We Discriminate (BLATANTLY) in the Philippines

I don't know where to start with this one. Should I blast at the US corporation first? Or should I go straight into my rants about the Philippines again.

I'll take it easy on the Philippines this time. Let's hit this US corporation, this evil beast they call Wendy's.

I'm not sure if Wendy's America is aware of this situation. Probably not. For if they were, they would definitely pull this job post. In fact, they probably would not have allowed this to happen.

I'm sure y'all know what I'm talking about by now; I shall not be condescending. But in case there is that one person who happened to stumble on this site and has no clue what the heck I'm saying, well it's in reference to this picture. Can you read discrimination all over it? So what's so discriminating about this, some might say? What's so wrong about the job post?

18-22 years old? What about those that just turned 23? Can you say age discrimination? Sure, there will always be age discrimination. We won't allow nine year olds to work in a chemical lab. But 18-22 at Wendy's? I need not expound.

Male and female height requirement? Can you say "little people" discrimination? My 5'1 and a half sister cannot even qualify for this position, even though she's really good workin at fast foods in the US. Ha ha. OK, there's still humor in this. But damn it? Why Philippines? Why do we allow this? Or, why do we do this to ourselves?

2nd year college? Good lord! Who goes to college aspiring to be a Wendy's crew member? I need not expound here.

Can anyone say US lawsuits? Does anyone here in the Phil wanna have a class action lawsuit against this mighty US corporation? This is a major lawsuit waiting to happen.

So, Wendy's Greenbelt One. You better watch out. I'm not done with you.

I'm guilty. I've eaten here, even though I see this poster. Shit. But I make sure I ask the worker that's in front of the register. Are you at least 5'2"? Are you between the age of 18 and 22? Do you have at least 2nd year college experience? If you aswered no to anyone of these questions, I'm reporting you to your manager! If you answered yes to all, I'm still reporting you to your manager. For not having a "pleasing personality." Will sarcasm work? We'll try.

Any US lawyers seeing this post?

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If you wanna read more, here's my letter to Wendy's corporate @ http://www.wendys.com/feedback.jsp:

I am from Las Vegas, Nevada. I am in the Philippines, and I visited your Wendy's inside Greenbelt One in Makati.

I am appalled by what I saw. Blatant Discrimination. Discrimination that we would not tolerate in the United States. Discrimination that would be in-your-face illegal.

I need not expound. I have a picture of the Job Posting they have on the glass window of this Discrimination. Can you say lawsuit ahead?

Please take care of this issue immediately. If you wish to see the photo, I already posted it in my blog @.

There's Joy in Sorrow

I've always hated funerals. Mainly because it's so depressing. Also because I don't like seeing dead bodies. I feel such a loss. Some beautiful life has gone and went. Looking at the lifeless body, I feel that life is somewhat unfair, that there should have been more for this person.

My reconciliation is to accept death as part of the lifecycle, regardless of how and when it came. Then I follow it with: There's a reason for everything. And finally, I pray that God will look over the person's soul, and the people he has left behind.

My cousin took her life almost two weeks ago. I have never had a close relative die. No cousin, no uncles, no aunts. Even four of my grandparents are still alive. So this was an overwhelming time for me. I've thought about what I would feel if one of my siblings died, my parents, my grandparents. The thoughts horrified me.

As I look at the faces of my aunt and uncle, and my cousins, I cannot begin to fathom the depth of their despair. She was only 20 years old, leaving behind her twin sister. There are so many dimensions to this story, but I'll focus on how, despite this tragedy, there was some kind of joy in this sorrow.

Intermittently, my relatives were able to smile or laugh on the day of the funeral. Perhaps it was because there's no sense in drowning yourself in sorrow. Perhaps because they were confused with their own emotions. I think it's because there's also a time when things just move on. They must move on. Me, I could not imagine anyone trying to make me laugh. I would just be too much in despair. But then again, I have never been in that situation where I lost my own sibling or child.

They drank, they sang on the videoke, they ate. Stories of the past and what's to be. In the midst of the drinking and singing and eating and telling stories, there was joy. There was a sign that life will move on.

In Loving Memory of My Cousin.

The Good Heart

I just wanted to share this quote I came across reading Filipino profiles across the internet. I am refreshed by messages like this, because I try my darndest to live a life like that. Sometimes I'm vain; sometimes I have too much pride. Sometimes I forget what I'm doing. Sometimes, I just wanna quit. Sometimes, I just don't want to care. But I am glad to come across messages that inspire. I need not explain; it's self explanatory.

"NEVER feel intimidated by people who act as if they own the world.
Regardless of where we came from, what kind of environment we grew up with, or
how small other people treat us, it all boils down on how we look at ourselves.
Social graces and languages are learned. We do not envy people who are full of
such, rather we envy those who despite of not having blessed with material
things in life are adored by many because of their good heart.."

What about you? What are the tenets you live by? What are you principles? Do you stand by anything? Does the world revolve around you? Or is there a higher principle out there that should be the guiding force of our existence?

Filipino Does Not Want my Business

My friend tried to buy a 100 pesos load from this little kiosk inside Greenbelt One, and she turned him down because my friend only had a 500 peso bill. She told him that she did not have change.

My friend asked if she could double check her change, and soon enough, there were four 100 peso bills and some other loose change.

To make a long story short, the girl inside this kiosk said that she was holding that change for the next customers.

What the frick? Holding the change for the next customers? I have never heard of such a thing. Actually, I lied. I have heard of it before. And it was in the Philippines again. The 7-Eleven on Paseo de Roxas corner Dela Rosa. What the hell? Is this the way Filipinos do business?

It happened to me twice. So it's gotta worth blogging, right? Who taught these people that this was proper business practice, holding the change for the next few customers? What if the next 1000 customers had 500 peso bills? Will she keep holding it till someone has a 200 peso bill? Mind you, we don't stink. I'm not the ugliest person in the world. I shower everyday. My clothes are decent. They're washed. I don't think it was me or my friend. This has got to be a Filipino mentality! Right? Or am I just seeing things?

Anyway, I decided to take a picture of this little kiosk, since I had my camera with me. Now, I'm inspired to take pictures of "silly people" and "silly things." and blog about them too. Adds flavors to my stories. Like they say, photos tell a million words. Something like that. So in a way, she inspired me. Ha ha.

My recommendation: take care of the customers right in front of you, and worry about the next customers later. What if you had a patient dying in the hospital. Well, let's save this medicine for our next patients. This is too much for this patient. OK, I know this is a far fetched analogy. Maybe not.

Back from the Dead

I am back from the dead. I am here in the Philippines now, and in the last month and a half, I could not write about my experiences here in the Philippines. I mean, while I was in the US, I was able to reflect on what life was like in the Philippines.

But now that I live here, for some odd reasons, I cannot spill a word. I am frozen. Maybe I am discombobulated by all the things that I am seeing here. I have had so many experiences that make me wanna tear my hair out. But I've also enjoyed so many things. I must say, I love this country more than I despise it. I know there can be a change.

Why did I ever major in Political Science? I am so critical of the government of the Philippines. Inefficienct to the max. If you were to have a relay race between the fastest government employee versus my four grandparents, who are still alive thank God, my grandparents would win by a mile. Slow government. Corrupt government. How much money do you want from me before you start to make things more expedient? Shame on you.

OK, enough ranting.