Libreng Tawag

I have theories about almost anything. So it's not surprising that I have a theory about freebies and Pinoys. Filipinos loooove free things. Even "free" things that are not free.

To illustrate:

1. Christmas give-aways from your insurance provider. You know that umbrella you got last Christmas? Or it could have been a calendar or a notepad or day planner. Whatever. Those corporate give-aways. Here's a startling revelation: they're not really free. You get them from people you pay an annual fee to, like an insurance company or service provider.

2. Hotel membership perks. You know that "free night" at the Mandarin you got when you became a member of their VIP club? You paid for that with the PhP10,000 joining fee you paid, you idiot.

3. "Free" internet, "free" calls, etc. I'm writing this from the Shang Edsa where I'm staying for a couple of days. When I checked in, the guy at the front desk said that if I paid for a room upgrage (an extra US$50) I get stuff like "free" internet, "free" local calls and "free" dry cleaning. So OF COURSE, I just had to bite.

4. "Free" samples, "free" tastes. Of course you'll buy the pasta sauce after you taste it. Because really, that small cracker with a smudge of red paste on it was "super yummy"! (People actually talk this way in these bazaars, like people get stupid when they walk in the NBC Tent or some random hotel ballroom.)

5. "Free" love. Hmmm.... I think we all agree that you pay a really high price for this. Ok, so this may not be Pinoy specific. But it's cheesy, and I pretty good ending to this post and truthfully, I've just ran out of other "free" stuff ideas.

Work with me, people. Work with me.