Earlier this evening as we were heading out SLEX, I realised myself getting stressed and anxious as I saw Azure. What used to be a haven of relaxation for me, my family and friends, has now become a source of anger and unease. I am very displeased with Azure's PMO! What used to be minor irritations have become all out feelings of disgust and outrage. It began with small annoyances like:
1. Security guard as we enter Azure merely stops us and asks for our unit number and name while writing it on SCRATCH PAPER. Upon turnover, they asked for the plate numbers of our cars. So I ask, WTH was that for? Where's the guard's list for cross reference? Or better yet, why not issue car stickers instead??
2. Upon entering parking, they will ask us for the unit number and unit owner's name again. Then what? No cross reference! No nothing. So WTH was that for???
3. Upon entering the lobby, they will ask for the same details AGAIN! At this point, I think the receptionists should have an idea of who the unit owners are. The first few months after turnover, they kept asking for the move-in form which we accomplished with the turnover people. I expected them to be more organised than this since they have different departments to handle everything. Apparently NOT. No coordination at all! You expect us to do that for you or go through the hassle of going to their office and accomplishing that form again???
4. Those stupid baller ID's upon registering for pool use that we have to return or else suffer the fine of php500. Haven't you guys heard of those waterproof paper bracelets?? I'm sure those cost less and if you happen to charge us a measly php20 to cover that cost, it's better than the HASSLE of those baller ID's. And btw, where do those php500 fines go?
5. Poor concierge at the Paris Beach Club. Poor verbal skills, poor hospitality, poor appearance! If PMO likes to boast of Azure being a high end destination, I suggest they hire people to play the part! And what's with the attitude?? I believe these receptionists aren't in any position to snub ANYONE...guests and unit owners alike. I wonder if this is lack of experience, breeding or just plain proper direction from their superiors...which I later found out to be true. I guess they were just following the examples set by their bosses.
These things, to me, are ''small'' annoyances that I can forego since it's just a matter of personal preference. That just maybe it isn't really the SOP of most establishments. This was until a couple of days ago when I was approached by fellow unit owners from Azure regarding a memo that clearly struck a (BIG) nerve and caught everyone's attention.
Upon seeing this, I was pissed. I thought to myself: This is so unfair! Is this even legal??? So I sent this, along with other documents I had to Aggy so she can review the validity of all this. From there, we composed a letter that I handed to Ms. Flores, Asst. General Manager.
Before heading to her office, Hernan, from our Azure group, asked if he can come with me so I said yes. When we got to Ms. Flores' office, she was there so we sat down and spoke to her. This is how it went (what I posted on fb, reported what happened in the meeting to fellow azure unit owners):
Ok, where to begin...will try to remember key points discussed before commenting...
Chris where'd you get the memo? She (ms flores) was defensive that this hasn't been released yet and that they're only implementing the membership card come may 1st which is php150 at cost.
The membership card is based on the allotted number of unit owners per unit (ex. 3 for one bedroom) so that those bearing this will no longer need to register.
Ms. flores opened a powerpoint file while we were discussing all these...
She said the allotted guests has been misunderstood so therefore it's really just 1 guest for 1 bedroom, and not 4 at a time.
Note that they are really pushing to eliminate airbnb or daily rental at azure. There were examples in the powerpoint showing airbnb postings that were done in poor taste...then she refers to one post in tagalog at php2500/night. She said they even came across a blog bashing and complaining about azure. There was an incident of a guest wearing a duster at the swimming area and when dissuaded by the guard, yelled, "ay nagbayad ako ng 1500 dito! etc" thus, making a scene. There were even couples caught having sex on the beach, stairways, etc. caught on cctv that they'll be glad to show us as proof. Then she goes about how some unit owners living in azure are complaining that they want to use the amenities but couldn't because the beach was overcrowded. I told her that's just a handful of unit owners since majority aren't living there or even in the philippines.
When the powerpoint passed through the 2000-2500 guest fee, I commented: "ang bastos naman ng 2500 na guest fee na yan" then she just said that's the reason for the "orientation" this saturday, to discuss and gather feedback from homeowners. (Why call it an orientation when we haven't really agreed to anything yet???)
We already started discussing these things as we sat down so I handed the letter I had at the middle of the conversation.
Hernan posted some comments about maintenance then she said that's why pmo is implementing this...to avoid delapidation of facilities and fall of real estate value. (hello! isn't that their job? to use our money/monthly dues for maintenance of azure?!)
Paper bracelets will replace the baller bracelets soon. I also mentioned the car stickers and she wrote it down. Then she mentioned one unit owner suggested they rent out tables for say 5k per day to guests just so "hindi sila pakalat-kalat".
Ms. flores said there's just too much people. That's when Hernan mentioned being there during holy week and asking reception how many guests were there. It was 900, not even half of the 2000 turned over units. She kept on mentioning their worry of overcrowding and maintenance but didn't they foresee that? That's when I told her my example...if I was there with my family, there'd be 3 of us. And if we lived there, we will definitely use the amenities EVERYDAY. When we're not there and I have guests over, there's only 2-4 of them, 2-4 DAYS a month! It's the same amount of people so why are they complaining? That's when I brought up the Novotel article. She said, baka sa north yan. I said, no, it specifically said bicutan. Then she said she doesn't know anything about that.
After all the explanations, she said "that's why I'm surprised with the violent reaction of some unit owners". I then said, we react violently coz for the longest time, ok lang kami ng ok but now this is just too much!
-----end of fb post-----
Exclusivity of Azure amenities to unit owners only, you say? Here are the articles:
http://manilastandardtoday.com/mobile/2014/11/23/accor-launching-six-hotels-go-hotels-to-open-nine-outlets
C'mon! WTH is this??? You have NO IDEA that this is happening? You're gonna open a HOTEL to share OUR amenities EVERY DAY and yet we are supposed to limit our guests???
As far as maintenance goes, we are paying php120/sqm per month for our units plus php1500 for parking PLUS other quarterly fees. I believe this should cover whatever maintenance expenses you're whining about!
Bottomline azure employees, DO YOUR JOBS! Seems to me that you've been spoiled with how seldom people walk in or use the facilities that the few times you were flooded with people, you blame and make unit owners responsible (suffer) for your INCOMPETENCE! 900 people, one holiday, then you give us this! Do you forget how many buildings are yet to be built and occupied in Azure?? Smarten up folks and get your asses in gear!
