Grumpy over roasted chicken

Ben Contreras .

IS it about age that makes a man grumpy or is it about the incident itself that triggers anger? Whatever, Mang Inasal, located at an uptown mall, just spoiled my dinner on Sunday evening.

I initially chose Mang Inasal over Boy Sugba, sort of missing the good Mang Inasal chicken leg part. That picture of a chicken leg made my mouth water. “Day, kanang paa ako.” I ordered another combination for my wife.

It didn’t take long when my “paa” was served ahead of my wife’s order. Alas, my Mang Inasal “paa” didn’t look like “paa” at all! And when I flipped it over, the other side was burnt black.

I complained and had it replaced. Wow, the replacement came in seconds but a replica of the first one! So, I told the lady food server. “Day, ang akong gi-order, kanang naa sa litrato ibabaw sa inyong cashier. Tagae ko ana.”

The second replacement came. I almost lost control of myself. “Day, cancel na lang. Pakiefund na lang ko.” Then, she answered, “Sir, ana man gud ang gi-deliver sa amo karon.”

I stood up, went to the cashier and presented my receipts. “Day, pakiefund ko. Dili na ko mukaon diri.” Good that she did or I could have made a scene.

We finally made it at Boy Sugba where we had good food and good service.

First, Mang Inasal became famous for what it originally is — in looks, shape and taste. Is the new owner trying to change it or to kill it?

This reminds me of San Miguel beer. To avoid competition, it bought a smaller beer company. After a while, the other brand died a natural death and was never heard of again.

I bet it would be painful for the former owner of Mang Inasal if the new owner would be able to successfully change the original Mang Inasal into something else.

Competition is healthy but the execution could be dirty.

***

Like RER Subdivision’s Phases 1 and 2, Golden Village also easily gets flooded when it rains hard. The flood problem at Golden Village is exacerbated by the attitude of the street vendors in front of the city hospital who throw their garbage into the drain, preventing the smooth flow of rain water.

The home owners are not asking that the street vendors be deprived of their livelihood. All they ask is for the city government to regulate them and admonish them not to throw their garbage into the drain. Is that too much for taxpayers to ask that? Certainly not!

But we are really in serious trouble, environmentally. The city proper is below sea level. We have no drainage system master plan. We’re not even sure if the drains have been interconnected. Garbage is everywhere, and we don’t know the extent of the drainage cloggings. There is no serious intent to teach our people about cleanliness in our surroundings.

The city is in deep s@#t!

***

Land Transportation Office regional director Oscar Salcedo accused me of destroying him with my column about people’s complaints against his agency. What if I write something good about LTO, gitikon kaha si Oca?

Well, I had my driver’s license renewed at the LTO-Limketkai office in just about an hour. I got my plastic, too.  You think it’s not superb? It is. How is that to you, Oca?

Next time, take criticisms constructively.