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97 Comments Received

MyAvatars 0.2 L.A
January 10th, 2008 @11:08 am  

Haha! Harsh…why not give some link love for Cabalen’s site (kung meron?!) meron pa palang mas-awkward na nangyari rather than our M. Grille lecture… ;D

L.A’s last blog post..Trinoma: Blogger Food Tour

MyAvatars 0.2 noemi
January 10th, 2008 @11:12 am  

As manager, she knows that service is of utmost importance. Who did she think bloggers were? In fact, I didn’t eat in half of the restaurants. The managers and staff of the other restaurants were courteous, and welcoming. Good thing I didn’t go to Cabalen.

noemi’s last blog post..Links for 2008-01-08 [del.icio.us]

MyAvatars 0.2 Karlo.PinoyBlogero
January 10th, 2008 @11:15 am  

My group and I never had a chance to go to Cabalen that’s why I had not experienced the poor service that their establishment offers.

Maybe Anne thought that we’re just some hungry cant-afford group who are harmless even when treated badly.

Boy, is she wrong.

MyAvatars 0.2 Lalon
January 10th, 2008 @11:22 am  

Sad but true. I’m sure there are other Annes (Anns) in their industry.

My sympathy’s with you. I’m just glad I wasn’t treated that way considering I look ‘different’ among the bunch.

I personally think that Bubba Gump did a really good job in handling us food tourists.

MyAvatars 0.2 dementia
January 10th, 2008 @11:22 am  

Too bad for Cabalen. It’s their loss and I’m sure it would be a big loss for her career when they read your review. Good thing my group didn’t go there and as far as I’m aware, we didn’t have any bad experience with any of the restos we went to.

dementia’s last blog post..Baby Suri Fathered By Dead Scientology Leader

MyAvatars 0.2 Helga
January 10th, 2008 @12:01 pm  

Wow. Sana I was there =D

Helga’s last blog post..CABS, RUSH HOUR, MKAE.

MyAvatars 0.2 Pau
January 10th, 2008 @12:12 pm  

I will forward the link to this blog entry to all my friends. All three of them.

Pau’s last blog post..Beercast

MyAvatars 0.2 the jester-in-exile
January 10th, 2008 @12:31 pm  

if i were cabalen, i’d be going “uh-oh” right about now.

(reviewed your review — well, sorta.)

the jester-in-exile’s last blog post..Bloghopping, January 10, 2008 (or, Of Little Buzz and Big Blunders)

MyAvatars 0.2 aajao
January 10th, 2008 @12:44 pm  

Hi AJ. I’m sorry for this plight of yours. Being a Kapampangan, i was once a great fan of the Cabalen Restaurant (until i came back to my apu and realized that i like her cooking more than the menu served at Cabalen, lol). I somehow feel that their (Cabalen) standards were lowered to accommodate the masses. But still, i do not believe that the standard of customer service should go with it. not defending Ms. Anne(?) but looking from her perspective, i can’t help but speculate that her restaurant wasn’t in a hundred percent coordination / agreement with the Bloggers Food Tour. If so, she could have asked a sufficient number of her staff to assist in the event. Or maybe a fault on her part, she didn’t prepare for the event and got undermanned at the time of the bloggers tour.

I’m one person who really doesn’t conform with the tag “the customer is always right” but still can draw the line between an abusive customer and proper customer service. In your experience, I believe that you and the rest of the bloggers had been maltreated. If she indeed was the store manager, or OIC, whether she prepared for the event or she was unprepared for it, at the end of the day she was still obliged to perform good customer service. otherwise, she must have not participated in the event anymore.

mabuhay ang mga bloggers! :)

MyAvatars 0.2 misterhubs
January 10th, 2008 @12:44 pm  

Tara, sabunutan natin ang beeyortch! :-)
misterhubs’s last blog post..The Fall

MyAvatars 0.2 misterhubs
January 10th, 2008 @12:46 pm  

Tara, sabuntan natin ang beeyortch! :-)
misterhubs’s last blog post..The Fall

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @7:55 pm  
misterhubs »

Hahaha. Malayo ang TriNoMa eh. Pero manonood na lang akong sinasabunutan mo siya. HIndi naman kase ako violent, Charot! Punta na lang ako TriNoMa for the boys!

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:10 pm  
aajao »

Sorry your comment didn’t appear right away, I don’t know what’s wrong but it was filtered and moved to spam. ANyhoots, I agree with you on the tag “the customer is always right” and I’d say the customer is always right only if it is within reason. And yes, even if they were not prepared or even if they were not a hundred percent coordination and agreement with the Bloggers Food Tour, they still should have treated us, or any person who walks in to their establishment, fairly.

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:15 pm  
the jester-in-exile »

My only wish for Cabalen is to understand and realize the value of their customers and the importance of well-trained employees. :) Thanks for the review.

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:16 pm  
Pau »

Thanks Pau! I hope your fiends, all three of them, learn something from — or at least — enjoy this post. :)
AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:18 pm  
Helga »

You would have loved Cabalen, err, the food tour! Pig out all afternoon!

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:19 pm  
dementia »

It was nice to have finally met you! :) And I guess your group was lucky! Good luck na lang to Cabalen!

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:21 pm  
Lalon »

I’m sure there are lots of them Anne’s in the industry. And I agree Bubba Gump’s service is really great (even if we did not make it in time for their samplers). Everytime I go to Bubba Gump, I always feel special na feeling ko the staff wants me to feel as if I am their only customer! Oh and yeah, love their food!

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:22 pm  
Karlo.PinoyBlogero »

Great experience at Good Earth Tea Room eh? Well, Anne apparently did not know that we have already been pigging out at other restaurants before we went to her kingdom.

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:24 pm  
noemi »

Either she was the manager or someone else pretending to be the manager. What she did was very unprofessional — no matter if she was facing bloggers or regular customers. Let this be a lesson for Cabalen!

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 noemi
January 10th, 2008 @8:28 pm  

I have a question though. What did your guide do? In our case, it was always the Trinoma guide who first went in the restaurant, talked to whoever was there. Then she would go to us and give us the go-signal. Just wondering why you had to be the one to introduce yourself.

noemi’s last blog post..Links for 2008-01-08 [del.icio.us]

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:31 pm  
L.A »

Wag na no! LoL! Kilala naman na sila so hindi nila kailangan ng publicity.

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @8:36 pm  
noemi »

One of the recommendations I listed in my other post was actually based on this experience, our guide was not there. She told us to just head over to La Maison after Cabalen so we were left to fend for ourselves. That was what happened in most of the stores. We had to walk in to the restaurants and introduce ourselves. During the pre-tour briefing, the guide suggested that when we get each level, we just head on over to the shops and then we’d meet after we’re done with all the shops in the list. I can say that it was partly my fault for not speaking up during the briefing, but then again I didn’t want to go against what the others have already agreed with.

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 KurastDocks
January 10th, 2008 @8:37 pm  

“I am not calling for a boycott of the establishment and it is not my intention to get her fired. All I want is for her to learn her lesson and gain more professional experience in her capacity as a manager.”

Very good sentiments. I work in the service industry as well and I know it’s doubly frustrating to be treated that way when we try to be very pleasant in our own jobs. But I salute you all the more because it takes a greater MAN to do what you did. You could have confronted her and asked for the service you and everyone else deserve. Instead, you took the harder path. I join you in wishing for better service in the future. Hope your piece gets to the proper channels.

Cheers!

KurastDocks’s last blog post..Silver Thoughts

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 10th, 2008 @9:26 pm  
KurastDocks »

Thank you. I will be sending an email to the management of the said restaurant this week. :)

Diba, it’s really frustrating to see others in the industry who intentionally or unintentionally become a disgrace for all of us.

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 richard
January 10th, 2008 @9:38 pm  

buti nalang hindi namin napasok yung cabalen., mejo nag enjoy kami sa la maison., :) hehehe., :)

that manager was very rude., dapat diyan sinusumbong., meron ba silang customer service na email?

richard’s last blog post..Trinoma Blogger Food Tour!

MyAvatars 0.2 utakGAGO
January 10th, 2008 @9:59 pm  

Hindi ako nakakapunta sa Cabalen.

Yep, I love La Maisson and Bubba Gump. Siguro dahil na rin sa warm-hearted sila (the fact that they welcomed us with smiles and all) kaya sumarap ang pagkain nila..

:D

MyAvatars 0.2 Prudence
January 10th, 2008 @10:01 pm  

Buti na lang the blue group didn’t go to Cabalen, but then I’m sad that your group has to experience that. We’re all there to enjoy the tour and to take photos for our reviews of the place. We don’t need someone like that manager to dampen our spirits. But I guess, the congeniality of the other establishments will sort of just make up for it.

I sort of agree that it would have been better if the tour guides went in with us in each of the restos so that they could properly introduce us to the staff and to the managers of the establishments, thus eliminating awkwardness in such a situation. On the other hand, it seems that my group had done better without having the tour guide by our side because we’re able to visit more restaurants and spend our time as we see fit by staying longer in any of the restaurants that we like and be able to ask the establishment questions which would be relevant for our reviews.

Prudence’s last blog post..Trinoma Blogger Food Tour: Prologue

MyAvatars 0.2 Jehzeel Laurente
January 11th, 2008 @12:55 am  

“she was too important to be bothered by people who were there just for the free food”

hahahaha! kung andoon ako… hinampas ko sa kanya ang laptop ko! amffff.. kaka inis nga AJ.. hahaha.. too bad.. ang swerte ni ANNE di ako nakadaan ng CABALEN!!!! hahah :D

MyAvatars 0.2 thenomad
January 11th, 2008 @12:55 am  

I had always had a profound esteem for the Kapampangan culinary expertise, being one of the best the country has to offer. This experience somehow tarnished that, even though I know only Ann is to blame. When I see a Cabalen restaurant, this post will always come to mind and make me not want to eat and enjoy good food anymore.

thenomad’s last blog post..On a High…atus

MyAvatars 0.2 benj
January 11th, 2008 @3:06 am  

Kapampangan kasi si Gloria eh!
No wonder.
Ibagsak ang rehimeng US-Arroyo!

benj’s last blog post..Watch Implement Project Tomorrow Night at St. Paul Manila

MyAvatars 0.2 aajao
January 11th, 2008 @7:34 am  

@ benj. awayin kita eh! di lahat ng Kapampangan may nunal sa pisngeee!

aajao’s last blog post..to the left, to the left…

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @8:32 am  
richard »

sobrang saya sa La Maison no? i’m looking into searching for the Cabalen management’s email addresses. I’ll write a letter to them :)
AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @8:34 am  
utakGAGO »

Actually, pagkain pa lang masarap na talaga dun sa mga yun. Dagdagan mo pa ng magandang service eh di sobrang sarap na!

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @8:36 am  
Prudence »

La Maison actually made up for Cabalen, even if they didn’t know about it. Had La Maison not extended the kind of service that they did, I would have thrown a bitch fit and went back to Ms. Cabalen!

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @8:37 am  
thenomad »

Ay harsh! I didn’t mean to post this entry naman so people would stop going to Cabalen. Sa akin lang, better training for their management and staff. :)
AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @8:38 am  
Jehzeel Laurente »

sayang naman laptop mo! sa akin mo na lang ihampas!

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @8:38 am  
benj »

Kalanan itong lahat ng gobyerno! bwahahaha

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 Jaypee
January 11th, 2008 @10:14 am  

Sorry to hear about that bad experience. Well, she messed with the wrong crowd. That Food Tour was organized so that those different business establishments can promote and get exposure for their products and services. Unfortunately for that lady, she did the opposite. I’m sure if someone from the higher management of Cabalen finds out about this, she’s gonna get a tongue-lashing or will be reprimanded.

Jaypee’s last blog post..Gizmodo Plays Nasty Prank at 2008 CES

MyAvatars 0.2 CathiE
January 11th, 2008 @10:41 am  

Same here.. It was our first stop pa naman (Cabalen) Didnt even flash a smile when she saw us enter. Cabalen must know this. Haha!

CathiE’s last blog post..Kilig!

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @10:45 am  

CathiE »

Ah! And I thought we were the only ones who got that experience. I will write to the management soon. :)
AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @10:46 am  
Jaypee »

She never should have acted that way, and she never should. Be it a blogger or not, she’s gonna get in trouble for that kind of behavior.

AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 alma buenviaje
January 11th, 2008 @12:31 pm  

I concur, send a letter to the management. Media person or not, each should be treated well…hay naku, di pinapalampas yang mga ganyan dearie;)

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 11th, 2008 @12:50 pm  
alma buenviaje »

true. eto hinahanap ko na email address and contact info ng management nila. uy i heard the good news! congrats naman! :)
AJ’s last blog post..Bakla and His Cabalen TriNoMa Experience

MyAvatars 0.2 alma buenviaje
January 11th, 2008 @2:14 pm  

Thankie Aj:) Nadale ako ng pa-weekly weekly visit..LOL!!!

MyAvatars 0.2 Edward
January 11th, 2008 @10:18 pm  

I was about the get some leche flan when I heard the lady from cabalen saying, “sisig, lechon at kare-kare lang po!” Sa loob-loon ko naman, “leche k a!” hehehe..Di ko na tinuloy yung pagkuha ko..badtrip talaga.

Edward’s last blog post..Bloggers’ Food Tour At Trinoma

MyAvatars 0.2 empress maruja
January 11th, 2008 @11:43 pm  

That was pretty nasty, Mare. Ka-cheapan na nga ang Cabalen, ka-cheapan pa ang kipay ni Me-anne.

empress maruja’s last blog post..May Nagbago Kay Empress Maruja

MyAvatars 0.2 Lowell
January 12th, 2008 @12:18 am  

Hi! My friend sent me a link to your blog. We were part of the TriNoma Food Tour thinga majigs and I must agree about Cabalen’s rude crew. Cabalen was the first restaurant our group went to and imagine our dismay when we were “welcomed” with a frowning woman who only spoke three words: “kare-kare, lechon, sisig.” She left after she said that.

And I must agree that La Maison was the most accomodating of them all. :D

Anyway, asking permission to link to your blog in my food tour review (which I haven’t started because of flooding schoolwork).

Thanks!

Lowell’s last blog post..YOU NERDS!

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 12th, 2008 @1:45 pm  
Lowell »

Hi Lowell, thanks for dropping by. Diba? SHe was frowning as if we were not customers! Sure go ahead, link away :)
AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 12th, 2008 @1:46 pm  
empress maruja »

Actually! Kung makapag-arte siya kala niya fine dining ang tindahan niya. eh mukha lang namang karinderyang bukas para sa lahat ng gustong kumain. ay teka, since tatlong dishes lang ang bukas sa kahit kaninong gustong kumain, hindi siya karinderya… KARINDERYETTE lang!

AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 12th, 2008 @1:51 pm  
Edward »

gusto ko ngang kumuha ng halo-halo tapos kakainin ko. eto yung planong namuo sa utak ko: pag sinita niya ako, i won’t budge. tapos pag pinagalitan niya ako, sasampalin ko siya ng pera at sasabihin kong babayaran ko naman. tapos i will demand a refund! eh di libre na halo-halo ko! bwahahaha

AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 12th, 2008 @1:52 pm  
alma buenviaje »

kahit na pa-weekly weekly masya naman! hehehe

AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 evilwoobie
January 12th, 2008 @6:06 pm  

not right! and she must be livin in a cave somewhere to not fear the term “blogger”… it means “talkative people on the internet”!!! When bloggers visit, treat them well, in fact, even give out discounts. Bloggers are the walking advertisement billboards here and like this post, will either screw you up or propel you to success…

nakakagalit. :D
evilwoobie’s last blog post..Share Your Love Story Contest

MyAvatars 0.2 GeoRge
January 13th, 2008 @2:28 am  

I’m totally disgusted by that experience. Nadama ko yung experience mo. Because of this review I’m totally turned off from ever visiting Cabalen at TriNoMa. If ever I could even pass by and the waitresses up front ask me to try their food, I’d like to slap them with “I’ve read BAD reviews about your establishment.”

They underestimate the blogosphere!

MyAvatars 0.2 kurdapying
January 13th, 2008 @7:12 am  

i feel sorry for cabalen dahil may manager silang tulad ni anne. :(

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 13th, 2008 @7:49 am  

evilwoobie »

ang sa akin lang, bloggers or not, she should treat customers right. good luck na lang sa kanya

AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 13th, 2008 @7:53 am  
kurdapying »

i feel sorry for anne too. she was not trained well.

AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 13th, 2008 @7:56 am  
GeoRge »

Ako, I wanna go back to Cabalen TriNoMa and dine there and probably give them the benefit of the doubt. I’m forgiving naman. Hehe.

AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 jayvee f.
January 13th, 2008 @12:11 pm  

good thing i didn’t drop by cabalen - la maison however was fantastic as you said.

jayvee f.’s last blog post..New advertiser on board: Nokia Philippines

MyAvatars 0.2 phaelun
January 13th, 2008 @4:45 pm  

Cabalen un first resto pinasukan namin. medyo na turn off din ako sa pagtrato nila parang kasi sinabi lang ito lang pwede niyo kainin. buti nalang la maison agad un sinod at buti excellent naman un experience dun.

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 13th, 2008 @10:55 pm  
phaelun »

i agree! Sobrang galing nga kase la maison din yung next naming napuntahan eh.

AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 AJ
January 13th, 2008 @10:56 pm  
jayvee f. »

Cabalen’s service really sucked big time! La Maison was just oh-so lovely! I felt really really important!

AJ’s last blog post..Will Devaughn is Glad to be OUT

MyAvatars 0.2 Eklabu
January 14th, 2008 @12:40 pm  

bakla dapat kinabog mo..
hehhe