Letter from a Reader: No Fun Eating Pancakes

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Hi FP!

I am so glad that aside from newsworthy BIs, magazine cover updates, interesting polls, celebrity evolutions,  attention-inducing pictures and awesome prizes, your site has become the vehicle to express the often unheard voice-of-the-commons, so to speak.

My horror involves this acclaimed (though only in East Coast US), recently opened whole day breakfast restaurant located in an upscale portion of the metro. You see, my US-based sister has been bragging that she frequented this place and all their entrees are so good. So when they opened a branch here in Manila a couple of months ago, I was ecstatic.

I am from a far-flung place and had only the chance to fly to Manila last April 29 due to some work-related errands and having a meal in the said resto would have been my 'reward' to myself for all the work that day.

After braving the scorching heat and a few misses since I am unfamiliar with the place, I was able to locate this resto. I entered and waited for a few minutes and I was given a table near the kitchen so all their servers passed in front of me, in short I was positioned where I can be easily seen by all their servers. It also had an astounding view.

I ordered iced tea and their best seller - pancakes. The diabetes-inducing tea was served immediately. Few sips and I requested for some water to dilute its sweetness. I was having a grand time as I checked the view, took some pictures for Instagram, familiarized myself with the menu, just immersing myself that I was already inside this restaurant that I had longed for to visit.

After thirty minutes, I asked for a refill of my tea. Forty five minutes after and I already stopped sipping my tea or else I might need insulin shots the next day. I asked for a water refill instead. Fifty minutes. One hour. I noticed that the orders of a group of eight fifty-ish women that were together with me when I entered were complete yet my single order of their bestseller, whose process of cooking I believed they have already mastered being a bestseller, was still nowhere in sight. What is so difficult about cooking pancakes? 

I tried to stretch my patience further until I was able to call the food server's  attention. In my cool tone I asked her if it is really normal in their restaurant to wait for more than an hour for a single order - a run-of-the-mill bestseller that can be made straight from a 'cookie-cutter mold'. She called the attention of the server in charged of me. The latter then said that she thought I only ordered tea.

I almost blew my top on hearing this and if not for the alta vibe of the place,I would have made a scene. One won't go to Hong Kong to eat at McDonalds. Ergo, I went to their restaurant for the pancakes. And coming here to drink their tea did not make sense either. This is not CBTL. The server promised to hasten my order and in three minutes, wallahhhhhh, my order came. Please take note that she had not asked me what was my order again when I cornered her but she was able able to give me my exact order. Liar, inefficient or plain dumb: you decide.

Afterwards, I was so disgusted that I could not recall how my order (pancakes) tasted like. I just played with it, mashed it and drew pictures on it just like a child disgusted with his food. I paid and hurriedly left bringing with me my nasty experience.

Thank you very much FP for giving importance.

Lanie

Note: Letter edited for brevity

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Marjorie Barretto to Sue Person behind Half-Naked Photo

 Image courtesy of Instagram: juliabarretto

Source: http://ph.omg.yahoo.com

Marjorie Barretto is suing the unnamed person who is the source of her half-naked online photo for violation of the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act, which has been made into a law.

This, Marjorie’s lawyer, Lorna Kapunan told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! in a phone interview.

According to the law, the culprit, when found guilty, must pay a fine of not less than P100,000 but not more than P500,000 and imprisoned for not less than three years.

Kapunan added that her client has an idea on who posted the offending photo, but doesn’t want to talk about it for now. The ball is now in the hands of the Natonal Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is set to find out who the source of the photo is. Kapunan also revealed that her office has written all the blog sites to get to the bottom of the scandal.

Atty. Kapunan added that her client Marjorie thinks the photo scandal has nothing to do with the ongoing Barretto family feud.

“She is the most quiet of the Barrettos. She has not sided with anyone and she has not made any public pronouncement about the fight between the two siblings (Gretchen and Claudine),” Kapunan explained.

Marjorie’s main concern, according to Atty. Kapunan, is her five children, who are exposed to online media at a very early age.

Kapunan also said that this will be a test for the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act since nobody has filed a case for violation of the said law until Marjorie’s case came up.

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Putting Them Down!

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Lucky Star is getting the best showbiz has to offer. What others before him can only dream of, TS’ blessings fabulously landed on his lap in record time - like a bolt of lightning.

LS’ fame surprise industry followers as to how someone so raw in talent can suddenly achieve such celebrity status, with nary a sweat, so they say. Critics say it’s undeserved, because LS only capitalized on his family’s showbiz lineage. But to be fair to him, LS has unique charm that probably helped catapult him to where he is now.

But unlike other stars, just as fast as his phenomenal rise to fame is the sudden emergence of his many critics/bashers that have sprouted all over especially in the social networking sites. Fortunately, the famous and famously hated LS has tons of fans who are always there like armed forces ready to defend their idol – hook, line and sinker.

What makes it difficult for his bashers to soften up on him is LS’ public relations or lack of it, that border on arrogance. Observers alleged that LS has that distinct attitude that's quite irritating for a newbie, to say the least.Several episodes of his alleged arrogance - the way he mouths words even to his well-meaning critics says a lot. Some thought that LS is only brash to his critics and bashers, but not a few have met the sharp tonque of this little, rich boy.

During visits to the jobsite of his ongoing project in the metro, LS minces no words castigating and cursing the project managers and workers PW every time he sees them doing things not to his liking. PW’s are aghast never thinking that this boy who is young enough to be their son or grandson could just say those words to put them down.

Fame is a dangerous drug indeed, especially to the impressionable young who seems to have difficulty with social behavior vis a vis his celebrity status. To whom much is given, much is expected. Women fans who only want to take pictures don't deserve crassness. Hope his elders and career handlers will not just resort to the usual damage control but rather will make effort to refine the image of this uninitiated. Some good manners won't hurt.

Hopefully, LS gets to think a little just how critics are vital for stars like him in the industry. People say that LS must address such controversies, or he will be forever pegged as his infamous American counterpart. Just because you’re famous doesn’t mean you’re good.

For one so young, LS' sudden fame and windfall can be history if not properly handled. Unless he plays his cards right, it's too early to tell what awaits him in the industry.

"Some people obtain fame, others deserve it." - Doris Lessing

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Letter from a Reader: Why It Fails

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Dear FP,

I am writing to vent out my frustration with one of the telecommunications company in the Philippines. I've been a postpaid subscriber for more than two years now, and I was informed that I am already entitled of their loyalty reward. 

Upon hearing the options (free handset, monthly rebate, and the like), of course I felt excited. I've been meaning to change my handset since time immemorial, and an offer as tempting as that is actually hard to refuse. Last April 13, I told one of the representatives of JT's loyalty department that I will upgrade my plan 599 to plan 999, and I will avail of Samsung S III mini with color mint blue. I was promised that I will get the confirmation within 24 hours that my plan was already upgraded, and that I will have to wait for 48 hours to receive the re-contracting form through my email address. I was also given an option on how to claim the handset: By delivery or pick up. I chose it to be delivered since it will only take five (5) working days instead of picking it up which will take six (6) working days. When everything was finalized, we ended the conversation with the expectation that nothing would go wrong.

Came Sunday, I didn't receive any confirmation. But I gave them the benefit of the doubt and waited. So Monday came, then Tuesday, then Wednesday... And no confirmation nor re-contracting form was sent to me. I was growing impatient, to be honest.

I decided to ask their representatives on Twitter. I kept on asking them since Monday, April 15, but they could not even give me an assurance that they were doing everything to address my concern. I was also asked for the reference number but I could not provide since I wasn't given any by the representative. They promised that they would escalate my concern. I knew I couldn't do anything, so I just decided to wait.

Tuesday, I asked again why the form was not sent. Wednesday, I asked again if I would receive the phone, April 19. I was not given an assurance. 

Thursday came... still no decent response from them, I decided to call their hotline at around 11 AM. During the conversation, I asked if my plan was upgraded, and I was shocked upon learning that it was already upgraded last April 13 yet! Of course, I felt like I was being deceived and lied to. I asked why I didn't get a confirmation message, and she answered (not the exact words, but let's just settle with this): "Ay sir, automatic na po kasi yun." I didn't want to argue anymore, so I just decided to get the reference number, since I was not given any by the person who called me last April 13. Finally having the reference number, I ended the conversation.

I then decided to ask @SpeaktoJT on twitter to confirm whether or not the reference number given to me was true and correct. "YES," the representive replied and asked for the number, but after giving it, alas! I didn't get any more response. I kept on tweeting: "Feedback, please?" But it all fell on deaf ears. I would understand if @SpeaktoJT was not responding to other tweets, but I was infuriated when I saw that my concern was the one not given any attention. In the end, I vented out all my frustration using my Twitter account.

At around 7 PM, I called their hotline again, and waited for more or less 10 minutes before somebody answered. I told the person that I was so frustrated with the way their representatives handled their customers concern. I also asked her why I still haven't received the re-contracting form. So she told me that she would send another one. And I got it in 2 minutes! See? If sending that form would take so quick, why did they have to make me wait for so many days? I felt like they were just making a fool out of me! I also asked her why I didn't receive any confirmation message regarding the upgrade of my plan, and I was informed that my plan was PROCESSED but it was NOT CLOSED. So that means that I was still using my plan 599. 

I was also told that the handset should have been delivered that day, April 18. I asked if I would get it on Friday, April 19. the representative couldn't promise me anything so I asked her to transfer me to their Account Specialist since I needed to have my plan upgraded. I talked and was promised that I would receive the confirmation within 24 to 48 hours.

Friday afternoon came. I called my Mom at home to ask if she already received the handset, but she told me that she waited to no avail. I was really furious and tweeted again, I got one of their promises again to "escalate" my concern.

Earlier this morning, the person who called me last April 13 called again and apologized for the delay. I was informed that I would have to wait for five (5) more working days for the handset to be delivered. That news shocked the hell out of me. I asked her why do I have to wait for another five working days, and I was told that they have to reprocess my application. I asked her if it can be delivered this coming Monday since I already waited for five freaking working days already. The answer was in the negative. I was once again promised that the handset would be delivered on April 26. I couldn't do anything about it. I wanted to shout, but I know it wouldn't amount to anything. I told her that the handset better be delivered this coming April 26 because I was already growing tired of all their delays.

FP, this has been the MOST FRUSTRATING experience I ever had with JT. Their JT slogan is such a misleading statement, based on what I experienced, it seems as if they don't really care at all! They didn't even consider my being  a LOYAL CUSTOMER! I thought customers like us are given preferential attention for sticking it out with them for years. I was really frustrated with the way their people handled our concerns. No wonder people kept on changing networks! What they only deliver are  empty promises, and making their subscribers resign in frustration!

I am not writing to bash them, nor because I want their reputation damaged. I am writing because I want to share how I  experienced their VERY POOR SERVICE. It would have been okay if they did not give me an exact date or time. Or if only the handset was delivered on time, then it could have compensated my frustration. But that was not so. 

I know that this is not an isolated case. I know that I am not the only victim. But I want to let it out because I want people to know that they are not alone. Or maybe I want JT to see this and act on their poor, frustrating service. They are a big company, and they should know better than to treat not only their ordinary customers, but also their loyal ones this way. 

I do hope that this letter gets published, because it's the only thing that can make me feel better right now. I know many people can relate with this experience. I know I am not the only one. And I am hoping that my voice, though little or insignificant to some, may be heard by those concerned people.

Thank You!

FP, this is your loyal reader and JT's disappointed customer, signing out.

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"Marjorie Barretto is the Woman in Sexy Photos" - Atty. Lorna Kapunan

Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com 

MANILA – The legal counsel of Marjorie Barretto has confirmed that the woman in the scandalous photos which made the rounds in the Internet over the weekend is indeed the former actress.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Tuesday, Atty. Lorna Kapunan said Barretto is “very upset” about the photos.

“She’s a mother, she’s very upset. She’s not running for any public office precisely because she wants to guard her privacy. She has growing up daughters and ang concern niya is they are in the formative years where they understand. That’s why we are also respecting the media na sana huwag na interviewhin si Marj,” she said.

Kapunan said this matter “should remain within the family and what pictures she may have should remain private.”

Thus Kapunan is appealing to the public to stop uploading or reposting Marjorie’s alleged photos so they will not be forced to file legal charges.

“RA 9995, mayroon tayong tinatawag na Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act. It is a crime under the Bible. It is a fair warning. Nobody has ever filed a case under 9995 and hopefully they do not test us because we are here to see that the law is implemented,” the lawyer said.

Kapunan said they have already identified all the people who posted the photos and they will definitely take legal actions against them if they don’t put it down.

“We have the addresses of all the bloggers, and we have sent you demand letters and this is a fair warning to you guys that the penalty is P100,000 to P500,000 plus imprisonment of three years to seven years or both,” she said.

‘Motives are suspect’

Meanwhile, Kapunan said that while the spread of the photos is separate from the ongoing Barretto family feud, “it comes at the time where motives are suspect.”

The photos were made public just a week after the Barretto matriarch publicly disowned daughter Gretchen Barretto while defending her other daughter Claudine.

Although Marjorie has remained mum about their mother's statement about Gretchen, showbiz observers believe that the feud stemmed partly from comments on the image-sharing service Instagram, supposedly made by Gretchen, saying that her sister Claudine is not happy that their niece, Julia, is starting to make a name for herself in showbiz.

Julia, the daughter of Marjorie, was recently introduced as an artist of Star Magic, the ABS-CBN talent management firm that launched Claudine to stardom until her transfer to another network in 2009.

“It is enough that there is so much publicity on the family already because of sibling squabble. This one is separate and it comes at the time where motives are suspect,” Kapunan told ABS-CBN News.

“Nothing is more valuable than your private reputation, nothing is more valuable than your family, and nothing is more valuable than your children. In the case of Marjorie, she has daughters so she’s appealing -- regardless of what the moral judgment on the situation of the parties are concerned – to keep it private,” she added.

Barretto initially denied that she was the woman in the sexy photos.

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Basking in Notoriety

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For the nth time, the disgusting siblings DS can’t seem to have it all. Every character in the industry who have had the misfortune of having to deal with them seems left with nothing positive to say. 

Haven’t heard of notoriety being displayed with so much passion by anyone more than these two. Truth be told, insiders say that no other showbiz siblings have been hated and bashed as much as DS. Reportedly, even in their own network, they are loathe and despised by most of their colleagues and network people. 

Just how annoying can they get? This is a no-brainer question - there is nothing in the planet that DS have not yet done to agitate, distress, torment, irritate, pester, anyone and anything that moves. People say that if there is an award for such kind of species, they sure would have gotten it long time ago. 

So what’s the latest buzz/complaint this time?

On the set of their tv commercial (tvc) shoot, DS made it known to the production team PT that they would not come to the shoot UNLESS everything was set. DS said they would not want to wait and would only appear  when all was done and ready – the entire cast and crew, production, costumes, scripts, director - all the works present. DS emphasized these so many times - that unless these were met, they would not come to the shoot. All because they would not want to wait. 

The entire PT was visibly annoyed at the toxicity of the sisters. The way that DS display their attitude towards anyone you would think that the world owes them big. Wonder how their supposed disciplinarian elders deal with DS’ haters – must be very  challenging – or rewarding. 

“People who worship only themselves get a slick, polished look -- like monuments. Too bad they had to go so soon.” ~ Vanna Bonta

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Letter from a Reader: Going, going...gone.

 Image courtesy of www.forum.baby-gaga.com

Dear Fashion PULIS, 

Just want to tell you my sentiments regarding Sphere. I don't know if you saw the tweet from @LikeS during its T5 launch, nonetheless here is my story.

This was just recently at the launching of Sphere's T5 line. I was following their twitter account and happened to stumble on a tweet offering the line at a price of 1,499php per month. I was enticed by the offer so I immediately asked the @ChatwithS and @SinOfS for the requirements. I also inquired about their website showing a plan 1,799 only but without the 1,499php which was their current offering that I was interested in.  

After more than 12 hours, @ChatwithS replied asking me where i saw the information and requested me to provide a link. The tone of the message was quite rude, and as if to add more insult, he/she put a a smiley at the end of the message. 

Furious, I immediately searched my whole feed and backtracked the @LikeS  account -- but to my dismay, I could no longer find the tweet. My mistake was my failure to take a screenshot of it, although a lot of people in the office saw that tweet. 

Enraged, I replied telling them that I saw the tweet but now the tweet was gone. I further added , "Ganyanan na pala. Tsk." 

The reply?  " How may we help you today? :). " 

You're getting the picture now, FP.

I  said, "No thanks - @Wise (their competitor) can help me better.

Now they tweeted me saying their T5 plan is available at plan 1,599php and I'm like sheesh Sphere.

For clarification, I have a different plan on @Wise already. 

Thank you very much, FP for providing an avenue for aggrieved consumers like me. More power!

Sincerely,

Loida

Note: Letter edited for brevity

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Marjorie Barretto on Photo Scandal: "No, That's Not Me!"

Note: These are the two scandalous photos showing a 

likeness of Marjorie Barretto, albeit with the sensitive parts cropped out.

Source: www.interaksyon.com

Actress-turned-politician Marjorie Barretto denied on Monday that she is the person in two scandalous photos that had circulated on Facebook over the weekend.

“No, that’s not me. I would never do something like that. That’s not my nature,” the Caloocan City councilor said.

The two photos show a likeness of Barretto posing and smiling in an intimate setting.

The first shows the woman with a portion of her shirt lifted up to expose her right breast while her legs are covered by a blanket. There is no breast exposure in the second photo, but the legs are spread wide open, exposing her black underwear as her left leg is propped up by the protruding leg of the photographer.

Barretto vowed to enlist the help of the National Bureau of Investigation in finding out the source of the photos, which were originally published by tabloid Hataw on Friday.

She did not speculate if the circulation of the photos is related to the ongoing feud that has split her family.

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