Category: General

Doing Business with BPI Credit Cards

I used to promote BPI Credit Cards to friends for the ease of doing business with them, especially when it comes to requesting for waiver of the annual fees. Well, at least, that’s how it used to be.

Recently, I haven’t had much transactions using my BPI credit card, thus I decided to have the card cancelled already. I have had enough already with too much trouble in calling their hotline yearly just to have to make wait for 10, 20 minutes or so, for the next available customer service representative. Add that to the fact that their cancellation process is more troublesome — you have to send them a written request. Who does that nowadays? In 2018?

Thus, from now on, I’m done talking to BPI Credit Cards. They’re not worth any business from me. More importantly, from now on, I’m not using any credit card that don’t have waived annual fees for life.

If Metrobank can offer “no annual fee for life”, why can’t others do too?

To credit card companies: I’m bringing you business, you shouldn’t bring me further trouble.

NBA League Pass in the Philippines

With the timezone difference, Filipinos in the Philippines can’t catch each and every game of the NBA. Normally, the games happen while we’re at work. Thus, we can only enjoy the games usually every weekend, and not all weekends are free day for everyone.

And thus, it’s not practical to fork out Php4,999 per year, Php650 per month, or Php99 per day to avail of the NBA League Pass.

If I were to suggest a reasonable price for NBA League Pass, it would be Php999 (~US$20) for a year, Php199 (~US$4) for a month, and Php49 (~$1) for a weekend (Saturday and Sunday, Philippine time). That is how Filipinos will find it reasonable, considering the standard of living and the volume of games they can freely watch anyway. And this is how NBA can sell the NBA League Pass in the Philippines.

Happy 10 Years!

10-years

Today marks the 10th year of existence of Deuts.NET. I registered this domain name on May 17, 2006 — check the whois.

I’m sure we’ve seen better days in blogging, when I used to post a lot more often, and daily traffic was much better. Perhaps, those were the glory days of blogging — before Facebook even came around. Continue reading

Mar Roxas and the BPO Industry 

A misleading title of the Philippine Collegian article states: “Should BPO workers thank Mar Roxas?

I say misleading because I don’t think the article didn’t even answer the very question upon its title. That or perhaps I may have just missed the points he should have enumerated how Mar shouldn’t even be credited with the proliferation of the BPO industry in our country, you tell me.

The author further wrote (emphasis is mine):

And I don’t see why she wouldn’t be offended. The promotional video employs the same load of nonsense that justifies exploitative working conditions that many BPO workers have to face in exchange for wage premiums and standard benefits. This time, the spin is being used by a traditional politician whose presidential ambition matches neither his accomplishments nor his charisma.

The message is clear, though: the industry saved millions of jobless Filipinos from hunger and the need to leave their families to work overseas. Just ignore the fact that foreign-owned BPO companies took advantage of our country’s surplus of cheap labor so that they could keep their profit margins, or the fact that the entry of these companies into the Philippine economy precede even the start of Roxas’s career in national government.

So you think the foreign-owned companies are the evil here? Please don’t make it look like we are being exploited by these foreign companies. Filipinos needed jobs, they’re willing to outsource some (or many, as the case may be), law of supply and demand, the government provides for the infrastructure.

We should be thankful we had this opportunity. If you’re not up for it, no one is forcing you. But next time, before you whine about your job, be it in the BPO industry or otherwise, read this article.

Terra 28th

Terra 28th is one of two parks/playgrounds in the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig.

BGC is probably so far the foremost business district in the country. People enjoy these parks and the wide pavements across all the streets for their leisurely walk.

iPhoneography Series: Stairs 

So I’m starting an iPhoneography series at this site. I’ll be posting pictures taken with my iPhone 6s Plus for the purpose of showcasing the capability of the iPhone to capture great pictures.

Stairs at the SM Aura Premier

Stairs at the SM Aura Premier

The stairs leading to the second floor (Level 2) of SM Aura Premier.

The pathetic state of our political party system

The Philippines’ political party system has gone haywire that it has become a norm for presidentiables to share some senatoriables in each of their senatorial line-ups.

At least 5 of the tandem’s [Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero] bets are shared candidates with the slates of administration and the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

— Rappler, Who are on the Poe-Escudero senatorial slate?

Imagine this: a presidential candidate endorsing and campaigning for a senatorial candidate, yet the latter does not return the favor but campaigns and votes for another presidentiable instead.

Consider that irony and tell me how pathetic we are to have such a political party system?