Daily thoughts - I won I won..but I failed to show up

A few days ago I wrote an entry about how I won a race kit for an All Women's run to be held on March 19 at the Mall of Asia. I was really very excited over it. The day before the race I went to R.O.X at the fort to pick up my freebie. 4 hours prior to that I showed up for a job interview and got an offer in 2 hours. It was turning out to be a really great day. After I accepted the job offer, I was so happy thinking now I can raise the money for my cats vaccination shots and also Boomer's surgery.

I was at the employer's building from 1pm to 4pm.Traffic wasnt that bad but I had to wait for the HR to prepare my contract. I left the office at around 4pm and hurriedly took the train. I sent an sms to the contact person (for the race kit)  named Ronald that I was on my way. I was  grateful to him for patiently waiting for me coz I was late for 2 hours.

The train ride to Ayala staion from Shaw was chaotic. The line was really long and it was packed. When I finally got to the Ayala station, I still had to wait again this time for the fort bus which almost took forever. I made it to R.O.X a little past 5pm. When I go tthere, Mr Ronald gave me an Athena bag with my race pack and also a complimentary box of Athena Milk! =) I bid him goodbye and apologized for being so late!

I took the Fort bus again to go to EDSA then boarded the mrt to go back to Shaw station. It was pandemonium. I was already on the women/handicapped/old people section but still I could barely squeeze in. I let 3 trains go by before I decided I had to get on the next one otherwise itll be dark when I get to town.

When people got on at Guadalupe station I had a fit. I had to yell for some of the boarding passengerthat there was no more room and they had to wait for the next train. The old man beside me was literally plastered on the glass panel behind the train driver. I couldnt even raise my arm to scratch my head from where I stood. There was no need to hold on to any post or railing to avoid falling when the train would stop. It was just too packed like sardines.

It was an agonizing short ride that really traumatized me. When I finally reached my destination, the passengers who were about to get on had to literally yank me out so I could alight the train. Apparently some of the passengers inside didnt want to go out of train even for a short while to let me through. Maybe out of fear they wont be able to get back on. I appreciated the help given by the passengers, however i hurt my ankle just to get out of that hell ride. I was limping on my way up the escalator. 

Needless to say, I wasnt able to show up for the race the next day. Tragic right?

Define irony. You pick up your race kit but you arent able to join the race because of an injury sustained during that pick up. FAIL.
I was really disappointed because this could have been my first free race and also there were tons of giveaways during the event.

My goodie bag had a carton of milk inside and a nice singlet.

The freebie milk was good.

And I loved the racerback design of their singlet. Unfortunately, everytime I will use this during future workouts, I will be reminded of that horrible experience at the MRT.

Front view of singlet (sorry i look goofy in this photo)

Back

Lesson learned. Next time its better to just pick up the race kit during the race itself or earlier in the day (prerace). Or dont take the train at all.

Daily thoughts - Saved 3 kittens and a paw!

One of our cats, Eggnog, gave birth to 3 kittens last Saturday March 19. The three kittens umbilical cord were caught in her front paw. My brother was hollering for me to go downstairs that night to tell me about it but I was too passed out in my sleep.

Eggnog and her 3 kittens

The next day I woke up around 6 am to do the laundry and I went out to check Eggnog's cage (they recently caught her abandoned by her foster parent and my brother took her back to our house). I was shocked to see her trying to bite one of her kittens and she was also obviously in pain. Then I remember the night before my brother was saying something about kittens being trapped or caught on something.  So I grabbed a potholder and a pair of scissors. I took Eggnog out of the cage too and she was crying again and biting the head of one of her kittens because their movement was causing her severe pain.  I put the pot holder on top of the kittens so that Eggnog wouldnt bite them but I was also worried her teeth may sink into my hand. I looked at the convoluted cord and I was scared I would sever the navel of the kittens. But it was an emergency, it might be too late if i bring them all to the vet. I took a deep breath and snipped one kitten from the cord. No bleeding. Thank God I sighed. NOw 2 more. I cut the second kitten's cord, and then moved on to the next kitten.

Freedom!!

I was so relieved to cut them loose from the cord and also to see that there was no bleeding. Eggnog licked the umbilical cord from her front limb and I was glad to see that there seemed to be no permanent damage on her paw. I was so worried that the delayed medical attention may have compromised her blood supply.

Eggnog's injured paw..looks a little nasty

It was a real touch and go moment! Im so happy that the kittens are alive and well. As for the mummy cat she seem fine and was able to walk (although limping a bit) to get some water and kibbles.

Daily thoughts -A very unREWARDING experience with Banco De Oro

Six months ago I was encouraged by a bank employee to open an account at BDO and avail of their rewards card. I had no idea what it was so I picked up a brochure and browsed through it. I wasnt interested but the kind lady had told me that I will get the card mailed to me in a couple of weeks. I didnt really wait but one time while I was at the bank checking on when my internet banking will be effective, I went ahead and asked how long is the turn around time. I was told it was 2- 3 weeks.
 

 By October, I still havent received my rewards card so I sent them an email.

The letter says 2-3 weeks. Take note of the date, this was October 8th. 2- 3 weeks elapsed and I still havent received the card so I sent them a follow up email.

It was almost November but still I have not received the card they promised. On November 8th (a month after they informed me that they will send it within 2-3 weeks) I received this response from them.

This was after I sent them an email inquiring on when I am expected to get their letter. After a week, they replied that that they will check with their relevant department regarding my concern.

Strangely, I got a hard copy of a letter mailed to me instead, but again no card. It just informed me that the card was sent to the branch where I opened my account. This was contrary to what I was told back in September and as stated on their emails. I told them that I refuse to go to their branch to pick up the card. First of all they have made me wait for almost 2 months and secondly they told me it will be mailed to me! I was never told beforehand that Id have to get it from the branch  (refer to emails and it was indicated will be MAILED TO YOUR BILLING ADDRESS). Unfortunately, I got tired of taking screenshots around December so I wasnt able to include here what I emailed them that month.  I scanned their November letter.

I even mentioned that I am appalled at their inconsistent and misleading advice. I added that if they insist I go to the branch, I might as well terminate my account while I am there. I dont know why their internet banking facility deletes old emails but maybe its for housekeeping and to keep their portal uncluttered. Good thing, I decided to capture all messages from January onwards.

By January 23 (3 weeks after the start of another year) still no card. 

3 weeks and no card yet

they mention 2nd week of January

It was also ODD that they claim the letter was returned to sender. Ive received 4 packages from the USA, excluding letters  none of these letters nor packages were ever rejected or returned to sender. I wonder why they say that their supposed mail was RETURNED TO SENDER unless again they are trying to cover up the fact that no mail was ever sent to me. Also, I received their November letter so what made them say that I needed to verify my billing address?

And even after they have claimd that a replacement card will be sent to me, I never received it to this day.

I was getting tired of their excuses and obvious LIES. This is the most incompetent bank perhaps I have encountered. I wasnt interested  in getting the card anymore at this point but I wanted them to clarify to me why they made me wait for that long. I just didnt like being lied to.

I wrote them on January 26 2011 to emphasize that it has been 4 months since they have promised me that they will be mailing the card in 2-3 weeks.

I figured since they claim that the card was sent on January 25 maybe I would get it in 3- 5 days. But that is if it is indeed true that they have mailed it.

Come January 31, still no card.

BDO email January 31

my feedback January 31 2011

Even after this correspondence, one would expect that the bank should have taken the initiative to resolve the issue. After all, I didnt ask for this card. It wasnt a big deal, it was their idea. But I was aggravated because I dont understand why this bank was feeding me with all these crap information and let their lies snowball and now they cannot seem to dig themselves out of that avalanche of LIES. Im very insulted. It would have been better if they could have just told me, oh we're sorry, we found out you dont qualify. I would have accepted it. Its just a benefit card and it isnt supposed to have an impact on my saving. Its not like I could afford to buy a car if I kept using their rewards card. I just felt cheated and treated like a FOOL.

On February 3, I received their typical mechanical response informing me they regret the inconvenience. This time however, they were trying to verify whether I have received their mail.
 

They claim they tried to call me on numerous attempts. I wonder why it never went through? I dont see any missed calls on my phone. I did receive sms from them telling that the card is on transit and later on asking if I have received it where I replied I havent.

On March 1st I received several calls (FINALLY AFTER 5 MONTHS!) from a Mr Jonathan. He was really pleasant and  tried very hard to assure me that he will do everything he can to follow through with his promise. He was also very apologetic and even asked my opinion or input.


I told him, Ive worked in bank and this kind of service is totally unacceptable. From the start, they should have just arranged for me to pick up the card at the branch closest to where I live. That could have saved them postage fee and at the same time, they didnt have to keep modifying their service standard information everytime they would respond to my inquiries. In short, they didnt have to LIE. But the problem was, they kept giving me inconsistent statement until it got to the point that they found themselves cornered because their statements were beginning to contradict the previous ones. Its like they didnt even bother to read what they previously wrote! They just kept replying. I didnt feel empathy at all when they claim to "regret causing me inconvenience".

Mr Jonathan told me that he is now closely monitoring the delivery of the replacement card. He has also advised me he that will update me. I told him I dont really care about the card anymore, but I do want an explanation on what happened. And if its the post office that has caused this problem, they (BDO) have to come up with hard evidence to prove it. Like I said, its not the card that matters here, it's their integrity.


Im still giving Banco de Oro this chance to redeem itsel. But if you ask me, honestly, Banco de Oro can shove that card up their ass. I dont give a shit about it and Im tired of listening to their lies. I will not recommend this bank to anyone I know. Its unfortunate that I do find their internet banking facility quite impressive. But,what good is that facility if a bank cant deliver a promise? Its like going to a restaurant where the food is good but the service sucks and the waitress spits on your burger after youve waited for an hour.

Before March is over, I wonder whether I will get another, we regret for causing you inconvenience letter. And whether I should reply with an I regret banking with you assholes.