"Yaya Meals" at Balesin Island

[chua_riwap]

At exclusive Balesin, there are 'yaya meals'

04/04/2015 2:21 PM By Coconuts Manila

MANILA, Philippines -What’s a private exclusive club to do, when its very members are the ones who requested it?

On the morning of Black Saturday, fashion designer/model Maggie Wilson-Consunji posted a disgruntled message on Facebook about how Balesin wouldn’t let her son Conner’s yaya order a regular meal. Instead, they offered her a ‘yaya’s meal.’

Of course comments started flying.

Apparently, the 'yaya meal' has always been available in the exclusive members’ only club since it started operations, but it is only an option. It is not required, as what the Consunjis experienced.

“Of course we treat yayas as guests but the 'yaya meal' [option] was requested by members who don’t want to pay the full guest rate for their help,” said Jason of reception when Coconuts Manila called to clarify.

Two things we're learning from all this: 1) Not all employers are as generous as the Consunji’s. And 2) we’re thinking the Consunji’s probably got a virginal new trainee as their server that morning.

The 'yaya meal' is an off-the-menu option that guests can ask the wait staff about, if they don't want to pay the full meal price for their helpers.

There are two types of 'yaya meals' in Balesin Island. In the main restaurants, members can order the 'yaya meal' which is chicken or pork adobo with rice. Alternatively, members can opt for a package that comes when availing of the yaya’s room. Pay an extra P200 a day and yaya can get 3 meals in the employees’ cafeteria.

There are 22 restaurants in the 500-hectare island, some 21 kilometers southeast of Polillo in Quezon Province. All villages in the island have one dining place, where the 'yaya meal' is available.

Unfortunately, this 'yaya meal' thing is an unspoken dirty little secret in Metro Manila. At the Manila Polo Club, guests who don't want to pay the full price for their helpers would send them to the employees cafeteria where helpers can have a PHP75-meal comprised of any pork dish and rice.

In 2014, a few hundred Metro Manila residents were thrown off by Icon Residences’ policy of not allowing helpers to use regular elevators.

You can look at this 'yaya meal' thing in two ways: it's considerate that these posh clubs are offering such an option to their members. Prices can get steep at such places, after all.

Or, you can focus on the fact that it is discriminatory.

So the question remains. What's a private club to do when its members are the ones requesting these things?

This story originally appeared on Coconuts Manila.

[chua_riwap]

Here's the rant.....

[benchman]

reading "yaya meals" simply makes it ridiculous. or it's just me.

[chua_riwap]

Or maybe, the should have called it "value meals" na lang.

[jick.cejoco]

We know some Filipinos tend to step on some people so they look elevated.

[bloowolf]

We know some Filipinos tend to step on some people so they look elevated.

Sadly, that is reality. A fault in Pinoys started by the Spanish. I don't think it will ever change.

[jick.cejoco]

Sadly, that is reality. A fault in Pinoys started by the Spanish. I don't think it will ever change.

Hehehe Padre Damaso:



Tsokolate A



Tsokolate E

[shadow]

Is it just me or if it's celebrities who do the ranting, I don't really buy it.

[Monseratto]

Feeling morally righteous...

[cast_no_shadow]

Is it just me or if it's celebrities who do the ranting, I don't really buy it.

+ 1

Time to shine moment lang mga yan.
As if in reality hindi sila ganyan


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dr. d]

errr... magkano ba ang non-yaya meal diyan?

[shadow]

Dapat lumayas na sila ng belasin agad. Para believable naman.

[Monseratto]

It's up to the employer of the DH if they will let the maid order what she wants or give her the cheap meal. There are even some who just let the maid watch them eat and give them cup noodles in their room. Otherwise, it's none of bitching ex beauty queen's business since she is not paying for it. Calling it discrimination is far from the subject.

[yebo]

I think what she was bitching about is the refusal, at first, of the resto to serve "regular" meals to the yaya. Such refusal is indeed discriminatory. Kung wala sana refusal walang discrimination.

[bloowolf]

It's not the meal itself. It's the way the club branded the meal as the "yaya meal". Pwede naman sa menu meron murang pagkain na pwede I order para sa katulong pero di na branded. Sa Manila Polo Club, bawal ang help sa dining areas. Ganun lang talaga ang Pilipino. Pero pag ang amo America no, equality yan.

[benchman]

It's up to the employer of the DH if they will let the maid order what she wants or give her the cheap meal. There are even some who just let the maid watch them eat and give them cup noodles in their room. Otherwise, it's none of bitching ex beauty queen's business since she is not paying for it. Calling it discrimination is far from the subject.

yes employers like that do exist, i've seen lots of those and makes me feel kawawa naman talaga yung mga helpers/drivers. yet there are who treated their helpers like family, pero madalang lang talaga.
sana naman totoo talaga yung pag-iinarte nung.. sino nga ba yun?

[Newcomer123]

Sadly, that is reality. A fault in Pinoys started by the Spanish. I don't think it will ever change.

We had slaves even before the Spaniards came, in two categories even...

[dr. d]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We had slaves even before the Spaniards came, in two categories even...

namamahay and sagigilid.
namamahay - umu-uwi. hindi stay-in. may sariling bahay.
sagigilid - stay-in. sa gilid natutulog..

and we feed them "Lipin Meals".

[BratPAQ]

Maybe they should call it budget meal. Or maybe di lang sila nagkaintindihan. Baka bawal kumain dun sa dining area yung helper, kaya bawal sa kanya yung "regular meals"

[benchman]

Baka bawal kumain dun sa dining area yung helper

yan ang malaking katarantaduhan, excuse my word pero hindi ko pupuntahan ang mga ganyan establishments kung may helper man ako.