April 21, 2009, Zest Air Flight 838

To the Pilot and Cabin Crew of Zest Air Flight 838,

Thank you for a very memorable journey. You guys really made the most out of our P488 fare from Cebu to Manila. Imagine, we spent almost three whole hours in what was supposed to be just a 1-hour, 15-minute flight! How's that for maximizing air travel?

Do you remember how the trip went? No? Well let me refresh your memories…

We were supposed to depart from the Mactan International Airport at 09:45 AM. Unfortunately, our plane which was coming from Manila arrived late, so we had a 45-minute delay and departed Cebu past 10:30 AM.

After 45 minutes of flying from Cebu to Manila, the Pilot announced that we couldn’t land as the runways were full. Apparently, there was already a line, and we were a far 15th on the list. Groans already fell from passengers when this was announced, but there wasn’t really anything people could do but wait.

And wait the people did. A little too calmly for my taste, if you as me. We waited until the speakers finally cracked again, and pilot announced that since we were circling the air for 30 minutes, our fuel ran low and we would have to – wait for it – GO TO CLARK TO REFUEL.

Amazing, right?

Yes, my friends and I couldn’t believe our ears with this news. By that time, the whole flight had already experienced 1.5 hours worth of delay, and we were going to go through even more. And in you even made the bad news more impactful by washing your hands clean about the runway traffic saying “it’s not your fault” and that there was an “unannounced shutdown” of the terminal which resulted in the unexpected queue in landing. Bravo! You sure know how to add insult to injury.

And did you notice that the time was 12:30 PM when this was all happening? And you didn’t even offer to serve snacks or even an extra pack of Zest-O to your passengers who were forced to skip lunch because of the lapse in your service? Masters of service you are.

Going back to the story…So transfer to Clark we did. We landed. We refueled – all the while on our respective seats, restricted from all use of electronics. Remember how you didn’t make us get off the plane which I heard was supposed to be SOP? i.e., no refueling with passengers on board.

We were able to take off from Clark and land in Manila without any further hitch. But, it turns out, the journey wasn’t over. I know, silly me, I should've anticipated the extra surprises. There was more traffic on the runway, which added another 15 minutes of taxi-ing to the old Domestic Terminal.

In the Baggage Claim area, we spent another good 20 minutes or so, as the carousel where we were told to wait was spurting out baggage that belonged to a different flight. It was quite amusing, seeing hoards of people doing the cha-cha from one carousel to the other, trying to figure out by themselves on where the heck they can possibly get their bags.

Amidst it all, I heard on the speakers a terminal attendant calling the attention of “any Zest Air representative” to help them sort out the confusion with the baggage. Hmmm. Looks like your staff was MIA in its own terminal?

Yes, it was a memorable 3 hours indeed. It was packed with anxiety, stress, frustration and confusion – classic elements of an adventure. Except that, we missed out on the good parts. Truly a refreshing experience from Asia’s most refreshing airline.

I do not wish anyone else to go through this hassle, so I hope you will remember this experience and avoid from it happening again. If some delays or other “unannounced” occurrences are beyond your control, then please do something about what is within your control: That is, treating your passengers well.

Apologize. Don’t put the blame unto others (or at least, save yourselves from getting into that defensive position.) Inform passengers of what caused the delay. Keep them updated on what will happen next and how long these things will take. And for crying out loud, address the grumbling stomachs! This is not even going the extra mile. Doing something more than saying “sorry” is the bare minimum for being in a service industry.

Yours truly,
Ina

The disappointment that was

KFC Cheezy BBQ Melt

Ang sarap pa naman ng itsura sa commercial. Ang sarap ng itsura sa poster at iba pang collats. Kahit website nila (kuna saan ko nakuha ang picture na to), ang ganda ng kulay. Parang saktong-sakto ang pagka-tusta ng pita, pulang-pula ang kamatis, at contrast sa oozing yellow cheese at golden brown chunks ng original recipe chicken, na siksik na siksik sa bawat isang slice.

At pagkatapos ng ilang linggong paghihintay, nakadaan din ako ng KFC para masubukan ang prduktong to. Lo and behold...

It was a disappointment for me because...

(1) unang tingin pa lang, ang layo na. Nasan ang kulay ng tostadong pita?!

(2) pag hila ko nung first slice, pati ang beautiful colors ng tomato, cheese and chicken, non-existent. bland, bland.

(3) soggy all the way. yung tortilla chip sa loob makunat. yung keso malabnaw.

(4) matabang. nothing barbecue about it. kahit cheese matabang (parang watered-down nga...)

 

Yun lang. Nakaka disappoint lang. 

Truth in advertising man lang sana. or, consistency sa pagtrain ng mga tauhan 

-- baka sablay lang dun sa branch na binilhan ko, at hindi naman kasing sama sa iba.

*sorry blurred, camera phone lang.

parting words from the paribas open

i enjoy reading interview transcripts. eeeek. this is probably the researcher in me....but anyway...just wanted to share some from the post-match interviews in the recently-concluded BMP Paribas Open where rafael nadal once again snatched the Men's Singles title.

***

....wondering what roger means when he says his and andy murray's fitness levels are different, but he doesn't feel the "age factor"...

Q. It's four times now that you've played him at one set all and come away behind in three set matches. What makes the difference?
ROGER FEDERER: Fitness. I'm old. He's young, you know. Makes a huge difference. No, I mean, those are best of three set matches. I think in the last few matches I always felt Andy came on strong, as the match went on, you know. This time was different. I think I played well in the second. Forced the issue a bit more and then played a shocking third set. It was one of those matches where it was very up and down from both ends, and today the better player won.

Q. You brought up that you were old. Do you feel the age factor?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't.

***

....one match at a time...admitting errors, but not getting stuck....always looking at the possibilities, not the potential upsets....minds of champions!!!

Q. I know you've answered this before, but why would you think winning the Grand Slam would be almost impossible, given that you've won Roland Garros four times and Wimbledon, the Australian on hard courts. You've won this twice. Is it because the year is so long, or are you just being modest that you think it's impossible for anybody?
RAFAEL NADAL: I gonna answer another time the same, no? I think when you start the tournament, you start from the first round. When I go to the tournament, I play first round and I don't know if I gonna win.
You never know what's going on in two months, in five months, in seven months. So it's very difficult to play during all the year at the same level, your best level.
Anyway, if I am playing at my best level, if Murray has a good day, he has a good chance to beat me or Federer or Djokovic or a lot of players.
So every tournament is really tough. And you are thinking a Grand Slam. Maybe it's tougher, too. Playing five sets maybe help a little bit the top players to have the better results because you have, well, more time.
But anyway, it's almost impossible. That's my feeling. I would love to have the Grand Slam. My feeling, is yeah, almost impossible.

***

Q. Do you recall struggling that much with your backhand in a long time?
ROGER FEDERER: Ah, yeah, I have those moments quite frequently.

Q. How disappointed? Are you disappointed? What's the mood? What's the feel?
ROGER FEDERER: Two minutes after the match I don't know. You know, you're just like disappointed a bit, but it was a decent tournament. Not the greatest of all time, but it was all right.
I still had high hopes for today, so I have to look forward. Hopefully I'll play well in Miami.

***

...lost in translation again! si rafa talaga nakakatawa....

Q. You seem to play every point as if it were an adventure, like something new and fun.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think so. (Laughter.)
No, no, no. I think I'm a serious player.

Q. I didn't mean you're not serious.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think my game is serious, like one time I go to the net. I think I play really similar points.
I try to have the control of the point with the forehand. That's the normal point on me. Serve, I have the control of the point on the forehand. Not one time go to the net, and another time, dropshot.
It's not like an adventure. That's my feeling. I don't know what you're saying.

Keep on pushing...

This guy is a god!!!! Nakaka-inspire. Hindi siya nauubusan, kahit ilang taon na....Ibang klase. This is the stuff every person is SUPPOSED to made of....Pero hindi ko alam paano to maa-achieve....Share ko lang, sana ma-inspire din kayo :)....

From ROCK & ICE'S ONLINE MAGAZINE....


SHARMA CRANKS YET ANOTHER 5.15


Yes, again. On February 20, Chris Sharma finished the first ascent of Demencia Senil (5.15a) in Margalef, Spain. Sharma has tucked another 5.15a and two 5.15b redpoints under his belt in the last year alone

Sharma has been climbing for 14 years, and  that’s a very long time to be at the top of a brutal game. Shredded shoulders, rolled ankles, and snapped tendons have ended many a season. In a sport where mental tenacity is as important as muscle, the added pressure of sponsors, competition, and the climbing limelight have driven still more climbers off the radar. Sharma has been pushing himself for a dozen years and shows no signs of letting up.

His first route at his local gym, Pacific Edge, was a 5.10b. Not bad for a 12-year-old kid, but not hugely impressive. Two years later, he won Nationals in bouldering, and a year after that, he established the country’s first 5.14c, Necessary Evil in the Virgin River Gorge. His ticks since then are essentially a list of the hardest and most famous routes and problems in the world. The Mandala (V12), Realization (5.15a), Witness the Fitness (V15), Dreamcatcher (5.14d), Three Degrees of Separation (5.14d), La Rambla Direct (5.15a), Es Pontas (5.15a/b), Papichulo (5.15a), Jumbo Love (5.15b), Golpe de Estado (5.15b), and now Demencia Senil.

Currently living in Spain, putting up one hard sport route after another, Sharma’s newest line may be named after senile dementia, but judging from his performances in the last 12 months, old age is a very, very long way off.

Photo credit: Pete O'Donovan, from Daila Ojeda's blog

Eye openers from the Australian Open

Watching another Federer-Nadal match made me realize something: I'm predisposed to root for the underdog.

Ever since Nadal started becoming a threat to the Swiss champion, I've always cheered Nadal on, wanting him SO much to win simply because I wanted to see someone new on top. Federer has been breezing through the tournaments, majors

 or not, and it would've been just refreshing to find someone else to receive the first prize. And I couldn't see anyone else more deserving of that glorious position than Nadal, given his improving performance match after match, year after year. He deserved to win with all his hard work!!!

But since Roger's loss on grass last year, the tables ha

ve turned. And in this Australian Open, I was whispering my prayers for Roger.

...

So it was another dramatic Federer-Nadal final.

I wouldn't say it was as epic as their Wimbledon encounter (none of those stupid rain delays!), but just as amazing nonetheless, simply because the

y are possibly the only two who can endure the long

est rallies and conjure the most out-of-this-world winners at the same time! And what made it quite a show was really the suspense, because you could never say who would seal each set. First set pa lang, they broke each other twice! Roger's serves kept giving him aces -- on the other hand, he had lots of double faults and missed f

irst serves as well! There were moments when Rafa's groundstrokes would consistently be long, causing him to lose point after point...only to find that Roger would later commit even more unforced errors.

Though the thought had been scratching at the back of my mind since Roger's loss in the 3rd set tiebreak, it was really only in the last set when I

 finally recognized it and started to lose hope. Roger was just really unable to win the crucial points. He had A LOT of chances to break Nadal in the games leading up to the tiebreak, but Rafa was just relentless. Roger was superb in mixing up the shots and the plays -- and executed them really well! -- but Rafa always had that extra energy to run and hit back, much to Roger's surprise almost every time!

I was still hoping and praying in the final set...cou

nt on me to not give up...but what can I say? It seems the pressure has caught up Federer. And  it was such a sorry sight. From the moment of loss to the awarding ceremony where he literally choked up and cried, I couldn't help but shed a few tears as well. I love Rafa and admire his discipline and still-accumulating-skill and believe that he deserves this win, but I can't help but feel deep sympathy for Roger.

Like I said, I'm predisposed to root for the under

dog. So even if the Greatest Players Of  All Time were putting their bets behind Federer on this match, I've always felt that the mental/emotional battle is always the toughest, which was why I saw him as the one with the bigger disadvantage. Nadal had all the reason to be confident and empowered -- he had been winning all his recent matches and swimming in great reviews. Federer, on the other hand, had been struggling to reach the final rounds. Add to that the various pressures...Internally, he's af

ter the 14th grand slam title to tie Pete Sampras' record; he used to dominate Nadal on the hard court surface; he'd like to redeem himself in the same tournament where he first one a major grand slam. Externally, people can't pick any better opportunity for Federer to rise to the challenge given Nadal's "disadvantage" of being tired from the Verdasco semi-final, and Nadal's first time in the Australian Open finals.

It was hard not to feel for Roger. Especially sinc

e he is such a distinguished, calm man, never flinching in his game and interviews, no matter how daunting the challenges are. But I guess we all have are moments of weakness. When we can no longer pretend to be strong and together. And in times like these, we just have to let the moment be, and allow the people around us to comfort us and share their strength. Like Rafa so graciously and humbly said, "I really know how you feel. But remember -- you are one of the best players of the history and you

 are going to improve the 14 of Sampras. It is always a pleasue to play you and best of luck for the rest of the year."

Now, it is just a matter of Roger believing in himself as much as others believe in him. Maybe, hopefully, that will make all the difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Photos from http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/index.html

2008: My year of adventure!

Early in the year, I was already foreseeing that 2008 would be my year of travel. Of course, thinking about it is one thing, and fulfilling it is another, so I'm only happy to find that I did end up visiting a LOT of places this year. Some I've never gone to, others not so new. But regardless of destination, what's so heartwarming is that all trips were packed with new adventures that continues to make me want to go back for more.

I know, I know, it may sound overly optimistic, but what can I say? The company is always great, the experiences fun, the activities and conversations unpredictable. I'm doubting if I can go on as much trips in 2009, but I'd rather not think about that at the moment ..

For now, I'd just like to rundown on where I went in 2008, say a BIG THANKS to Him who made it possible, and of course, to everyone who experienced all these things with me and made all these plans a reality, and hopefully, I'd get to travel with you guys again in the future!

   

January – Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental

Couldn't have kicked off 2008 any better than with a sunshiney trip to the beach! My first time in Puerto Galera was spent not in the more popular “swimming” spot of White Beach, but in the divers' area called La Laguna Beach (so yes, I really do have to go back there). But I wasn't so bummed with the lack of powdery white sand and long shores for sun-bathing. Instead, was pleasantly surprised with our lodging (nice view, spacious aircon room, value for money!) and satisfied with having enough space to lay our sarongs and sun-bathe (thanks to a cooperative weather, of course!) Something major to remember for future trips in La Laguna, though: Bring lots of food or order your dishes early, because resto services are VERY VERY slow!



February – Manalmon, Bulacan*

Not really an expedition but I'm counting this in because it was very memorable. We were supposed to camp out overnight and boulder for two days, but was met with very bad weather. What I ended up doing (with a handful of our group) was just hike through the muddy trail and cross the rushing rivers to the boulder area, and then back to the parking lot again. So even if I only spent a few hours in Manalmon, even if the plans didn't push through, it was such a reminder on other beautiful things that one can appreciate – nature, fresh air, flowing fresh water. It left me so hungry for more.

. 

March – Baguio*

Finally, a real climbing trip! We were a party of two cars to Baguio to catch (some) cold weather-bouldering before summer fully kicked in. In the daytime, we visited Asin and Lamtang, hopped across boulders, and attempted to climb whatever surface we can (including the pipe holes of an unused dam – or was it a sewage system?) At night, we stayed in a friend's big, comfy house that had a fireplace where we attempted to make  smores using mini marshmallows, chocolate bars, graham crackers, and barbecue sticks. Miel ended up making his own version of a “flambe”. It was also then when I first discovered Honey on the Rock, a resto by the Cathedral that serves scrumptious, filling organic food! Something I will visit for sure when I go back to Baguio.



March-April – Hong Kong*

Second bouldering trip of the year! And first shopping trip of the year ;) Miel, Dennis, Xtian, Buddy, Niknok and Jules went to join the HK Bouldering Invitational, while Nana, Alex and I went to boulder outdoors. Sad to say we weren't so happy with our first day of bouldering...spent more time hiking and searching for a climbable rock than anything #@&^!!!...but we were appeased with the Shek-O boulders, where we got to crimp and pull on more stuff. Granite was so tough on the skin but served me some lessons. As usual, we stayed in the “First Class Guest House” in Tsim Sha Tsui. Cheap, not-so-clean, but definitely practical because it's so central and has easy access to our favorite climbing shops. And what is Hong Kong without the shopping, right? :)



April – Caylabne Bay Resort, Ternate, Cavite (MB Summer Outing)

Summer means beach, and for our Company Outing, we went to Caylabne (which my mom later on  told me was formerly known as Marbella – a resort we visited when I was a kid!) It was a cove hidden somewhere in Cavite, not so big, but ideal for a company like ours which had only about 25 employees at that time. We spent the day swimming, gossiping in the pools and beaches, throwing frisbees, and counting the dead jellyfish that lay on the shore. Note that I don't know if the deaths were caused by the resort or some freak of nature (global warming, most likely), but it was such a depressing sight. On the brighter side of things, Caylabne also offered some kayak + other equipment rentals for those who want to visit with family and friends.



May – La Luz Resort, San Juan, Batangas (CKC Summer Outing)

Beach #2 was La Luz Resort for The Chocolate Kiss Cafe staff outing. It was my first time in that place, and was quite eager to check it out because I've heard of San Juan, Batangas resorts so many times from different people. Turns out that it's really a group-outing sort of place because it has plenty of large cottages where everyone can just dump their things and jump right into long coastline. The long coast, however, is shared with different resorts on opposite sides, but the water is of course open to anyone as long as you're willing to swim the whole stretch. Some bad news: I lost my frisbee there, so just make sure you keep an eye out on your things (or have someone watch over for you) as you relax in the salted sea.



May – Donsol, Sorsogon*

Wow, I had a lot of beach visits this year :) But this one was to go swimming with the whales, and swimming with the whales we did! A trip I would recommend to anyone who isn't afraid to jump in the water. The experience of being face to face (oh alright, more like on top of) the whaleshark is impossible to describe, but if I had to use one word, I'd choose HIGH. And the whole trip itself is easy! Just fly to Legaspi and take a one-hour land trip to Donsol (cheaper if you rent a van with a group, of course.) May is already off-season, so we took longer in finding the whales, so if you're planning a trip, go March to April.



June – Subic

A spontaneous weekend getaway is always fun, and this was one of them. Miel wanted to join the Beach Ultimate competition in Subic, and I sure didn't mind getting more sun. Got to “baptize” Cali's new car and ride on SCTEX (woohoo!) Then the cool surprise was our accommodation, which was a military barrack. Yes, it was half-dome shaped with bunkbed “cabins” and a single aircon unit cooling the whole thing. Yes, communal bathroom. No, not the best price, but the experience was worth it. ;) Took it easy with the girls as the boys had all the action on the beach, but at night, we all gulped down beer and chit-chatted away.



August – Dumaguete

I've wanted to go back to Dumaguete since my first taste in 2001 (?), and the city was just as laid-back and romantic as I remembered it to be. I love the small size of the town, and its resulting slow pace, topped off with picturesque Baywalk sunset and tree-brimmed Siliman University. Many  firsts for me on this trip: First NAIA 3 flight, first out-of-Manila disc tournament, and first time to stay in a YMCA. Favorite memories would be competing in a track oval field (not a wall! Wow!) and Payag Bar which sponsored the tournament and let us turn their kubo into a mosh pit.



September – Singapore

This was my first Singapore that wasn't just a sidetrip or a stopover (to Thailand or Malasysia), and my experiences completely changed how I feel about the city. I used to see SG as just a shoppers' paradise, but this trip allowed me to see the more cultural side of Singapore – and I loved it! A smörgåsbord of art shows, theatrical performances, and cultural events are available to you at any day of the year, each in one train ride, and that kind of availability and accessibility just sends a tingle up my spine. Though I was in the city for work training, cooped up in a conference room from 9am to 6pm for five days,  Singapore's efficient transport system let me visit the Hello Kitty Lantern Festival, ride the DHL Balloon, climb, shop for books, gear and gadgets, drink n dance in a bar, and meet up and feast with old friends all around. SO much to do, my time wasn't enough.



October-November – Yanghshuo/Hong Kong

THE climbing trip of the year. Something in the works for 2 years, and only happened now. And the 2-week trip turned out much better than I ever expected it to be. Despite the rainy weather in Yangshuo, though Miel and I took the long/less comfortable route of taking the land trip from HK to Yanghshuo and back, I was immensely grateful and inspired simply by being surrounded by countless limestone towers and good vibes, care of my climbing compadres. I didn't get to climb too many hard routes, but I completely appreciated earning new engrams and getting back into lead climbing shape! And even if you're not a climber, I'd still recommend Yanghsuo as a travel destination because it's such a quaint place. Think Boracay vibe, with quiet restos at day/funky parties at night, but set in mountains and crisp, cool weather rather than beaches and coconut trees. Then aside from the lively town, you have a handful of scenic spots to visit in the daytime. It's such a pretty place, and a  hardcore climbing area, that I think I'm going back in 2009 :)

December – Tali Beach, Nasugbu, Batangas

We wound up the year with trips to Tali Beach, hosted by Miel. The beach itself isn't anything special (many corals/seaweeds by the shore), but the house we stayed in is the perfect family getaway, and the cove, as it turned out, hosted the perfect bouldering spot. So the frequent trips to Tali became more for climbing than swimming. And with or without a decent meal (our second trip was spent munching on junkfood from 9am to 7pm), with or without the agitation of taking climbing to the next level, they were always accompanied by good energy and friends, which pretty much sums up what all of my travels are about.

December – Tagaytay Highlands

Though Tagaytay Highlands has never been one of my top Tagaytay destinations (read: pricey amenities, pricey food that don't taste good), it continues to expand and recently opened up a restaurant that I might actually come back for. The place is called Bistro Saratoga in the Tagaytay Midlands part, serving salads, sandwiches and pasta using vegetables and herbs grown in fields where the actual resto is situated. I also liked it for its architecture, which is much more modest than the humongous club houses adorned with large plants and ceramics that you know cost a fortune. So the next time you do drop by Tagaytay Highlands, I advise you head on to Bistro Saratoga. My other Highlands must-visit: Geraldine's Soda Fountain, for the 60's ambience.

Hope you were able to pick up some interesting points in my stories, whether it be a travel advice or climbing realization or whatever random insight. I'm looking forward to more adventures to 2009 – more in quality or quantity! – and hopefully, I will do a better job at documentation and story-telling.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!


*Stole some pics from Miel, Nana and Ge. Thanks, guys! :)

there's always a first for everything

my family and i are spending Christmas at The Tagaytay Highlands Spa. went up here yesterday, Dec 24, and going back home tomorrow. mainly my mom wanted to get away from doing all the Christmas prep work (cooking, cooking and more cooking, to be followed by house-cleaning, house-cleaning and more house-cleaning). but at the same time, the whole family is also eager to just have a relaxing holiday, complete with free, fancy massage at the Highlands Spa -- this is Merry Christmas to us!

so yes, it's probably a first to spend Noche Buena without our traditional feast of...

- quezo de bola

- chinese ham

- embotido

- roast chicken/turkey

- pastel de lengua

- merced's egg pan de sal

- flowing chilled wine

and it's a first to have, in lieu of the above dishes, a mishmash of items such as....

- american ham

- blue cheese

- room-temp red wine

- skittles

- hershey's dark chocolate bars

- krispy kreme

....all because that's all we remembered to bring: junk food! haha!

i guess it's also a first to not be opening ANY gift on Christmas Eve. not that I open a lot, but all our lives we've been opening presents around the Christmas tree at the stroke of midnight. I intended on bringing at least a few to open even while we hang out in the hotel room, but totally forgot amidst the rush to leave the house as well :) 

it's also my first to be blogging outside of work or home! thanks to my brother's laptop and the available wifi in my mom's room.

well, just to cut to the chase, it's a refreshing experience to spend Christmas in a different way. i wouldn't dare say it's not special, because it's quite the opposite. it's probably even more special because it's so pure -- just me and the company of my family, all five of us + my grandmother -- enjoying each passing minute together inside the room, wearing pajamas and watching TV! no fancy gifts, no extravagant food.....just a luxurious setting of a hotel and expensive massages, hahaha.....but really, i haven't experienced Christmas any simpler than this. but it's cool, it's fun, it's rejuvenating, and it makes me feel more blessed than ever.

so before the day expires....MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!