IN THIS commercially driven and service oriented society of ours, we all have our favorite restaurant, barbershop, bank, spa, etc., and what have you.

In Hiligaynon, we call it our "suki`" or preference. In business, a valued client is accorded certain unwritten courtesies because he is a "suki". For instance, a valued depositor is allowed by a bank to make a deposit or withdrawal even after the bank has closed. Or may be a restaurant always reserving the best table for a treasured diner. And there's the barber who will always give his frequent customer a really close shave and extra massage to boot.

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All these happen for no other purpose except to hold on to a special habitué. It is commonly referred to as "customer courtesy." So here's a personal episode I'd like to share with my readers. I'd bet my bottom centavo that you have experienced the same thing too.

For several years now, every Saturday or Sunday, I would go jogging or biking around Bacolod City early in the morning and end up at the Capitol Lagoon where I would then have coffee and a doughnut at a popular doughnut joint at the Sixth Street. It's been a routine of mine for more than a couple of years now. I like the ambiance of the place. It's not too classy but it's decently presentable. Their brewed coffee is great. And of course, their doughnuts and sandwiches are a treat as well. But most of all, their crew is very courteous. Or so I thought.

So there I was at this doughnut joint after having taken a spin around town on board my ol' MTB, Highway. Before entering, I parked (guin pasandig) Highway against the concrete column immediately to the right of the glass front door with the handlebars leaning against the glass pane as I have been doing for quite some time now. It's been a routine of mine each time I go biking.

But to my chagrin, the security guard-on-duty approached me and directed me to park my bike at the opposite side because the glass pane might break. So I explained to him that I've been a customer (suki`) of the doughnut joint for a long time now and that I've been parking my bike at the same place. So far, nobody's called my attention and most importantly, there is nary a crack or a scratch on the glass pane where the handlebar of my bike touched the glass. I tried to plead my case. To no avail. Our conversation went this way:

Guard: Sir, indi na` da pwede i-park ang imo bisikleta kay basi ma buka ang crystal. Isaylo lang to sa pihak. (You can't park your bike there because the glass might break. Just transfer it to the other side.)

Me: Dugay na ko nga customer diri kahit na wala ka pa diri ma-assign. Kag diri ko man nga lugar guina-park ang akon bisikleta. Hasta subong wala man nabuka ukon na bakrisan ang kristal. Kag isa pa, diri ko na `guina park para dali ko makita kag lapit sa puertahan kon nano-nano man gid. (I've been a customer here long before you were assigned here. And every time I come here, I've been parking my bike at this same place. Until now the glass has neither been broken nor scratched. And besides, I park it here so that I can easily see it and it is near the door in case of emergency)

In spite of my pleading, the guard remained adamant. So I went inside and looked for the supervisor to further plead my case. But he was not there. So I had to settle for the crew-on-duty then present. I still recall her face quite well - fairly skinned, a little chubby but not really fat, about 5'5" in height more or less. But much to my further vexation, she seemed to be unsympathetic to my plea for a little consideration. Sensing that I wouldn't get any satisfaction at all, it was then that I asserted my right as a customer. And so I asked - "Am I not a customer here? Isn't a customer supposed to be right? Shouldn't I be accorded a little courtesy?"Having said that, I stormed out of that doughnut joint.

So there goes my weekend doughnut treat including any day in between. Guess I have to look for doughnuts and brewed coffee somewhere else from now on. I always make it a policy never to come back to a restaurant where I've had a squabble with a waiter or the staff regarding their service.

You'll never know what they might do to your food or drink just to get even. It is better safe than sorry. Or worse, being made a fool. I am told that a similar joint right next to the beehive a block away serves just as good a cup of brewed coffee and doughnuts as well. Think I might give it a try next time around.

So much for customer courtesy.