DISCLAIMER: This post does not intend to accuse or claim anything that demoralizes any establishment. The words written on this article are from rumors and does not contend that these are accurate or true.

There would always be supernatural stories or rumors of the unknown in every province in the Philippines. Known for it’s superstitious past, the impact of the culture brought modern men to spread the legends from ear to ear through the ages. Cebu, the former capital of the country, is not a stranger to these urban legends. In fact 2 of the most famous stories involve famous, large companies in the middle of the busy metropolis.

The Gigantic Fish: Rumors have been heard through the years that the General Milling Corporation factory in Lapu-Lapu City is hiding a gigantic fish beneath the structure. It’s big enough to gulp not just one man but 5 in one time. With an eye as big as 1 foot in diameter, this fish is surely massive and big enough to shake the entire factory. The validity of this story, just like any urban legend, is still in doubt but the lifeguard from the previous company I worked with was once a “Kargador” in GMC and he did mention that during the days he used to work in the factory, there was a large circular hole on the floor filled with water and he kept on wondering why every now and then the manager would order 1 sack of flour to be spilled into the hole, where a whirlpool would suddenly start. He said that through time he knew that an enormous fish was raised there and flour was what they used to feed it. There would even come a time the the fish would go too restless that it would want more. Then the company would feed it with a human corpse (I do not want to dig the details of this part). Anything that would fall into the hole would never come out again but up to this day, the existence of the fish continues to be a rumor.

The Snake: The Robinson’s Mall along the Fuente-Osmeña circle is also has a rumor of a large snake or python lurking inside. The snake is said to be a pet of the owner and it would freely slither inside pipes, crevices and everywhere it would to grab its prey. Rumors even say that shoppers inside would disappear especially the ones who would go inside dressing rooms. The mall went through different casualties like the fire from last year and the recent earthquake but the whereabouts of the ophidian is still in question.

I’ve asked numerous Cebuanos of their opinion on these urban legends but all of them say the same thing: These are just rumors and until now, none of them are actually seen. They have been circling around the ears of every denizen through the years and remained to be rumors.

So I was supposed to go to Gaisano Island Mall yesterday to just check the balance of my ATM then just go home since it’s completely just 5 mins away by foot. Apparently, the balance check turned into an unusual encounter.

Just as I was at the foot of the stairs at the back entrance where Jo’s inatô and Manila Foodshop is located, a sales lady applicant in business attire broke her heels in front of me. Out of shame and a desperate move, she asked for my help to buy her new sandals. Of course I didn’t even react since it’s very rare that a stranger would do this. She opened her wallet and gave a “surprised” look that she only had 140php. she even asked me “how much could a pair be?” (Yeah right. As if I’d know how much a pair of female sandals would cost). She continued to think and I just said “What if your money’s not enough?” Surprisingly, she replied with “I think it would be enough”

So I closed the conversation with “What color? What’s your foot size” and then fled as soon as she gave me “black. 37”

So I was in a very weird situation with a stranger’s money, on my way to the shoe department, very determined to help the unfortunate woman. And then the big question started “AM I REALLY BUYING HER SANDALS/SHOES??” I looked at the different designs and glanced at the sales women’s feet every now and then to get an idea on what to buy. There were similar ones on the SALE section priced 299php. Hmm, adding an amount for her won’t be that bad and I asked the sales lady in charge if they had a size 37 of the same design. She said they only had a size 7. Not being able to convert American metrics with European, I said “Can’t you convert the size to 37? I don’t know how much is that in American” Then she left and went back a few minutes later. “We don’t have a size 7” she said. I didn’t know if she knew what she was doing or something but I thought I’d rather not buy sandals for the lady. I might buy the wrong ones and it might waste both our pennies combined. I went to the hardware instead and bought super glue.

After purchasing the glue I went back to the site where I left the lady and I saw her sitting down on a chair on one of the fast food chains near the stairs and I saw relief in her face with a bit of dismay seeing that I had no shoebox with me. “You didn’t find one?”

I told her “I bought this instead. Here, get your money back. I’ll shoulder the expense. I don’t wanna waste your remaining money by buying the wrong sandals. At least it can hold your heel for the mean time and you can go to your application. Buying new ones will be on you at least you’d know which ones are right.” I glued her heels with the robust bonding liquid and said “Next time don’t trust a stranger with your money. If I was a thief then I could’ve fled with it. It’s the only one you got. Good thing you approached the right person.” then I gave her the glue and left without looking back as not to aggravate the shame she’s feeling that time.

It really was more of a smart move for me that a generous move. Aiding the unfortunate one made me the good Samaritan but making a wise move made it half-baked.

Ok I’m bored again and I don’t wanna entitle this post as another boredom issue. Well it really is boring. It’s my first rest day from the month of February and I’ve been staying at home all day doing nothing but sleep and clean the house. 

clean..

clean..

clean..

closet, fish tank, comfort room, kitchen and living room… also the front yard.

ok so this issue is about cleaning. What else can I say other than cleaning? Oh! I went to the mall (the one 5 mins by walk away from our house) to have my watch cleaned.

clean..

clean..

clean..

does cleaning entitle me to write a blog? :-/

I’m simply just bored. Can’t wait to work tomorrow. At least I’d have someone to talk to.

(me confirming the reservation to an american and a fil-am guest)
sir, you’ve made the reservation through agoda for a deluxe room for 2 nights (showing 4 fingers)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH KATAWA ANG TANAN apil guest buhakhak!

have you ever had that sudden wrong pronunciation at work or just everywhere? I sure do. Having a hard native Filipino tongue gives me these perky words at times.

caller: How much for your day use?

me: P1500 on weekends per person ma’am

caller: What are the inclusions?

me: Lunch buffet, free use of the beach, pool and JEYM (gym)

*WTF did I just say?!

HAHAHA

Quite strange that I jumped from a nursing career to the hotel industry. One thing in common from the two of them: HOSPITALITY.

I never was an independent guy. I’m always in situations where someone had to do things for me. The job hunt was one of the rare experiences that opened the doors of independence. I was very much nervous especially I’m in Cebu, and for me, this is a strange world where everything is NEW. No hints of everything or everyone’s whereabouts. I only had my diploma, the guts, a corporate attire, a handful printed resumés, a few bucks for public vehicle fare and the determination to look around.

In a weird way, I’ve developed a sense of aversion from the course I graduated and It was quite absurd of me to finish it and even pass that head-twisting biannual board examinations to complete my degree (I took it only once thank God). So on my job hunt, I skipped being a nurse. I’ve turned my head to something simpler yet decadent. Let’s just say, I’m interested in taking care of people but this time around, not to the wounded but to those who are on the peak of euphoria— people who are on vacation, leisure and to those who simply want to unwind. I won’t have to let the people lie on hospital beds with intravenous needles and tubes stuck on their arms.

I’ve heard that being in a hotel is a pretty good deal in the central Visayan region and my first leg was the tip of the island called “enchanted point” (Punta Engano). Big hotels boom in this part of the island (Shangri-la, Then-Hilton-Called Mövenpick and etc) so I started the first leg on that narrow peninsula. Since I’m never an independent guy, it’s really strange for me to embark on a trip without any knowledge on where it’s heading. So i did jump in an “Engano” PUJ and stopped at Shangri-la. I wouldn’t get lost since I can ask the dispatcher or the driver and the highly-visible logo on the entrance of the hotel wouldn’t be hard to miss. I started handing my resumé over to the guard but they require me to enclose it in an envelope *shoot. How could I be so stupid to miss that?* I walked back trying to find a local “sari-sari store” hoping to find these envelopes to get my important papers in. 10 mins of walking under the midday heat, in a corporate attire, and dripping sweat lead me to one. I was sure enough to buy more than three in case there might be more than 3 hotels in where I’m at.

So I gave the resumé to manang guard and headed further to the hotel’s left knowing that the famous pink building called Hilton is just 5 minutes by walk. Then the guard from that establishment received my resumé. The funny part this time was the K9 handler referred me to another hotel something like 7 mins by walk ahead. I couldn’t hear what he was saying and I’d be too rude to ask again for the third time on what the hotel is called so I just concluded there must be another one and it must be nice that even an employee of this building referred me to the adjacent one. Little did I know, that referral would bring me to my first job.

So I found a box-shaped hotel painted with earthen colors sealed with a green logo in white lettering and on how it looks, you’d know that this hotel focuses on bright colors, exotic furnitures and bubbly prints. I didn’t even hesitate to submit my resumé as it drew me to that “magaan sa loob” feeling. And yes… less than a month later, none of all the hotels I inquired called me except the last one. I do remember they called me 7pm and I just had a nap so I was still on the verge of “what? weh? what’s this? huh?” questions on that very official call. “You’re invited for an interview at the HR department for your application on the Front Office” …. I was like “Front Office? Wow. Sure” What I didn’t know on the day of the interview, was that I can be both what I graduated from and that post I wanted. It’s was a very BIG YES for me when the HR supervisor offered me to be the company nurse and at the same time a Front Office staff.

My first leg of the journey went well. Being in a “slash” position ain’t bad and being a nurse and a receptionist gave me the best of both worlds (LOL). Now I currently work in a different hotel as a full-time receptionist but basically, this was how my career transitioned from being a nursing graduate to being a hotelier. It really wasn’t a big leap, but it lead me to new things I never knew.