Well I am in writing mood, so I thought I would give another short post.. The Philippines is so wroth with problems.. I could go on and on about the problems of the really Great Country.. It really is a Great Country.. Good people, great beauty, beaches, and so many wonders to experience.. I really hope this post does not offend any one.. This post is for Filipino's and Foreigners alike.. It's my way of trying to wake up someone.. If this post can change just one person, it was worth writing..
So in all the strife and troubles, Would you consider yourself part of The Problem, or Part of The Solution... We all have to agree that Philippines is a country in trouble.. Now, I am sure they are many more countries that are also in trouble.. Many that are in the same or worse shape.. BUT, they are not my home.. Philippines is my home... So I am not picking on PI, I am truly concerned about it...
Please read each of the following and see what your answers would be :::::
Government : If you are a government official of any kind would YOU :::::
* Have you or would you take a bribe or small donation for helping someone with a government related issue ?
* Have you or would you price something on a government project higher than the actual cost, to have more money for yourself ?
* Have you or would you use your authority to help a friend or person who committed a crime, or have it covered up in any way ?
* Have you or would you steal cheat, lie, or mislead the public ( who elected you ) in any way, for any reason, at any time ?
* Have you or would you allow any office under your authority to be un productive, not properly on duty, or be un fair or rude to any citizen of The Philippines, or Foreign National living or visiting here ??
*Have you or would you use any tax payers money, whether from local or national government, in any form, for personal gain in which would be against the laws or code of conduct of a government official ?
* Have you or would you support and help Large Interest Groups, Companies, Friends, Campaign Contributors, or anyone, with monies or favors from your office,,, that is immoral, or against code of conduct or laws of this land ?
If You answered YES to any of these questions :::: YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM
* Have you or would you use your authority and office to upgrade you existing services, and make yourself more available to hear your voters needs and wants ??
* Would you set up Local Barangay meetings where voters could come together and voice their concerns on local issues in their place, with a copy of the concerns being given to a committee to address these problems ??
* Have you or would you give 60 to 70 hours of your personal time,, per week,,, in your office, working and overseeing, and auditing all parts and divisions of your office ???
* Have you or would you, terminate ,, immediately,, friend or family,, for any corruption or immoral act or unacceptable code of conduct of duty,, that would harm the public trust ??
* Would you make sure , to the best of your ability, that every available monies goes for the proper projects, and the enhancement of your community ???
* Have you or would you turn down, and NOT accept any types of favors, bribes, living in Large Homes, driving Fancy Cars, in which you should not be able to afford. ( Not including those appointed for use by your office. ) ???
* Have you or would you go out into your community's and talk and listen and watch over projects, and make sure your community is becoming a better place to live.. Help Schools, Education, Infrastructure, The Poor, and other important endeavors, RATHER than going to the All Expense paid Golf Trip and Expensive Dinner that the local Big Interest Group offer to you ??
If you answered YES to any of these questions YOU ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION ..
Tourism : If you involved in the tourism industry in any way at all would you :::::
* Overcharge a tourist,, just because he is white or foreigner ???
* Cut short a tour so you can get home earlier and be with friends or family ???
* Leave your guests at a tour location so you can go outside and text, or talk ???
* Let you staff be rude, or not knowledgeable, or have poor English skills ???
* Allow you tourism business to be Dirty, Out of Stocks, Hot Beer, Cold Foods, Small Napkins, No Slat and Pepper on Table, use Banana Ketchup ( I put that one in for me.. lol..) , No Knife for Cutting Meats, Loud Music, Texting Employees while on Duty, Stand by around the Entrance, Street Children standing at Entrance asking for money or selling something, Guides or others adding on large amounts to the bill, Charging cooking charges, Charging extra charges that are not stated in writing on the menu or very visible signage in the business, Allowing poor quality shows or entertainment due to lack of practice or effort, and not up to foreign standards ??????
* Have establishments to lie or cheat a tourist for your benefit, in any way ???
* To give a tourist a worse quality experience, because your friend or family owns it, or because you will get a bigger commission , when you know they are better experiences or establishments you can take them to, or recommend ????
* If you are a government tourism official, who only promote and recommend places in which you or your family or friends are invested in. ???
If you answered YES to any of these questions -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM
* Give all of your effort and time, forsaking everything else, to make sure your guests get the best experience, at a fair price, and that their once in a year vacation ( for most ) is the best and greatest experience ???
* Worry and think about future of tourism and how to improve it daily, in your actions and life ??
* Give a tourist, even in the case you will not get any commission, what they ask for and make sure they are satisfied for that certain experience. ( Ex : One Dinner or Activity )
* To give a tourist the best and most exciting and good activity, even if your commission is less, or you do not have, or even like the owners.. ( If the place is considered the best . )
* Stop and warn a tourist when you see they are being overcharged, or being mis lead, or lied to, even if you make the person doing it mad at you ????
If you answered YES to any of these questions : YOU ARE PART OF THE SOLUTION..
Now each of you can only answer for yourself.. Be honest, no one here will know, you are the only one who will.. What do you want to Be ??? Part of The Problem, Or Part of the Solution ???
I really would like to continue this post later... So tired right now.. I will have more soon...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Pricing and Failure of Business in PI..
After reading a article on a good friend,, Matt Wilkie website,, http://tropicalpenpals.com/blog/things-related-directly-about-the-philippines/would-reducingfixing-the-prices-on-hotelsresorts-and-rentals-help-the-philippines-to-boom/ , which by the way is a excellent website with lots of great information.. Plus he updates it daily.. He really works hard..
Now back to what I was saying.. I can not talk about the entire Philippines, but I can talk of my Experience here in Cebu and Especially on Mactan Island.. I would not be afraid to say most of the Rest of The Country is about the same.. Being in business here for long time, studying and watching most all business industry and tourism industry,,, I can say that the Philippines really lack a good base of business educated and lets say business smart people.. Now, most foreigners who come here to do business has somewhat of a excuse. They are trying to start a business in a strange culture, and do not understand the laws and do not study enough. Plus they come with the intention, even if they do not mean to,,, of running a business like are used to back in their home country.. Not realizing that is it NOTHING at all like that.. For Filipino business people, I really see a lack of business knowledge and business sense on basis skills.. These which they should know.. These lack in the local and tourism industry...
From my Almost 9 years living here, I can tell you for a fact,,, including some of my own,,,, 80% of business that starts here in Cebu, fails and closes within 3 years......
I am happy to say now,,, The Jungle Restaurant and Cultural Entertainment is doing Great. But through many trials and tribulations and after many failed attempts at other things...
Lets take this a problem at a time.. First lets Start with :
Pricing ---- I can see one major problem here is the major variation in pricing.. Its very rampant. You have Mactan Island Hotel's and Tourism related activity's priced almost as High as American standards.. Then you have Boracay even higher.. Then you have El Nido, where pricing is much different.. Even within one community you can find a guitar at one shop for P 1500. Then you can go down the road a few kilometers and find the same guitar at P 15,000. This is just one example, but they are many, many more.. You will find hotels priced way to high for the service and quality of the place.. Then you will find another not so high.. Some of the Problems I see here with pricing:
* Tourist numbers are low, so increase the pricing so you can make more. This should just be the opposite.
* Add on, add on.. Big Problem.. Example :: We sell our Dinner and Show Packages for P 600. Then the local street guys, or agencies, taxi drivers, ect... will add on a crazy amount such as P 1000. Selling it to tourist walking the street for P 1600. This just mostly turns tourist away because its too high.. Which in return hurts business , cause they will not go at all, which in turn hurts economy. All for just greed and trying to make a lot from one person... Bad, bad business ways...
* Knowing the merchandise you have is P 200 and you are making good profit.. THEN, seeing it is a Foreigner or White, you make the Price P 500. Which in turn, before its all over, you will not sell it at all, because most of the tourist will just walk away. When they could have sold it for the P 200 and still been ok.. So they just loose the sell all together.. BAD, BAD Business ways..
* Places already charging a over priced amount, and then hitting the customer at the end with cooking charges, corkage for bringing a bottle of water in the resort, charge for extra pillow, extra blanket.... on and on, they are many more.... Again bad business choices...
* Taxi's overpricing, No Posted Prices, and many others..
Now lets look at the other side of the coin :
Underpricing ----- You see this mostly with local Pinoy business... You see this with Sari Sari Stores, Road Side Shops, and you even see this with some upper scale business.. They make the price of things so cheap, in the end they can not even make enough profit to pay the rent, the electric, overhead... All in hopes of getting more customers.... This again is a recipe for disaster. I see this with a lot of Expat's.. They will want a P 200 meal, or they will want beer for P 30 to 35 a bottle... They want rooms for P 500 a night.... But at the same time, they want nice Air Conditioned place, with top notch waiters and waitress, with good tables and chairs, great decor, fancy surroundings. You would think, at least foreigners would be smarter than this.. But you will find many, many of them are NOT.. How can a business owner build a very nice building, pay rent, have great staffing, fancy decorations and all that when his prices are so low for that type of environment. Again bad business decisions.....
Now lets look at the next ::
Competition ----- This is another one that seems to lack good business sense, not to even say common sense.. This is done by Pinoy and Foreigners alike.. More with Pinoy... I see it everday, I am still amazed... A new BBQ Open's up in a area.. Only one there... Well in less than a few months they will be three or four more.... NOW here is where it gets even more crazy..... They will put them right beside each other... When you go to the Public Markets,,, Fruit Vendors all beside each other, BBQ all beside each other, Chicken..... Bad, bad business decisions.. For the foreigners... Bikini Bars --- One opens, soon someone will open another right beside it.. All this does is bring down the sales for everyone and cuts profits in half... The more doing the same thing in a small area, the more loss, which sooner or later causes most to close.... Same for tourism,,, If someone opens something tourism related, and its doing ok, just enough to survive, someone will come in and open the same thing very close, if not even beside... Then the one who was just making it then starts to fail, then the new one can not get enough to get started good..
Seems no one researches or does any kind of advisability studies, or market studies, or looks at any important factors when starting a business... They just do it... Then the government itself does nothing to help. Like putting limits on how many Resorts or Restaurants, or Dive Shops, or BBQ Houses, or Sari Sari Stores can be in one area... And lets not even get started on Multi Cab and Tri Bikes, Buses, Ect....... Bad Bad Business decisions...
Now lets talk about new industrial and foreign business that want to come in.......
Foreign Business and Industry---------- Here is another one... Although Cebu has a lot of Foreign companies and industry, how much more could they have.. Industry wants to open in PI.. Well lets see :::
* A foreigner can not own a business, has to let a Filipino hold at least 60% ownership.
* Have to spend a lot for back up electric system, because most of PI does not have enough electric to sustain.
* Have to put up a Large Concrete or Metal Security fence because not enough local police, or good enough security to keep out vandalism, theft, stand by .......
* Processing of documents and shipping is not computerized.. Government is so slow in processing and even doing simple documents that are needed regularly in industry...
* Corruption is so rampant, you have to figure in a budget to pay the Port Authority, Police, Mayors, Tax People, and many others..
* Over One Month a Year is Holiday or some kind of non working Holiday..... Which means your labor increases for workers to work those days......
* Have to have Security Force almost as large as the work force,,,, Just to keep the work force in line and make sure the factory does not take a loss......
* Have to Hire and Train most Top Management personnel, because they do not receive proper training here in PI, to run and operate a foreign company in the manner in which its required to run....
Now last but not least, lets look at ::
Service and Quality --------- This goes for tourism and local and well,,,, lets just say about everything here in PI..... Government offices run poorly, untrained staffing, not qualified staffing, no computers, no one in office during most part of the day..... One hand does not know what the other hand is doing.....
Then you have tourism, in which most places are not trained properly on how to handle foreign tourist.. How to treat them, what they expect, the conditions property and business needs to be kept in.. Keeping establishments up to Foreign standards, bad quality service... Taxi Drivers, overcharging, price differences, inflated prices,,, i could go on and on.....
These are all bad business decisions on the part of government and individuals here in PI.. Now if PI, could take just my simple list above, which I am sure is not complete with all the problems, and they could fix that.... WOW, how much more would industry, tourism, local economy improve and increase.. Isn't that really what we all want.. Those of us living and working here, and residents and citizens.. Is this what you want for you country and your lives... I sure know it is what I would love to see, for the country and the people... Well, I am not a Nobel Prize winner or claim to have the highest IQ in the World.. BUT, If you are one of the people who is doing something on the list mentioned above.... STOP IT... Then you will see you country get better, and your economy grow....
Now, if you are one of the people who are doing what is on the list above, and you continue to do it.. then you can credit yourself with the state of the country now.... No need to be a hypocrite and complain... If your doing those things, then you are part of the problem, not the solution.
Everyone might say,, We want to get our part, we can not stop doing those things mentioned above, we are poor and need to get as much as we can.. We want to open a BBQ next to that one, he is making money, we want to do that.... First watch and see how much he is making and the amount of business he is doing... Now cut that in half when you open yours beside his... Is that enough for you both to sustain ??????
When you see the tourist walking down the road.... Do not sell him the P 600 package for P 1600.. Sell it to him for P (900 ). You have give him a good deal, and you can see he will want to come back to visit you and your country again... You have still made P 300 for a few hours work, plus helped your country.. Tell the 3 extra friends who are walking with you, HOPING and Expecting to get a cut FOR WHAT>>> Just walking with you.... Tell them you do not need them.
Do Not Overcharge the foreigner, do not have the CR look like a piggery in your tourism business. Have all your staff trained to serve foreigners.. Have your cooks know how to cook for different cultures..
Government officials, stop making it so hard for foreign investors to come here. Stop lining you pockets with bribes and kickbacks... You are making a good living away. Start doing something that will not only help your children future, but the future of your community.. If we all do not stop trying to GET IT ALL FOR OURSELVES, and start learning how to do sustainable tourism, industry, and local economy... We are going to see ourselves in the same place, with the same problems, with the same life, still struggling, 10 years from now, while the rest of the World Pass US BY....
Now back to what I was saying.. I can not talk about the entire Philippines, but I can talk of my Experience here in Cebu and Especially on Mactan Island.. I would not be afraid to say most of the Rest of The Country is about the same.. Being in business here for long time, studying and watching most all business industry and tourism industry,,, I can say that the Philippines really lack a good base of business educated and lets say business smart people.. Now, most foreigners who come here to do business has somewhat of a excuse. They are trying to start a business in a strange culture, and do not understand the laws and do not study enough. Plus they come with the intention, even if they do not mean to,,, of running a business like are used to back in their home country.. Not realizing that is it NOTHING at all like that.. For Filipino business people, I really see a lack of business knowledge and business sense on basis skills.. These which they should know.. These lack in the local and tourism industry...
From my Almost 9 years living here, I can tell you for a fact,,, including some of my own,,,, 80% of business that starts here in Cebu, fails and closes within 3 years......
I am happy to say now,,, The Jungle Restaurant and Cultural Entertainment is doing Great. But through many trials and tribulations and after many failed attempts at other things...
Lets take this a problem at a time.. First lets Start with :
Pricing ---- I can see one major problem here is the major variation in pricing.. Its very rampant. You have Mactan Island Hotel's and Tourism related activity's priced almost as High as American standards.. Then you have Boracay even higher.. Then you have El Nido, where pricing is much different.. Even within one community you can find a guitar at one shop for P 1500. Then you can go down the road a few kilometers and find the same guitar at P 15,000. This is just one example, but they are many, many more.. You will find hotels priced way to high for the service and quality of the place.. Then you will find another not so high.. Some of the Problems I see here with pricing:
* Tourist numbers are low, so increase the pricing so you can make more. This should just be the opposite.
* Add on, add on.. Big Problem.. Example :: We sell our Dinner and Show Packages for P 600. Then the local street guys, or agencies, taxi drivers, ect... will add on a crazy amount such as P 1000. Selling it to tourist walking the street for P 1600. This just mostly turns tourist away because its too high.. Which in return hurts business , cause they will not go at all, which in turn hurts economy. All for just greed and trying to make a lot from one person... Bad, bad business ways...
* Knowing the merchandise you have is P 200 and you are making good profit.. THEN, seeing it is a Foreigner or White, you make the Price P 500. Which in turn, before its all over, you will not sell it at all, because most of the tourist will just walk away. When they could have sold it for the P 200 and still been ok.. So they just loose the sell all together.. BAD, BAD Business ways..
* Places already charging a over priced amount, and then hitting the customer at the end with cooking charges, corkage for bringing a bottle of water in the resort, charge for extra pillow, extra blanket.... on and on, they are many more.... Again bad business choices...
* Taxi's overpricing, No Posted Prices, and many others..
Now lets look at the other side of the coin :
Underpricing ----- You see this mostly with local Pinoy business... You see this with Sari Sari Stores, Road Side Shops, and you even see this with some upper scale business.. They make the price of things so cheap, in the end they can not even make enough profit to pay the rent, the electric, overhead... All in hopes of getting more customers.... This again is a recipe for disaster. I see this with a lot of Expat's.. They will want a P 200 meal, or they will want beer for P 30 to 35 a bottle... They want rooms for P 500 a night.... But at the same time, they want nice Air Conditioned place, with top notch waiters and waitress, with good tables and chairs, great decor, fancy surroundings. You would think, at least foreigners would be smarter than this.. But you will find many, many of them are NOT.. How can a business owner build a very nice building, pay rent, have great staffing, fancy decorations and all that when his prices are so low for that type of environment. Again bad business decisions.....
Now lets look at the next ::
Competition ----- This is another one that seems to lack good business sense, not to even say common sense.. This is done by Pinoy and Foreigners alike.. More with Pinoy... I see it everday, I am still amazed... A new BBQ Open's up in a area.. Only one there... Well in less than a few months they will be three or four more.... NOW here is where it gets even more crazy..... They will put them right beside each other... When you go to the Public Markets,,, Fruit Vendors all beside each other, BBQ all beside each other, Chicken..... Bad, bad business decisions.. For the foreigners... Bikini Bars --- One opens, soon someone will open another right beside it.. All this does is bring down the sales for everyone and cuts profits in half... The more doing the same thing in a small area, the more loss, which sooner or later causes most to close.... Same for tourism,,, If someone opens something tourism related, and its doing ok, just enough to survive, someone will come in and open the same thing very close, if not even beside... Then the one who was just making it then starts to fail, then the new one can not get enough to get started good..
Seems no one researches or does any kind of advisability studies, or market studies, or looks at any important factors when starting a business... They just do it... Then the government itself does nothing to help. Like putting limits on how many Resorts or Restaurants, or Dive Shops, or BBQ Houses, or Sari Sari Stores can be in one area... And lets not even get started on Multi Cab and Tri Bikes, Buses, Ect....... Bad Bad Business decisions...
Now lets talk about new industrial and foreign business that want to come in.......
Foreign Business and Industry---------- Here is another one... Although Cebu has a lot of Foreign companies and industry, how much more could they have.. Industry wants to open in PI.. Well lets see :::
* A foreigner can not own a business, has to let a Filipino hold at least 60% ownership.
* Have to spend a lot for back up electric system, because most of PI does not have enough electric to sustain.
* Have to put up a Large Concrete or Metal Security fence because not enough local police, or good enough security to keep out vandalism, theft, stand by .......
* Processing of documents and shipping is not computerized.. Government is so slow in processing and even doing simple documents that are needed regularly in industry...
* Corruption is so rampant, you have to figure in a budget to pay the Port Authority, Police, Mayors, Tax People, and many others..
* Over One Month a Year is Holiday or some kind of non working Holiday..... Which means your labor increases for workers to work those days......
* Have to have Security Force almost as large as the work force,,,, Just to keep the work force in line and make sure the factory does not take a loss......
* Have to Hire and Train most Top Management personnel, because they do not receive proper training here in PI, to run and operate a foreign company in the manner in which its required to run....
Now last but not least, lets look at ::
Service and Quality --------- This goes for tourism and local and well,,,, lets just say about everything here in PI..... Government offices run poorly, untrained staffing, not qualified staffing, no computers, no one in office during most part of the day..... One hand does not know what the other hand is doing.....
Then you have tourism, in which most places are not trained properly on how to handle foreign tourist.. How to treat them, what they expect, the conditions property and business needs to be kept in.. Keeping establishments up to Foreign standards, bad quality service... Taxi Drivers, overcharging, price differences, inflated prices,,, i could go on and on.....
These are all bad business decisions on the part of government and individuals here in PI.. Now if PI, could take just my simple list above, which I am sure is not complete with all the problems, and they could fix that.... WOW, how much more would industry, tourism, local economy improve and increase.. Isn't that really what we all want.. Those of us living and working here, and residents and citizens.. Is this what you want for you country and your lives... I sure know it is what I would love to see, for the country and the people... Well, I am not a Nobel Prize winner or claim to have the highest IQ in the World.. BUT, If you are one of the people who is doing something on the list mentioned above.... STOP IT... Then you will see you country get better, and your economy grow....
Now, if you are one of the people who are doing what is on the list above, and you continue to do it.. then you can credit yourself with the state of the country now.... No need to be a hypocrite and complain... If your doing those things, then you are part of the problem, not the solution.
Everyone might say,, We want to get our part, we can not stop doing those things mentioned above, we are poor and need to get as much as we can.. We want to open a BBQ next to that one, he is making money, we want to do that.... First watch and see how much he is making and the amount of business he is doing... Now cut that in half when you open yours beside his... Is that enough for you both to sustain ??????
When you see the tourist walking down the road.... Do not sell him the P 600 package for P 1600.. Sell it to him for P (900 ). You have give him a good deal, and you can see he will want to come back to visit you and your country again... You have still made P 300 for a few hours work, plus helped your country.. Tell the 3 extra friends who are walking with you, HOPING and Expecting to get a cut FOR WHAT>>> Just walking with you.... Tell them you do not need them.
Do Not Overcharge the foreigner, do not have the CR look like a piggery in your tourism business. Have all your staff trained to serve foreigners.. Have your cooks know how to cook for different cultures..
Government officials, stop making it so hard for foreign investors to come here. Stop lining you pockets with bribes and kickbacks... You are making a good living away. Start doing something that will not only help your children future, but the future of your community.. If we all do not stop trying to GET IT ALL FOR OURSELVES, and start learning how to do sustainable tourism, industry, and local economy... We are going to see ourselves in the same place, with the same problems, with the same life, still struggling, 10 years from now, while the rest of the World Pass US BY....
Thursday, November 25, 2010
How to Treat Foreign Tourist in PI.
First off let me say sorry to all my followers.. I have not written for a long time. It seems have been so busy with the business and i am making a travel guide for Mactan Island. Started weekend events here at The Jungle, and along with seems a thousand other things, I have not had a chance to write much.. Anyways....
I have long tried so hard to teach and mentor my Filipino Staff here about service and about how to treat a foreign guests while they are here in PI.. I want to pull my hair out !!!!!!!! Seems no matter how much I teach them, or how much i try, it just seems I can not get through.. I laid in bed the other night and really tried to think how can I get this across.. What am I doing wrong... Its not only with them, but I seem to see it everywhere, in all kinds of business.
The part i have tried to teach them is that foreigners are so much of a different culture, that service and things in which are normal and acceptable to them, a foreigner ( especially white ) will find unappealing and bad.. I tell them you have to be so careful in everything you do.. Things like large size napkins, knife with meats, salt and pepper on the table, serve the drinks first, fill the glass with ice, no bones in the fish, no little bones in the meats, no hair on the pork, cut vegetables into bite size pieces, no big pieces of fat, pork chops should be larger than 1/16 of inch thick, greet you guests at the door. All of these things are just normal small things in which a foreign guests will expect. Its really not a big extravagant extra.. But just normal things they are accustom to in their country..
Coffee cup needs to be full, not half, do not move foods on the buffet with you hands, bring out dishes all together, COLD beer does not mean room temperature, and I could go on and on... Now for us foreigners this is just second nature and its just normal and not a big deal.. But here, its actually a special go out of the way, very fancy and very demanding to do those things. I find my staff getting so nervous and shaken when we large groups of foreigners ( especially white ) and they really have to try hard to get those few things in order and correct..
Now do not get me wrong. I have a very well trained and experienced staff and waiters and waitress who are very knowledgeable in service of foreign guests.. It is the new ones, and even sometimes the older ones who I still have to remind of some of the small things... Now, I have wondered, WHY????? So as i thought about it more, I come to the same conclusion as I have about other things... They have never experienced that, and they have been born and raised void of those types of things... So its really hard to teach them because they do not use it in their daily lives, and even in general the culture does not use some of the simple things...
I thought, take me and say ok, now organize and set up this fiesta, or this meal, or what ever.. Do it Filipino Style, that will please Filipino.... I also would not know or have a clue as to what to do.. I have not experienced that enough to be able to do it.. I also would probably leave out things and forget things because I am only doing it from being taught, not from real experience, or real visual on hand experience...
Soooo.. My solution was, I started taking them to Places that cater to only Foreigners and their way.. Some times to Foreigners homes where I am invited and allowed to bring someone, and to let them see first hand how it really is... I will have to say, its has been a blast.. So funny at times I really get big laugh... On the other hand, when they also take me to their homes, they really get a big laugh out of me also.....
I have long tried so hard to teach and mentor my Filipino Staff here about service and about how to treat a foreign guests while they are here in PI.. I want to pull my hair out !!!!!!!! Seems no matter how much I teach them, or how much i try, it just seems I can not get through.. I laid in bed the other night and really tried to think how can I get this across.. What am I doing wrong... Its not only with them, but I seem to see it everywhere, in all kinds of business.
The part i have tried to teach them is that foreigners are so much of a different culture, that service and things in which are normal and acceptable to them, a foreigner ( especially white ) will find unappealing and bad.. I tell them you have to be so careful in everything you do.. Things like large size napkins, knife with meats, salt and pepper on the table, serve the drinks first, fill the glass with ice, no bones in the fish, no little bones in the meats, no hair on the pork, cut vegetables into bite size pieces, no big pieces of fat, pork chops should be larger than 1/16 of inch thick, greet you guests at the door. All of these things are just normal small things in which a foreign guests will expect. Its really not a big extravagant extra.. But just normal things they are accustom to in their country..
Coffee cup needs to be full, not half, do not move foods on the buffet with you hands, bring out dishes all together, COLD beer does not mean room temperature, and I could go on and on... Now for us foreigners this is just second nature and its just normal and not a big deal.. But here, its actually a special go out of the way, very fancy and very demanding to do those things. I find my staff getting so nervous and shaken when we large groups of foreigners ( especially white ) and they really have to try hard to get those few things in order and correct..
Now do not get me wrong. I have a very well trained and experienced staff and waiters and waitress who are very knowledgeable in service of foreign guests.. It is the new ones, and even sometimes the older ones who I still have to remind of some of the small things... Now, I have wondered, WHY????? So as i thought about it more, I come to the same conclusion as I have about other things... They have never experienced that, and they have been born and raised void of those types of things... So its really hard to teach them because they do not use it in their daily lives, and even in general the culture does not use some of the simple things...
I thought, take me and say ok, now organize and set up this fiesta, or this meal, or what ever.. Do it Filipino Style, that will please Filipino.... I also would not know or have a clue as to what to do.. I have not experienced that enough to be able to do it.. I also would probably leave out things and forget things because I am only doing it from being taught, not from real experience, or real visual on hand experience...
Soooo.. My solution was, I started taking them to Places that cater to only Foreigners and their way.. Some times to Foreigners homes where I am invited and allowed to bring someone, and to let them see first hand how it really is... I will have to say, its has been a blast.. So funny at times I really get big laugh... On the other hand, when they also take me to their homes, they really get a big laugh out of me also.....
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Trip to The Mall - Understanding the Purpose
For many years here I have had the opportunity to go to most of the major malls in Manila and also here in Cebu and Mactan Island. While I was at SM Mall yesterday with my wife, we were going to the bank to check on some issues. Very simple task, not complicated, and I assumed we would get it done rather quickly. We went to the bank, stood in the normal long line and finished our business and we were done. Four hours later we exited the mall...... We bought nothing, was looking for nothing, so I said to myself, what the hell are we doing. I found myself caught up in the culture of what I would call " Malling "...
I noticed as we walked around, lots and lots of young people, and many others. 90% of them carried no bags, had no merchandise with them. As I followed my wife, we would walk down this way, then into this shop for a few moments, then out, up the escalators and again another shop. I found myself looking at items that I had no interest in or cared the least thing about. We would sit down a while, then off again. Walking, up, down, pass the same place three or four times. It actually took me a while to realize, when I finally stopped and said, what the hell are we doing??
We had no extra money to spend, we was looking for nothing special. Then as I looked around and watched others, I could see that most all were doing the same thing. At that moment I knew I had been here a long time. I would have never done that in the States. Just another wonderful Culture Experience to visit the malls with no money, and nothing to go for except just going.
Oh and by the way, walking in the malls in PI, are a lot like the traffic on the roads. No organization, no yielding, it a who ever gets there first. Lot of chicken playing, if you know what I mean.. One person walking towards you, on the same direct path as you, then its like ok, which one will get out of the way first. How close can you get, will he move, then at the last moment, someone will give way, or its very possible you can end up face to face in a stand off, looking at each other, and saying nothing. lol ha ha ha ha... I notice this with the Filipino's very much. Of course as a foreigner they tend to give way at the last moment for me... My wife, well lets just say if you are in the mall with her, look out. She walks through middle of groups, straight forward, backwards, cuts lines, she does not move for no one. lol ha ha ha.. I am constantly pulling her from side to side, tapping her on the shoulder to tell her watch out someone is trying to get through.. Its just really a completely different way than I am used to.
Getting on the escalator sometimes she will be already to the top, while I am still trying to get on and be proper with yielding and trying orderly to get on. I find when i hesitate to let someone who arrives at the same time as me, then 10 others will start right in behind them, and I am left standing there still trying to get on... Not to mention riding multi cabs, V Hires....
Once I was waiting for a V Hire. I thought I would be smart, so I stood at the edge of the road. I kept looking around, seen no one much. A few behind me sitting down on a bench. I thought to myself, dam I got this one. So I patiently waited and here the V Hire come. I said to myself, I was smart and will get a good seat.. I looked around again, very stealthily, like a secret agent.. No one much in sight, no movement around me, I got it. The V Hire stopped and opened the door, before I could make one step...... Dam, it was full. Coming past me on all sides like bullets, from out of the bushes, and just from no where. They had to see me standing there so long in the front. They had to know I paid my dues waiting in the hot sun. Honorably I should have got on first... Did not happen... It was like a swarm of killer bees, and I was in their way.. lol ha ha ha.
The funniest part was the driver was standing there waving me with a very fast hand motion like, hurry, hurry they are coming..... lol ha ha ha... What a life.....
I noticed as we walked around, lots and lots of young people, and many others. 90% of them carried no bags, had no merchandise with them. As I followed my wife, we would walk down this way, then into this shop for a few moments, then out, up the escalators and again another shop. I found myself looking at items that I had no interest in or cared the least thing about. We would sit down a while, then off again. Walking, up, down, pass the same place three or four times. It actually took me a while to realize, when I finally stopped and said, what the hell are we doing??
We had no extra money to spend, we was looking for nothing special. Then as I looked around and watched others, I could see that most all were doing the same thing. At that moment I knew I had been here a long time. I would have never done that in the States. Just another wonderful Culture Experience to visit the malls with no money, and nothing to go for except just going.
Oh and by the way, walking in the malls in PI, are a lot like the traffic on the roads. No organization, no yielding, it a who ever gets there first. Lot of chicken playing, if you know what I mean.. One person walking towards you, on the same direct path as you, then its like ok, which one will get out of the way first. How close can you get, will he move, then at the last moment, someone will give way, or its very possible you can end up face to face in a stand off, looking at each other, and saying nothing. lol ha ha ha ha... I notice this with the Filipino's very much. Of course as a foreigner they tend to give way at the last moment for me... My wife, well lets just say if you are in the mall with her, look out. She walks through middle of groups, straight forward, backwards, cuts lines, she does not move for no one. lol ha ha ha.. I am constantly pulling her from side to side, tapping her on the shoulder to tell her watch out someone is trying to get through.. Its just really a completely different way than I am used to.
Getting on the escalator sometimes she will be already to the top, while I am still trying to get on and be proper with yielding and trying orderly to get on. I find when i hesitate to let someone who arrives at the same time as me, then 10 others will start right in behind them, and I am left standing there still trying to get on... Not to mention riding multi cabs, V Hires....
Once I was waiting for a V Hire. I thought I would be smart, so I stood at the edge of the road. I kept looking around, seen no one much. A few behind me sitting down on a bench. I thought to myself, dam I got this one. So I patiently waited and here the V Hire come. I said to myself, I was smart and will get a good seat.. I looked around again, very stealthily, like a secret agent.. No one much in sight, no movement around me, I got it. The V Hire stopped and opened the door, before I could make one step...... Dam, it was full. Coming past me on all sides like bullets, from out of the bushes, and just from no where. They had to see me standing there so long in the front. They had to know I paid my dues waiting in the hot sun. Honorably I should have got on first... Did not happen... It was like a swarm of killer bees, and I was in their way.. lol ha ha ha.
The funniest part was the driver was standing there waving me with a very fast hand motion like, hurry, hurry they are coming..... lol ha ha ha... What a life.....
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Manila Bus Hostage Crisis - Black Eye for Philippines
First off let me start by saying, here at The Jungle Restaurant we serve many Chinese and Hong Kong Guests. I would like to say from The Jungle and all Filipino's, we are very sorry this tragedy occurred. We condemn this act of taking of human life, by a crazy mad man. We can not control the acts of one deranged man. Our heart felt condolences go out to the family and friends who lost loved one in this horrific event. Although our police force tried with the best of their ability, it was not good enough to secure the situation in a proper time frame. We again apologize for not being able to protect your countrymen properly while they visited us here in Philippines.
We do hope that as your disappointment and anger eases, you will know that this was one man, and a isolated instance, and not all Filipino's are like this. Nor, is this country unsafe for you to visit. China, Hong Kong and Philippines has had a long history of traveling, working together. I feel like that can continue for many years to come.
What really happened? What went out of control ? I will not get into all of the fine details of who did what, who should have done what, or how the event was handled. It's all on the videos, not really a lot of excuses can be made. The thing I wanted to discuss here, is what brings such a event as this to happen? I think we are so wrapped up in the horror and the not handling correctly the situation, in these early stages, that we still have to take time to think about why this happened. Before I go further, I will say, they is no reason for any person, no matter what happen to them, to act in this manner. That is not what I am after here. What I am after is what makes these things happen. I am firm believer you can bandage a problem, but you never really solve it unless you can get to the root of it, and stop it there.
What has went through my mind here lately is, what if the gunman was really innocent of his charges? What if he did not extort money from anyone, and he was railroaded by a corrupt system? ( Very Possible ) What if he actually did the crime he was accused of, but because of the Cultural acceptance of these kinds of acts, he feels he done nothing wrong ? ( Very possible ) Something was for sure really wrong here. He did not take this action for no apparent reason, he did not seem to be a real mentally disturbed person. So to get to the root of the problem, we have to wonder why he would do this ? What outcome did he think would happen ? Surely he did not think he would get his job back, everyone would say sorry, and he would return to a normal life. Ohhh. wait, maybe he did....... Maybe from the culture of The Philippines, from the weakness to catch murders, corrupt politicians, and the culture of excuse making, killing, and many who are never brought to justice. Or, if they are brought to justice, they are let go. Some rule with fear, killings, and blackmail... Maybe he actually thought since he was a high level police official it would all be washed under the rug somehow.
Think about it, Marco ruled with a iron fist, and never spent a day in jail. Thousands of Political killings, and force used to control elections are never punished. Arroyo accused of wasting and hording millions and millions. She will probably never see a day in jail.. Kidnapping for ransom, using a organization as your cover, never go punished. Rampant police corruption, exhortation of money, clubs paying cops off, politicians taking bribes, buying votes, fixers. We see it everyday, we all know who they are, they are never punished. I know and see daily and openly illegal activity's being done by high ranking officials and police. Everyone knows it. No one punished, even if caught, the culture has a forgiving attitude. Could this have played a role in his thinking???
Then you have the other side. Maybe he did the crime he was found guilty of, but because of culture and attitude which has run rampant here in Philippines for so many years, he felt he done nothing wrong. Maybe he felt he was being treated unfairly, because everyone does it. It common practice, its lets say ""acceptable"". Maybe the culture has molded his mind that he really, really thinks he has done nothing wrong. Now being a foreigner here, I can tell for sure, that I have seen this in almost everyone I know here. I know it to be a fact that one of the biggest mind blowing experiences I have witness here is the cultural values of taking or extorting, or scamming money from foreigners, dating a foreigner and having a Filipino boyfriend, not paying back a debt because you are poor, throwing trash onto a property owned by a rich person that can afford to have it cleaned, is all acceptable and nothing at all wrong with it... Even a young lady who works for me, has a Filipino boyfriend which she fights constantly with. I asked her why she does not leave him and go with another Filipino boy who likes her very much. She says " It will make me look like a easy girl or a bad woman." This same girl, many, many times has gone out with foreigners on a date, two or three a week sometimes for gifts, money, and free foods, ect... But she says they is nothing at all wrong with that. Everyone understands that. Could these be some of the issues in which has caused situations like the horror in Manila.
For sure we have to agree, something more than just being a mental case caused this to happen. I often wonder, what he really thought the outcome would be? What did he really think was going to happen? Maybe we will never know. The culture of the USA, where disgruntled employees do things such as this a lot more than here in PI. Do they face the same thing??
For what ever reason, it should have never happened. But these are the day and times we all live in. Here in Philippines and all around the world. To be harsh on The Philippines for this, is just unfair. This happens all over the world daily, in some form, in some way, in every country. Unlucky I guess it was Philippines turn... I started thinking about all this from reading a comment on a blog from a Hong Kong resident that said , " I have fond memories of my time in the Philippines. I hate that this happened, but the police should have done better. Since my last trip 20 years ago I have seen no change in Philippines. Other countries move on, prosper, move forward. Philippines has stayed the same for 20 years with no improvement" ( quoted from Facebook by Hong Kong resident. )
Now we all have to wonder, why is that....... What can we do to improve??? This is my home now, even I am not a Filipino, I have a stake in what happens here.
We do hope that as your disappointment and anger eases, you will know that this was one man, and a isolated instance, and not all Filipino's are like this. Nor, is this country unsafe for you to visit. China, Hong Kong and Philippines has had a long history of traveling, working together. I feel like that can continue for many years to come.
What really happened? What went out of control ? I will not get into all of the fine details of who did what, who should have done what, or how the event was handled. It's all on the videos, not really a lot of excuses can be made. The thing I wanted to discuss here, is what brings such a event as this to happen? I think we are so wrapped up in the horror and the not handling correctly the situation, in these early stages, that we still have to take time to think about why this happened. Before I go further, I will say, they is no reason for any person, no matter what happen to them, to act in this manner. That is not what I am after here. What I am after is what makes these things happen. I am firm believer you can bandage a problem, but you never really solve it unless you can get to the root of it, and stop it there.
What has went through my mind here lately is, what if the gunman was really innocent of his charges? What if he did not extort money from anyone, and he was railroaded by a corrupt system? ( Very Possible ) What if he actually did the crime he was accused of, but because of the Cultural acceptance of these kinds of acts, he feels he done nothing wrong ? ( Very possible ) Something was for sure really wrong here. He did not take this action for no apparent reason, he did not seem to be a real mentally disturbed person. So to get to the root of the problem, we have to wonder why he would do this ? What outcome did he think would happen ? Surely he did not think he would get his job back, everyone would say sorry, and he would return to a normal life. Ohhh. wait, maybe he did....... Maybe from the culture of The Philippines, from the weakness to catch murders, corrupt politicians, and the culture of excuse making, killing, and many who are never brought to justice. Or, if they are brought to justice, they are let go. Some rule with fear, killings, and blackmail... Maybe he actually thought since he was a high level police official it would all be washed under the rug somehow.
Think about it, Marco ruled with a iron fist, and never spent a day in jail. Thousands of Political killings, and force used to control elections are never punished. Arroyo accused of wasting and hording millions and millions. She will probably never see a day in jail.. Kidnapping for ransom, using a organization as your cover, never go punished. Rampant police corruption, exhortation of money, clubs paying cops off, politicians taking bribes, buying votes, fixers. We see it everyday, we all know who they are, they are never punished. I know and see daily and openly illegal activity's being done by high ranking officials and police. Everyone knows it. No one punished, even if caught, the culture has a forgiving attitude. Could this have played a role in his thinking???
Then you have the other side. Maybe he did the crime he was found guilty of, but because of culture and attitude which has run rampant here in Philippines for so many years, he felt he done nothing wrong. Maybe he felt he was being treated unfairly, because everyone does it. It common practice, its lets say ""acceptable"". Maybe the culture has molded his mind that he really, really thinks he has done nothing wrong. Now being a foreigner here, I can tell for sure, that I have seen this in almost everyone I know here. I know it to be a fact that one of the biggest mind blowing experiences I have witness here is the cultural values of taking or extorting, or scamming money from foreigners, dating a foreigner and having a Filipino boyfriend, not paying back a debt because you are poor, throwing trash onto a property owned by a rich person that can afford to have it cleaned, is all acceptable and nothing at all wrong with it... Even a young lady who works for me, has a Filipino boyfriend which she fights constantly with. I asked her why she does not leave him and go with another Filipino boy who likes her very much. She says " It will make me look like a easy girl or a bad woman." This same girl, many, many times has gone out with foreigners on a date, two or three a week sometimes for gifts, money, and free foods, ect... But she says they is nothing at all wrong with that. Everyone understands that. Could these be some of the issues in which has caused situations like the horror in Manila.
For sure we have to agree, something more than just being a mental case caused this to happen. I often wonder, what he really thought the outcome would be? What did he really think was going to happen? Maybe we will never know. The culture of the USA, where disgruntled employees do things such as this a lot more than here in PI. Do they face the same thing??
For what ever reason, it should have never happened. But these are the day and times we all live in. Here in Philippines and all around the world. To be harsh on The Philippines for this, is just unfair. This happens all over the world daily, in some form, in some way, in every country. Unlucky I guess it was Philippines turn... I started thinking about all this from reading a comment on a blog from a Hong Kong resident that said , " I have fond memories of my time in the Philippines. I hate that this happened, but the police should have done better. Since my last trip 20 years ago I have seen no change in Philippines. Other countries move on, prosper, move forward. Philippines has stayed the same for 20 years with no improvement" ( quoted from Facebook by Hong Kong resident. )
Now we all have to wonder, why is that....... What can we do to improve??? This is my home now, even I am not a Filipino, I have a stake in what happens here.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Jungle Restaurant - Drawing a Line in The Sand
I am sure everyone who reads these entry's are tired of hearing about The Jungle Restaurant. I can not blame everyone for that. But, since it is a big part of my life, well come to think of it, it consumes my life daily. It stands to reason you will hear a lot about it in my writings. We are very proud here to have worked really hard and to support and promote the Filipino and Filipino Culture to the Entire World. It has come at a great sacrifice and suffering on our part also. From the first time I moved here over 8 years ago, I seen something beneath all the corruption, beneath all the lies, deceit, scams, and even beneath the poverty. I seen a nation full of history, culture, diversity and pride. This has also come at great sacrifice and suffering for the Filipino.
In starting this business I knew it would be a struggle, and would be a uphill battle. Getting support for Filipino Cultural Dance, Filipino Heritage and Traditions from Filipino's themselves is a hard battle. If you have a Westernized venue, or theme, its much more accepted and patronized than a Traditional Themes. But, even knowing this, It was something that needed to be done. Not just done in a limited and sometimes put in the back of class, ( so to speak). But promoted, organized, accessible, activity for tourist and locals alike to enjoy and witness on a daily basis. This has come at great cost to my wife and I. Working long hours, spending days and days on the phone. Inviting and inviting people from all around to come and witness this time honored art form. The struggle's and time and money we have involved is staggering to what we have been give in return financially. But we did not quit or give up. Even through times when we did not know where to turn, how we would survive the next day. We stayed the course. We turned not away to yet see another business fall by the waist side here in PI. Not again to sacrifice the Heritage and Traditions of the Filipino for a mere profit...
Look at us now... We have come through the dark times, we have stood strong and endured. You might ask, well this is all great and good, but whats the point your trying to make here. Here is the point. Not only did The Jungle do all of this through hard work, integrity, sweat and suffering. WE DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND. We will allow no one to cross that line. We not only represented the Filipino Culture and Way of Life to the entire world. We done it, without allowing any of the corruption, or allowing any of the so called Under the table moves in which has plagued the reputation of This Country for so many years. How could we be representing the Heritage and Culture of The Filipino and still allow this. If we allowed that, then again we are just prostituting the values and culture again.
We drawn the line and said, " we will not allow this line to be crossed". Major newspapers have contacted us so many time from all around Philippines. We would love to do a article on The Jungle and its Representation of The Filipino. But you have to pay the hosts airline tickets, you have to pay for their transportation, you have to pay a rescheduling fee, and talent fee. WAIT, WAIT, I thought you wanted to cover The Filipino Heritage and Traditions because you are proud of it. Sounds more like you are trying to pocket money, and scam. You crossed the line and no thank you we decline your offer. Anytime they wish to cover The Jungle for the correct purpose, we will be happy to feed you and cater to you, but we will not be part of such corruption for the greed of money. Will defeat all we are working for here if we do that.
We drawn the line when " Trip na Trip " a well know ABS-CBN affiliate said the same thing. Received the email. Trip na Trip is coming to Cebu and would love to cover you Restaurant. We feel it would make a great addition to Tourism and to The promotion of The Filipino People. We were so proud. I replied, thank you and I will sponsor your whole staffing and drivers with Free Meals and Drinks. We will help to promote the airing over the internet and our media contacts. The reply from Trip na Trip. Ok, but due to scheduling problems we will have to ask that you pay for the flights of the cast and crew, plus transportation charges, and a rescheduling fee if you shall wish us to cover your venue. WAIT, WAIT, you said you would love to cover it because of the pride and how good it would be for tourism and the Filipino.. NO thank you, I decline your offer, you have crossed the line..
We have also said :
* No we will not allow you overcharge a tourist in our establishment.
* No we will not allow our shows to be shorten so you " the guide" can go home early.
* No we do not allow stand by's to stand outside and aggravate the guests.
* No we do not allow taxi touts to scam guests.
* Yes we take plate numbers and car numbers of each and every taxi. If you overcharge, you will be reported.
* Yes dancers, you will practice at least four times a week. Yes we will demand perfection.
* Yes Kitchen staff, you will prepare the food in a timely manner.
* Yes Waiters and Waitress you will be knowledgeable you will be friendly, and your service will be what The Filipino is Famous for.
* Yes marketing and stocks staff, you will not run out of stocks for our customers.
* No they will be no hidden charges, cooking fees, or anything allowed.
* Yes if a manager or owner is asked for you will get to speak with someone.
* Yes if they is a problem, or dis pleasure with your experience, we will make it correct to your wishes, and fix the problem so it does not happen in the future.
* No they will be no cell phone use during working hours.
* No local travel agents we will not serve your guests a P 150 meal while you charge P 1500 for our package.
* No we will not give you, taxi driver, tricycle driver, or anyone commissions for bringing someone here to The Jungle, when they have already requested you to bring them here, or they have a flier or advertisement, or even a internet booking already. You will have to actually work and promote if you want a commission.
* No to the local travel agents who call with such friendly words and acts of their interest in our business , IF we can """HOST"" your monthly meeting for 20 people, when in fact 80% of your business is ticketing only. Plus the fact you have no intentions of including us in your tours. ( We know this through many that have already failed us, and never did anything when we hosted their event.) ( This problem does not exist with Foreign Travel Agents.)
* We say no to the local resorts if they try to give guests coming to the business a hard time with transportation, in the hopes they will stay inside the resorts.
* We say no to event planners, guides, or anyone who we see undermining guests that are reserved to attend The Jungle, and they are co horsed into going to other establishments for commissions from family or friends. In the lack of quality and price in which they do not care. We go straight to the guests or to the agency in which they work for, and let them know what is going on. We do it right in front of the person. We do not hold back or allow such things.
* We say yes to the Great Filipino guides, event planners, agency's and support them, and work with them, and always are ready to change or do what they ask of us.
These are just some of the things that we have said. Do not cross that line. How much easier would have our job have been if we allowed these things. How much quicker might we have grown. But to what expense, selling out what we are actually trying to protect and promote. We advertise " A True Philippine Experience ". We have more respect then to allow those things to happen, if we did, that is really not the true Philippine Experience. Its only a sell out. Filipino's are better than that really.
So when you hear or see about our Place, remember it is real deal. Even behind the scene. Filipino's, when you hear or see the shows and the business, remember that you can actually really for sure, feel proud and honored that it is a true representation of what a Filipino really is. Do I take credit for this success. NO... I am just a American with a lovely Filipina wife, who has been a catalyst, leader, and adviser that has allowed the amazing staff of Filipino's to see and understand, and be very proud of their ability, Heritage, Culture. No money can buy that, no worth can pay for that. If i done anything, all i done was let them see me struggle beside them, and say no. Even when I could have profited more, easily taken things that would have made success more easily, I could have taken the easy road..
So now The Jungle has grown into a major Tourist Attraction. People from many countries are knowing and finding out about us. Appearing now on TV, Newspapers, and media all around the World. ( Still not in Philippine Media to much. ) Its been a struggle, even at great personal sacrifice and suffering for my wife and I. So who do i give credit. The Filipino people. DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND, and say, I will not allow that line to be crossed, for no reason.
** Draw a line in the Sand - Its a old Phrase, in which I am not sure where originated, which means. " Our feelings on a subject or our beliefs are this.. The line represents if you intrude, dis obey, or go against what we belief or stand for, then you have crossed the Line." Also used in terms that you can do a lot of things that are almost against someone, you will be given given compassion and understanding, until you push to far and Cross The Line.....
In starting this business I knew it would be a struggle, and would be a uphill battle. Getting support for Filipino Cultural Dance, Filipino Heritage and Traditions from Filipino's themselves is a hard battle. If you have a Westernized venue, or theme, its much more accepted and patronized than a Traditional Themes. But, even knowing this, It was something that needed to be done. Not just done in a limited and sometimes put in the back of class, ( so to speak). But promoted, organized, accessible, activity for tourist and locals alike to enjoy and witness on a daily basis. This has come at great cost to my wife and I. Working long hours, spending days and days on the phone. Inviting and inviting people from all around to come and witness this time honored art form. The struggle's and time and money we have involved is staggering to what we have been give in return financially. But we did not quit or give up. Even through times when we did not know where to turn, how we would survive the next day. We stayed the course. We turned not away to yet see another business fall by the waist side here in PI. Not again to sacrifice the Heritage and Traditions of the Filipino for a mere profit...
Look at us now... We have come through the dark times, we have stood strong and endured. You might ask, well this is all great and good, but whats the point your trying to make here. Here is the point. Not only did The Jungle do all of this through hard work, integrity, sweat and suffering. WE DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND. We will allow no one to cross that line. We not only represented the Filipino Culture and Way of Life to the entire world. We done it, without allowing any of the corruption, or allowing any of the so called Under the table moves in which has plagued the reputation of This Country for so many years. How could we be representing the Heritage and Culture of The Filipino and still allow this. If we allowed that, then again we are just prostituting the values and culture again.
We drawn the line and said, " we will not allow this line to be crossed". Major newspapers have contacted us so many time from all around Philippines. We would love to do a article on The Jungle and its Representation of The Filipino. But you have to pay the hosts airline tickets, you have to pay for their transportation, you have to pay a rescheduling fee, and talent fee. WAIT, WAIT, I thought you wanted to cover The Filipino Heritage and Traditions because you are proud of it. Sounds more like you are trying to pocket money, and scam. You crossed the line and no thank you we decline your offer. Anytime they wish to cover The Jungle for the correct purpose, we will be happy to feed you and cater to you, but we will not be part of such corruption for the greed of money. Will defeat all we are working for here if we do that.
We drawn the line when " Trip na Trip " a well know ABS-CBN affiliate said the same thing. Received the email. Trip na Trip is coming to Cebu and would love to cover you Restaurant. We feel it would make a great addition to Tourism and to The promotion of The Filipino People. We were so proud. I replied, thank you and I will sponsor your whole staffing and drivers with Free Meals and Drinks. We will help to promote the airing over the internet and our media contacts. The reply from Trip na Trip. Ok, but due to scheduling problems we will have to ask that you pay for the flights of the cast and crew, plus transportation charges, and a rescheduling fee if you shall wish us to cover your venue. WAIT, WAIT, you said you would love to cover it because of the pride and how good it would be for tourism and the Filipino.. NO thank you, I decline your offer, you have crossed the line..
We have also said :
* No we will not allow you overcharge a tourist in our establishment.
* No we will not allow our shows to be shorten so you " the guide" can go home early.
* No we do not allow stand by's to stand outside and aggravate the guests.
* No we do not allow taxi touts to scam guests.
* Yes we take plate numbers and car numbers of each and every taxi. If you overcharge, you will be reported.
* Yes dancers, you will practice at least four times a week. Yes we will demand perfection.
* Yes Kitchen staff, you will prepare the food in a timely manner.
* Yes Waiters and Waitress you will be knowledgeable you will be friendly, and your service will be what The Filipino is Famous for.
* Yes marketing and stocks staff, you will not run out of stocks for our customers.
* No they will be no hidden charges, cooking fees, or anything allowed.
* Yes if a manager or owner is asked for you will get to speak with someone.
* Yes if they is a problem, or dis pleasure with your experience, we will make it correct to your wishes, and fix the problem so it does not happen in the future.
* No they will be no cell phone use during working hours.
* No local travel agents we will not serve your guests a P 150 meal while you charge P 1500 for our package.
* No we will not give you, taxi driver, tricycle driver, or anyone commissions for bringing someone here to The Jungle, when they have already requested you to bring them here, or they have a flier or advertisement, or even a internet booking already. You will have to actually work and promote if you want a commission.
* No to the local travel agents who call with such friendly words and acts of their interest in our business , IF we can """HOST"" your monthly meeting for 20 people, when in fact 80% of your business is ticketing only. Plus the fact you have no intentions of including us in your tours. ( We know this through many that have already failed us, and never did anything when we hosted their event.) ( This problem does not exist with Foreign Travel Agents.)
* We say no to the local resorts if they try to give guests coming to the business a hard time with transportation, in the hopes they will stay inside the resorts.
* We say no to event planners, guides, or anyone who we see undermining guests that are reserved to attend The Jungle, and they are co horsed into going to other establishments for commissions from family or friends. In the lack of quality and price in which they do not care. We go straight to the guests or to the agency in which they work for, and let them know what is going on. We do it right in front of the person. We do not hold back or allow such things.
* We say yes to the Great Filipino guides, event planners, agency's and support them, and work with them, and always are ready to change or do what they ask of us.
These are just some of the things that we have said. Do not cross that line. How much easier would have our job have been if we allowed these things. How much quicker might we have grown. But to what expense, selling out what we are actually trying to protect and promote. We advertise " A True Philippine Experience ". We have more respect then to allow those things to happen, if we did, that is really not the true Philippine Experience. Its only a sell out. Filipino's are better than that really.
So when you hear or see about our Place, remember it is real deal. Even behind the scene. Filipino's, when you hear or see the shows and the business, remember that you can actually really for sure, feel proud and honored that it is a true representation of what a Filipino really is. Do I take credit for this success. NO... I am just a American with a lovely Filipina wife, who has been a catalyst, leader, and adviser that has allowed the amazing staff of Filipino's to see and understand, and be very proud of their ability, Heritage, Culture. No money can buy that, no worth can pay for that. If i done anything, all i done was let them see me struggle beside them, and say no. Even when I could have profited more, easily taken things that would have made success more easily, I could have taken the easy road..
So now The Jungle has grown into a major Tourist Attraction. People from many countries are knowing and finding out about us. Appearing now on TV, Newspapers, and media all around the World. ( Still not in Philippine Media to much. ) Its been a struggle, even at great personal sacrifice and suffering for my wife and I. So who do i give credit. The Filipino people. DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND, and say, I will not allow that line to be crossed, for no reason.
** Draw a line in the Sand - Its a old Phrase, in which I am not sure where originated, which means. " Our feelings on a subject or our beliefs are this.. The line represents if you intrude, dis obey, or go against what we belief or stand for, then you have crossed the Line." Also used in terms that you can do a lot of things that are almost against someone, you will be given given compassion and understanding, until you push to far and Cross The Line.....
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Is They Discrimination in The Philippines ???
I have often sit and wondered on this subject many times while living here. Is they discrimination in The Philippines, and who does it affect ?? It's really a double edge sword for me as a foreigner here. Some times I feel like I am so discriminated against, and other times I feel, I have special privileges here. One thing I do know for sure, is that since living here, I have come to have a better outlook and understand more the feelings of Blacks, Hispanic, and others in the USA. Before I did not have a enlighten outlook, you could say. Again, the old saying, If you have never experienced it, how can you really know what it is like...
I often find myself so upset and really treated unfairly and unjust. Then on other times, I feel like I am privileged where others are not.. So its really hard for me to completely go one way or the other. I do feel as a foreigner here I contribute a lot to the community I live in, I give more than even the local government gives to certain persons. This is not a vacation for me, but this is my home. I live here, eat here, spend my money here, I do not have ties or funds coming from the US. I do not travel back and forth, i have staked my life here. But sometimes, I can not feel like its home.. I sometimes feel like I am still just a visitor, and also treated that way a lot of the time. If someone steals from me, only a half hearten effort is put into helping, I feel those around me treat me as though I am White, it does not matter if I have a loss. Even after 8 years, still find myself singled out and left behind in conversations, jokes, and just in general chat. Find myself standing by myself and the Filipino's all in their group just having great time. If I try to join in, in moments the group will disband and gather up in another area little later. If I shall sit with a individual, seems like soon they will get up and leave. Like I might have a disease or something.
Now I do give credit, that I stay most of my time around my business, and most of my interaction is with my employees. So I do give the credit that in the Filipino Culture they consider me high, and they do not speak or hang out with " The Boss ". Also I give credit to the fact that they are not highly educated people who might feel inferior trying to speak and interact with me. But, never the less, its still makes me feel like the other person. I am different, I am not allowed to be in the group because of my skin color, or because of my different heritage. It really gives me the feeling of how the Black's must feel when they are treated likewise.
Also when going out with a group of Filipino's mixed with Whites, the Filipinos will most always form their own groups, and the white's form their own groups to socialize. I often hear, you are only a visitor here, respect that. I hear, you can own land, a gun, vote, run for office, own a business, no matter how long you live here. ( Unless I assume you get citizenship, in which case you could do some of those things.) But still, makes me think how the Black's in America must have felt during the days of Martin Luther King and before..
On the other hand, certain situations give me presidence over even Locals. First to be waited on, always given a chair to sit in, talked to treated with more respect then others, someone always wanting to carry something for me, never insulted or abused, ( at least to my face, that I can understand.) So am I discriminated against ?? Am i treated fairly ?? Sometimes it is really a mixed emotions struggle. This is my home, and I do live here, I am a resident here, ( not a Citizen ). So what should be the treatment one should get ?? Although some of the comments I have spoken here, might come from just economic reasons, or cultural reasons, in which no ill will or purpose is intended. But does that make me feel better ?? Or do I still feel alienated, and in a place where I feel sometimes I do not fit in, or am not welcome to live out my life...
Like I said earlier, a double edge sword for me.. Not really sure the answer. I do know I never felt this while living in the USA.. Also could be the fact, that the area I live in does not hold a lot of upper class, educated people. Most all around here are the lower to medium class people. Maybe I could never fit in with them. Maybe like USA, where poor and rich do not mix in the same circles. I have never ever tried to act, boast, or even have things to try to show off my " Richness " ( which is absolutely not so ). But still, even my thinking I am not, maybe I am still,, to them...
So am I discriminated against ?? Are Whites discriminated against in Philippines ?? Sometimes I feel I am, sometimes I feel I am not.. So maybe I just think to much, or living the land of Milk and Honey, all my life, except for the last 8 years I took for granted too much. We in the USA, are taught to respect everyone no matter what skin color, ethnic background. Treat everyone the same. But still China Town is China Town, Black Living Community's exist, They are Black Churches, White Chruches, maybe its just a fact of life and I have to learn to accept it, and live with it.. But still makes me lonely and sad sometimes.... Ohhh, and before you might think, why does he not hang out with expats and other whites there ??? I would rather be lonely and sad...... ( But, I do have a few great ex pats friends who are good guys. Very Few.)
I often find myself so upset and really treated unfairly and unjust. Then on other times, I feel like I am privileged where others are not.. So its really hard for me to completely go one way or the other. I do feel as a foreigner here I contribute a lot to the community I live in, I give more than even the local government gives to certain persons. This is not a vacation for me, but this is my home. I live here, eat here, spend my money here, I do not have ties or funds coming from the US. I do not travel back and forth, i have staked my life here. But sometimes, I can not feel like its home.. I sometimes feel like I am still just a visitor, and also treated that way a lot of the time. If someone steals from me, only a half hearten effort is put into helping, I feel those around me treat me as though I am White, it does not matter if I have a loss. Even after 8 years, still find myself singled out and left behind in conversations, jokes, and just in general chat. Find myself standing by myself and the Filipino's all in their group just having great time. If I try to join in, in moments the group will disband and gather up in another area little later. If I shall sit with a individual, seems like soon they will get up and leave. Like I might have a disease or something.
Now I do give credit, that I stay most of my time around my business, and most of my interaction is with my employees. So I do give the credit that in the Filipino Culture they consider me high, and they do not speak or hang out with " The Boss ". Also I give credit to the fact that they are not highly educated people who might feel inferior trying to speak and interact with me. But, never the less, its still makes me feel like the other person. I am different, I am not allowed to be in the group because of my skin color, or because of my different heritage. It really gives me the feeling of how the Black's must feel when they are treated likewise.
Also when going out with a group of Filipino's mixed with Whites, the Filipinos will most always form their own groups, and the white's form their own groups to socialize. I often hear, you are only a visitor here, respect that. I hear, you can own land, a gun, vote, run for office, own a business, no matter how long you live here. ( Unless I assume you get citizenship, in which case you could do some of those things.) But still, makes me think how the Black's in America must have felt during the days of Martin Luther King and before..
On the other hand, certain situations give me presidence over even Locals. First to be waited on, always given a chair to sit in, talked to treated with more respect then others, someone always wanting to carry something for me, never insulted or abused, ( at least to my face, that I can understand.) So am I discriminated against ?? Am i treated fairly ?? Sometimes it is really a mixed emotions struggle. This is my home, and I do live here, I am a resident here, ( not a Citizen ). So what should be the treatment one should get ?? Although some of the comments I have spoken here, might come from just economic reasons, or cultural reasons, in which no ill will or purpose is intended. But does that make me feel better ?? Or do I still feel alienated, and in a place where I feel sometimes I do not fit in, or am not welcome to live out my life...
Like I said earlier, a double edge sword for me.. Not really sure the answer. I do know I never felt this while living in the USA.. Also could be the fact, that the area I live in does not hold a lot of upper class, educated people. Most all around here are the lower to medium class people. Maybe I could never fit in with them. Maybe like USA, where poor and rich do not mix in the same circles. I have never ever tried to act, boast, or even have things to try to show off my " Richness " ( which is absolutely not so ). But still, even my thinking I am not, maybe I am still,, to them...
So am I discriminated against ?? Are Whites discriminated against in Philippines ?? Sometimes I feel I am, sometimes I feel I am not.. So maybe I just think to much, or living the land of Milk and Honey, all my life, except for the last 8 years I took for granted too much. We in the USA, are taught to respect everyone no matter what skin color, ethnic background. Treat everyone the same. But still China Town is China Town, Black Living Community's exist, They are Black Churches, White Chruches, maybe its just a fact of life and I have to learn to accept it, and live with it.. But still makes me lonely and sad sometimes.... Ohhh, and before you might think, why does he not hang out with expats and other whites there ??? I would rather be lonely and sad...... ( But, I do have a few great ex pats friends who are good guys. Very Few.)
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