Ruined Life for a Stolen Wallet? Really?

January 16, 2012 – it was the day after the culmination of the Sinulog festival. It was also the day I was supposed to go back to work. Initially, I planned to take the 8 AM trip so I set the alarm at 5 AM. It was however 9 AM when I realized that the time on my cellphone was late. The next schedule was 11 AM so I went to the pier having “wild hopes” that I could NOT catch the schedule in order to extend my malling. The “All trips today, fully booked!” sign welcomed me. I went to another ticketing outlet of another ferry. It’s the same story. Being a fan of ‘No Retreat No Surrender’ motto, I wrote my name on the chance passenger list. I had high hopes to get a ticket though I was at the 30th of the list. And being NOT a fan of ‘playing by chance’, I bought a ticket for the following day.

At peace, I went to SM to eat and do the things I wished to do early that day. I stayed inside KFC a few hours after I had my brunch. Free wi-fi with unblocked Facebook and cool music, what else could I ask for at the moment. And I was able to finish a 400-word article.

T-Shirt! It seemed like a bulb just lit in my mind. I went to several stores inside SM to choose for designs but I didn’t find anything. Strolling at the hallway, a girl called me. She was an Insurance agent. She presented to me an overview of their company. She brought me to their office and an hour later, I decided to open a savings account in their company.

I took the escalator down to the game station. Instead of going straight to sing and play there, I took a meal at the nearest fast food store.

Later, I decided to go to the hotel near the port. Inside the taxi even before I was seated, I noticed my backpack was open. Horror struck me. My wallet was gone.

I never expected such thing could happen to me. I really felt stupid.

The first thing I did was inform everyone including my friends and my family. Then I talked to everyone I came across about what just happened to me.

I never gave up right away. I went back twice to the places I’ve been to before the incident hoping I just left it somewhere. There was no sign of my wallet.

I called my father about it. It was funny of me but I literally asked if he knew a powerful witch to curse the thief. “If that is true, my stolen wallet must have also been returned,” he said with a little rage in his voice.

There was nothing I could do about it. No one could help me, not even the police who took my report. I couldn’t understand what I felt for hours. It was like my whole life was ruined. My hands were literally trembling. But ruined life? What was I thinking? There was no sense that my life would be ruined by a stolen wallet with some papers, an ATM and a few bucks! Actually, my experience wasn’t the worse. At the police station alone, there was an old guy who came in before me. He only had one arm and all his money and cellphone were also snatched. At that time, I felt pity for him than for myself.

I just pray for that person that he and his family may enjoy the money they ‘received’ from me…