Snatcher at SM The Block

I have been shopping groceries and other supplies at SM, considering that it is just a few minutes ride (by jeepney) away from our current home. If 3 "Loyalty" or Rewards Cards were the basis, then, I am one loyal customer (of both BDO and SM, but hey, it's about time-saving and accessibility nowadays).

One Monday (Note that it's not rush hour nor peak day)--- May 18 2009 to be exact, the whole family hit the mall for a stroll, pizza at Pizza Hut, then headed to Hypermarket at the Block. While inside the Hypermarket, I noticed my bag zipper was open, but did not made a fuss about it because I was with 3 kids (aged 9, 7, and 4 respectively) so, I proceeded filling up the grocery cart after closing the zipper. When we got to the checkout counter, I was shocked to find my zipper bag open again! And my wallet with all our IDs, ATM and credit card no longer inside it!

While it was unfortunate for the thug to get only about P70 cash, it was very disappointng on our part to be had inside the supposedly biggest mall of the Philippines (yes, you're wrong about the Mall of Asia!). We were expecting something high-tech, such as replaying security video captures or footages to identify suspected thugs prowling in their state-of-the-art shopping center... (I had a really nagging and nasty feeling when one of their sales staff entertained me as if I was buying a 24-karat diamond when in fact I was just buying a barbecue thong!)

But no... We were faced with a junior secret agent, quite embarassed as well as edgy about his work he would not even get my identity if I had not informed him he needed to, in case my wallet is found strewn in their vast property. In fact, it had to be me to contact their other security officers in adjacent buildings to assure me that in case something like my suspicion happens, my IDs and wallet be returned. I mean, hello? What if I had gunned down people like a madman using a silencer, won't they use their hi-tech equipment to warn their comrades at all? Shees, of course, I am exaggerating (and just wondering)! It only happened once at SM!

It was like very typical day in a government office --- at least, inside a government office, the staff pretend to be the boss and yell at the taxpayer even if they sound (and look) stupid. Like it should be a positive comparison at all, eh?

Well, since I no longer have to save "credit points" as all my loyalty cards are lost, I have started to shop at nearby Trinoma - Landmark. The better of which is not to encounter government clerk /officer clones. The end is near.

Baldwin and the Mail Order Bride

In the news just recently...

NEW YORK – Alec Baldwin is apologizing for making a joke about getting a Filipino mail-order bride that provoked a sharp response in the Philippines.

The Emmy-winning actor quipped during a May 12 interview on "The Late Show with David Letterman" that he would love to have more children and that he was "thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order bride at this point ... or a Russian one."

On Wednesday, Baldwin posted on The Huffington Post that he was apologizing "to anyone who took offense."

He said, "I believe that most people understood that this was a joke and took it as such."

Philippine Sen. Ramon Revilla said Monday that Baldwin's comment was "insensitive and uncalled for." He threatened him with a beating and said the "30 Rock" star is apparently unaware that the Philippines has a law against mail-order brides.

And I wonder what the senator fusses about? He should have instead corrected Baldwin it's no longer the mail-order-bride thing going but online services for love match/pairing and an entire industry of "networking" sites.

Mr. Senator, wake up. Start reading your Yahoo News! In reality: Whoever is the chief-of-staff of Bong Revilla, update your boss! darnit! there's nothing more annoying than a news that is outdated!