the perils of grocery shopping online

One would think that shopping for groceries from the comfort of your home (translation: online shopping) could be the safest or most convenient way to shop. It could be because we are at home, without carrying a heavy basket or pushing a heavy cart, away from the crowd, and just be comfortable. However, it is not that great. Especially when you could not really choose the items in relation to their shelf-life and quality, first and foremost. It happened to me just this week. I ordered some groceries and had them delivered. The service was fast, and payment was convenient.

When the stuff arrived, I checked them against my list. Everything was accounted for. As they are foodstuff, I had to check the expiration dates. One of the items (bread cheese spread) will expire next month! It is good that it was just a small bottle but still, I would have preferred to have it for a few months. This means I have to eat it more often than I would normally do. I wonder whether the seller intentionally chose that bottle over another so to dispose of it quickly.

Another thing I noticed was the packaging of the instant noodles. I noticed that some of the sides are already open or torn. No wonder there were some noodle bits on the bottom of the box when I opened it. I am concerned that maybe some ants or other creatures have gone in and contaminated the food. Maybe the noodles are not that crispy anymore. Again I wonder whether the seller intentionally chose them over the others to dispose of them quickly. 

I think that I will not be buying groceries this way anymore, particularly from this seller. Some would say to just overlook it, at least it is still within the "Use By" date (for the cheese spread). Hmmm for me not really. When I buy food stuff in supermarkets I would usually choose the ones which will expire at a much later date than the others. It just means that I can store them longer and I don't have to force myself to eat or cook all at once. As for the torn noodle bags, I also would not choose them if I were buying them myself directly in the supermarket.

I remember that this also happened the few times I ordered some foodstuff for my parents. They also got some not so pleasant items such as canned goods with rust, or old stock stuff. And this from well-known online shopping sites.

I think that online sellers should be more careful with the quality of the goods they send. Or else, they will lose customers this way.

On Father's Day

Hold Daddy's Hand: A Father's ageless book of wisdom for his daughter
Everyday I think of you, Dad
You are here in all the lovely memories
That are inside my heart.

On this day of Dads,
I can’t hold back the tears
Remembering, and missing you, too.

The times spent with you
Bring special thoughts and warm feelings
I treasure them all as I recall.

Although they also bring sadness
As those times could not be repeated
I keep holding on to those wonderful moments with you.

Your smile, your laughter, your voice
Your strength, your care, your guidance, your love
Your presence that always brought comfort and security.

On this year’s Father’s Day
I will surely miss you again
You’re gone but will never be forgotten.

I always thank the Lord
That you were a Dad in every sense of the word
And in that you have fulfilled your purpose in this world.

You mean so much to me, and you will always be in my heart.

What can Globe do with crimes committed through their cell phone system?

Fraud through SMS is widespread. And pity those who have been targeted by fraudsters who seem to know them (victims) personally. Especially if the victims are old ladies who do not have anyone to protect them at that instant when the crime occurs. How evil can people get because of greed?

Take for instance this situation. A text message was sent to an old lady, and the sender acted as if he/she was the child of this woman. And the language used was their own dialect, using the nickname of the child known only to family and friends. Demanding for load for both Globe and Smart, using a Globe number. The fraudster said he/she has started a cell phone load business and needed the load for that number. And promised that he/she would send the old lady the money to pay her back. And this poor old lady, really thinking it was from one of her kids, obediently went to buy cell phone cards, scratched the cards, and sent the pin numbers by text. She had to go buy the cards on credit even. And the fraudster kept demanding her to be quick about it. Until the following day when the fraudster let his/her guard down by sending text using another language. Maybe they got too excited with their haul. That was when the old lady suspected that maybe she was being duped. And she started verifying and asking and to make the long story short, realized that she had been cheated by this fraudster using a Globe number.

So back to the title of this write-up: What can Globe do with crimes committed through their cell phone system?

Their 24 hour call center 211 could not be reached.

NTC offices are just open during office hours; there is no 24 hour service.

Their Globe Chat Assistant had no access to trace the location of the number. But at least they were able to temporarily disconnect the number. They suggested to file a report with the nearest NTC.

Nowhere in the Globe website does it say anything about fraud and what to do when this and similar other things happen to their users. If it is there it is not easily seen.

But what was really needed was information on how to recover the pin numbers sent to that Globe cell phone number in order to recover the money spent on it.

How can senior citizens be protected from all these wrong-doings by people who might even be people known to them, could be their neighbors or relatives or people whom they trust? What can our government do for them?

So what can Globe do with crimes committed through their cell phone system?

For Mommy

Dear Mommy,

Happy mother's day! Today is your day, to think of you and your love, sacrifices, patience, understanding, hard work, example, teachings and many more things that you have done or given to us as our Mom. To thank you and show our appreciation for all of these. To thank God for giving you to us as our Mom. To pray to God that He will continue to give you strength and good health, that day by day you will walk closely with Him, to trust Him at all times. To pray for God's provision for all your needs, to comfort you in your grief as you miss Dad, to protect you and keep you safe from all harm and evil things and people, to give you wisdom in your thoughts, actions and decisions.

Today is your day, and it was great to talk to you and hear your voice just now. Thank God for technology. Yet I could not help feeling sad that I could not be there with you, to take you out to treat you even for a Chowking halo-halo or a Greenwich pizza or do something together with you, just to spend the day with you. I know you must feel sad too, being alone on this day. We hope that God will comfort you and give you encouragement through our calls, text messages and greetings.

I hope also that for us children, we make each day a Mother's day, and not to wait for another 365 days to express our love, appreciation and gratitude to you as our Mom.

Easter Hope

Easter! What a wonderful word! What a wonderful occasion! To celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. On Whom our faith rests. He died for our sins, and He rose again. He conquered sin and death. They hold no sting anymore. And so for us who believe, we can live life abundantly as He has promised. He came so we can have life and live it to the fullest, under His care, under His wings, under His watchful loving eyes. We can walk hand in hand with Him, just as a father walks hand in hand with his children, making sure no harm comes upon them. So as long as we hold on to His hands, we are safe and secure. We experience hope, joy, love...just as the sun rises every morning, His presence and words bring so much promises for us - today, tomorrow. Because He lives, we can face tomorrow, and we need not fear, because He is with us. Always. He will never leave us nor forsake us. So lovely is His dwelling place, so peaceful, even if around us is so chaotic. Let's fill our hearts with praises to our loving God, for He inhabits the praises of His people.

A happy example

Kcat is one of my bloggie friends. Haven't met her personally. Just through our blogs, EC dropping, commenting, saying hi, following, blog listing. Two main things that first attracted me to her blog (I am KCAT) were its colour (purple) and the graphics. Her blog also lists all her other sites in the web. During the early days we would exchange blog awards and links and reviews. Then came facebook and we got connected there as well. All the more getting updates of what is going on with our lives. Her life story inspires, for she has gone through many difficulties, at the age when most of us would not think beyond what to wear and eat and where to party. And she has come out victorious, and happy! She is also featured in Manila Bulletin - the article is entitled Of chances and choices by Angelo G. Garcia. Hope that her life can be an inspiration to many others. Find time to read about her!

Class 80 SJA turns 30