PDI’s Thumbs Down: “Bad Behavior at Closing Time”

In vino veritas is a Latin phrase that translates “in wine [there is the] truth.”

I found this article in my IG feed:

Thumbs Down, Sunday Lifestyle, Philippine Daily Inquirer

THUMBS DOWN
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2:18 am | Sunday, August 10th, 2014

Bad Behavior at Closing Time

We are big believers of The Waiter Rule – that you can see a person’s true character by the way they treat people in the service industry – so were horrified to hear about an ugly incident in a bar lounge at a five-star hotel in Makati.

At around 3 a.m., a server approached the last remaining customers as they were closing and asked if they would like to move to a table he had reserved from them at the hotel lobby which would be open 24/7. The group, which included a government employee who fancies himself a diplomat, a businessman, a socialite and another lady friend were still drinking wine.

Infuriated, the businessman who had already complained when the house lights were switched on, started haranguing the server, shouting and telling him he was arrogant.

Out of deference to the customer, the servers gave the group an additional ten minutes. When they were reminded once again that the bar was closed and that the lobby was still open, the socialite and the businessman started screaming at him and calling him names.

The businessman left but his companions stayed. The server once again told them that the bar was closed. The “diplomat” asked for more time while the socialite completely lost it, shouting, “What is your f***ing problem?” When the server told her he couldn’t go home without cleaning up, the socialite continued screaming and then spat at him, her saliva landing on his clothes.

The group refused to leave even after another hotel employee told them that the housekeeping department was about to clean the place. They left almost two hours after closing time.

Sources say this isn’t the first time the group has done things like this. When not rude to waiters, the “diplomat” has also been known to make amorous advances towards the wait staff. He had actually been banned from another hotel bar, proving that he is a repeat waiter offender.

I normally don’t blog about stuff like this but I know the waiter involve. I feel for him. I was once in the service industry and I had my share of rude and arrogant clients. It’s dishearting. No matter what state people are in or what social status they belong to this kind of attitude should not be tolerated. We all make mistakes. We are human but like what I always say, self-awareness is an important skill to acquire (yes, it is a skill and not an inherent ability) because it is an attitude that will help you face problems better and get along with people well. It’s essential for ones growth and to change for the better. To be self-aware is to be emotionally intelligent.

A gentle reminder: Bawal po ang dumura (ew.)