Unusual Channel
By Ma. Renette B. Uy

Movies or not

One of the things I really love doing is watching a good movie whether in the comforts of my home or going to a movie house just to enjoy it. Moreover, it is even more enjoyable when I watch it with friends and if it's really a funny movie, ‘cause the fun part is that we laugh with all our hearts and loudly at that without the cares that we are disturbing other viewers. Well, that is the fun and exciting part; laugh when it's funny, feel great about a “feel good” movie and sympathize with a character when it's a tragic or sad movie. That is what movies are meant to be, for viewing pleasure… for comfortable viewing pleasure!

Very recently, Monday of last week to be exact, my husband and I, a very close friend and another friend-couple watched a comedy movie, “Meet the Fockers” and we watched it on the “Last Full Show” slot. By the sound of the title alone, it is really a worth-watching (it is still showing) movie to watch because for one, it is a sequel to “Meet the Parents” ; two, I like Ben Stiller because he is really hilarious, to top it all three of my favorite stars are in it also; Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand! I knew we were in for a treat. But that was not to happen because instead of a treat, we instead experienced the most terrible, uncomfortable and by far, the most stupid experience ever! There was no problem about the movie because we knew it was going to be a good one. Well, for a start, since it is the last full show, the National Anthem was sung. Lo and behold! Some viewers did not even stand up to pay respects to the National Anthem, they remained seated. Yah, yah, yah it's just a movie house but hey, that is the National Anthem and that's about the only National Anthem we will sing being a Filipino that we are! I don't care where they come from, who they are and what they do for a living… unless they come from Timbuktu or in some island where savages live, then they should stand up and pay respect to the National Anthem while it is being played or they can just go and take a hike some place where it is not called a “country” for pidro's sake!

Anyway, that was just a minor discomfort. What really took our goat was… the movie house turned off their air conditioning the moment the “Last Full Show” started! Can you believe that or even imagine that? Being inside the movie house, no windows remember because it was supposed to be air-conditioned all the way… and it was off? Instead of sitting back relaxing, we were fanning ourselves in the entire duration of the movie. Why would they turn off the air-con when there are still people watching and to top it all we paid in full! Geez, if they are going to do that, they do not have the right to charge the full amount. It isn't even about the fee that they charge. I believe people do not mind paying the fee as long as they are comfortable. What with the Php55.00/ticket and not comfortable? You bet every cent is not worth it because of the discomfort and it is not fair!

We got so irritated, pissed is more like it, I guess, that from the movie house up to the car, we were cussing like anything! Didn't we just pay for viewing pleasure? Didn't we just go to the movie house and watch what was shown instead of watching a good movie in the comforts of our homes? When I was in Manila , I used to watch a movie during the “Last Full Show” slot and I never had that same experience. We paid good money and we expected good service. How ironic that I just wrote about customer service in my previous article and now my friends and I just had an awful experience!

Perhaps, there were only five of us who actually complained and you probably wouldn't give a balls hoot about it ‘cause we are just “few”. But consumers want comfort especially if they pay good money for it. So, pleeeaase… do something about it! “ Bato bato sa langit tamaan wag maging angry” but this column is not “unusual channel” for nothing, so kudos to my husband who gave this column a name!

I would like to thank all the guys from ePLDT Ventus for reading my last article. You guys are great! Also, hi to Miguel of Afriques, Tito Joci, and to all my friends who continue to read me without fail. That's what friends are for!

“The ultimate test of a man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”