My Apologies…and Thanks

Posted on March 22, 2007
Filed Under Blogging and the Internet, Celebration, Reviews | Viewed 4055 times

4-1/2 months into blogging (I started on 8 November) and 63 posts thereafter, here am I apologizing to you, dear readers. As you can say, there were about 4 posts, for which I have been remiss in answering back your comments. I know I am not obliged to, but I really wanted to. I was just so busy the past few days with so many things (and you know that I am now retired), that I have almost disappeared into oblivion—that is, in terms of communicating with you. For my blog friends, you know that I have been visiting, though there are times that I would miss a few.

Before my apologies let me say, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART for continuously coming for a visit.

And my apologies. And I am taking this space to respond to your comments, late though it may be.

Max’s Power Breakfast – A Review

benj says: I got an e-mail invite – I heard everyone who attended the Blogparteeh received one.I guess this publicity campaign totally blew up in their faces. tsk tsk. Some people might get fired. ME: oh, dear, ‘twas not my intention! but really, they should have done much better.

Lisa says: Recently, I reiterated to my staff at my Baguio bed & breakfast inn that breakfast must be served hot (food gets cold fast here) and within 5 minutes (the service standard for breakfast as it is your first meal of the day). And I remember explaining to them also that the “reach” of a dissatisfied customer is no longer just 20 other persons. With the internet, service folks must realize that a dissatisfied customer can reach a few millions of people in an instant and leave the bad review online for eternity. Of course one should render good service not for fear of a bad review but to ensure happy, raving and (hopefully) repeat customers.I had a bad experience years ago with Max’s in Cebu. And as a courtesy to a fellow restaurateur, I told the owners about it because I was sure they would appreciate learning about the incident. The staff tried to cover it up but I was able to specify the time, table number and our food & beverage orders to prove I was there. They all got fired. It was a very, very, very severe offense. My point is, the owners did act on the complaint and I am sure they will take your review seriously and act decisively. ME: yes, customer service first and to ensure happy, raving customers. and not to metion—the internet…

dimaks says: That’s disappointing. Perhaps it’s with the low ranking personnel. I assume, had the top management known this, those kids could have been scolded. But then I could be wrong. It can be a fault of both. ME: still top management’s ersponsibility.

noemi says: too bad , if you went to the the Katipunan branch it was great. The manager treated us like royalty even if we were non paying customers. We didn’t have to wait for long. Breakfast was yummy. We had fun. ME: Max’s Katipunan is our favorite branch, yes, we should have gone there, and it would have been nice for us to have met in person.

Kyels says: Discrimination will always be around. It is part of human nature. Albeit you got the coupons free, but I guess people would not take a moment to even think that you may have won it or whatever. Bah, humbug! ME: really, bah, humbug!

Rach says: I’m sorry to hear about your disappointing experience. I could imagine myself in your shoes and I would have felt the same. ME: particularly with our kids there!

Alex says:Tsk. Screw the Pareto principle. Customer service is really lousy in this country. ME: at least not in all places—there are many nice ones!

pining says:that’s a disgrace! that’s one restaurant off my list then… ME: no, dear,if for their spring chicken, which is still best. besiders, there are many other branches around

lady cess says: tsk, very disappointing nga ito. would you consider sending a letter, or the link to this post, to max’s head office? ME: their manager knows already.

Zherwin says:i also had my share of dissappointing and slow Max’s service, even as a paying customer. no question about their fried chicken being good, but serving the food an hour later, cold and without ANY explanation are enough for me not to patronize Max’s. it was just bad. ME: as I told Pining, if for their spring chicken, which is still best, I would come back. besiders, there are many other branches around. and just to see that their service has improved would make me feel good already.

tofubaby says: That’s very disappointing. I dislike bad service as well as I am on a service-kind of industry. I don’t keep my “clients” wait for too long as the saying goes “time is gold”. I symphatize with your feeling. Hope they read this and at least apologize. ME: for them to improve their service is enough for me.

ba says: Toldya. Sabi sa’yo Katips na lang tayo eh. Para mas malapit sa School of Stat. Hehe. Skipping class for this was so not worth it. Max’s breakfast wasn’t that exceptional (except for the tocino, it tasted better than the others). ME: sorry, BA, it was another lesson of patience for you.

Michael says:What ever happened to the customer first policy? This reminds me of Connie’s entry about endorsement. By the way you might be interested:By the way you might be interested:
Infidel Links #1 ME: it’s still alive in many places, but at that moment, it must have been astray.

Gypsy says: Sorry to hear about your experience. This reminded me of the hugely disappointing experience my friends and I had a couple of years back with Eastwood’s Longest Buffet in the world, thumbs down talaga, as in. So far, McDo has not disappointed me. :) ME: yes, still McDo continues to be a joy for me!

Chateau says:The service industry in our country has yet a looong way to go…Note to self: keep Max’s Circle out of Sunday-breakfast list (even if we live nearby). I hope the management reads about your review and does something about it. ME: we must be neighbors! give it another chance, though!

Mr. Saint says:It’s alwayys like that in Max. Makakain ko na ang napkin sa gutom hindi pa darating inorder. ME: my mom almost ate the napkin, twas almost 10 am when breakfast was served. good there were some sweets and pastries around for her. As for me, I don’really t take breakfast.

toni says:Oh my! Our experience was pretty okay. The food was good but sadly, the service did suck eggs. They were asking us to pay for the champorado we had used 1 pass for and the food took forever to arrive. I hope the guys from Max’s do get to read this! ME: yes, the eggs were soggy!

tin-tin says:wasn’t the pr manager of max’s the one who gave you the stubs? has he heard the story? what did he say? :) ME: it was the PR manager, and yes, he has been informed.

nao says:naku, favorite ko pa man din ang chicken dyan sa Max ME: i’m really glad, NAO that you are bouncing back! if for their chicken, do come back, i will be doing the same.

carey says:i think the management is at fault…they should have told their staff that those power breakfast free pass holders be given special treatment and great service considering that they are to give reviews later on in their blogs. big mistake for them to have your family as clients, coz you have your blogs to rant about them… i wonder about the others who availed of the free passes. ME: i wonder, too. Connie says it was all right,and Toni, too.

annamanila says:I suppose they gave away the free stubs for promotional purposes—to be written about in a good light? It’s too bad it boomeranged on them. THUMBS DOWN!! ME: just for now, dear Anna, give them a chance!

ghee says: that’s too bad…they spoiled the occasion.,and isnt it a discrimination?but that would serve as a tip for all of us who read this entry. ME: i really hope it was not intentional.

niceheart says:That’s really bad press for Max’s Power Breakfast. I hope this is a one time only incident. ME: i hope so too!

vic says:My take is it was a combination of Poor Planning in the part of Management of scheduling and also enough staffing and preparation of foods for the power breakfast event and the other is the typical attitude of ours that we still discriminate in just about every aspect of our every social activities.I also get this experience, everytime I go home for a visit that I could easily get preferential treatment even in airlines by letting them know that I’m a tourist, but it make us feel so awkward because we are used to be treated the same despite our colours and our race in north america. ME: i’m glad to hear that there’s no discrimination in that part of north america. i’m sure when you come home for a visit, you would visit Max’s. somehow, it represents “filipino”

iskoo says:sayang lang ang promo nila kung di naman maganda ang service, i am sure kung makakarating ito sa management nng Max manghihinyanag sila sa free coupons na ipinamigay nila kasi magiging dissappointed lang ang susubok ng promo nila dahil sa panget na service na ibibigay nila. ME: thinking positive, it could be a lesson for them—they could now prioritize improving their services across all branches.

mr nice ash says: benj, i was at the blogparteeh too.. but i don’t get an invite… ME: where were you? i was not at blogparteeh but i got an invite

eric aka senor enrique says:I rarely go to Max; would rather go to Aristocrat’s.Were those 10 free stubs good on a particular day only? Nonetheless, it wasn’t nice at all what they did. ME: hola, senor! nice to have you back! yes, aristocrat is another option. the one at The Block gives good service.

chase says:You should have hinted that you are sort of from the press since you got those free passes.I usually do that when I was working as a lifestyle writer and the staff immediately pamper me like a princess coz they are afraid I might write something bad. Even though the manager on that said resto told you that it was because of the influx of customers. It is still not an excuse for a bad service they gave you. ME: i did! i did! because when they took the pass, they asked where it came from. per instruction of my son, i told them that the passes came from the manager of Maz’s PR firm—for the media people, what a pity.

Flor P. Velasco says: They should remember and understand that their salaries of these Max’s Staff to include the siiting Manager are coming from their Customers! Customer is No. 1 in this type of Business! This is MAX’s management culpability….I will get my notebook and show this article and all these comments to Max’s Restaurant here in Baguio since I am using a wireless Internet service..I do not want them to repeat the same mistake and because I like very much their spring chicken….. ME: good for them, they could learn from this experience. when we come to Baguio, will see if their service is good!

Beng says: hello dine,which Max’s ba? is it the good old famous Max’s Fried Chicken or iba?anyways, the influx of clients is a very poor excuse. pero bilib din ako sa patience mo :) ME: yes, it is the good ole famous Max’s Fried Chicken. and i hope that when you come home for a visit—they will already have improved their services across all branches. stirs memories of home?

benj says:mrniceash, seriously, you didn’t? Wow, almost everyone I know got theirs. We were sent emails asking if we wanted a free breakfast meal at Max’s. Oh well, at least you weren’t subjected to the same treatment as sexy mom. ME: benj is right, mr nice ash, it might not have been worth it.

KK says: Sorry for the wasted two hours Sexymom. Quality of service should be given to paying and free pass customers. You should be given a medal for your patience waiting, gosh I couldn’t even wait 15 minutes. I get very grouchy when I’m hungry. KK: 2 golden hours wasted, dear. i could have used it reading blogs, and i would have been happier.

Leah says: Definitely a bad publicity for them. Sayang yun efforts nila in bringing in customers. Naku, sa susunod, dont wait too long. Alis na lang agad kayo. You guys were patient. ME: you are right in both!

Sweet Sixteen

dimaks wow, greetings to her.. more blessings .success. KK says: Happy Birthday to your Angela! Ah Sweet Sixteen :). Kyels says: Happy Birthday to Angela! ann says: Happy birthday to your sweet Angela. All your kids are beautiful. Lazarus says: Happy birthday Angela! Sweet sixteen! jhay says: Maligayang kaarawan kay Angela! alt=” class=”wp-smiley” /> rHo says: happy birthday!! wish her the best of everything… alt=” class=”wp-smiley” /> ME: Thank you! Angela is tickled pink!

vic says: Big lovely family you have, sexy mom and greetings to the sweet sixteen.Last July, we have the honour to host the 16 th of our niece, the youngest of our youngest sister and also that was her first trip out of U.S. since arriving in Dec 2005. For party, we had a barbecue in our backyard and a lot of “Kasimanwas” for guests and the Birthday girl went back to Northern California with her own laptop to do her blogging. (she has me started not only blogging but the internet). ME: was she the one in the picture? she must have been very happy for the experience. you are so good to your nieces and nephews.

myepinoy says: Happy 16th birthday to your lovely daughter Angela. The photos here remind me of my family back home, one big happy family. ME: thanks! oh, you, too, have a big family…must be fun!

pining says: Happy sweet sixteen Angela :-)Here’s to a great life ahead :-) ME: thanks, and for the smileys, too!

rhodora says: Happy Birthday, Angela! Big, happy family! I can imagine how it is in your house when everyone’s home.. hehehe… :) annamanila says: Happy birthday to Angela, apple of sexy mom’s eyes! May your life be as charming and lovely as you. ME: Anna and Rhodora – we really make a trio! i am always happy to hear from you, guys! yes, rhodora, everyday is a riot!

Gina says: You’re 16, you’re beautiful….and your Dine’s!” =)Birthday wishes go to your pretty daughter Angela! Lovely family you have there, Dine! ME: thanks, Gina!

zeroimpact says: Happy belated birthday Angela:) It must have been quite a celebration there ME: thanks, yes, and we have a celebration once a month,except for july and october. kids’ birthdays, mine, my husbands, and our anniversary fall on a different month.

ghee says: sweet sixteen!!she really looks sweet and deserve this from you :) happy happy Birthday to Angela! have a great week ahead, Dine! ME: thanks, Ghee! you, too, have a great week!

verns says: happy birthday to Angela! Sounds like a perfect daughter :) ME: thanks, Verns, yes, she is really a good daughter.

aCey says: hey, sexy mom! you’re a very sweet mum. you have lucky kids! ME: thanks, aCey, I try to be the best mom to them, though, sometimes, I falter.

sesame says: That’s a really nice poem you wrote for your daughter. All your kids are really lucky Sexy Mom! I don’t know how you do it, but your family is real big, but all of them look real happy together. ME: i live by the day, i don’t worry, and i leave everything entirely to God. maybe that is the secret.

haze says: Wow Happy sweet 16th Birthday to Angela :) ! Wishing her good health, happy life and more blessings to come her way ! Great poem & yet a wonderful presents to your daughter! I see beautiful family ;) and it’s always nice to see one ! Have a nice day! ME: thanks, Haze! she wish you well, too.

Rach says: Hello Dine. Belated Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter Angela. It’s a beautiful poem and I’m sure she willl cherish it forever. Glad you had a wonderful celebration. We like eating at TOSH too. Too bad the branch at Festival Mall in Alabang closed. Thanks for shanks for sharing those great photos of family bonding. Take care ME: thanks, and yes, TOSH is great. i will write about them one of these days.

nao says: awwwwhhh.. she’s so pretty! belated happy birthday sa kanya tita Dine (blowing kisses, mwah!) ME: she’s blowing her kisses, too for her ate nao, mwah

niceheart says: Happy sweet sixteen to your girl. You have a very beautiful family, sexymom. :) ME: and thanks to the niceheart!

will respond to your comments on When Dolls Are Given a Bath, It Rains! and The Boys’ Gawad Kalinga House (A House of Joy and Laughter) later.

note: photo taken from www.glarkware.com

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Comments

6 Responses to “My Apologies…and Thanks”

  1. mr nice ash on March 22nd, 2007 9:49 am

    Where am I ?

    i’m just here. i just don’t know why i always seem invisible. hehe

  2. Wil on March 22nd, 2007 1:44 pm

    Well, if it’s any consolation, there are lots of bloggers out there who don’t even bother responding to comments. Although to be fair, sometimes the comments require no response. But for the most part, it is much nicer if bloggers responded to comments, di ba? :)

  3. Leah on March 22nd, 2007 8:09 pm

    Like Wil said, it is nice to receive a response for comments you leave. Although sometimes, it really doesnt warrant one.

    I look forward myself to comments from my comments every time I revisit a blog. And so I’ve started doing the same.

    I’ve only answered comments recently. Thought its really a good idea to do the same for things I like to see myself.

  4. carey on March 22nd, 2007 10:25 pm

    OK lang sexymom, we know you’re busy. :)
    i like the interaction between the blogger and his/her readers through the comments section, sometimes nasa comments section lumalabas ang mga interesting ideas and we learn a lot from them. ako naman, when i bloghop, i always read the comments section of the posts.

  5. carey on March 22nd, 2007 10:27 pm

    btw, thanks also for the great reads… that’s why we’re always visiting you here. :)

  6. Rach on March 23rd, 2007 1:32 am

    Hi Dine. That’s perfectly alright.

    It’s really nice of you to take time to answer the comments. I love going back and seeing replies on people’s blogs.

    I also make it a point to reply to my comments although there are times when the comments pile up and I’m late with my replies.

    Hope all is well with you. Take care!

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