July 9, 99

MY POCKET PICKED CLEAN




It finally happened.

After years of cheating fate, my wallet has been stolen.

HOW IT WAS STOLEN
On a whim, I decided to use my lunch break one working day, to take a jeep to Makati Cinema Square and look around for shoes. My wallet was more filled than usual, since it had exactly P2030 in it... I was, after all, ready to buy a pair of shoes if I found something nice. For once, I even placed it in my back trouser pocket. Male shopper's cardinal sin #1.
___ Anyway, I got there, and went around, looking at all the familiar stores-- finding nothing worth spending on. I drifted into Book Sale, the record shop, some electronics stores, even the CD Rom place. Nothing. So, I took a jeep back to the office.
___ Upon reaching the office, I was of course, hungry. I was headed for the canteen when I reached behind me and found my rear trouser pocket empty.The flap-- which I am positive I buttoned close before leaving the office an hour before--- was open. The wallet missing.
___ I didn't panic. Instead, I systematically searched my bag and desk drawers, figuring I had probably misplaced it somewhere. But it was nowhere to be found.
___ I must have lost it in the Cinema Square while window-shopping... or on the jeep. Couldn't have dropped out of my pocket, that's for sure.

BANKING CALLS
Picked up the phone, cancelled my ATM and credit cards (which were new and unused, seeing as I'm a cheapskate). Much to my surprise, the level of service offered by the two banks I called was horrendously disparate.
___ BPI said they'd replace the ATM card in 5 banking days, and just debit the P50 replacement fee from my account. All I had to do was call up the branch where I started the account and verify if the card was ready. PLus, they said they'd mail me a replacement credit card ASAP. Excellent!!!
___ Far East Bank (where my payroll account is) said I'd have to hop on over to the branch where I started the account, get an affidavit of loss, fill it up, have it notarized at a nearby Notary Public and return to fill up more forms for the new card.Yearghhhh.

Look at the difference.

THE FINDER
Anyway, on the way home (had to borrow P100 from my boss so I could get home, my coin purse only had P8 left), I got a page from my sister. Someone had called the house and said she'd found my wallet. There was an address and a phone number.
___ Immediately upon arriving home, I dialed the number. Someone picked it up but didn't answer right away. I could hear a group of old women in the background praying the rosary. No one ever answered, so I put it back down.
___ The next morning, I called again and found out that the woman had found it on the floor of a jeep, in the late afternoon as she was returning home. She'd found my address inside. There was no money in it, but the cards were all there. I picked it up later that afternoon and gave her and her family a box of donuts.
___ I'm glad I was too pissed to do all that red tape to replace my Far East ATM card. Now it's come back to me. (After all, there is only P89 left in it). But I can't touch my bPI account for 5 banking days though. Ah well....

This will teach me fiscal restraint.

And to never place my wallet in my back pocket.

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