The Many Reasons Why Filipinos Should Not Boycott Sofitel Manila

If you’ve been active in social media the last few weeks, you may have probably encountered two hashtags that have been slipping in and out of the trending topics in Twitter for almost three weeks now. The #NotoSofitel and #BoycottSofitelPH hashtags originated from the call of UNTV-BMPI Chairman and CEO Daniel Razon to boycott Sofitel Manila for allegedly removing their channel on the hotel’s channel listing. According to Razon the alleged act of Sofitel Manila constitutes to media discrimination because of not following the NTC “must carry channel” rule.

What is the NTC “musty carry channel” rule?

The National Telecommunications Commissions “must carry channel” rule is based on the NTC Memorandum Circular 4–8–88 which ONLY applies to cable television operators in the Philippines.

Section 2.1 states that any facility that, in whole or in part, receives directly or indirectly over the air, and amplifies or otherwise modifies (improves) the signals transmitting programs broadcast by one or more television, satellite or radio stations and distributes such signal by wire or cable to subscribing members of the public who pay for such service(s), but such term shall not include (1) any such facility that serves fewer than 50 subscribers, or (2) any such facility that serves only the residents of one or more apartment dwellings under common ownership, control or management, and commercial establishments located on the premises of such an apartment house, which may be subject to other laws and regulations.

In layman’s term, this section shows that the commercial establishment specified on this circular is NOT referred to as a cable TV system operator. This means that commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels, etc, generally offers guests free access to cable television as no separate payment or subscription is charged to guests. Furthermore, such establishments likewise serve only the residents of one or more apartment dwellings under common ownership, control or management, which is therefore expressly excepted or excluded from the definition of a cable TV system. So using logic to this, the accusation seem irrelevant as Sofitel Manila is not cable operator, thus, granting them the right to exercise business decisions on instances they deem necessary.

To address the issue and to ensure their social media followers that no such discrimination occurred, Sofitel Manila released and official statement via their official Facebook page, stating:

Now let’s go to the many reasons why Filipinos should NOT boycott Sofitel Manila

1. Sofitel Manila does not discriminate senior citizens. Apparently, UNTV’s move to use Atty. Romy Macalintal’s issue with Sofitel Manila to back up their boycott campaign on the alleged “discrimination” is quite amusing as it only looked like their initial claim against the hotel chain is not valid since they have to resort to get other isolated irrelevant cases to justify their cause.

When Atty. Macalintal was interviewed by Daniel Razon and Atty. Regie Tongol on their morning program, both Razon and Tongol tried to sought information from Macalintal regarding his complaint against Sofitel. However, it seems that the election lawyer is very careful on his replies as according to him, the case is still pending for proper discussion. Macalintal even stressed many times on the interview that with all due respect to Sofitel, he does not want to comment on it as the program is not the proper venue to discuss it. But it seems that Atty. Regie Tongol is determined to get info from the lawyer that he even resorted to getting the info he needs “indirectly”. Read transcript of their conversation below:

Atty. Regie Tongol – Atty. Romy Macalintal, pwede pong magtanong? Si Atty. Regie Tongol poi to. Kasi ako, member yung dad ko ng isang membership card sa isang hotel po. Pagkatapos po kapag kakain ka dun, pinakita mo yung card na yun 50% off kapag dalawa kayo. Ngayon po humihingi sya ng senior citizen discount para po dun sa kinain nya. Kasi nga mag 50% na syang nakuha pero syempre gusto pa nyang iavail yung senior citizen discount nya, pwede pa po ba kaya nyang hingin yung 20% discount na yun on top of the 50% already given because of that membership card na binayaran nya rin po?

Atty. Romy Macalintal’s reply – “Ah attorney, panyero, alam mo, magaling ka talagang mag cross examine ano? What you cannot directly get, you are trying to get indirectly, ano? (Laughs) Eto kasi iniiwasan kong idiscuss kasi that’s already a pending issue dyan sa Sofitel ano. Para sakin nasabi ko na yung position ko dyan na pwede mong iinsist yung karapatan mo dyan kasi yung 50% na yun ay binili mo, binayaran mo and that is a privilege which you get by virtue of your contract with that particular establishment. Kung sinabi nyang yung 50% nay un ay kasama na yung 20% ang mangyayari e 30% lang ang maibibigay sayo sa ilalim ng inyong kontrata so that establishment enjoys that 20% kaya yun ang aking ipinaglalaban.”

I find this conversation rather amusing as this seemed like a cheap strategy to persuade Atty. Macalintal to comment against the hotel chain.

2. Sofitel Manila does not discriminate Filipinos. If Sofitel does, then it would not have hired Filipinos to work for them in the first place. As a reply to the issue raised by a certain Dra. Barba, a member of MCGI, regarding her accusation that her nanny was discriminated in the hotel chain, Sofitel Manila GM Adam Laker, addresses this issue, see his reply below:

“The lady said on the show I believe that she went to the Executive Lounge and her Yaya wasn’t allowed in and her children had to go to bed without a meal and so on and so forth.

Well the truth of it is, the Executive Lounge is a place to have a drink or two either before or after dinner or before you go anywhere. Obviously, we didn’t pick on the Yaya, we didn’t say Yaya’s weren’t allowed in because they were in scrubs… it was simply because we have a hotel policy where children must be looked after in a different location (children’s area). It also confuses me how it was said that her children that went to bed without a meal because we have room service 24/7, we also have bars and restaurants downstairs open 24 hours and that location (the Executive Lounge) wouldn’t be able to supply meals (as it is a bar meant to only serve liquor, wine and hors d’oeuvres). I don’t get the rationale of that statement. Yayas are more than welcome, we have them in there. We never discriminate or pick on them in any way. A lot of people there have yayas, it would be a bit silly of us if we did. It wouldn’t make sense. It’s a Club floor, not really a restaurant. It’s true that we don’t really allow children on the club’s floor for obvious reasons because it’s an elegant and refined area and we may see kids running around as we have another facility that’s complimentary for that.”

Source — http://www.kumagcow.com/2014/08/10-questions-about-untv-sofitel-manilas.html

3. Sofitel Manila helps the plight of the street children of Manila via the Virlanie Foundation. In fact, Sofitel Manila has organized numerous charity fun runs, three of which were collaborations with the premier running organization in the country, RunRio, Inc. The recent one is slated on August 17 at the SM MOA Grounds, reviving the Manila Half Marathon, last staged in 2008.

4. Sofitel Manila helps victims of typhoons via a donation drive. The recent campaign is to raise funds and gather basic goods that will be given to the victims of typhoon Glenda through ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya Foundation.

5. Sofitel Manila has the best view of the Manila Bay sunset. It’s the only luxury hotel in Manila that has the panoramic view of the Manila Bay and resort feel that is incomparable to other hotels within the area.

With all these wonderful things about Sofitel Manila, why would Filipinos find a reason to hate the hotel chain?