An end to Lactacyd envy

Ever since feminine hygiene products began TV advertising some years back, it became fairly common to hear cracks among guys such as: "Why isn't there something similar for men?"


Such cracks were apparently taken not as cracks, but as consumer insights, by some entrepreneurial soap-maker. And whoever made those cracks to mask his secret need for such a product, will now be pleased to find that, on the shelves of Mercury Drug, there awaits a product to fulfill his need:



More than that, the same entrepreneurial soap-maker was clever enough to make it a "his and hers" duo.



I just wonder though: 1) Wouldn't branding have been more consistent if it had been "Fem Tight" and "Peni Big"? Or "Peni Fresh" and "Fem Clean"? 2) Why couldn't hers have been in Tutti-Fruitti flavor too?

And on a more practical side: 3) The "hers" variant's "tightens muscle" promise is intriguing... I wonder if it'll work on stretch marks and wrinkles? If anyone has the answer, let me know.

Globe Telecom, at your service... well, kinda

One of the cutest things about arriving in Singapore -- along with the view of the park-dotted city and the gleaming airport -- is immigration. Yes, immigration. Why? Because in every other country, you've gotten used to surly immigration officers. That includes our very own Philippines, where immigration officers at departure seem resentful that you're traveling, and those at arrival aren't at all welcoming when their kababayans are back.

But in Singapore, I love it that every immigration counter has a little glass bowl of mints. And when you approach the counter, the immigration officer offers you one. Sure, some offer the mints more pleasanty than others -- "HAVE. A. MINT.", I was once commanded by a stern-faced Indian -- but invariably, they do offer. It's a minor detail, but I love it because from what you know about immigration officers, it's just so unexpected.

So what's that got to do with Globe Telecom? Hahaha, true to my verbose form, I've written two paragraphs worth of digression. Or is it?

Yesterday, while waiting to pay my bill in the Globe's Shangri-La Business Center, I looked towards the Platinum counter and saw a little glass bowl with colorful candy wrappers in it. How cute, I thought! How thoughtful!

But then an evil thought crossed my mind -- "I wonder...?" And sure enough, upon closer inspection, here was the bowl and its contents... or should I say, former contents:

Looks like someone had the bright idea to install this would-be pleasant detail in the Business Center, but ran out of budget to see it through. Or everyone was too busy to clean out and replenish the thing. In any case, I just found it too hilarious a metaphor for all those dropped calls, long lines, incessant text promos, incomprehensible promos, and wrong answers from customer service, and everything else that comprises the service you get from this supposedly premium service provider.

How ironic, that a detail so simple is done so well at an immigration desk, where you don't even expect it; but done so lousily at an elite service desk of a premium brand in an elite mall, where the promise is nothing but the best.

As they say, if you can't do it well...

Finally on Multiply!

I created my Multiply account months ago but never got around to populating it. I made it in the first place because:

1) James' photo albums looked a lot more fun than mine on Friendster.

2) Na-excite ako at the prospect of uploading my own music, the way Igo does it.

3) I can link it to my blog.

4) Judging from my friends who are active Multiply-ers vs those who are active, uhm, Friendster-ers, Multiply seems a lot more like the smart person's choice. Hahaha. Elitist bee-yotch.

(Yes, kelangan talagang naka-enumerate ang reasons ko for creating a Multiply site. Proctoid!)

The thing is, I wonder if I'll actually be able to maintain this Multiply site. I hardly have time for songwriting, arranging, reading the books on my shelf, and maintaining my weight. In fact, with my blogging now at the bottom of the list of my to-do's, it's not been updated since August 2007. (In James' words nga naman: "Masyado mo kasing kinakarir ang entries mo"... well duh, James, I have to protect the integrity of my byline! :-p ...but then, may point nga naman.)

Oh well, bahala na. :-p