The arrogant employee of MCIAA
Is it wrong to ask questions on matters that you don’t know? Is it right for a government employee, to whom the question was addressed, to get angry when the ordinary citizen traveler exercises her right to ask questions?
This is the essence of my complaint for the public to ponder. From October 22 to 29 I went on a one-week vacation to Taipei to de-stress my mind and body after a semester of teaching works involving research works about the latest laws and jurisprudence to be imparted to the students. However, my vacation was marred by the untoward incident that happened at the immigration area of the international airport. Every day, my mind would always recall the arrogant manner on how the lady teller handled my query. At night, I could hardly sleep, I felt abused, belittled, and insulted.
This is how the incident happened. Being a senior citizen since I’m already 71 years old, I inquired at the lady teller manning the booth just next to the senior citizen booth why there was no teller in the senior citizen booth. It was around 4 a.m. then.
Her answer: “kinsay nag-ingon nimo nga way tawo diha? Kana diay siya,” (referring to a teller in the first booth which indicated the word “cashier”) this she said with an angry face and tone.
I said: “CASHIER man gud nakasulat sa iya ulohan”.
She answered: “Ayaw pamasangil nga way tawo diha kay pwede ra nang cashier moatiman sa senior citizens. Ako sab pwede ra”.
I said: “Wa man gud ko mamasangil, nangutana lang.”
She said: “Ninglingkod lang unta ka diha” (referring to the seats in front of the booth)
While she was assessing my travel documents and taking my photo, she kept on having a frowning face, I quipped “pamasangil is not the right term to use” she did not answer anymore.
During my arrival back to Cebu on October 29, 2019, I inquired where to file a complaint against the employees of the international airport. No one could give me a satisfactory answer.
My unsolicited advice: MCIAA employees should be given a seminar on how to handle international travelers politely to avoid the happening of the same event. Perhaps, due to my age, I felt abused, belittled, and insulted.
To the teller concerned: Attend the seminar, review your lessons in good manners and right conduct or you have no right to be in that position.