Did this also happen to you?

If you have experienced being told that your credit card has been reported stolen as you try to check out with the cashier after shopping for anything, let me just tell you that you were not the only one who had gone through such embarrassment and inconvenience.

A very close friend recounted to me how he wanted to melt while trying to explain to a lady cashier of a large upscale shopping establishment that it was impossible that the credit card he just handed was stolen precisely because he was the true owner of the card. He was doing this explaining while trying to hang on to a number of expensive shirts and shorts that he was trying to tuck in place in his arms and with quite a number of other customers waiting in line and definitely hearing every word he was saying.

He said he was very fortunate that he decided just recently to have a second card from a secondary bank, which for a long time he considered as unnecessary as he was banking with one of the biggest banks hereabouts. If he didn’t and had to leave all the items he had in his arms at the cashier’s counter in plain sight of everyone around, he might have had a stroke right then and there out of sheer embarrassment.

Now, what really turned his embarrassment to anger was when he checked with his bank to find out what happened and was informed that it was in the process of fine-tuning a glitch in their computer system and are recalling some of their credit cards to straighten this out.

He is right now mulling over the possibility of a damage suit against this mega large bank due to the embarrassment he went through.

I am opting not to mention the name of the bank, as this could just be an isolated case, although my friend said that he learned of a very similar experience by another close acquaintance who had to leave a filled to the brim grocery cart as he didn’t have any other card and not enough cash in his wallet to cover the groceries he wanted to buy.

If indeed this is factual, and I really don’t have any reason to doubt this fellow who’s actually a partner in one of my business ventures and indeed a very close friend with integrity beyond reproach, I would be quite partial to his feeling that this bank ought to be taught a lesson by going through the legal process making it pay moral damages for the embarrassment that it has caused if only to make it improve its policies regarding customer care and service.

More Ad Posters Than Flags During Independence Day

One of our regular readers called earlier this week fuming mad when he saw more advertising posters and banners of a telecom company displayed in a long stretch of EDSA during the week ce-lebrating our independence day instead of our country’s flags.

He was saying that during these days of uncertainty, our leaders should utilize whatever means to help unite the populace and the Independence Day celebrations could have been a rallying point to promote nationalism and the abundant display of our country’s flags could have helped in whatever little way in achieving this.

Our reader, who preferred not to be named, is much apprehensive that having more advertising posters than flags can give some of our countrymen the feeling that even such patriotic events are being prostituted for material gains instead of arousing nationalistic spirits.

Is it because the margins out of selling cell phones are undoubtedly infinitely better than selling flags?

Famed Filipino Dance Company Does An Encore

We just got word that after 30 years of hibernation, the internationally acclaimed Filipinescas: Philippine Life, Legend and Lore in Dance will be re-launched. It will be a strictly invitational affair at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theater at 7:30 in the evening this coming Friday, June 25, where it shall also aptly serve as a tribute to national artist for creative dance Leonor Orosa Goquingco’s 65th anniversary as a pioneer Filipino choreographer.

If you recall, The Filipinescas, which was founded in 1958 by Madame Goquingco, merges traditional folk dance with classical ballet, creating a distinct dance-drama that is truly Filipino.

The CSB-Filipinescas Dance Company makes an encore through a partnership between the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde and the Danza Orosa Foundation.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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