Read Balesin's Statement About The 'Yaya Meal' Issue

Balesin Island Club released an official statement about the ‘yaya meal’ they are offering after former beauty queen Maggie Wilson-Consunji’s online post went viral condemning the said policy.

“We at Balesin Island Club do not understand this entire hullabaloo about the ‘yaya meal’,” began Balesin CEO and Director Mike Asperin in a statement posted on the luxury resort’s Facebook page.

“We at Balesin Island Club do not understand this entire hullabaloo about the “yaya meal.” Any talk of discrimination is inappropriate. In fact, if the guest or member chooses to have the Club serve the “yaya” tenderloin steak and lobster thermidor, we will gladly serve it to the yaya. “Yaya meal” is merely an accommodation and an option for the guest for their “yaya”. Hence, we do not serve this meal if there is no instruction at all from the guest for a “yaya meal” to be served to a “yaya”. Incidentally, the yayas are thrilled with their meals because these are deliciously prepared by our chefs, as well, for our operating staff at Balesin.”

Mike M. Asperin
CEO & Island Director
Balesin Island Club

He clarified that the ‘yaya meal’ is not discriminatory and only serves as an option for the yaya’s employers. He also added that while their ‘yaya meals’ are “deliciously prepared by our chefs”, they may serve the yayas any meal their guest or member chooses to.

This statement was published following the post of Maggie disapproving the policy of Balesin.

Maggie also condemned the ‘No Credit Card, No Eat’ rule of the island resort saying, “We have our credit cards on us but what if people don’t own one? They also won’t accept cash! So if your guests or yaya’s decide to eat with you and don’t have a credit card they’ll end up starving.”

On Monday, April 6, on ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol reported that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) would conduct an investigation to determine if there are establishments like Balesin that have policies which are insulting or discriminating to household helps.

Gerry Rubio, DOLE’s communications and media office head, explained the “yaya meal” issue falls under “discrimination in occupation.”