Government Office Hung up on me

Should I be surprised that an employee in a government office I called today hung up on me? Should I be upset? Should I be disappointed? No, I shouldn't be. I've expected it. If I get all fired up, it would just ruin my day. There are certain things we cannot change, and we should just accept them. Does this mean I'm becoming a wuss? Am I ready to accept and do nothing? Of course not. This is a battle I can not win. Many of us have to complain to this person's manager in order to see a change. And even then, there probably won't be a change.

I called the Bureau of Immigration at about 11am, and this dude answered told me I should call back at 1pm because there is no one else there to answer my inquiries. Why pick up the phone then? And what is he doing there if he cannot answer questions? Is he there to simply pick up the phone and tell people to call back? Are we paying for his salary? Well, he probably doesn't get any salary, so he doesn't care if he helps or not. Thus continues the vicious cycle...

I would recommend to government office managers. Do a phone shop of your own office. Pretend you are a customer yourself. I can guarantee you that you will not like the service that your own people are providing. Is that how you want your office provided? I'm sure you already know that the way your people treat others is a reflection of who you are as a manager. So why allow your people to be rude and worthless. You wouldn't want your sister, mother, brother, grandmother, father to go through a bad experience, do you? Why allow your people to serve us in such a poor manner? Yes, do a phone shop, and you will discover how ineffective your people are. Just a small suggestion.

Wild Taxi Drivers

I am a taxi freak! I don't have a car yet. I'm working on that one. So I'm forced to ride taxis everywhere my legs will not take me.

Observation 1. Picky taxi drivers. For crying out loud, I always give tips, 10-50 pesos, depending on the distance. I have had so many cab drivers refuse me for going to Makati or Ortigas. Shit, I'm not going to Ilocos. When they refuse, I walk out of the cab, and leave the door open. I know that's bad. I gotta learn to relax.

Observation 2. Lots of English speaking taxi drivers. Do you think they can work for the call center?

Observation 3. Taxi drivers love to pee. I guess they have small bladders. They are always pulling over to pee where ever they want. I learned a new word...jingle. Mag-ji-jingle!!! He will pee.

Observation 4. They don't want to turn on the meter. I can understand; the meter cheats them of a higher salary. Unfortunately, they always go over Php 100 than what I would normally pay from point to point.

Observation 5. They always beep at you. If I wanted a taxi, I would raise my hand. No need to beep for me.

Observation 6. Most of them are very friendly. They like to talk about politics. Then they like to ask me what country I'm from because my Filipino sounds weird they say.

Observation 7. They like to complain about the traffic. I guess this is their first time in Manila, and they've never seen traffic before. I've been here about a year, so I no longer complain. I just accept and start to look for alternative means to beat it.

Observation 8. They like to charge extra if you're carrying a luggage. What difference does it make? You don't charge extra for my friend, do you? What an opportunistic!

Observation 9. The one with the yellow cab seem to be a better experience. They're nicer, friendlier, and smell better.

Observation 10. Race car drivers or taxi drivers? Filipinos should go into drag race now. They're very good weaving in and out of traffic. And no accident. Whoa! I'm amazed.

I have a million observations, but I guess 10 will suffice for now.

Proof that Filipinos are Poor in Customer Service

I was looking for a place to eat in Market Market a few weeks ago, and I chanced upon this interesting gadget at North Park Restaurant. Could this be proof that Filipinos are ingenious? Or is it proof that Filipinos just don't know what good customer service is?

First, my idea of good customer service in a sit-down restaurant is where the waiter or waitress attending your table serve you. When I say serve, I don't mean serve you food or kiss your feet. What I mean is that they should come around your table once in a while to refill your water, ask if you have another order, refill your drink, remove your used plates, comes to check on your table if everything is okay. This should be the norm. However, I find myself having to raise my hand every time I need a refill, or I have more order, or if I want napkin, or if I want the bill, or if I want some ketchup, some hot sauce. Maybe I'm just too demanding. But this is the norm I'm used to. In fact, good waiters and waitress upsell their products and come back if you want some dessert or anything else. Here in the Philippines, it seems like you are an inconvenience for being in their restaurant.

Okay, before you all get fired up about this, I'm not saying all Philippine restaurants are like this. Just the ones that I go to, like the ones in Greenbelt or Glorietta. And around Metro Manila. Perhaps 5 out of a 100 restaurants I go to are actually decent when it comes to service. My personal favorite for service is Bubba Gumps. They are so attentive, so fast, so nice...Oh, and Burger King! They're awesome! They can make your burger the way you want it...no pickles, extra onions and lettuce please. McDonald's crewmembers would flip out if you asked for extra lettuce. Haha.

Anyway, back to this picture. This gadget allows you to push the button and a waiter/waitress will see their electronic board that table #37 is in need of service. To me, that means they won't care about you unless you press that button. They take a more reactive approach. Me, I want proactive. If I want my tip to be bigger, I'd take a proactive approach. I'd come by your table, and I'd ask if there's anything else I can get for you. I'd keep refilling your water or softdrinks. I'd clear your table immediately so that you don't have leftover chewed food in front of you. I'd really do that. I have done that. Here, eat your shit, pay your bill, and go cause I have another customer coming.

This gadget to me is symbolic of a Filipino robot. Push the button, and I will respond. Otherwise, my battery is dead, and I will not pay attention to you.