Sunday, March 29, 2009

McDonald’s earth-friendly food container

My wife and I went to Rockwell Mall, Makati (Side note: My wife just finished working on our family budget. It took her the whole day to look for the right template for this work and she did it so nicely.) to spend time making blogs. We were supposed to eat at the cafĂ© located beside Fully Booked but I suggested checking out McD’s in the basement and perhaps save more money.

We ordered light snacks – just enough to fill us for the next meal. When the food was served in my tray I was surprised to see a box-type container that says, “Spaghetti” on top. I took it and examined it closely. “Will you look at that,” I said to myself. It was something different. McDonald’s new container is boasting to all its competitors that something could be done to correct the damage the population is doing to the environment. I don’t need to elaborate the good effects of coming out with recyclable materials. But coming out with paper-based food containers is a long overdue idea that should’ve been done by fast food giants of the world.

The manager trainee ‘Don’ told me that the new containers are implemented in select McDonald’s stores. Out of more than two hundred plus McD’s fast-food chain, box-type containers are used in ten stores scattered around the country. That’s less than five percent. Well, it’s a start. I just hope that other companies like Jollibee, Wendy’s, Chowking, Greenwich will challenge each other to look for earth-friendly food containers more.

In this environmental conscious time, I am always applauding establishments who don’t think about profits all the time. They go for what is right and invest in something that will last longer and bigger than them. Producing box-type containers is more expensive but it should be the standard. The owners, executives, managers should always keep their kids and their kids’ kids in mind when they continue to run the operations of their business. Besides, the bottom line is the environment their family will inherit.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Bubbling Brook and the Deep Well?

Are you a bubbling brook or a deep well? In a married life, they say either one of the partner is a bubbling brook or a deep well. Simply put, one always likes to talk (Bubbling brook) while the other tends to be quiet and will not do much of the talking (Deep Well). I find this to be so true in almost all couples I know. Someone will always do the spokesperson persona, one who would give out ideas, one who would always negotiate while the other would rather be quiet, the one who would stay out of the limelight and have his/her partner do more of the talking.

Now look at yourself and your spouse. Are you a bubbling brook or a deep well? Think deeper and ask why you think your spouse is either one of that tag? Oh yeah, men in more cases you can imagine can be the bubbling brook. We don't want any stereotyping here.

Cherry Foodarama's woeful customer service policies


I didn’t know having a pen and paper would get you into so much trouble in Cherry Foodarama, Mandaluyong. My wife and I were at this supermarket at around 8 pm, last night (March 24), to survey the cheapest diaper brand in the market, it’s no joke buying costly disposable stuff.

While doing our survey, we were accosted by a plain-clothes security personnel. Apparently, Cherry do not want you to list things in a piece of paper. It can be misconstrued as spying. But are we spying in the context of the word, "spying"?

We got into a heated argument. Finally, with my wife’s prodding, I cooperated and went with him to see the operations manager. In full view of the shoppers that evening, I wasted no time telling them that it is the consumer’s right to know how they can save. I questioned their policies and line of questioning that seemed to point that we’re there to do their store harm. I belabored that point that price spying is the least of retailers’ problems in the today’s society. To win customers, it’s customer service – for crying out loud.

In all of this, I was already furious, tight-lipped, and was red in anger. The man apologized and I advised them to do something more to protect their customers. This is no ‘Marcosian’ world we live in now where people are made to be afraid of doing freely what will protect them in this gloomy economy.

Here are more thoughts for Cherry Foodarama: Did you train your security personnel (agency) to see what was written in the paper I was writing on? Did you tell your security agency and advised them to ask questions first and find out what we were doing? What warrants your security personnel’s actions to order us follow him – like Cherry owns us or something? That was rude. If indeed we were doing something wrong (and obviously not) then the best your security personnel should’ve done is to warn or to advise us for guidance.

How embarrassing, Cherry Foodarama. Your customer service policies are a shame. It's Drakonian and out-of-touch.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

My greatest fear right now

What's my greatest fear? A lot actually. I don't know which one to write about but the very first thing that comes to mind is the "scheduled" earthquake happening around this time. My friend from Hawaii, Harold, is filming his documentary flick about this scientist friend of his who, according to him, has found a way to predict earthquakes all around the world. The most famous one he predicted is the one off the coast of Indian Ocean. That one caused catastrophic damage and caused human lives in all coastline countries of Asia and Africa.

Now, the predication is towards the Philippines. My friend conversed with me through chat and broke the bad news about the earthquake that is about to happen soon. The date his friend said was March 12 - March 26th. It's March 16 and we're still about ten days away from the predicted deadline. I am particularly fearful of this one because it's coming at a time when my family and I are living in a condominium. We're at the fifth level of the condo place and each floor consist of two levels. That makes us living on the tenth level of a building, if you know what I mean.

I could only hope and pray that the big one will not hit our neighborhood. I don't want to sound selfish but I know somewhere around the country another person is praying that the natural calamity should happen somewhere else and not their community. I understand.

So what am I clinging on these days? Faith.

I'm clinging on faith and it's the only one I can hold on to in times when uncertainties in life is always constant.

I'm hoping for the best.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Men, why carry your lady's bag?

Ever since my wife ordered me not to carry her bag, I never thanked her enough.

I don't know what other women will say about this issue but I just think that men shouldn't be carrying a woman's purse. It's just wrong. It degrades men and mind you, that's no chauvinistic statement nor is it an attempt to excuse men from being courteous.

Can anybody tell me what started this practice? I could only guess why, but this 'practice' should stop. Some men swear their sexually secured and couldn't care less about carrying purses. Other men say they will do it out of 'love.' While some other men will do it for the sheer intention of helping the women they like. Whatever the reason is, I think men should change their way of thinking and ask this question: If men would carry necessary things women should do then, will men wear lipstic, put make up on, wear skirts?

I don't think the contention should go farther than that. Why? Simply because women carries stuff that compliment their look, matches their clothes, and compliments their overlook fashion. That's it. Are men accessories? Are men part of their 'overall look?' If so - men dating women like these and forces them to carry their things should think twice.

And what did my wife tell me about this? She plainly says that men carrying their woman's purse gives the wrong signal, the wrong impression. If men will prove their love, courtesy, and sweetness to their lady then why not start by giving women R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Open doors for them, listen to their needs, date your wife, give them words of encouragement...but carrying their bags? Riiiight...

We, men, can do better.