Thanks for 2017, Hope 2018 is Better

In Miracle on 34th Street, Kris Kringle sent a shopper to a rival store when the store he's supposed to represent could not meet her needs. While I have encountered people in the service industry who've done the same, nowadays, they're a rare species. It's usually company first, customer second.

A stark contrast to the CSR I've mentioned in my post a month ago (He who insisted that their system is perfect. Dude, my brother is a computer programmer. He handled bank systems of countries, plural, all at the same time. He gets tickets at 3AM. I think he is in a better position to tell anyone that no system is perfect.) are the CSRs from PLDT who've been contacting me and my sister's numbers. They're pleasant to talk to, not pushy or bossy, do not sound bored, are not too chirpy either.

There were also these CSRs from Globe Telecom and another from The Generics Pharmacy. The one from Globe gave me the benefit of the doubt when others would have suggested that it was my fault. She walked me through to how it's possible that my data subscription got consumed so fast, no accusing tone, no air of detachment. Just concern that I have lost data.

Meanwhile the CSR from The Generics Pharmacy showed initiative after I messaged a query through their facebook page. It was just a question but this CSR put two and two together then took it upon himself to resolve our problem without any prompting and without me telling him initially what our problem was. It was the first time I've encountered a CSR like him. This person genuinely cares about the customer. And so because of him, we have been buying my mom's monthly meds from TGP.  If how this CSR handled our situation is company policy, I feel confident I'm buying meds from a company that got our backs.

I do wonder how the sales of Sanofi products are doing now what with the Denvaxia controversy. But then I don't think a lot of people check labels for the manufacturer in as much as they do check the price.

2017 was pretty much a repeat of 2014 for me and the family. It was health crisis after another and being victimized by people. After 2014, I'm not as afraid of things I could not see as I became aware that people are more capable of inflicting pain, with twisted reasoning to boot. Or without, trip lang. Still scared of demonic possession though. 2014 was not a really good year, so much so that I gave up writing by 2015 and had not been as active on social media. With 2017, I was, "why should I give up things I enjoy doing?" I'm not going to mope around. Okay, maybe a tiny bit.

So thank you to everyone who has made 2017 a less than bumpy ride for me and my family. Wishing a better 2018 for all of us.

SM Bonus Bacon, Bird Flu and Super Mega Companies Who Care Only About Themselves

In recent months, I learned the hard way, like a blow to the head, that some massive companies would save their asses first and not take responsibility or show/express remorse/regret for the pain, suffering and distress they have cost you and your family.

Because, really, these premier companies and most of their employees only care about the company. They do not care about you. They may show that they supposedly care via foundations and CSRs but that's all there is to it, for show.  Besides aren't they enjoying tax perks with those foundations? Aren't they getting media mileage with those CSRs? While not very popular giant companies have been donating stuff /helping out without fanfare, these gargantuan companies are all about hype. When it comes to dealing with individual customers, well, you're just a speck to them. You're nothing. Most of their employees will protect the company. Never you.

We're a couple of kilometers from bird flu ground zero. So to be on the safe side, the family has refrained from eating chicken, quail, chicken and quail eggs and other products that have chicken and quail eggs (like bread) a couple of weeks ago. Never mind government agencies saying it's safe already to consume them. Like our two barangay ambulances are anywhere around when you need them.

Back to mammoth companies, I bet they will tell you that it is hard to prove that the only chicken you've consumed is their chicken even if you have the receipt as proof. Because, hey, you were okay when you left their establishment and it's only a few days later that you're not feeling well and in that span of time a lot of things could have happened. They will tell you their product / system is perfect. They will insinuate that something is wrong on your end when clearly the evidence points to them as culpable. As what most complainants have pointed out: would we make a complaint, risk ridicule, take the time, spend the money, show proof, if we are at fault?

Abstaining from chicken isn't really hard especially if you're into seafood. 'Sides, there are a lot of yummy foods out there. Like bacon. But not this bacon.

SM Bonus Honeycured Bacon tastes like bacon that's been soaked in water first. The bacon taste barely registers.  It barely smells like bacon either. Some of the slices even look like ham or are a tad too thick. Sayang P230 ko.

Anyways, what's that other word for big? Super Monstrous is just about right.

SM Marilao Hydro Summer Spree Marred by Line Jumpers and Inept Security Guard

SM Marilao held a Hydro Summer Spree last May 20. Every P1000 purchase, single or accumulated entitled a customer to a ticket. A ticket allowed you entrance to a waterlogged but not foam sprayed (by nightfall) inflatable obstacle course and maze.  There were slides, swings, beams and slippery slopes. There were five giant inflatables: four obstacles and a maze. We only got to try three of the obstacles and those we tried were arranged by increasing difficulty. Ten persons were allowed inside the area at 15 fifteen minute intervals. Your group's 15 minutes are up once you heard a whistle blown. You can queue and enter repeatedly.

There was also a foam party at the other side of the parking lot where a band played.

Foam pool. No foam mounds from the foam machine yet.

Here are takeaways from our first Hydro Inflatable Obstacle Course/Maze experience. Of course, the next Hydro Party could be different.

1. SM Marilao is deleting comments that recount negative experiences on its FB Page. Check how many comments there are in one of its posts on the Hydro Summer Festival. Where are all those comments? Where is the second comment in this screengrab?

2. Go there early, really early.

- So you could go through the course again and again and again.
 
- So you could enjoy all the inflatables. By around 1030PM, they have already packed up one.

Packing up one of the inflatables.

- So you could enjoy the full fifteen minutes. We were among those who had to exit the course once we completed it. We were only allowed to go through an obstacle once unlike the lucky ones who managed to get in at 9PM and earlier.

- So you wouldn't get grossed out by the smell. Granted, only one inflatable stunk. The maze, by the time we entered it, reeked of poop.

- So you wouldn't have to line up for hours.

We were there at 8PM. We got in at 11PM. We stood in line for 3 hours. While finding the end of the line, there was this girl about three quarters more to go telling someone on her phone that she's been in the queue since 4PM. And it's already 8PM. Why the hold-up? THERE WERE LOTS OF LINE JUMPERS. As we were nearing the first curve near the entrance, the people behind us were already complaining that there were people cutting into the line. We weren't moving as much as we should have. Some were cutting into the line by intimidating people with their size and basagulero attitude.

And then, as we were nearing the entrance to the course,  these punks decided to cut in front of us. Their style was to sit on the chairs near the entrance, let people who noticed them go forward and then cut into the line of people who haven't noticed that they didn't fall in line or thought that they were with the earlier group.  SOME PEOPLE LINED UP FOR FIVE HOURS AND THESE LINE JUMPERS WERE GETTING IN IN 30 MINUTES AND LESS. So we went in front of them and my sister asked the girl who was in front of us through 2/3rds of the queue (those who were initially in front of us decided to quit after 2 hours of lining)  if they were with the punks. They have different auras so we were sure they weren't together. But we needed confirmation. We are thankful to her and her group for sticking out for us. She told off the punks that we were behind them in the line. One of her companions seconded looking at me. "Di ba ate kayo ang kasunod namin?" A girl in the punk group countered that they were in line first and that some people cut into their line. My sister countered that then they should have called out those people and not cut in front of other people. The line curved, leaving out the punks. The people who were behind us all throughout the queue followed us. They and those within hearing distance with what was happening voiced their dissent at what the punks were doing. Apparently these punks have been seen cutting in line several times.

But the punks were answering back so I went to the security guard in white uniform at the gate and told him what was happening. He shouted something towards where I came from about bawal sumingit. Cutting into the line is not allowed. I was not listening to his exact words because I wanted him to go to where the commotion was. Hindi daw sya pwede umalis. He can't leave his post. Believe me, I know this rule. It's in our CAT manual. I was thinking: but it's okay for you to leave your post if you're bringing YOUR chosen people into the maze/obstacle course area that are not ahead in the line. Palakasan lang? Earlier he had escorted 3 people in who were not ahead of us. They were in soaking attire not personnel obviously. Earlier still, another person was able to get in ahead of everyone else and when the girl who was in front of the line asked, the security personnel in black who was at the gate said it was because kulang pa. They hadn't completed ten. Huh? And you didn't bother calling out if there was someone ahead in the line who'd like to go instead? Also there's three of them security personnel at the entrance, none of you can be bothered to scare the punks? Guess why these punks have the guts to cut into the line over and over.

The solution of the security personnel in black was to move the line along. Ten people were let in and we were left in front of the line. White uniformed guard asked us how many we are. When we told him, he told the security personnel in black to let us go in as well. Wow. We're not in hurry to get in. We were able to wait three hours, what's a few minutes? We just want what is right and just. Of course this was all in my head because then I might get thrown out for making a scene. It was like we were at fault for bringing up the matter to him. If he's gonna reason he did it to protect us, while we were there, THE GUARD IN WHITE UNIFORM SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE LINE JUMPERS TO MOVE TO THE END OF THE LINE. HE DID NOT.

The security personnel/guards should have cracked down on these line jumpers. They should have been vigilant, be the one to spot these party poopers and ask them to go to the end of the line or go out. People who call these punks out run the risk of being gang upped on once they went out of the area. The organizers should have posted a rule about cutting in line. They could have given out numbers at the entrance. The crazy lines and learning what caused it took the fun out of the event.

3. The attire requirements were not followed at the time we were there (night time). Of course no one wore dresses, skirts, jeans. But there were people who wore cotton shirts and denim shorts who got in without a hitch. Also, don't go in your swimwear if it isn't a rash guard.No one was wearing swimwear.

4. Aqua shoes are the only footwear allowed in the inflatables. You can go barefoot. You can leave your slippers beside each of the inflatables at the risk of them being slipper-napped.

5. Bags are not allowed into the inflatables, only ziplocks and waterproof pouches. But your hands should be free. How would you climb or hold on to that rope swing? Unless you've done these before no hands, just teeth and feet. You can take turns guarding your bags though.

6. There were 3 showers in the area. But by 10PM, only one was running.

7. There were portable toilets. At 8PM they already stunk.

8. There were male and female changing tents. Each tent does not have any dividers to afford an individual privacy. Also, at night, silhouettes of people changing can be seen outside.

9. There were food kiosks inside the area sectioned off. If you're not picky, these could tide you over but you can also have someone from your group get something to eat from the mall. Such a shame that the mall was open only until 9PM.

10. The motorcycle parking lot was open until the last motorcycle left.

11. There doesn't seem to be an age limit. There were people around forty going through the inflatables, kids about four going through the maze.

12. It's tough climbing a wet slope. The technique is not to go on your knees but to hold on to the sides then climb, digging with your feet. But then where's the fun in that? Go tumble and roll over.

13. The maze would be much more enjoyable if someone was at the entrance controlling the number of people in, letting a group in with intervals of a minute. What happened was a line from entrance to exit with no one getting lost.

14. After showing our tickets at the entrance to the queuing area, our arms were stamped with the hydro summer spree logo. However, our arms were not checked at the entrance to the inflatables. They would just count ten people per interval. People can easily enter the queuing area since it isn't cordoned properly off the rest of the parking lot. Draw your conclusions from that scenario: accessible queuing area, no checking of people entering.

No one was directing people where they would go next between the second and the third inflatables and the maze. We went to the third installation from the second and ended up at the exit of that inflatable.

There was one other person who made the experience a bit enjoyable for me. The manong who supervised this installation above was really friendly. The woman at the first installation was shouting about the baggage left beside the installation. This guy was more accommodating when left our snacks and flip flops by the installation and had shown concern as he had asked if we live nearby. Because it's already 11PM. Thank you manong.Also, the personnel inside/on the inflatables were attentive and encouraging. "Kaya mo yan ate!" You can do it. One of them cheered and helped me as I struggled up a slippery slope.

Will we line up again if there's another Hydro Slip and Slide Summer Spree Party? After some thought, I don't think we deserve the stress, trauma, the white-washing being done by SM's socmed crew, SM's inept security guard  and losing 3 hours of our lives. And a second rate band which butchers Teeth's Laklak. "Di bale nang hindi kumain Basta may BABAENG nakahain" Treating female as commodity is offensive and insulting. Di bale na lang rin.

National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Marilao Bulacan

If you're in Metro Manila or north of the capital, here's a place you can visit during the holy week or when you need a spiritual escape or intervention or just about anytime you feel like it. The National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan could be the haven / spiritual retreat you are looking for. People go there during holy week usually for the way of the cross. Others go there to meditate and reflect all throughout the year.

There have been stories of devotees who miraculously healed from their ailments after making a pilgrimage to the place. Others believe in the healing powers of the water streaming down the walls of the man-made cave and grottoes. So much so that the people at the Church had put up signs limiting the amount of water one could take to one gallon. When I first read that I was like, how much do some people take? A pail? Isn't that kinda heavy? Do they bathe in those? Hmm, maybe they do.

Father Vic Robles, who used to say mass at the school I went to, is largely responsible for the Divine Mercy Shrine in Marilao coming into being. There have been instances when we would go to the shrine as a class.

As a kid then a teen, the place was wondrous. It was nothing like any church I have seen. It was labyrinthine with lots of nooks and crannies to discover. And before I get accused of being there just for sightseeing, please, I know I took faith and religion way more seriously than other kids my age at that time. I was far more religious then than I am now. Sadly.

We used to go to the Divine Mercy Shrine during Lent and for the annual Feast of the Divine Mercy on the 2nd Sunday of Easter (the next Sunday after Easter Sunday). The last time I have been to the shrine was three years ago so the pics below are that old. The place has undergone several developments over time.

At first it was just the open air altar and courtyard with log pews, wishing well, waterfalls, grottoes and the church with its man-made cave aside from a few structures:

Church facade. Note the staircase on the side which lead to the lofts.

How To Get a Busted Lamp Post Fixed, Meralco Serviced Area Only

If you live in a Meralco serviced area and there's a busted street light near your place, you can take matters into your own hands rather than leave your fate to your barangay / community leaders. Get in touch with Meralco to have it fixed rather than go through the trouble of reporting it to your leaders who are sometimes too, ahem, busy that you are left in the dark for months, so to speak. Of course, if there's a barangay / community rule that states that you need to get in touch with them leaders, then do so then skewer them if they don't act on it as fast as you'd like by stating that you could have gotten in touch with Meralco in the first place if not for their rule that somehow removes power from you and transfers it to them.

Lights only. They can't help you with the floods. Or can they?

Here's what to do:
1) List the lamp post number. It's an alphanumeric combo attached to the post and not to the light fixture.
2) Message Meralco on facebook or twitter. I prefer contacting them through facebook.

Jeepney Fare Computation for Metro Manila, Region 3, Region 4 as of February 2017

Minimum fare's back to P8 from P7 for jeepneys in Metro Manila, Region 3 and Region 4. However, fares for exceeding kilometers remain the same or will not increase given that when minimum fare went down to P7 last year, fare for exceeding kilometers did not went down by P1 but remained the same.

from LTFRB twitter page