GOOD EARTH (metrowalk) = BAD DINING EXPERIENCE!!!

I am writing this, fresh from my supposed to be "fun" birthday dinner at Good Earth in Metrowalk. I just can't help but be annoyed on the way the service runs in that place. But to get you in the mood, here's the story:

June 13 2008... pay day friday for some, and for me... the perfect day to have a simple dinner with my close friends Pungpung and Ashley. Friends who i haven't spend quite some time with, since i was busy contemplating on my next career move.
Since my birthday would fall on a tuesday, and they are both busy on that day, plus the fact that i have a family celebration on the weekends... we decided to meet up and dine kanina. And since i love chinese food, we ended up in Good Earth in Metrowalk, thinking that it will give us the right ambiance, good food and good service that will complete the picture.

So there we are, we ordered beef in oyster sauce, broccoli in garlic sauce, dimsum, garlic and plain rice. There was already some confusion with the rice ordering, but never the less, we settled just so we won't spoil the moment. We were catching up with each other's lives and getting on with dinner, then the first "taas kilay" moment happened. My friend Pungpung ordered dimsum, and since she was also enjoying the other dishes, it was understandable how the serving plate was emptied yet there was still dimsum lying on her plate waiting to be dipped on the sauce above the serving plate... and then suddenly, the server took the serving plate with the sauce above it! Again, we did not want to spoil the moment, so we opted to let it pass. But then here goes the female server again, aiming to get the serving plate with the veggies obviously still sitting there! I managed to say "wag muna!" and so she left it there. I was wondering then, if there were other guests waiting to be seated or there were no more available utensils. But clearly, apart from the huge al fresco space, there were still two tables unoccupied on the ground floor and the second floor was totally empty! As if it was not obvious that we were still trying to finish what we ordered, and two cups of rice barely touched, plus the fact that i already sent a signal clearly saying we are not done yet, here goes the server again! This time, she took our plates!!!! Can you believe the arrogance or stupidity of this server!? I mean man! I worked for the F&B industry long enough to know that courtesy is a big part of this game! The three of us were already discussing what just happened, and that we are now in agreement that the service S-U-C-K-S!!! Still, without a spoon or fork left, we just thought that the chopsticks were kinda handy in case we still want to get some pieces of beef and broccoli still lying there, plus the two cups of rice just waiting. But we were already pikon sobra! Just when you thought you had the worst, here comes the server now getting the other serving plate with the beef!!! UTANG NA LOOB!!! My friend Pungpung, now with a very obvious irate tone said "WAIT! WAIT LANG HA!!". I mean come on!Nakaka-badtrip na talaga! What do they want to do with the food ba? And eto pa, the other engot server mistakenly hands another table's bill to us! Di mo tuloy maintindihan kung minamadali kami umalis!!! Sobrang pikon na kami so we asked for the manager.The first manager we spoke with didn't seem to get the gravity of our concern. Parang he just listened, nodded then left...kainis! Totally dissatisfied, i called the attention of the other manager, and told him what happened. I did not want to point out who the stupid server girl was, because i don't want to get any body fired or apprehended, i just told him na that's not the way of doing things. Then my friend Ashley saw the engot server making face pa behind our back, so totally nanggigil na siya and swore she'll make plantsa the server's face! Nakakabad trip di ba!? I told the manager how disappointed i was, because it's my birthday dinner pa naman, then he said "ganon po ba?" then he left, then came back with dessert. Ano ba? Inuubos nga namin yung beef at broccoli ng paunti-unti because we're busog na, then you give us dessert? O sige, given, the intention was nice, kaya lang it did not resolve anything. Feeling ko pa nainsulto ako or something kasi parang he was thinking i wanted dessert kaya kami nag ko-complain! Nakaka bad trip!!!! Tapos, when we were asking for the bill, walang lumalapit... we had to call the other manager's attention again to get it. Wala man lang pagaanticipate ng need. Sobrang insensitive at mind you, sobrang ASSHOLE talaga yung dating nung isang server! I mean, kung wala kayo sa mood mag serve wag kayong pumasok sa ganyang klaseng trabaho! Nakakaasar talaga!

Hindi dapat Good Earth yung ipangalan nila sa establishment, kung ganyan lang din ang pagtatrabaho nila... Ano sa tingin nyo?

SUDDENLY PSYCHO

Baka kasi you're curious why i called my little piece of cyber space "clinically bolera". Let me volunteer the info... i have, for one, worked at different industries. A lot of my friends wonder how i possibly made the jump. That's where the term "bolera" comes in. I am not saying i lied, it's just that i tend to internalize roles that are expected from me on an interview. I am not saying i did it all the time, there were numerous times i faltered... times when i am not totally sold to an idea i am trying to portray. So yeah-- i worked for engineering, wrote for the school paper, i did pay roll, customer service front line, i did a bit of acting for tv and movies, marketing, i managed a modeling agency, sold condominiums, worked for a bank, sold government bonds, treasury bills and insurance, a part time make up artist, part time singer, done my call center stint, worked for a food and beverage industry, managed a cafe' and lastly i got a dip on the I.T. world. Whew!

It's all confusing how i did it. Sometimes i too, am taken away by those. Although, i also have to give credit for some of my connections. That part actually, cuts the game short. To be more effective in a field, there should be no one, as in zero, nada, zilch, no body there that i possibly know. Not that i establish a different character every time, i just feel better when i think i'm gonna start on a clean slate. It feels fresh, because you won't be judged by the mistakes of your past. A lot of people are curious about you... and there are zero backlogs for an unfit character you have so hated. Talk about low expectations! When you start differently, you won't get the same pressures you got.

The biggest down side though is, moving on. I mean, it's not that i think about leaving it intentionally. I just have a short attention span, and i am quick in picking up, so unless i am offered something new or people are really nice, i... jump! I know i am not getting any younger. Sooner or later, i have to settle. I am not a big money fan, or maybe i just don't need it right now. Maybe it will change someday. Maybe fate will intervene. Maybe i should not over analyze things and just do what i see fit.... --- by the way, that's where the word "clinically" comes.

I Prevail!

I'm doing this because during the past days, things that i have fought for have come to be recognized. I almost, totally lost a friend due to the influence of the people she thought was treating her right. It has been a year or a bit more since i last wrote about this, and i am claiming my dignity that was intentionally wrecked by people who were trying to use my behavior to cast a shadow on their rather immoral deeds.

I am talking about the day i got soooo drunk... and the people around me getting "culture shocked" throwing words at me, while one of my then so called "friends" sneak around with some "rural" guy. Unaware of these, i was the center of attention on the provincial event. As any Manila dweller should know, no one is to take anything seriously whenever there is alcohol involved. So my free-spirited self enjoyed and mingled with the natives, being aware enough to hide my usually "bastos" self. I know for a fact that no green joke was launched that night. I was comic, yes! And i did passed out. But i did not sneaked out to flirt around and eventually answered a booty call!

It is just sad that things had to happen the way they did. I had to draw the line with what i think was unfair and unjust at all extents and being ganged upon. There were sure a lot who took a ride with my suffering. Surely, we must all be wise on whoever we are gonna call our "friends". They may smile with you right now, and be the first to point the finger, but be careful as she points someone, her other hand is creeping on your boyfriend's butt.

For the very few people who stood by my side... thank you. I cannot promise i will not get crazy. But i promise to never touch your guy.

SINO KA DITO? (personalities categorized)

Unang klase ng tao...
"SIMPLE" : sila ang mga taong ang tanging pangarap lang sa buhay ay magkatrabaho ng matino. Mga nagtapos ng pag-aaral, or kundi man, pinangarap na magtapos ng pag-aaral at maging empleyado. Sumasakay sila ng PUJ's, bus at MRT... dagdag gastos ang tingin nila sa pagta-taxi. Typical sunday nila and mag-simba at kung may pera, iikot sa SM kasama ang kapatid or anak or ka-relasyon. Hindi sila malakas tumawa, lalo na kapag hindi pa sya kampante sa kasama nya. Nag babaon sya ng lunch at mahilig sya manood ng telenovela pag nasa bahay na sya.

"PA-SIMPLE" : sila ang mga gaya-gaya sa taong simple. Sinisigaw nilang simple sila pero kapag may mga "sosyal" sa paligid, pilit naman silang nakikisabay. Bihira sila mag-taxi pero feeling nila hindi sila marunong mag-commute. Pero ilang araw bago ang sweldo, nakikisiksik na sila sa MRT with feeling diri na parang never pa sila nakasakay dun at dirty. Pupunta sila sa bar pag may sweldo pero dun sila sa may promo tapos puro sml or rh lang ang order at walang pulutan. Malalakas sila tumawa at ang karaniwang pinagtatawan ay ang mga "pa-simpleng" katulad nila.

"PA-SOSYAL" : sila naman ang mga taong tingin nila sa sarili nila ay angat sa mga taong "simple" at "pa-simple". Nagtataxi sila pag bababa sa lugar na may mga "sosyal". Malakas silang gumimik pero iba ang nagbabayad. Mahilig silang dumikit sa mga "sosyal" dahil akala nila nakakahawa yun. Marami silang "friends" na hindi talaga sila kilala at pipila na lang sa "strbx" para bumili ng frappe kesa ipambili nila ito ng lunch. Malakas sila mag-salita lalo na pag "english" at malakas din sila tumawa lalo na kapag nagpapa"belong". Madalas syang gumamit ng mga salita na hindi nya alam ang ibig sabihin. Wala syang cash. May maxxed out or ma-ma-max out na na credit card at maghihintay sya ng susunod na sweldo bago sya maka-gimik uli.

"SOSYAL" : sila ang mga taong maraming kaibigan. Lagi silang naiimbitahan sa mga event hindi dahil sa mayaman sila, kundi nagdadala sila ng ibang klaseng personalidad pag may party. Malakas ang appeal, laging may gustong kumausap sa kanya, mapagkumbaba sya pero yun nga lang medyo mahilig talaga sya gumimik. Mabilis syang hatakin kung saan at imbitahan kaya karaniwan na may sarili silang sasakyan. Laging may "cash" sa wallet, para sa mga establishments na hindi pa pwede tumanggap ng card, marami syang alam na bagong lugar at marami syang appropriate clothes.

"MAYAMAN" : sila naman ang mga taong nagpapa-"event". Hindi sila kasing "friendly" ng mga "sosyal" kaya naman gusto nilang makipag kaibigan sa mga ito. Karaniwan silang tahimik, mababaw ang kaligayahan at mahirap mahanap. Nahahalo lang sa mga sosyal at simple ang mga pinapakisamahan nila, at madalas na hindi sila nagtatagal sa isang pagdiriwang. Hindi mismo sila ang naglalabas ng cash dahil "pre-arranged" ang kanilang mga lakad. Kung hindi man, meron silang "secretary" na gumagawa ng bayarin para sa kanila.

"LANGAW SA KALABAW" : sila naman ang mga taong maraming pera dahil, a.)matapos ang pagiging pa-sosyal e naka jackpot bigla sila ng malaking halaga, or b.)anak sila ng "mayamang" magulang na binibigay lang sa kanila ang lahat ng layaw nila na wala namang pinagkakatutunan. Karaniwan silang mapang-lait sa kapwa, mapanghusga, at mahirap i-"please". Sila ang mga taong nakakatapos lang ng mga bagay dahil namimigay sila ng pera. Madalas silang lumabas, madalas silang angat sa paningin pero di katulad ng "mayaman", hindi sila kakikitaan ng "finesse". Maaaring may trabaho rin sila, pero karaniwan ay hindi susuma ang kinikita nila sa kanilang mga gastusin.