• SM Mall of Asia formally opened yesterday.  Yes, Kris and I checked it out the hour they allowed customers in.  We literally toured the entire place “Kris-style” (all levels, alleys systematically covered).  We saw many mascots (Mc Donald’s characters, Jollibee, Pizzahut Dog, etc).  I was even bold enough to have touched one (and immediately ran away from it, hehehe J), bought some items from our checklists (Kris even got a 10% discount for being the first customer in one of the shops), and ate junk.  A large number of people were just as excited to visit the mall yesterday  — super dami tao talaga; add the factor that SOP of GMA7 held their show there.  Overall, I am impressed with the mall:  it was indeed big; it does not give you a ‘claustrophobic’ feeling because of the open areas (not like SM Megamall or even Sentosa at that); there is an area where you have a good wide view of Manila Bay; and the stores (already open and soon-to-open) are ‘grouped’ in accordance to their specialty (computer stuff, medical, clothes, cinemas, etc).  Kris compares it to the Great Mall of America in the US; I think it’s like the mall in Sacramento where Jill brought us before.  Rosanne said it’s like SM Baguio.  Parking though is like Shangri-La or Robinson’s — steep climb before reaching the level area where they allow you to park (that’s the third level already).  I hope when things normalize: 1) people would be disciplined enough to park properly and not just leave their vehicles along the road, thereby leaving only 1-2 of the usual 3-4 passable lanes; 2) people would have proper mall culture of picking up after themselves, be courteous to others, and walk in a way that would not cause ‘traffic.’

• Kris said Aling Nene (famous for their barbeques) will soon open a branch at Magallanes commercial complex.

• Despite passing the area everyday, I did not notice that they are adding another lane to Sales bridge (Kris, the side is completely covered and believe me, maneuvering through that congested bridge takes a lot of concentration). 

• Dang, we found out from April that she knows someone who already got interviewed for Amazing Race Asia (in Kuala Lumpur).   Since nobody contacted us, there goes our hope!

• Globe Handyphone struck again.  I received before an official SMS telling me save the WAP settings they will be sending.  Thinking they are updating their systems and reconfiguring the existing WAP settings of subscribers, I did as instructed.  Since then, I cannot send and receive MMS.  For a time, I thought maybe there is some error between Nokia and Sony Ericsson.  But after failing to send an MMS to myself, I am convinced the problem is with the new settings Globe sent.  And so, I called Globe Customer Service:

Call 1 (Mr. Liam) – “Ma’am, there are too many settings saved in your WAP profile; please erase the others (myGlobe CSD, myGlobe Connect, and myGlobe Internet) and just leave myGlobe MMS and myGlobe GPRS.”  Hoookay.  I asked him, if I do not need and if the other settings would have just result to a conflict, why were they sent to me?  I did not ask for them nor was I properly informed as to the effect of saving them to my phone (said as a request to rectify my concerns and for him to note that such is a complaint).  After doing some tweaking with my mobile phone; still, no MMS.

Call 2 (Ms. Len) – “Ma’am, please erase all your settings and I will send you new MMS/GPRS settings.”  I did so, then I received myGlobe Internet settings.  After saving the same, still no MMS.

Call 3 – I asked to be connected with either Mr. Liam or Ms. Len so I would not repeat my concerns and troubleshooting history.  On hold for 12 minutes, nobody got back with me.

Call 4 (Ms. Elaine) – After repeating all that has happened and done, “Ma’am, according to your records, you just had been sent myGlobe Internet.”  You should have myGlobe MMS and GPRS.  Hoookay, weren’t those what I was supposed to be sent?  Finally, after saving the settings for myGlobe MMS, my mobile phone worked already!

• Globe trouble being solved, our PLDT landline na lang.  Ever since we had the typhoon two weeks ago, our line became soooo static.  Grrr.  I hope the repairmen can fix the line na today.