Cebu-based travel writer Jude Balcaso has recently faced a storm of criticism on social media after an incident with a waiter at a local restaurant went viral. The controversy erupted when Balcaso, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, reacted strongly to being addressed as “Sir” by the waiter. Among the many who criticized Balcaso was Ogie Diaz, a well-known personality who shared his pointed opinions about the incident.
On his Facebook account, Balcaso shared his perspective on the incident and the steps taken to resolve the matter. He mentioned that he had a meeting with the restaurant’s management, a crew member, and the store supervisor who were present during the incident. Unfortunately, the waiter involved was not available during this meeting.
“Earlier today, I sat down to quietly settle the matter with the restaurant management, one crew and the store supervisor who were present last night. The waiter I had a disagreement with was not present,” Balcaso wrote in his post.
Balcaso expressed his satisfaction with the discussion, noting that they agreed to implement more inclusive practices in the restaurant. He admitted that while his advocacy for gender sensitivity was well-intentioned, he could have approached the situation with more kindness.
“After each one of us aired our sides, I am happy to share that we have agreed to pursue together more inclusive practices in the restaurant,” he added. “I also realized that in the impassioned pursuit of my advocacy, I could have done with a little measure of kindness, sadly quite absent in the ruckus this has all unnecessarily created when it was made public without our knowledge.”
Balcaso also issued a public apology to the group present during the meeting and requested to extend this apology to the waiter involved. He emphasized that the restaurant’s management has always supported their personnel, treating them like family.
“I made a personal apology to the group present, and requested if I may do so for the concerned waiter. I am also making it very public with this post, as it has become quite public fodder,” he continued. “I also want to underscore that the management always had the back of their personnel with constant communication with me on behalf of their employees, who are all treated as family, as I know personally from their history.”
Balcaso clarified a specific point of contention, stating that he did not demand the waiter to stand for an extended period. The waiter chose to stand while they waited for input from management.
“To quote the supervisor, they served me as best they could even if it was most difficult for them to do so. I would like also to reiterate that I did not demand that the waiter stand for the whole length of time, as I was explaining my side of the gender sensitivity issue, it was he who chose to stand in front of me as we waited for input from management, who I attempted to contact,” she added.
In the closing part of her post, Balcaso extended apologies to the rest of the restaurant staff and the customers who witnessed the incident. She expressed her hope for reconciliation and healing following her public apology.
“My apologies also to the rest of the staff who are disheartened by the way things have escalated, as well as to the customers present at that time. This is a huge chunk of humble pie that I must ingest, because I have erred,” she said. “May we start here with, as the supervisor pointed out, an uphill path to reconciliation and we hope you will be able to allow us and yourselves to do so unhampered so we may all learn and heal from this,” Balcaso concluded.
The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media about gender sensitivity, the appropriate way to address individuals, and the importance of empathy and kindness in advocacy. Balcaso’s public apology and the restaurant’s commitment to more inclusive practices aim to turn this controversy into an opportunity for growth and learning.