all, I was off to a bad start.
I headed home at around 4:00PM, again taking a taxi. This time, the aircon was working and it was clean and smelled of lavanda ... I thought my bad day ended ya. But as it turned out, no todavia! The espabilado taxi driver asked me who I voted for and when I said I voted for Noynoy Aquino, he gleefully told me why he thought I made such a bad choice and went on to "lecture" me as to why I should have chosen Joseph Estrada en vez. Haaay! And I had to endure this for more than an hour because of, well, traffic, que mas?
Again, I do not care if the Republic of the Philippines just elected her first black Vice-President for as long as he could do something about the traffic!
As I am trying to relax at home and writing this blog, I hope my cadena de miserias for today is done and over with.
Now the maid is knocking and asking something about me wanting to eat dinner (which, incidentally, I have never skipped since she became my cucinera 11 years ago) ...
Dios Mio!
LEMON MERINGUE PIE
To my dear friend Chula, here it is! Sorry I had to post it in my blog but I figured this would make you visit my blog more often and give me your invaluable opinion about it.
Lemon Meringue Pie
Ing
redients
1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
2 lemons, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons butter
4 egg yolks, beaten
1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked
4 egg whites
6 tablespoons white sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter.
3. Temper the egg yolks in a small bowl by gradually whisking in about 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.
4. Make Meringue: In a large glass bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.
* Your pastry recipe is better than mine, so just make that and bake blind for about 10 minutes before pouring in your egg yolk mixture.
*Make sure you seal the edges at the crust with meringue, otherwise the meringue will "run" to the center as it is baking.
* I still think coffee does not go well with any anything citrus-flavored so you may want to serve this with tea en vez.
Lemon Meringue Pie
Ing
redients1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups water
2 lemons, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons butter
4 egg yolks, beaten
1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked
4 egg whites
6 tablespoons white sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter.
3. Temper the egg yolks in a small bowl by gradually whisking in about 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.
4. Make Meringue: In a large glass bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.
* Your pastry recipe is better than mine, so just make that and bake blind for about 10 minutes before pouring in your egg yolk mixture.
*Make sure you seal the edges at the crust with meringue, otherwise the meringue will "run" to the center as it is baking.
* I still think coffee does not go well with any anything citrus-flavored so you may want to serve this with tea en vez.
PAL then, PAL now
I sort of "grew up" with Philippine Airlines (PAL). 
My mom was a flight attendant during what they refer to as the "Toda Era" (in reference to Señor Benigno Toda, PAL owner during the 60's to mid 70's). PAL then, is very different from the PAL that people know now.
Flight attendants from before went through a relatively stringent screening, training and re-training process. Applicants had their family background and educational attainment thoroughly checked. Only if they satisfactorily pass these do they become eligible for training. There are numerous aspects in a training course and flight attendant training has its own regimen. Safety training was handled by the Red Cross while personality development was handled by the venerable Chona Recto Kasten. Now, that says a lot about the quality of training the flight attendants received. Re-training was conducted by senior crew members.
Obviously, PAL does not do the type of screening done in the Toda Era. AND THIS SPELLS THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR IN-FLIGHT SERVICE.
Let me give a few examples:
1) On a PR 106 flight last 10 November 2009, the pre-departure announcement was made as such: " Philippine Airlines welcomes you on board PR flight 318 bound for Hong Kong ... " What?!?! And perhaps forgetting that she was still holding the PA system, she said: "Ay mali, ano ba yan!"
2) On a flight to Los Angeles, the Purser announced that: "This is your Flight Purser Beth Lopez ... ". When I had to complain about the non-working in-flight media, I called the attention of the flight attendant. When she cannot give me a proper explanation, I asked to speak with this Beth Lopez. Did she approach me? No. It was a good thing I was able to figure out (on my own) what was wrong with the in-flight media as I did not see this Beth Lopez until after we landed in LAX.
3) On a flight from Cebu, I asked for a glass of water. The flight steward handed the glass of water to the woman seated beside me (who was so busy with her rosary) and even as she expressed surprise that the steward gave her water which she did not ask for, the steward said she asked for it and therefore was giving it to her. When I said that I was the one who asked for water and could he also therefore give me some, he replied: "Ay gusto mo rin? Sandali lang ha?".
What does this tell us? That these flight attendants lack not only the qualifications, but, more importantly, the "graciousness" that well-mannered, well-educated and well-bred men and women naturally possess.
In the name of cost-cutting and profitability, it is understandable that PAL may opt to hire not-so-gracious personnel. But then again, the essence of SERVICE should be hammered down on these people during training. If the trainees do not seem to get the idea, then I believe they should not be certified at all.
Until and unless PAL makes this a policy, we will just have to contend with these bitches and jerks, if and when we choose to fly PAL. PAL is the country's flag carrier ... and for Filipinos (for some reason, the crew is nicer to foreign passengers) to have to deal with this is as sad as it is upsetting.
Sayang.
My mom was a flight attendant during what they refer to as the "Toda Era" (in reference to Señor Benigno Toda, PAL owner during the 60's to mid 70's). PAL then, is very different from the PAL that people know now.
Flight attendants from before went through a relatively stringent screening, training and re-training process. Applicants had their family background and educational attainment thoroughly checked. Only if they satisfactorily pass these do they become eligible for training. There are numerous aspects in a training course and flight attendant training has its own regimen. Safety training was handled by the Red Cross while personality development was handled by the venerable Chona Recto Kasten. Now, that says a lot about the quality of training the flight attendants received. Re-training was conducted by senior crew members.
Obviously, PAL does not do the type of screening done in the Toda Era. AND THIS SPELLS THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR IN-FLIGHT SERVICE.
Let me give a few examples:
1) On a PR 106 flight last 10 November 2009, the pre-departure announcement was made as such: " Philippine Airlines welcomes you on board PR flight 318 bound for Hong Kong ... " What?!?! And perhaps forgetting that she was still holding the PA system, she said: "Ay mali, ano ba yan!"
2) On a flight to Los Angeles, the Purser announced that: "This is your Flight Purser Beth Lopez ... ". When I had to complain about the non-working in-flight media, I called the attention of the flight attendant. When she cannot give me a proper explanation, I asked to speak with this Beth Lopez. Did she approach me? No. It was a good thing I was able to figure out (on my own) what was wrong with the in-flight media as I did not see this Beth Lopez until after we landed in LAX.
3) On a flight from Cebu, I asked for a glass of water. The flight steward handed the glass of water to the woman seated beside me (who was so busy with her rosary) and even as she expressed surprise that the steward gave her water which she did not ask for, the steward said she asked for it and therefore was giving it to her. When I said that I was the one who asked for water and could he also therefore give me some, he replied: "Ay gusto mo rin? Sandali lang ha?".
What does this tell us? That these flight attendants lack not only the qualifications, but, more importantly, the "graciousness" that well-mannered, well-educated and well-bred men and women naturally possess.
In the name of cost-cutting and profitability, it is understandable that PAL may opt to hire not-so-gracious personnel. But then again, the essence of SERVICE should be hammered down on these people during training. If the trainees do not seem to get the idea, then I believe they should not be certified at all.
Until and unless PAL makes this a policy, we will just have to contend with these bitches and jerks, if and when we choose to fly PAL. PAL is the country's flag carrier ... and for Filipinos (for some reason, the crew is nicer to foreign passengers) to have to deal with this is as sad as it is upsetting.
Sayang.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Ka-on ta ... Cebuano style!
When in Cebu, do not do as the Cebuanos do. Or did.
Many years back, Cebuanos rarely ate out for lunch. Office people would go home, eat their lunch and then go back to the office. This was when Cebu was more personal and convenient. Nowadays, with Cebu traffic being worse than that of Manila, and perhaps because of the many lami dining options available, restaurants, malls and even carinderias are fuller than usual.
However, try to get invited to a true-blue Cebuano home to get a really good taste of Cebuano home-cooked fare! Many old families have managed to make their family recipes commercially available and these can be readily bought or ordered but of course, everything seems better when it is served on their comedor.
One thing I miss is the chorizo made by Teresa Ugarte, the masa podrida from I do not know where and the lechon from Berta. I do not know if one can still buy them and where.
Cebu has always been a favorite culinary destination. High on the list is their legendary lechon ... and many Cebuanos have cashed in on the popularity of the Lechon Cebu. They have CNT and the Cang lechon but the really good lechons I have tried come from Barili and Dumanjug, not Talisay. Hey, this is a matter of personal preference, okay? Nothing personal.
Whenever I am in Cebu, I almost always get invited to Cafe Laguna. Cafe Laguna is good but their food choices are available in Manila. On the other hand, going to, say, Sunburst Chicken, is indeed most welcome. The chicken-skin chicharon and esol look unassuming but it is definitely unforgettable.
The buffet craze is also abuzz in Cebu, with the Cafe Marco Polo and Grand Majestic as popular gluttony destinations. In Mandaue, Tong's is a popular destination what with their version of a hole-in-the-wall buffet.
And then you also have Harbor City and Ding Qua Qua with their dimsum-on-a-cart, Abuhan with their pochero and sizzling pochero and Casa Verde for their ribs.
Of course, you have the old Cebuano dining insitutions like Beehive (fine Spanish restaurant cum mah-jong parlor), the Casino Español (for members and their invited friends only) and the "other" Majestic (above Belvic Cinema) that one should really try out.
For the more adventurous, you may want to sample "sidewalk" fare like balbakwa, paklay and sunlutan kinilaw. The sidewalk beside the Redemptorist Church offers a different assortment of Cebuano delicacies altogether, like bibingka, budbud, quesejo and majareal.
Whether it is the barbeque Larsian style, the bam-i ordered from the Chinese Temple or the popular sutokil in Mactan, Cebu is indeed a gastronomic wonderland!
Bahala na ang cholesterol oy! Mo ka-on gyud ko!
Many years back, Cebuanos rarely ate out for lunch. Office people would go home, eat their lunch and then go back to the office. This was when Cebu was more personal and convenient. Nowadays, with Cebu traffic being worse than that of Manila, and perhaps because of the many lami dining options available, restaurants, malls and even carinderias are fuller than usual.
However, try to get invited to a true-blue Cebuano home to get a really good taste of Cebuano home-cooked fare! Many old families have managed to make their family recipes commercially available and these can be readily bought or ordered but of course, everything seems better when it is served on their comedor.
One thing I miss is the chorizo made by Teresa Ugarte, the masa podrida from I do not know where and the lechon from Berta. I do not know if one can still buy them and where.
Cebu has always been a favorite culinary destination. High on the list is their legendary lechon ... and many Cebuanos have cashed in on the popularity of the Lechon Cebu. They have CNT and the Cang lechon but the really good lechons I have tried come from Barili and Dumanjug, not Talisay. Hey, this is a matter of personal preference, okay? Nothing personal.
Whenever I am in Cebu, I almost always get invited to Cafe Laguna. Cafe Laguna is good but their food choices are available in Manila. On the other hand, going to, say, Sunburst Chicken, is indeed most welcome. The chicken-skin chicharon and esol look unassuming but it is definitely unforgettable.
The buffet craze is also abuzz in Cebu, with the Cafe Marco Polo and Grand Majestic as popular gluttony destinations. In Mandaue, Tong's is a popular destination what with their version of a hole-in-the-wall buffet.
And then you also have Harbor City and Ding Qua Qua with their dimsum-on-a-cart, Abuhan with their pochero and sizzling pochero and Casa Verde for their ribs.
Of course, you have the old Cebuano dining insitutions like Beehive (fine Spanish restaurant cum mah-jong parlor), the Casino Español (for members and their invited friends only) and the "other" Majestic (above Belvic Cinema) that one should really try out.
For the more adventurous, you may want to sample "sidewalk" fare like balbakwa, paklay and sunlutan kinilaw. The sidewalk beside the Redemptorist Church offers a different assortment of Cebuano delicacies altogether, like bibingka, budbud, quesejo and majareal.
Whether it is the barbeque Larsian style, the bam-i ordered from the Chinese Temple or the popular sutokil in Mactan, Cebu is indeed a gastronomic wonderland!
Bahala na ang cholesterol oy! Mo ka-on gyud ko!
BEEF WHATEVER
This is a recipe I got from a magazine. I had guests tonight and served this for dinner. I improvised from the original recipe, according to how I wanted (and imagined) it to taste.
On a scale of 1 (as the lowest) to 10 (highest), I would rate this a 7.
Beef Whatever
4 pieces (about 2 kilos) beef shanks
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
salt and pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, cubed
2 stalks celery, sliced into thick chunks
1 cup very dry red wine
1/2 cup tomato paste
4 to 5 cups water
2 beef broth cubes
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons honey
Arrange beef shanks in a tray. Season with paprika, rosemary, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Leave to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
Heat oil in a skillet. Fry shanks until brown. Transfer to a deep pan.
Heat oil in a skillet, saute onions, carrots and celery. Add red wine and allow to boil. Add tomato paste and stir well to disperse. Add to the shank. Pour in water, boil, then add beef cubes, honey and bay leaf.
Boil shank until almost fork tender. Discard bay leaf before serving.
Serve hot with rice or mashed potatoes.
On a scale of 1 (as the lowest) to 10 (highest), I would rate this a 7.
Beef Whatever
4 pieces (about 2 kilos) beef shanks
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
salt and pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, cubed
2 stalks celery, sliced into thick chunks
1 cup very dry red wine
1/2 cup tomato paste
4 to 5 cups water
2 beef broth cubes
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons honey
Arrange beef shanks in a tray. Season with paprika, rosemary, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Leave to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.
Heat oil in a skillet. Fry shanks until brown. Transfer to a deep pan.
Heat oil in a skillet, saute onions, carrots and celery. Add red wine and allow to boil. Add tomato paste and stir well to disperse. Add to the shank. Pour in water, boil, then add beef cubes, honey and bay leaf.
Boil shank until almost fork tender. Discard bay leaf before serving.
Serve hot with rice or mashed potatoes.
PAL (Centennial) Terminal
Because of convenience and competitive prices, I always take Philippine Airlines (PAL) whenever my flight route allows.
First of all, PAL having its own terminal is very convenient. When departing, you do not have to deal with the send-off population (of about 3 dozen people) bringing a passenger (as in 1 passenger) to the airport. This being the case, the terminal is cleaner and with far fewer people, you have ease of movement.
Secondly, the terminal is newer than the NAIA.
Upon arrival, the Arrival Hall is again better than that of NAIA. You have the impression that you have your own Immigration and Customs Official "exclusively" for PAL passengers.
It is also easier to access the parking lot as you do not have to down a ramp with your luggage cart while trying to balance your hand-carried luggage and duty-free bags!
The PAL (Centennial) Terminal may pale in comparison to other airport terminals like that of Chek Lap Kok in Hong Kong or the Suvarnhabumi in Bangkok but still and all, we have much less to complain about.
This is not to say that PAL service is outstanding though. This will be the subject of other posts ... so watch out for it.
First of all, PAL having its own terminal is very convenient. When departing, you do not have to deal with the send-off population (of about 3 dozen people) bringing a passenger (as in 1 passenger) to the airport. This being the case, the terminal is cleaner and with far fewer people, you have ease of movement.
Secondly, the terminal is newer than the NAIA.
Upon arrival, the Arrival Hall is again better than that of NAIA. You have the impression that you have your own Immigration and Customs Official "exclusively" for PAL passengers.
It is also easier to access the parking lot as you do not have to down a ramp with your luggage cart while trying to balance your hand-carried luggage and duty-free bags!
The PAL (Centennial) Terminal may pale in comparison to other airport terminals like that of Chek Lap Kok in Hong Kong or the Suvarnhabumi in Bangkok but still and all, we have much less to complain about.
This is not to say that PAL service is outstanding though. This will be the subject of other posts ... so watch out for it.
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