Touching Lives

I held your hand and suddenly I was warm
Clothed by the certainty of your touch, and
I forget who I was and only knew why I am.
And there were no questions anymore but only
A single knowing of what is to be at that moment -
I simply had to be in love.

Title: -
Date: February 15, 2003

 For 5 days, our PLDT was comatose. At first I thought it was because of the extension phone that my cousin himself hooked up to the main wall jack. But when the phone company's contractor technicians came for the service call, I later learned it was the main box itself. Main box? Whatever.

Anyway, what's funny is the experience we had just to get the truck roll. The problem started June 16. Since it was a weekend, there was a family gathering, I thought I should just spend time with my family and have it reported the next day, Sunday. I thought I'll just e-mail customer service as my DSL is a stand-alone SkyDSL. Convenient, come to think of it, when PLDT is acting up. I went to their website, found customer service's e-mail address, and hopefully, just like in my work, every e-mail has a service level and will receive the courtesy of being looked at and have a reply. 

Monday, Tuesday no reply. But as a precaution, since we don't have a phone line, I asked my sister to call 171 to report the issue. Not only that, on Sunday I asked a frequent-PLDT victim co-worker to call 171 and have my problems reported. We do that usually, whenever a cable is stolen in their area, which happens every two weeks, they'd lose phone service as well as myDSL. So when that happens to her, I call on her behalf. And you all know it costs to call 171.

On Tuesday my sister called them up and the rep said, it's already reported and we're lined up for a truck roll. My sister asked for the date. No date. We're just lined up. Now my co-worker is closely monitoring my case. As she learned that when you report an issue to PLDT they'll tell you that they need to do a test on their end to see what happened. That takes two freaking-effing days.  Only then will they issue a truck roll. So what if my issue is the wall jack? Naturally the test would turn out fine! 

Wednesday, Thursday, no word from PLDT. No reply to my e-mail (which is sad because when I was still in North Fairview, I applied for a Tele-tipid and one e-mail, I got my order number, took 24-48 hours, but that's normal I believe). Friday, I was frustrated. I'm on a fixed income and a breadwinner. When you're billed for something you're not using, the ATM comes to your mind and you imagine drawing money from your account only to throw it away to the trash bin. Because that's just what's happening. You're throwing money to the garbage having to pay monthly service you don't get to enjoy!

Friday night, I have had it. I scoured the net and looked for an e-mail address, any e-mail address of any top PLDT executive. I found one for a VP. He'll stay anonymous, but if you need it, message me! I told him the problem. Even went emo on him saying I'm a breadwinner and the only entertainment my mom has is GMA 7 and the phone to call my sisters and their respective kids.

Today is Sunday. My mom, who just dialed my sister's number, is sitting next to me excitedly telling her that a PLDT technician just came a-knocking to fix the phone!