Cellphone Dilemma

January 12, 2012

Just another day at the office. Everything is same as always. No pressure. No pressure at all. At 6pm, me and mah buddy Pis finished our reports, clean up our office space, picked up our bags and left the office to walk to SM Delgado to meet up with her cousin.

Te Daph said when she saw us: "Aga pa kamu ba?".

I answered: "Boring sa opisina bi...".

Then we walk towards, Amigo Mall parking lot to get Pis' car and she would drop me on the corner near my boarding house.

But no, my day would not end on that boring note...

As the song said "Be careful what you wish for coz you might just get it..." and more.

We were walking towards the parking lot, I had my backpack worn the proper way which you all know is unusual for me unless I am travelling and it is full with stuff. I usually just sling it on one shoulder and walk like a gangsta which is cooler to look at than a full backpack on.

We were nearing the gate. I felt SOMEONE brushed on my bag. It's a rush hour, everybody feels the need to get home or get somewhere else. Something as someone bumping you from behind is as NORMAL as the sun rising every day. Normally, you would ignore it but, not that fateful day. My ANIMAL INSTINCT was screaming that it was not normal. As I followed them inside the gates of the parking lot, I saw a guy put something inside the plastic bag he was carrying. Instinctively, I checked my bag. The smaller pocket's zipper is open and as I rummaged into it, my phone is not there.

I said: "Shit, ginkuot akon phone". And I ran after the guy I saw put something on the plastic bag.

The parking lot's security guard ran after me. He asked: "Sin u da, ne?".

"Ang lalaki nga nakaputi manong, ang may dala plastic.", I shouted.

He screamed: "Kawatan na, punggi nio."

The pickpocketer ran bumping into people. He was finally nabbed on the other side of the street.

We were brought into the tanod outpost, and finally to the police precinct where we were both questioned. I signed the blotter report, left my phone with the investigator and promised to come back the next day not to file a case as it was a Nokia 3220 and so outmoded but to process the papers for not filing a case.

See phone

You might say how stupid of me not to file a case as clearly I am a victim. But let’s face it even if I send the guy to jail forever for my phone. How many more are there to take his place? We couldn’t even comprehend that.

The statistics may show that the Philippines is improving. The economy is better than ever. We have provided lots of jobs for Filipinos, we have alleviated lives. We have done this. We have done that. That is what the government says. But reality could not be calculated. No matter how much the graph would rise. We all know that lots of Filipinos are still suffering from the greatest threat there is: POVERTY.

This experience has taught me something. Not to place my important things on my backpack’s pocket when walking on the street.

NO… not that. That is already a given.

I have learned that NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE HARSH REALITIES OF LIFE and NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO ESCAPE FROM THE PROBLEMS THE REST OF THE WORLD ARE FACING. Sadly, one way or another, they will find a way to break into the cocoon you have created and remind you that a PERFECT WORLD would never be a reality.