Bad Pizza Hut

Today I tried to eat at Pizza Hut Kia Theater. Tried because I never even got to order.

The store at the Kia theater block had two doors since it was on a corner. I went through the one opposite Rustan. Knowing their system, I paused at the door and waited for a few seconds for someone to show me my table. Since no employee approached, I proceeded inside and looked around for a small table since I was dining alone (I have these spur of the moment ideas like I want to eat there). No small table so I sat at a table set for four near the other door opposite of Manhattan. Still nobody approached.

I watch a man approach the drink counter. There was nobody there to help him so he goes inside. That was when two employees approach and talk to him guiding him out of the counter area. Still, nobody comes near me.

I examine the promo stand on the table. One side showed that they were serving halo-halo (a mix of fruits, gelatinous ingredients, milk, sugar and ice plus maybe ice cream or custard). The other side exhorted a Pepsi Spire. I wanted to ask what was special about it but none of the staff paid me any attention.

I signal one of the girls entertaining guests who wanted to order take out. She came over and asked if I needed assistance. I told her that I wanted to order and that nobody had entertained me yet. She brings me a menu and a glass with three bread sticks. Then she went off again.

Finally, I had made my choice. So I laid the menu on the table and waited again. The bread sticks helped a bit. All this time, I was staring at the cashier area where a man and a woman stationed themselves. I thought either one of them was the manager.

Then I noticed two guys come in. One of the servers motioned them to a table and gave them a menu. I ran out of bread sticks. The server came back for the order of the two guys.

That was when I got up. I asked for the manager and lo, I was right. It was the man. I gave him my complaints and told him nobody came to take care of my order and the servers even got the order of people who came later than me. Calmly, he asked for my order.

The nerve of this guy! He did not even apologize for the bad behavior of his staff.

Luk for Foo(d)

I went to a dinner meeting last night, actually an overdue meeting but we couldn't schedule it during the Holy Week.

Anyway, we had been talking about it but there had been no venue for weeks.  Finally, yesterday morning, our coordinator Raymond announced that we would have at this place called Luk Foo at the Puregold building in Cubao.  That was convenient for me so I volunteered to be the advance party.

When I got there before 5pm, the place was almost empty.  It turns out they were quite new, just over a month old.  Besides it was too early for dinner and too late for snacks.  So I told the girl Amy that I was reserving for a party of 12 and that we would be arriving at 6:30.  She pointed out an area near the back.

She also asked if I was ordering and she showed me their menu sets for 10.  She insisted that the meal was big enough for 12.  Well, I could not order because I wasn't in charge of that.  Still, it was too early so I went off and did my own thing.

Amy prevailed.  When the others arrived, we chose one of the sets.  It turns out we had a small doggie bag when we left.

The food was great.  There was just too much of it for our group.  And yes, all 12 of us had full stomachs when we left.

Flowers of May

I had a chance to watch the Flores de Mayo parade in Cubao yesterday.  The Araneta Center had one every Sunday of May, I heard.  Each one had a different set of sagalas and yesterday it was all about beauty queens.  Naturally, they had to be included.  The head of Binibining Pilipinas Charities was after all married to an Araneta.  Anyway, that's a whole other story.

I had to note the dresses or gowns if you may.  These girls were support to represent something about the character of the virgin Mary.  Instead, they wore something that showed off their assets.  Nothing wrong with that really but then again, the essence of the festival is lost on them and on the audience.  Too bad for us because keeping these traditions alive would augur well for our country.  I'm sure the tourism heads would agree.

That girl Venus Raj was there.  She was assigned the role of Queen of All Nations, fitting for our Miss Universe representative really.  I wish she really could fit the role but from what she showed so far, I don't believe I'm willing to support her.  maybe somebody will tell me I don't know what really happened.  From media, I hear more from her than from the other side and what she said told me that she chose to ignore warnings before the pageant.

Carlyn Aguilar was Reyna Elena.  She is very pretty I think but her face is strong, perfect for mataray roles on tv.

The Reyna Emperatriz role went to Gloria Diaz, the country's first Miss Universe winner.  She still has the body for the part of beauty queen although her face shows signs of age.  She deserves the role.  And she looked lovely in her violet gown (or was that royal blue)