Update: Plastic Ordinance in Bacolod

After all the talk about the huge plastic ordinance that was set to take place on November 23, there has been very little changed since then.

Apparently, after all the articles in the newspapers, none bothered to mention that only sando bags were being made illegal on November 23. The rest of the ordinance will start to take place over a period of time (when? how long?). No one apparently knows when the other part of the ordinance will start to take place. However, nothing has seemed to change.

The only shop that has switched from plastic bags so far seems to be UniCity (if you haven't bought your Christmas tree yet, but it from there! It's the cheapest in town). UniCity is now using paper bags. Of course, the paper is very low quality, but apparently, that's all they could find in such a short notice from the city government.

As far as changes at Central Market and Libertad, there hasn't been any. The "sando bags" the government was so ready to get rid of were already almost non-existent. Therefor, nothing has yet to change as far as environment protection.

McDonald's has also changed from plastic take away bags to using paper.

Update Dec. 3, 2012
Some changes have been made at Libertad and Central Market regarded certain types of bags. Now rice is being put in clear plastic without handles. I suggest everyone to bring their own bags when going to Libertad or Central Market!

Poor Customer Service Nationwide

Have you ever been to a restaurant, ordered a value meal, and then you were told that they didn't have soda/ice/burger and went on to tell you to instead order tea/hot drink/chicken only to be charged extra?

Have you ever stayed in an unclean hotel room and told that they will clean it, only to later be told that they only clean once a day and 'you missed it'?

Have you ever tried to shop at a mall only to be ignored by the helpers?

Have you ever been to a restaurant, store, or hotel where all the workers are standing and talking instead of doing their job?

These are only a few of the many problems consumers face when traveling and shopping in the Philippines. Poor customer service is one of the many aspects about the Philippines that holds the country back from receiving more tourists.

Of course, these aren't the only problems consumers face.

Businesses constantly demean their customers by lying, giving the wrong prices, gossiping, and being rude.

Filipinos, in their ever non-confrontational ways, ignore the problems they face daily. Instead of changing things for the better, they ignore it and hope things will change on their own.

But they won't.

Things do not change unless you are active doing it. The next time this happens, talk to the manager. Tell them you demand better service since you are a paying customer.

Foreigners do not put up with these actions in their home countries and they definitely do not put up with it in the Philippines. So why do Filipinos?

If the Philippines want more tourists, they will have to change this.

Be Proud of Nature's Village Resort, Bacolodnons!

Nature's Village Resort has been named as one of the world's top 10 eco-friendly resorts by Agoda (a hotel booking website). Of course, the grading scale wasn't only about the environment. It was also about dining, cleanliness, and food. As well, it only used customer reviews.

Nonetheless, it's great news. In 2010, Nature's Village Resort won the ASEAN Green Star Hotel Award. Therefore, it's not exactly far-fetched to think that it deserves the honor.

30% of Filipinos Don't Have Toilets

UNICEF says that 26 million people in the Philippines don't have toilets. This should be the number one thing discussed in the media and the number one political issue in the Philippines. Is it, though? Nope.

The article states:

Households without proper toilets are mostly found in Masbate, Northern Samar, and provinces in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Gnilo said, citing studies.

Drugs in Bacolod

Every now and then you'll find an article in the newspapers or on television detailing a drug bust in the Philippines. Actually, lately it has been about once a week I find something like this.

Sadly, it is purely for show.

Everyone (OK, most people) know exactly where to get the drugs. If you ride Mandalagan or Bata jeepneys you might have even seen them buy it (either around the Plaza or at the Lagoon). It's in daylight. Everyone is around. Jeepney is full. Yet, the jeepney driver has no problem calling over his drug dealer (usually a pedicab driver) and handing him money and receiving a small piece of paper with his drugs inside over.

Of course, everyone also knows about the other locations where drugs are dealt. See pedicabs in a weird place? See tricycles in a weird place where they aren't allowed to transfer passengers? Likely they are there because they are dealing drugs. Actually, I've noticed that most pedicab drivers are doing drugs or are selling them or, at the very least, personally know someone who is dealing them.

What's sad is that no one cares. Or, at least, the government doesn't.

They put on a show for newspapers and television news programs, but in the end they do nothing about areas that have existed for years that everyone knows about.

Then, you have the problem of the rugby kids (even though many of them are actually adults). Everyone knows where they are. Everyone knows how they get it and what they use, but nothing is done. Instead, we have these homeless kids running around (and some of the girls prostituting themselves).

Nothing is done.

Bacolod government officials don't care.