Some Things Never Change No Matter What Country You Are In. Example Robbers Disguised As Taxi Drivers

When I went to the Equatorial Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City to visit my friend Rina who happens to be the Pastry Chef of the 5-star Malaysian-owned Hotel, I noticed a Taxi Advisory signage posted in the lobby of said Hotel warning of illegal taxis that were overcharging riders (sounds normal in Manila) and to take well-know brand taxis (Mai Linh and Vinsons are two good taxis).

Techniques of Robbers cum Taxi drivers are taking a roundabout route (in Tagalog, ikot-ikot) instead of taking the shortest route or having fast meters (again, just like in Manila).


(courtesy of Equatorial Hotel)


(Mai Linh taxi meter; Innovas and Vios are the norm)


(Ladydriver for Vinson's Taxi)

Flag down rate is about Vn dong 10,000 (about P22.00).

If you want to request for further information, send me a message or comment on the above post, please kindly click the "comment" button below this post.

As a NEW FEATURE ON MY NEW BLOG, I am conducting a Reader Survey on "What You Think Is The Hottest Small Business in Manila today". On the Top Right part of this blog is my Survey Poll. Please click your choice as the Best Small Business in Manila and then click "Vote" button.

To see the results of the survey todate, just click the “Show Result” button

There is Nothing Like Having a Politician as a Customer to Boost Your Resto's Image

  In Ho Chi Minh City, a noodle restaurant gained notoriety when former President Bill Clinton ate noodles in their premises.  The restaurant has since been renamed Pho 2000 to commemorate the event.  Inside is a pic of the former President dining inside the said restaurant.



Quite recently, the Emerald Restaurant in Manila, an old well-established restaurant serving fine Chinese cuisine, gained a lot of free publicity when the media learned that the Manila City Mayor, also the head of the Crisis Committee dealing with the HongKong hostage situation, dined at said restaurant during the hostage-taking crisis.

If you want to request for further information, send me a message or comment on the above post, please kindly click the "comment" button below this post.

As a NEW FEATURE ON MY NEW BLOG, I am conducting a Reader Survey on "What You Think Is The Hottest Small Business in Manila today". On the Top Right part of this blog is my Survey Poll. Please click your choice as the Best Small Business in Manila and then click "Vote" button.

To see the results of the survey todate, just click the “Show Result” button

Direct from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City): Would You Buy Your Bread from a Bakery called Crumbs????

Spotted opposite a Temple we just visited in right in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam was this signage  for the "Crumbs. Your Local Bakery".

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. . . .   Bread, anyone?

you want to request for further information, send me a message or comment on the above post, please kindly click the "comment" button below this post.

As a NEW FEATURE ON MY NEW BLOG, I am conducting a Reader Survey on "What You Think Is The Hottest Small Business in Manila today". On the Top Right part of this blog is my Survey Poll. Please click your choice as the Best Small Business in Manila and then click "Vote" button.

To see the results of the survey todate, just click the “Show Result” button

Question: When is a Scramble not a Scramble? . . . . . . . . Answer: When It is a SCRAMBOI! Huh?

As part of the Scramble Bandwagon, Wynski is offering their version of the Scramble franchise called Scramboi and get this, they are offering it at only P50,000!!!


(courtesy of Scramboi Wynski Enterprises)

NOTICE ALSO THAT AT p5-p10-p15, THEY ARE OFFERING A LOWER SELLING PRICE THAN ICEBREAKER WHICH SELLS AT P7-P10-P17!!!!!

Question: When is Siomai Not Siomai? . . Answer: When It is Syomai!!!

I told you there are so many siomai franchises during the Food & Drink Expo at the WTC and that most of the siomai outfits are copying each other like having the same Black-Red-White color scheme, the same script and even the same brand initials "M" and "S".

NOW COMES SOMEBODY WHO TRIES TO BE DIFFERENT . . . . . in spelling the word "Siomai" that is . . . . enter Mister SYOMAI!!!!


(courtesy of Syomai siomai)

Well, not really all that different------ its Mister Syomai as in Master Siomai as in Magic Siomai. . . . Oh well.

Question: When is Siomai Not Siomai? . . Answer: When It is Syomai!!!

I told you there are so many siomai franchises during the Food & Drink Expo at the WTC and that most of the siomai outfits are copying each other like having the same Black-Red-White color scheme, the same script and even the same brand initials "M" and "S".

NOW COMES SOMEBODY WHO TRIES TO BE DIFFERENT . . . . . in spelling the word "Siomai" that is . . . . enter Mister SYOMAI!!!!


(courtesy of Syomai siomai)

Well, not really all that different------ its Mister Syomai as in Master Siomai as in Magic Siomai. . . . Oh well.

This is What Happens When I Treat My Lotto Customer Right. . . .

I was at the bank this morning just before lunch and as I was transacting with the Teller, I heard my name called. I turned and I saw my Lotto customer.

He told me that with regards to that certain hard-to-get location for my lotto outlet that I have always wanted, he might be able to help as he put in an application for the space on my behalf thru a friend of his who happens to be a relative and if successful, we just might be able to do business together.

Nothing is definite yet but the fact that my lotto customer would go out of his way to do that and is willing to do a joint venture business with me speaks volumes of the POSITIVE WAY our lotto customers think about us.

EARN EXTRA MONEY: BINGO-ON-WHEELS

There is a stretch of Ortigas Avenue Extension from Taytay, Rizal to the corner of Ortigas Ave and E. Rodriguez Ave. (east of Manila) that is notorious for its turtle-like traffic. It is so slow that even a turtle will fall asleep. That's how bad it is.

A jeepney driver has found a novel idea of killing time and at the same time maybe earn some money---PLAY BINGO.

Jeepneys are used in Manila for short trips and travelling on side streets of Manila and they carry up to 23 passengers.

While waiting for traffic to move, the jeepney driver distributes Bingo cards among the passengers who want to play. There is a plastic shaker where all the bingo tiles are shaken and a tile a time is pulled-out. After calling the tile letter/number, the called tile is then placed on another container to verify any winners. There is another container where the bets are placed.

When somebody shouts "BINGO!!!", his card is verified against the container containing the called tiles. If it is a good bingo, WINNER TAKES ALL!!!!

Poor Man's Porsche & My Dream Wheels: The Evolution MR or Evo 10 for short

1. A Porsche 911 Carrera does 0 to 60mph in 4.1 sec. My Dream Wheels does it in 4.6 to 5.0 depending on which mag you read.

2. Porsche has PDK. My Dream Wheels has TC-SST manumatic.

3. The Porsche seats maybe 2+2. Mine seats 5.

4. The Carrera has 2-wheel drive (though its turbo sister has AWD. Mine too has AWD bred thru WRC Rallying.

5. The Porsche cost upwards of P8 million. It costs P3.2 million.



Am talking about the Evo 10. It may not be practical but you will never run out of bragging rights. Imagine smoking Euro Sports cars at stoplights. It's the ultimate sleeper car. And I hope to get one!!!

Why Free 2-Hours WIFI is Bad for the Health

I am at Coffeebreak, a coffee shop located in a medium-sized mall north of Manila. I needed to get online FAST as am already falling behind in my blog postings, checking my Sulit Online ads, reading emails, facebook and twitter etc.

Coffebreak offers free 2-hours WIFI for every purchase of P100 (US$2) worth of coffee, tea or whatever they are selling. 2-hours is not enough to do all my online needs so I purchased twice to avail of 2 x 2hour WIFI.

Because I want to maximize the WIFI time, I have to forgo the Call of Nature as the restroom is quite a distance from where the coffeeshop is located and besides I do not want to leave my laptop for anyone to steal. It has an Imation Cable Lock but what if the thief has a pocket Bolt Cutter?????

And so, my kidneys are going to suffer because of my wanting to save on WIFI charges-----I mean I cannot keep on drinking expensive coffee to get another free 2-hours. . .

My car was flagged by a Cop with a M16 slung over his chest!

Actually the title was a little hyped but I did get flagged by a policeman with a M16 high-powered rifle and he told me to open the hood of my car. He just looked around the engine compartment and waved me on.

I then realized this might have something to do with our new President Noynoy Aquino's campaign over cars with police sirens (Wangwang, in Filipino=speak) who use them to speed them over in traffic.

Only in the Philippines.

ID Card-Eating Laminating Machine

The above pic was taken at a bookstore and rather than get it fixed, that sign has remained on the inoperative laminating machine for weeks.

The sign says in Tagalog "The machine ate the ID of Rose" . . . . Poor Rose. What a dangerous carnivoring machine to find in a bookstore.

Talking to My Lotto Customers is THE BEST TRANQUILIZER!

Better than Valium, Retrovil and other tranquilizers and cheaper still !!!

My Operator always tells her supervisor that I talk too much with my customers!!!

You see, my lotto outlet has two Lotto Flex terminals (You get only 1 Lotto terminal as a new Lotto Agent but if your sales reach a certain level, they may issue you another) manned by my operator and her supervisor every day. That's when my operator's worries start-- I am the substitute operator. Hehehehe



(when I see long lines at my lotto, I feel GREAT!)

I LOVE TO TALK AND TALK AND TALK and since my Lotto customers come from all walks of life, I am assured of a topic of all colors: politics, logistics, my customer's betting history, love life and even personal problems. And sometimes, I forget that I am on the Lotto terminal and my operator would shout "Kuya (brother), THE LINE IS ALREADY LONG!!!!!!).

I feel so relaxed talking to them.

Reasons Why My Lotto Customers Play the PCSO Lotto Scratch It cards

Due to extensive Market Research conducted at my Lotto Outlet (i.e I chatted-up My Lotto Customers because I love talking to them), the reasons for playing the Lotto Scratch It Cards are:

1. I want to know if I won anything RIGHT NOW (unlike the Lotto wherein I have to wait for the Evening TV News for the Lotto draw results)

2. I can't stop scratching the Lotto cards.

3. Am waiting for my wife to finish doing the grocery.

4. Am killing time before I line-up to do my collections.

5. My wife and I scratch the cards just before going to bed (This is true!! I have 2 regular customers, a young couple, who told me this and they just bought P1,500 (US$30) worth of Lotto cards from me yesterday morning)

6. The All-time Hit Reason, Scratching the Lotto cards is MY EXERCISE (My regular customer, a middle-aged lady, told me this).

Scavenging at Lotto Outlet

We need to have HEART in running a business. Let me explain:

There is these two guys, an old man and a not-so-old man, that used to bother me whenever I see them approach my Lotto outlet. You see, they would rummage my trash cans to retrieve lotto tickets and lotto scratch it cards discarded by my lotto customers. If that were not enough, they sometimes bother my lotto customers still scratching the cards for their scratched cards and this at times irritates my customers.

The reason for scavenging is in the hope of finding lotto tickets and scratch cards that were thrown away as non-winning but in fact won consolation prizes. At times, these two would get P100 for their effort. They would buy their own lotto ticket (P10/20) and encash the balance.

My first reaction was to stop them from bothering my customers. In fact I did get a tiff with one of them as he wanted me to encash a ticket that he scavenged from a rival lotto outlet and I refused.

In the end, I took stock of the situation and said:

1. They are just trying to make a Living;

2. While it is true that they encash it from me, they at times buy a lotto ticket too. That makes them a customers, isn't it?

By Helping My Friend, I am Helping Myself

When we help people, two people feel good: the person to whom help is given and me ( that's us). I do not look at it as a debt that has to be repaid. If I am able to share what I have, it is enough that I helped them with a way to earn.

And when I talk about help, I do not mean a dole-out. I am not blessed with tons of money and in fact, I too have my share of fund shortages from time-to-time just like a number of us.

When I mean I help, I help the person to earn on his/her own-- it may be a selling opportunity or a small business to start. I am a believer of the saying " Give a man fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime"".

Yesterday I sat down with a dear friend who I believe needs all the help the world can give just for her to make ends meet and not lose her mind in the process. I offered her options to be my agent or dealer by splitting commissions as I know she is in no position to contribute financially.

The silver lining (Blessing) in what I just did is that I might be more successful in my business as she has a wide network of prospects that are now untapped and the saying that One Plus One Equals Three is definite as on my own, I may not be able to do it without a treasure of prospects.

The Cheap Value People place on their Own Lives

This is a scene along EDSA, the busiest main thoroughfare in Manila. The particular spot where this picture was taken shows a car racing down a Flyover which is just a few meters away from where the two bright guys stood--waiting to cross.

The sign used to say "BAWAL TUMAWID. NAKAKAMATAY" (eng- Do Not Cross. It causes Death) but according to the guard of a bank on that corner, the sign was changed to "BAWAL TUMAWID. MAY NAMATAY NA DITO" (eng - Do not Cross. Somebody Already Died Here) after a woman was killed a few days before the picture was taken having been hit by a motorcycle coming down from the Flyover. The woman's body was thrown about and tumbled several spins along the highway.

Was the sign effective? See the picture below-

How Do People Pick Their Lucky Lotto Numbers

We have been operating for almost 2 years and it never fails to amuse me to observe how my customers pick their Lucky Lotto Numbers. Let me share you some :

1. Birthdays of kids and wife in that order.
2. Lucky Pick (or Quick Pick for you USA Lotto players)
(One customer told me that after betting his wife's birthday the
last 6 years and not winning anything, he gave up and now relies
on the computer-generated Lucky Pick instead)
3. Plate number of a tricycle ( a motorcycle outfitted to carry 4 or
more passengers) that was involved in an accident.
(This customer won the EZ2 game. Talk about profiting from
disaster)
4. A customer told me that there are Active Numbers, Bad Numbers
as well as Lazy Numbers.
5. Another has a chart showing the frequency and time of draw of
all the numbers played. (Whew!!!!!)
6. Any number that the bettor comes across be it the numbers on his
restaurant receipt, house numbers or whatever number he sees.
7. 9-11 is a popular combination betted regularly.

How Do People Pick Their Lucky Lotto Numbers

We have been operating for almost 2 years and it never fails to amuse me to observe how my customers pick their Lucky Lotto Numbers. Let me share you some :

1. Birthdays of kids and wife in that order.
2. Lucky Pick (or Quick Pick for you USA Lotto players)
(One customer told me that after betting his wife's birthday the
last 6 years and not winning anything, he gave up and now relies
on the computer-generated Lucky Pick instead)
3. Plate number of a tricycle ( a motorcycle outfitted to carry 4 or
more passengers) that was involved in an accident.
(This customer won the EZ2 game. Talk about profiting from
disaster)
4. A customer told me that there are Active Numbers, Bad Numbers
as well as Lazy Numbers.
5. Another has a chart showing the frequency and time of draw of
all the numbers played. (Whew!!!!!)
6. Any number that the bettor comes across be it the numbers on his
restaurant receipt, house numbers or whatever number he sees.
7. 9-11 is a popular combination betted regularly.

A Private Swimming Pool along the Highway

Manila is melting the HEAT. Yesterday was the HOTTEST DAY IN THE METRO AT 38 degrees CELSIUS!

This has led to people to look for innovative ways of having that Private Swimming Pool that only the Rich and Famous have, even if one does not have a place for it .

I took this pic while traveling along North Avenue, a main Highway Artery in the heart of Quezon City, capital of the Philippines.