Live in the Philippines

Live in the Philippines helps expats with visas, moving and other services regarding the Philippines.

Being me isn’t always easy!

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As I’ve mentioned on this site in the past, in the past months I have started to become somewhat well known due to some of my blogs. When I go to malls and such, people often recognize me, ask to have a photo with me, etc. Well, I am sure that you readers think that either I am crazy and this is all a figment of my imagination, or you feel that I have a great life as sort of a “micro-celebrity” around Mindanao. Well, today, I must report that being “Mindanao Bob” as I have started to be known as is not always an easy life! I have many very important things to consider and must advise people on many very serious matters. It makes for a very tough life.

Let me give you an example. The other day, I received an e-mail that had been sent to me through one of my other blogs. I certainly won’t identify the person who sent this e-mail to me, but I want to share the e-mail with you so that you will begin to understand the sincerity of the pressure that I am under. So, let’s have a look:

I just need some advise about one of the bakeshope here in cagayan de oro. Last saturday september 8, 2007 me and my father and sister having a snack at Julies Bakeshope located at capistrano street. we ordered thier bread and it happen that the “fruit cake” has a cricket/cockroah on the top of it. we complain to the saleslady thier but we did not give the fruit cake. as of now the fruit cake is in my hands….but i dont know what to do… can you help me with this? i just want to learn them a lesson ..pls…. hope i hear you soon…

I have not edited the e-mail above in any way, any mis-spellings are just the way it was sent to me. So, now, can you see the pressure that I am under on a day to day basis? How can one single person handle such decisions?

Ha ha… so, what do you think? How should I advise this lady?

The more important question is this – why would anybody think they should write to me about something like this? What can I possibly do about it? The truth is that I get e-mails like this with all kinds of weird situations probably 4 or 5 times every week!

Fascinating, don’t you think?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Hi Bob,

    I've been monitoring a crisis within my own sphere currently hence I've not been on the blog for many hours. Many hours! Can you imagine?? I just now glanced at it briefly to get
    a respite from my own challenges. Could not help but comment on this.

    Bob, the truth is, no matter how great or how good a person you are, or how well-intentioned you are, you cannot be everything to everybody… You will have to acknowledge some limitations. Otherwise, you will end up short-changing someone: either yourself or your immediate family. As all of us have 24 hours to work with, how we apportion this time determines our level of happiness.

    You're asking for input, so here's mine. I would suggest that you and Feyma sit down and determine what you want to accomplish from this blogging business (besides the financial returns that is). Otherwise, you will suffer the burnout as blogging has its own challenging scope-creep, as you're already seeing.

    – Clearly set your parameters to suit your "mission" or goals.

    – Stomp out any cries for help that don't fit the boundaries.

    – Prepare a "canned" letter to send out to these people explaining your mission, your boundaries and why you cannot do anything about their problem.

    – When you go to the magazine format, define that clearly in the "About Us" or "Our Mission" section.

    Being everything to everyone will dilute your efforts and somewhere, no matter how thinly you stretch yourself, someone will still be unhappy anyway. By setting the boundaries and clearly communicating that to your readership, the expectations are set. You will then be providing the highest, greatest level of service to those whose needs fall within the scope that you have set.

    About this particular lady's complaint, I'd advise her to just have the bread exchanged exchanged 2 for 1, or 3 for 1, whatever she thinks is appropriate for the aggravation of finding a cockroach. An apology from the owner is also in order. That just makes business sense to me. News travels like wildfire, esp. if it borders on the negative so the business owner would do better to invest in PR work.

    If she were in California, I'm sure she'd have sought legal help by now 😆 But in the Philippines, I don't think this course of action would fly.

    (BTW, I might be invisible off/on so my best regards always to you and Feyma and the regulars on this blog: AmericanLola, Tina, Cheryll Ann, Jul, Macky, Rey, Jio, Teng, Jim, Rick, Richard, Pete, Marilou, Mary Grace, Lea, John G, Jack, Scott, Dave Starr, Paul, Kevin, Klaus and all the others on this blogosphere… etc… )

  3. Bob,

    I agree with John, tell the writer, not to complain, they are just getting extra protein for free. 🙄

  4. Hi angie – Sorry… this post was written "tongue in cheek". It is 100% true, but I posted it more as a joke than as a real appeal for help. Sorry if I was misleading!

    Hi John and Bruce – you guys got my drift…. 😆

  5. Bob,

    When you put up the magazine format, how about a "Help from Helouse" and a "Dear Abby" features. Maybe someone would like to be the columnist for them.
    This way with the strange email requests or advise can be answered anonymously.

  6. Hi Bob,

    Re. #4, you're right, I did not get your drift. It reflects my own very serious mood currently. And it is so indicative of the truth that how we feel will "color" our actions/responses. Back to my business for now…

  7. Hi Angie- Hope you're OK. I surely miss your contributions here in LiP. Make sure you'll just be off for an hour or two ha? 🙁

    Hi Bob- I agree with Angie about the actions she has to make in addition to sending her complain to the agency of Food and Drugs of the Dept of Health, Region 10. The agency sometimes conducts surprise inspection of these establishments. Hmmm, if I may recall, Julie's Bakeshoppe is a franchised business, so they should take care of their reputation. My 2 cents is that the lady perhaps wants patrons to get rid of Julie's Bakeshoppe, "a way ot teaching a lesson" thru your website since you have a wide range of readers.

  8. Hi Jul – That was not publicly posted on my site, it was sent to me personally, so I don't think that was the motive.

  9. Hi Bruce – A column like that could be a good idea. I had not thought of it!

    Hi angie – don't worry, I can see how it could be taken seriously, I think I wasn't clear enough.

  10. haha. Looks like we need a "Dear Bob" section. Complete with a soft hazy picture of a sympathetic looking Bob.
    There was a popular local teledrama/tv show of this type in the 80s…. How about "Lovingly yours, Bob".
    😀
    Anyone care to compose accompanying heartwrenching piano soundtrack?

  11. Bob – that's a funny one! 🙂 Just can't believe that people will do that. They really think you don't have a life.

    Bruce- #5 – I would love Cheryll Ann to be the host for that. 🙂 Ok CA, I'm just kidding!

    Angie – yes, you did take it seriously. We will miss you for a while then. I wish I have a sister like you though, you're give very good advice.

  12. Hi macky – Ha ha… I didn't know about that show! Do you think I can demand any royalties on that? Lovingly yours, Bob. (I'm gonna start signing all of my comments directed to you that way!)

    Hi Lea – I get e-mails like that almost daily!

  14. Strange that Bob,

    I got an email from my site a few weeks back. A lady in Manila working as a domestic helper sent me a request to go to Manila to make the employer pay her the months salary that he owes her. That was the strange email ,maybe thesame lady.

  15. Hi Lea – It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it, I guess!

    Hi Jack – Amazing! Are you going, by the way??? 🙂

  16. Hi Bob- I think the writer should thank their lucky stars that they got extra protein for their money. If your not careful you could end up the regional officer for enforcing fair trading standards.

  18. Oh too funny…

    I bet food today from many establishements will have that extra protein and who knows what extra goodies , LOL LOL! No water today in Davao… hehehehe Joke joke

    But it's true about the no water, hehehe.

  21. Jonh your reply (extra meat ) had my morning coffee coming out my nose I was laughing so hard !! Great reply !!!!

  23. Hi Brian – John has done that to me before too. As I recall, it was coke, though!

    Hi Richard – Hmm… that would mean that I have to go to school for that Doctorate degree though… too much work! Thanks for your comment on the site!