What's On & Expat - Philippines

OUT OF THE WOODWORK: Well, we got a couple of interesting replies to our query about double pricing. It seems it is practiced a great deal in the Philippines and even by some 5-star hotels, who in their own minds, think of it as a promotion, rather than discrimination. But, a rose by any other name is still a rose (poetic, huh?). Consider the reply from a guy named “Frankie” who for reasons of his own, prefers to be anonymous. “The Diamond Hotel in Manila practices double pricing also. There was an exorbitant difference in the price my Filipina girl friend was quoted and the price I, as an American was quoted. She offered to get the room in her name under her credit card with me as her guest and they would not allow it. I still stayed at the Diamond because money was not the object in showing her a good time but I was highly insulted by this rude double standard.”
 

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A CALL TO THE Diamond Hotel got the following response: The hotel spokesperson said they have a varying rate for locals and foreigners because the local rate is a “privilege” for the Filipino residents. The foreigners pay a higher rate. When asked why, she said that this has been a practice ever since and the lower rate becomes the ‘perk’ of the locals (not a very good reason.) However, as long as the foreigner can present his ACR or alien certificate of residence, he can avail of the local rate. The foreign rate would only apply to tourists or those who do not hold an ACR. If a foreigner checks in with a local (as is the case of Frankie), the rate used would be foreign, and he cannot use his guest to get the local rate, unless the foreigner can present an ACR. Rigid, huh? Or as they say in Tagalog, “Matigas ang ulo.” Which roughly translates as “stubborn in the head.”

 

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NO MATTER WHAT THE POLICY of the hotel is, it is still practicing discrimination against foreigners who are tourists. Why should the tourist pay a higher rate? Is it presumed that the foreigner has more money than the Filipino? If that’s what they believe, then they are unfairly generalizing. I know some Filipinos who can practically buy a whole country with their wealth. Is it fair, based on that reasoning that wealthy locals get a lower price than a foreigner who might not be rich at all. I am told that many international hotels do the same thing, but that doesn’t make it right. To me, it is simple discrimination and it makes no sense at all. I have heard countless foreigners complain about hotel policies such as this and most just do not go back to that hotel. I surely don’t blame them.

The Department of Tourism and the private sector knock themselves out trying to attract tourists to this country, who, as in the case of Frankie, end up leaving with a bad feeling. Does this make any sense? Not to me.

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HERE’S ANOTHER ONE: From a lady named Marie –“Star Cruise Lines is based in Singapore and they use Bridges Travel which handles bookings for them in the Philippines. Advertised rates in the newspapers for their cruises are for holders of Philippine passports. A non-Philippine. passport holder can get the same rate if traveling with a Filipino. There is a surcharge depending on the type of non-Philippine passport. According to Bridges Travel, this is Star Cruises’ policy.” It seems that Star Cruises are a bit more relaxed than the Diamond about giving the local price if you are traveling with a Filipino, but nonetheless, it is still discrimination. I have personally seen a whole group of 12 foreign tourists walk away from the ticket counter of the Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Pattaya, Thailand, in total disgust at being blatantly charged a higher rate. To them, and I feel the same way, it is highway robbery. But on top of it all, the Zoo lost a big bunch of money from these annoyed people. If these operators would put themselves in the place of the tourists, how would they feel? I rest my case.
 

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BUT THEN, I‘M NOT TIRED , so no need to rest. I personally have called a number of employment agencies in Manila, particularly those which specialize in domestic help, like maids, drivers, etc. Nearly everyone has a double-pricing policy, charging local expats a higher rate than they charge Filipinos. Does this burn my puet (arse, if you’re new in town)? Yes, it does. Grrr! Do they know how much business they lose by being either greedy or stupid? Probably not. So, what is the answer to this sticky and impractical pricing policy that seems to be very common in this country and Southeast Asia? Don’t patronize these businesses! Don’t let them walk all over you! Do your homework first! Find out if they have a two-price policy. If they do, insist on the lower price. If they say “no.” Turn around and head for the door and say goodbye while waving the middle finger. There. I said it and I’m glad.

 

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MURRAY’S COLUMN CAN ALSO BE READ ON THE INTERNET AT www.whatson-expat.com.ph
 

Two new buses are making the rounds inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1, 2 and the Manila Domestic Airport loop to assist passengers and airport employees. The NAIA shuttle service, operational 24 hours daily, brings passengers around their terminal stops. Porters have been assigned on a regular basis to assist passengers with their luggage.
   Among the first to try out the shuttle was Manila International Airport general manager Alfonso Cusi who commented, “I am here because I want to experience it myself. I want to observe our service from the perspective of a traveler. I am happy to get positive reviews coming from passengers who have already tried it.”
    NAIA’s paging system publicizes the free shuttle service. “With this, we expect to reduce, if not completely eradicate, incidents of passengers falling prey to unscrupulous elements who see airports as a lucrative venue for their illegal activities” Cusi said.
   In addition, Cusi expressed gratitude to the private sector and to the Airport Tourist Transport Organization of the Philippines, a cooperative of accredited tourist transport at the NAIA, for their support on the project.