LET’S open up with a different topic this time.
Question – how does Starbucks USA compare to Starbucks Pinas?
Hmmm, as to drinks/beverages, they are practically the same, including the breads, cookies and all.
Though, there’s a “secret” somewhere that I learned recently.
Those offered drinks and beverages, and all, that are displayed in the store, are actually just part of the whole package. Meaning, you can order even those that are not publicly advertised in the store – but only in their website.
And there are plenty.
If you can access their website, you can order even those not advertised in the store, and they will deliver, with a smile.
Anyway, that is Starbucks USA.
Now, let’s go back to the comparison.
* * *
Differences, well, one thing immediately noticeable is there are only few crew in the US but plenty of them in the Pinas.
Another one is the friendliness of the crew – those in the US are generally more friendly than their counterparts in the Pinas. Probably part of “quality” control, or perhaps, they are just better trained or perhaps, that is just part of their culture.
Why culture, well, I noticed that even motorists there are generally more disciplined, and more respectful, to pedestrians than the motorists here. They stop at intersections and allow pedestrians to pass first. In the Pinas, well, it’s always “walk along or cross the street at your own risk.”
Now, let’s go to the finale of the comparison.
Generally, I think the US and the Pinas’ starbucks are basically the same, except for one thing.
And that is – the attitude of the costumers.
And why is that?
I noticed that in the US, the costumers clean up the table after using it, and throw away the “throwable” garbage in the bins and/or return the mugs or trays in their proper places. Some even wipe the table with the available napkins to prepare it for the next costumers.
In the Pinas, well, very seldom that this happens. The kalat is very visible on the table and the idea is always – let the crew clean it because that is their job.
And so, this probably explains the lesser number of crew in the US as compared to those in the Pinas. And also perhaps, the friendliness of the crew there because they are generally spared of the job of cleaning the tables and chairs.
* * *
And one other thing that I noticed.
There is also that famous burger house called In-N-Out Burger.
I noticed that the drinks offered like Coke, Pepsi, etc… are unli, and the costumers can get as many refill as they want, to their stomach’s content. The costumers pay only once and they can have as many drinks as they can consume.
Again, after eating and drinking, the costumers also clean up the table and arrange the chairs.
Yes, that is again US culture.
And maybe part of the reason why they are usually huge, or shall we say, obese, because of the unli sugar in their food/drinks.
Amen.
* * *
Now that the Ombudsman has filed plunder complaint against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, Zaldy Co and others, many congressmen are getting the “stress” of their lives. Many are selling their properties or transferring their ownership to others .
Why?
Because if the probe into the flood control scandal is “reopened,” many of them would be affected.
Their “outrageous” lifestyles would be once again put into the limelight, as many of them have been ostentatiously displaying them in their pisbok accounts before, and then as quickly as they could, deleting them now pronto.
Before the binilyong eskandalo, they could not stop themselves from displaying their wealth and affluence. Imbes itago kay kinawkaw god na gikan, gi-panghambog na man hinuon sa ilang pisbok.
Og kon ipa-ubos sa lifestyle check, seguradong hagbong kay dili baya na sila dato ug kwartahan sa wala pa mahimong kongresista.
Di pod na gikan sa negosyo kay politika ra baya ilang gisaligan ug wa pod na sila madungog nga negosyante.
Aw, negosyante tingali sa mga public works project, pwede.
* * *
And now the SONA.
Unsa na man pod kaha ang ipagarpar ni BBM ugma pohon nga mga accomplishments kunohay?
Hisgotan kaha niya ang “kalamposan” (ahem) sa iyang gi-ingon before nga “mahiya naman kayo!”
Hisgotan kaha niya ang iyang “kalamposan” sa padayon nga pagtiurok sa ekonomiya, apil na ang bag-ong sagpa sa US nga taas nga tariff o buhisan sa mga produkto sa nasod nga mosulod sa US human siya bisitaha ni Sec Rubio?
Hisgotan kaha niya ang “kalamposan” nga iyang nahimo parte sa padayon nga pagsaka sa presyo sa gasolina ug krudo?
Hisgotan kaha niya ang iyang planong buhaton sa iyang “mainiton” kaayo nga paghangop sa ICC luyo sa hulga sa US nga bungkagon niini ang ICC?
* * *
Susko, pipila pa lang gani ka oras human buksi ni BBM ang irrigation canal sa NIA didto sa Mabini dili pa lang dugay, nahimo na dayong eskandalo kini. Klaro kaayo nga moryo-moryo ang maong proyekto kay mapulpog ra man dayon kon kumoton ang hollow blocks nga gigamit niini.
Nakakaon seguro og daghang “kasaba cake” ang opisyal nga mihingalan sa maong proyekto nga maoy adtoon ni BBM sa Bohol, kay tiaw bay bulilyaso na man pod to.
Unya gikan sa Mabini, mi-deretso siya sa Cebu unya gibuksan na sab niya ang iyang gitawag og “Walang Gutom Kitchen.”
Mitabang pa kunohay siya og panghatag sa pagkaon with pakapin nga uniform.
Susko, migawas ra pod dayon human sa iyang pagbisita nga wala man diay budget ang maong proyekto ug nagsalig lang sa donasyon.
Kinsa gong tawhana ang magpunay lang og panghatag og pagkaon rong panahona nga mahal kaayo ang mga palaliton?
Ang resulta – bulilyaso na pod.
Nan karon, kon ingon aning klaseha sa mga proyekto ang ipagarpar ni BBM, matingala pa diay ta kon mo-tibugsok ug mo-tiurok ang trust rating ni BBM?
