Still happens in Baguio

WHEN you fortunately find something you’ve lost, it’s a good day. When that something is a mobile phone with bells and whistles forgotten in an obscure “innernet” shop, it’s a very good day.

One rainy Saturday last July, I clocked into a net shop with my precocious nephew Thor, to while away an hour or so waiting for his mother to do her things. After that hour or so, still waiting for said mother, we decided to grab ourselves a couple of burgers, clocked out, left the shop, and headed to McDonald’s on Session Road. As we sat ourselves down, Thor said, “Aunt, where’s my phone?” I pointed to a phone-like looking thing he had around his neck and said, “There.” Thor replied that the thing was a camera. Realization hit us both at the same time, and we stood up in a rush, simultaneously, with me saying, “Did you leave it in the net shop?” – both of us knowing that the sad answer to that question was a yes.

We dashed through the rain with a giant umbrella that was too big for the moment, hindering our progress. Precocious Thor briefed me – “When we get to the door, ring my number, okay, Aunt? Just let it ring, okay. So we’ll hear it if it’s there.” I assured him that I would do as he, uh, instructed.

Thor reached the door of the shop before I could. As I stood some way away, catching my breath, getting ready to ring his number, I saw a sight to behold. The moment Thor reached the door, and before he could even ask if his phone was around, the guy in charge of the net shop handed it to Precocious. I entered the shop and thanked the guy in charge, even as he acknowledged Thor’s own thank you. It had already been a good day before this incident. The day was now even better.

A few weeks later, I forgot to unplug a rather crucial data stick from a computer in that same shop, and noticed so only the day after. So the first thing I did then was to dash over there, praying that my USB would somehow still be there.

After I explained the situation to the guy in charge, he calmly asked me what color the stick was. I replied that it was violet. After which he opened a drawer, located it, and handed it back to me, who thanked him profusely.

This still happens in Baguio, thank goodness, when, these days, the “lost and lost” variety of stories may very well outnumber those of “lost and found.”

The obscure net shop is on the second floor of UB Square on General Luna Street. Talk about good guys and good days.