Buyer's BEWARE!!! Things you don't take for granted

Last Sunday, October 23, 2005, I had a bad experience with Ace hardware in SM Megamall. I was buying a multi-socket extension cord that was priced at 529.75 pesos. Since I happen to have used my credit card, I then realized after getting my receipt and signing the credit receipt that the item was not priced as printed. It was 20 pesos more when it was read through the bar code.

Actually, I don't mind if it is 20 pesos more expensive (in this case), BUT I do mind that the price placed on the item was different from the one in their bar code system. Looking back on this, I then wanted to blog this to point out two things.

1. Never take for granted the items that you buy and the total amount you pay. There are really some instances that a store may bill you improperly (intentionally or not). It was always my habit to always compute what I buy, especially when I do grocery. This is to make sure that when I get the total, it is approximately what I computed and it is part of my mental exercise (to keep my mind sharp). Unfortunately in this instance, I took it for granted.

2. How shops respond to such problems and desire for continuous improvement. When I went to the supervisor to air my irritation, I was surprised to hear from them, that they will just cancel my purchase. What the hell was that? I don't want to cancel my purchase, I want to have them correct the price that they gave me. Now I wonder if those suppose to be supervisors did something already to correct my complaint or they just left it as it is. Which leads me to my second point, most if not all local companies don't have systems that try to see and analyze complaints and act on them. This then makes consumers fall to such bad service and PAY the PRICE literally and figuratively.

So for those of you who like to do a lot of shopping. Be AWARE and BEWARE of such things that you might take for granted.

Blog out.....

Kitaro's New Dish: Salmon Maki

Last week during the Friday traffic madness that went with the 3 day sale of Robinson Boni, Robinson Ortigas and SM Mega, my gf and I had our stop over in Robinson Boni. For dinner we. tried out Kitaro, one of the Japanese Restos there.

My mom who had eaten in this resto before recommended a tofu dish which we liked. However, the one that captivated us with this resto is their new dish, Salmon Maki.
The taste was superb!!!!. Whoever is the Chef in this franchise Japanese Resto has definitely garnered a two thumbs up from me and Ana. It can be ordered either in 95 pesos or 140 pesos depending upon the number of pieces you will get.

The sauce and salmon together with the cucumber and sesame seeds gave a very good combination of sweetness and flavor to the maki. Quite exquisite that you want to order for more. :)

If you happen to see this resto and check out the food, I will recommend it based on my experience with them. A relatively large serving for their orders together with good food and a reaonable price. Now that I am blogging this... I am now craving for their maki. :)
Blog out.....

My long nights has paid off in Ateneo MBAH

To continue my blog yesterday, I had my last official class in Ateneo MBAH today. (October 15, 2005) I was eagerly and anxiously waiting for my consultation with my professor. She of course discussed her overall comments for all the papers and gave more recommendations for the format.

After that it was consultation time. And I was surprised to get a 3.75 over 4 (highest) for my partial paper!!!! WoW!!!!! as in WoW!!!!! I was so happy, ecstatic, jumping for joy and smiling. My hard days and nights work with almost no sleep for 4 days gave its fruit. :)

Of course, I could not have done it without the cooperation of the people I continuously asked for records, assistance and all the ways how to get data. Without them and the support of the hospital administration, definitely I could have not done it.

Now, I still need to do the last part of the paper. The strategies and hopefully make revisions in my paper to make it better. :)
After that, it is time for the last act of my term. Oral Defense in December or January 2006.

After all the work and hardship... it is almost over. :)

I also would like to thank my beloved love, Ana, for her undying support even with my bad mood during the making of this paper. Thanks honey.
And definitely without the guidance and blessing from the Almighty (being spiritual now), I won't be able to make this one.

But come to think about it, the harder part will be doing this in actual life in my hospital.
But that is another story to tell....

Blog out!!!

Staying up all night: When it is a choice or don't have a choice?

My last term for my Business Management in Health class is almost through. We will be having our last meeting tomorrow and it will be the official last class with my colleagues in Ateneo. We have been together for the past 7 terms that is almost two years plus 1 term. I am happy that it will be over in terms of having Saturday classes and get somewhat a regular weekend.

Now why is my blog title staying up all night. Well.... since this is my Strategic Management course... I had to make my Medical Business report and by December the oral defense. Now, since I have to make the paper, I almost did not sleep for 4 straight days just to make a good paper. (I hope so[fingers crossed]) I never realized how hard it is already to keep awake and still make sure I am as alert and sharp when doing the paper.

My last time to do this kind of "no sleeping" stuff is way back in medical training. Wow!!! that was sometime ago (years) and I have to be candid to say, I don't have the same stamina before in keeping myself wide awake. In this respect, I did not have a choice.

This then made me wonder... If I am going to do this kind of "no sleep" thing to do the stuff that I will enjoy, say have a grand party then this won't be a problem. I just seem to realize how it is so hard to keep awake if you don't have a choice and be able not to sleep at all if you like not too.

Can anyone give a suggestion on how to like to do a report and not fall asleep?

I am open to suggestions and who knows the one who can suggest a terrific solution might get a noble price. :)
Blog out....

Myth Busters of Discovery Channel: Two Thumbs up!

Discovery Channel have produced a nice series that prove or disprove myths. This is known as the Myth Busters. Two geeks, Adam and Jamie are the hosts as well as the myth busters. I am very much amused as well as learn from this show.
One of the things they busted is the cellphone causing a spark or explosion in a gasoline station. Local newspapers and even email caused a lot of concern regarding news of exploding stations due to cellphone use. Well, after watching this series, it was just.... a myth.

Try to check it out and I assure you, you will be entertained on how they systematically make their experiments. It is definitely a laboratory experiment with entertainment value.

Mercedes Benz Mixed Tape selection: A Free set of MP3 songs

When I got my first iPod about a year and a half ago, I was thinking of how to fill up the 20 gig capacity with songs. I have converted all my CD selection and yet it only occupied 1/4 of the capacity. (I have a small collection) And then at about the same time, I stumbled upon the Mixed tape collection of Mercedes Benz (MB).

They give a set of 15 free MP3 music that you can download. A new set of MP3 collection is given by MB every 8 to 10 weeks. It is now on its 9th set. The download file ranges from 90 meg to 110 megs. Definitely something to look forward to get and add to my music collection.

Just make sure your pop-up blockers for your web browser is turned off in order to complete the download. Hope you enjoy the music. Happy listening. :)

$100 Laptop for Children, Can it be possible to get it for our Country?

Nicholas Negroponte Chairman and founder of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) introduced the $100 dollar laptop. BBC news posted this news last September 29, 2005. This would be used for their project One Laptop for Child which will make children from developing countries have access to a computer.


The unique feature of this laptop is that it can be connected to an AC outlet or you can charge the battery by cranking up the handle of the laptop to charge it. It will run on Linux and is internet and network ready. I do hope that this laptop will create some interest to a local Filipino social entrepreneur or philantropist who will make it possible to reach the children in the provinces and remote areas.

A good example here are the children in Benguet wherein we gave some books and school supplies before for their use. They walk several kilometers everyday just to have class. There is only one teacher for all levels. Having this with them will greatly help in their education and hopefully make them have a better future.

My dream here is that a non-profit, non-stock group be able to get these laptops and have it distributed to these children in the remote provinces. Then have SMART,Globe, Sun cellular or PLDT give free access to make sure they have the capability to connect to the internet. If Mr. Negroponte has his dream, this is mine for our country.

The children are our future and making this dream to reality will definitely make the country's future more hopeful. If you have any ideas on how to make this dream for our country happen, please let me know.

Blog out.