SM Bicutan Taxi Bay Still Sucks

Just when I thought SM Bicutan's Taxi Bay just got better, I had a now-becoming-familiar-taxi-experience late this afternoon on my way home from the said mall.

First of all, the driver of the first taxi in line was talking quite happily with the guard on the other side of the bay, when the Paalala in big bold letters clearly states that taxi drivers should be inside their cabs at all times.

So okay it was scorching hot, it's understandable that the driver would wanna get out of the car while waiting for a passenger with the engine off.

Immediately upon getting in and telling the driver my destination, I started rummaging inside my bag for my loots of the day. A few meters off, the driver asked me how much I usually pay to my destination. I got alarmed and immediately looked at the taxi meter. It was off.

"Hala, wala kang metro," I said, even smiling, but secretly fishing out the digicam from my bag.

"Wala nga sir, e, kasi pabalik-balik lang ako dito," the driver replied.

I told him I usually pay Php60. The meter would always be somewhere between 45-50, and I think I'm already generous enough to give an additional 10. So this driver, taxi meter or no, would only get 60 from me. I snapped a pic of the license number.

"100 sir, wala kasing pasahero pabalik."

100? I thought. Wala na ngang metro 100 pa? It irritated me so much also because (1) he had no right to wait for passengers in that bay in the first place because his taxi had no meter; and (2) he's over-charging.

He went down to 70 but I insisted on 60. The conversation was getting so heated and long already, my voice was already showing signs of anger, that I asked him a final, "Ayaw mo?"

He said ayaw so I stormed out of his cab. Sayang nga lang I forgot how irritated he'd be if I left the door open, but I banged it hard before walking back to the taxi bay.

Good thing about it was that I had my PLDT Landline Plus with me. And since I already had the Security Office's number from previous reklamos, I was able to talk to the head of security in an instant, through a cellphone, and with no extra charge. Okay it sounds like a paid ad but I’m just really happy I availed of this PLDT SIM card.

The security head arrived (in a motorbike) seconds after I reached the taxi bay on foot, and in no time I was complaining. The head, whose surname I always forget (it sounds like Fabian Ver, Fabinier, Fafabear... I'm sorry), promised me they'd ban that plate number at their bay.

I just hope so because I've already made it a vow to check on taxi plate numbers at that bay everytime I’d go there.

But be that as it may, I really wanna thank the security head. He's always been so accommodating every time I'd call or see him about something. And never did he show signs of anger. Laging mahinahon.

I know SM Bicutan sucks, but it doesn't mean the service couldn't be improved. All we have to do is tell them why they suck and hopefully they'd look into it.

But why do I always go to SM Bicutan? It's the accessibility. If only there's another mall as close from where I live.

SM Bicutan Taxi Bay Just Got Better

Anyway, I’d like to commend SM Bicutan’s taxi bay for a job well done.

I was fourth in line this afternoon when the old lady ahead of me was silently cursing the guard. Yun pala the couple in front of the line was going to MOA and the taxis in line wouldn’t wanna go there. And what’s a guard should do? Paalisin ang mga taxi na tumatanggi!

It’s the first time I witnessed an SM Bicutan guard do that. Dati, they would let the next in line in, which was so unfair especially when you’re in front na.

So my constant calls to the Security Department, and my constant posts about how poor SM Bicutan’s taxi bay is, were finally heard!

I hope it  continues for the sake of the taxi-riding shoppers.

No More Lola Glasses

So I've had this lola glasses (as my good friend Bans called it) since like 1992. There were times that it gets forgotten inside my bag (the reason for the many scratches because it has no case) as I sometimes opt for contact lenses especially during hot days.

The frame was given to me by my sister. It was actually a pair of sunglasses bought in Hong Kong. And I was like digging Jessica Zafra so much during those days (and up to now) so I used it as eyeglasses.


It had been with me through the toughest times. Parang gusto ko na lang i-Mighty Bond. Ang hirap i-let go.

Right now, I'm wearing disposable contacts. Extra work but I have no choice. Besides, the weather's so hot I guess I'd prefer contacts na rin even if my eyeglasses weren't broken.

But I still need glasses especially at night cuz I like reading before sleeping, and I remove my contacts before bed.


Now I have this smaller frame I have kept for a long time in the drawer. I haven't decided, though, if I should use this or just look for a bigger one just like my old eyeglasses.

Choices

I was about to have coffee when I saw this book (How to Ruin Your Life By 40 by Steve Farrar) on the dining table. I don't know who owns the book. Parang it was left there for me to read. Not that I'm already forty or anything but it's an inspirational read.

I opened it to a random page and look what I read:

Causes have effects.
Actions have reactions.
Choices have consequences.
That will be the story of your life.

It's like telling me to plan ahead carefully, with caution, and with heart. We all should. We shouldn't just be jumping on decisions, because before we know it, that decision might have already ruined our lives.

Nice morning. The sky is so blue. Let's try to make the rest of the day as lovely as this morning.

Pray For Us

Metro Manila flood – via boston.com. Read the news here.

Metro Manila is still immersed in flood water. Somewhere nearby our house, the flood was so deep only roofs of the houses can be seen. The born-again church has been turned into an evacuation center. And the saddest part, a two-year-old died.

My family is still lucky the flood isn’t anywhere near the house. But part of the roof leaked, and water dripped on a computer table. It’s a small one and only happened at the height of the storm. But still, it turned my mood around throughout the rest of the day. Sometimes I’d like to think I’m not just OC, but already having bipolar disorder.

(Last night I freaked out just because I couldn’t use the television to watch Survivor. I hated myself after the madness. But during the time, I couldn’t control the anger.)

And I’m not kidding.

Natural Hair

Tyra Banks' natural hair.



Isnt' this her natural one?

The Youngest Security Guard

After visiting the ortho yesterday, I went to Jollibee in Lower Bicutan to have a quick bite before heading to the mall. I decided to just eat there cuz I was kinda sure the mall fast foods were busy, being a public holiday and all.

Surprisingly, there was no guard at Jollibee’s entrance. No one there except for this kid:


And he opens the door for Jollibee’s client, too. Very much like how a real security guard would do. Except that the kid would spread his hand in front of you asking for a few coins.


The kid naman was harmless, I even gave him some coins.

But still…

Walk

I woke up last Monday to no internet connection. I just knew something was wrong and it’s not just a case of a simple disconnection cuz the DSL indicator of the modem had no light. I immediately called technical assistance. It was 8 in the morning.

I called again 12 noon when I still had no connection. It quite irritated me when I was informed that Chloe, the customer assistant I talked to earlier, didn’t file a report of my case. Quite irritating when that happens but I knew better than to get mad.

I called Danilo – an old friend and a neighbor – to ask if he had connection since he’s also subscribed to PLDT MyDSL. He said he had none. I easily gave a sigh of relief thinking that the problem was on PLDT’s side. (I really hate it when I am the only one suffering because of an isolated problem). I’d eventually find out, though, that it’s really just an isolated case.

After the call, Danilo dropped by. It was Monday and he takes Sundays and Mondays off. And since I had nothing to do on a no-internet day, I told him I wanted to go out. He responded by asking “anong oras?” Haha.



We went to MOA’s sunset strip. It was Danilo’s first time there. It was my second. LOL! But it was someone else’s first:

LOL! She really knows how to look at the cam. It was her longest walk ever. She even had kennel cough after. How mean of me to tire her so much.

Anyway, internet connection was only restored this morning. A tech, who wants to be called Mandy Moore, paid a visit 8:30 a.m. He actually called first and told me I was third in line. I pleaded with him to visit me first. And he did. Thanks Mandy!

Not a Dog Chew

Princess chewed on my Philips earphones this afternoon. Darn…

I actually forgot to put it in my bag yesterday before heading out. It was on the sofa together with my iPod, phone, and digicam. And it remained on the sofa cuz I didn’t use my iPod last night.

Normally, I really don’t hide my stuff just because I have a dog roaming around the house. Princess doesn’t chew on my stuff. Well, not until this afternoon.

Grabe. I only bought it last June 4th. It’s still working, though. And I’m sure it can be fixed with the glue gun. But still…

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Since I also forgot to bring my phone yesterday, I kinda found it hard haggling at SM. You see, I always use it as calculator. LOL! So I could say I was actually calculator-less and not phone-less yesterday. A little phone-less pala cuz I couldn’t call Doc Erich to tell him I’d be a little late. Aside from waiting for the rig to be assembled, I also got delayed cuz I bumped into an old friend at the mall. The bump actually ended to almost an hour of talking and catching up.

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After forgetting three times to bring his hedgehog on the day of my weekly visit, Doc Erich finally brought his 2-month old hog to his clinic yesterday. The cutest. It’s just really sad I wasn’t able to take any pic.

I’ll make sure not to forget my digicam next Monday. I just wish he’d bring his hedgehog with him again.

A Not-So-Pleasant Taxi Experience

Going to Bonifacio Global City from the south is no easy thing, especially when you have to commute at noontime, enduring 32 – 33 degrees of hot weather.

On the way to Global City, I had to do some errands in SM Bicutan. I thought dropping by the mall would be great because it’s easier to hire a cab in malls. I also texted my friends who went with me to the Level Up! event to just meet me at  the mall’s taxi bay.

Little did I know that I would have a little problem hiring a cab that day.

 
I thought this sign is big and clear enough, not to mention written in Tagalog, to be understood by anyone who knows how to read.

But then again, no.

 
Because this guard doesn’t know how to follow instructions written in big letters in front of him.

We waited in line for about 45 minutes to get a cab. When our turn finally came, the cab driver refused to convey by shaking his head when he learned of our destination (Market Market). In normal situations, the guard would make the taxi leave upon refusal to convey. But this guard instead let the one next in line to ride the said cab upon knowing that the driver didn’t wanna go to our destination.

This guard
 
prolly didn’t understand the meaning of the 3rd reminder written in big letters on that board in front of him.

 

A big difference, though, when we took a cab at the Market Market taxi bay to go home. The line was so organized and taxi drivers wouldn’t demand to know your destination before they open the door. The guards also give out leaflets where you can write your complaints about your taxi experience.

No wonder Market Market is always so busy with shoppers and mall goers. Judging by our taxi experience, I’m kinda sure Market Market is more concerned  with their customers than the other malls around.

I don’t know about other SM malls but I think SM Bicutan mall admin can learn a thing or two with how Market Market takes care of their mall goers.

Viva!

Coca-Cola started selling the easy-crush water bottles in Japan for its I Lohas mineral water brand. It does not only use minimal plastic, but it can also be crushed into a smaller unit before disposing it, minimizing the volume of plastic garbage.



I was drinking Viva! mineral water this morning when I noticed that the bottle was made of very thin plastic (it actually crunched a little in my hand). Having read about I Lohas a month or two ago via CScout Japan, the first word that came to my mind was "immitation." Not that it's bad. If the makers of Viva! got inspired by the (almost) environment-friendliness of I Lohas, it's actually immitation for a good cause.



Then I looked at Viva!'s label. It surprised me. It's also a product of Coca-Cola.

I wonder why they didn't make a campaign about Viva!'s easy-crunch bottle here in the country, just like they did in Japan.

Or is I Lohas' bottle even thinner than Viva!'s?

The Golden Casket

I'm still full from dinner. But perhaps I would already be starving by the time MJ's memorial is finished. It has just begun.



Contrary to what's been reported earlier, Michael Jackson's youngest kid is there. I guess they really have to do that - be secretive - just like keeping the fact that Michael's casket would be in the Staples Center for the memorial service.

I showed my niece the supposed ghosst in MJ's bedroom during the CNN Neverland tour. She got mad at me. She's now scared to go back to her room.

Isa Pa… Isa Pa…

Lately, I’ve been very matakaw. And I crave for food not in the kitchen. Like this evening, while nanay and I were watching TV Patrol World, I craved for Jollibee’s Chicken Joy. Nanay already cooked dinner but when I told her I wanna have Chicken Joy delivered, she allowed me.



We ended up eating Jollibee for dinner.



Even Princess.

Abutin ang Mundo!

I can't wait for Globe Wimax to be available in our area. I'm so sick and tired of PLDT being my only internet option (unless I go prepaid, which I don't like).

My internet connection always gets disconnected every morning between 9:30 to 10:00. I don't know why. Calling 171 proves to be futile.

Miraculously, my internet connection wasn't disconnected this morning, nor the whole day through up to now. I hope it continues to behave until I get myself a Globe.

Afraid of the Rides

I loved carnival rides as a kid, especially roller coasters. But as I grew older, I became afraid of putting myself in danger by indulging in the short-lived thrill of those rides.

When I was young, we only had the Fiesta Carnival in Cubao. Then Big Bang sa Alabang was put up during Christmas seasons. If I'm not wrong, the original Big Bang location is where Honda Cars Alabang is now located. With the success of Big Bang, several other Christmas carnivals sprouted - Payanig sa Pasig, Boom na Boom, Star City, Enchanted Kingdom. Some even made it a regular theme park, and not just a Christmas thing.

I think Payanig sa Pasig had the first incident of a ride tragedy, and several others from other carnivals followed. Nakakatakot.

My last ride was like 6 years ago in Star City. And it was just on a ferris wheel. I was with my nephews and they kinda forced me to join them. I kept praying all throughout the ride and couldn't wait for it to finish, while they literally jumped from one seat to the other to make the cart sway.

Enchanted Kingdom had a mishap a few years back while students in a field trip were there. No one died but it caused trauma to the kids.

We can easily blame Enchanted Kingdom, and go on to saying how careless they were. But accidents really happen.

Even in a world-class theme park.

Walt Disney World had a tragic incident Sunday morning. And it's not even a ride malfunction. A monorail driver died when two trains collided while visitors were leaving the the theme park. Read it here.

A screenie of the collision:


Watch the video taken by a Disney World guest here.

Always Wash Those Hands

My youngest nephew’s amoebiasis struck again. He was confined at the Parañaque Med for three days beginning Saturday, June 13th. I visited him Sunday and Monday. He complained about not being able to eat because he wasn’t allowed to eat anything till Sunday afternoon. But he still complained cuz he was only allowed to eat lugaw and boiled egg.

Anyway, visiting my nephew brought back memories of being in the ICU of that same hospital some 2 years ago. And I fully understand my nephew’s whining. Even if he could eat a full meal, I know he’s gonna complain about some other things just to have something to whine about.

It’s never easy being confined.

There’s nothing to be happy about the incident, but Juansen (my sister’s eldest) was made to stay with us while the other kid was at the hospital (the father’s not in the country at the moment). Juansen and I enjoyed some bonding  moments cuz I brought him with me to my ortho appointment Monday before going to the mall, then we visited his brother at the hospital. We spent his nights here playing Restaurant City and trading ingredients LOL!

Juansen missed the first and second day of his Grade 7. No one would drive him to school. He only started attending his classes yesterday. The younger kid is doing okay now at home and would start going to school on Monday.

Rains=Brownout!

We had a little brownout yesterday. It could've been just okay but my two nephews were here and they were so bored during the brownout I decided to take them to the mall. I also brought Princess with us cuz I suddenly remembered her de-worming was already 9 nine days overdue.

When we got the vet, though, I found out two of her vaccines were also due this month. Buti na lang I gave her a bath yesterday cuz vaccines (especially that it's two) are always followed without bathing for a week.



The hard part, though, of our mall-ing was the eating. My younger nephew is on probiotics cuz his tummy has problems. He actually can't eat just about anything. And since he's with us, we also can't order for ourselves anything that he cannot eat. He even had to remove the chicken skin before eating.



But the chicken skin didn't go to waste.



LOL!

Anyway, I loved the color of this Philips earphones when I saw it at Asianic, I immediately bought it.



Anyway the video and pictures were taken using the Kodak C813 I bought last week. I'm still experimenting on it and still don't know how to diffuse the flash so it won't reflect as much on shiny objects.

3 Stars

Ok na sana. Kaso naging suns.

Unstoppable

Grabe, the Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili videos are on torrent na. How can you stop it when it's already on torrent? Such cruelty on the girls.

And I don't even have words to describe the guy.

One, Two, Three

I feel like I haven't blogged in ages. Busy, busy.

For one, Princess' coat is longish already sometimes I find myself combing her for three hours at one sitting. I'd just notice the time when she'd become uneasy or start biting the comb. For the past days, we've been sleeping 2 am-ish just combing her coat.

Two, I kinda play again. Rohan Online hehe. Not that hooked (yet), though. Just enjoying.

Three, Juansen calls every so often. No more classes, he calls me everytime he's bored. And he's bored almost every time cuz it's often just him and his computer at home. His mom doesn't have any plans yet of how her kids would spend the summer. She's busy with renovating their house in Bernabe, and she brings Jansen (the younger kid) with her. Juansen's so loner I'm afraid we're so alike. And omg, he's only in grade six and already blogging. He has aqworlds-addickz and console lover. I don't know which he updates more often but I guess he updates more than I do. LOL!

I'm still trying to plan out my Holy Week. I wanna go somewhere on Black Friday. Mother wants me to stay at home with her, and I guess if other people in the house are going out Friday, I'll just stay with mom. She can't be alone. Too risky, her vertigo attacks every now and then.

That's it for now. Haven't been checking the internet so often I don't have anything to share LOL! Princess is making a pillow out of my foot now. Laters!