I received an invitation on February 13 thru email from AMCHAM but coursed thru the Women Business Council of the Philippines secretariat office to attend the “SPECIAL BRIEFING on Fiscal, Monetary, Economic Matters and Infrastructure Funding”, A Special Joint General Membership Meeting with guest speaker Sec. Carlo”Sonny” G. Dominguez III, Secretary of the Department of Finance. Other details provided were the time, date, and venue: February 27, 2019, Wednesday 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, at the Bonifacio Hall, Level 4, Shangri-la at the Fort, BGC, Taguig City. Highlighted and in bold letters was the word REMINDERS. Which were #1. LUNCH will be served after the speaker’s presentation. #2. PROGRAM will start early so please come on time.
I did not schedule anything anymore on that morning to make sure I would reach the event on time. I didn’t want to be late.
I left our house at 10 am and by 11:15 am I was already in the vicinity of BGC. My driver made several bad turns so by 11:45 I was screaming inside my car. I would be late!!!!!! When Shangri-la Hotel was within sight, I told him to turn left and enter the hotel’s driveway. he said yes mam.
I looked at my phone, and when I looked up, we were going towards St. Luke’s Hospital. Kunsumisyon.
I finally reached the hotel at 12 noon and I was so irritated because that would mean I was half-hour late, more than pa kasi maglalakad pa ako papunta dun sa ballroom o kung saan man yun.
I noticed there were not many people in the lobby. The more I got worried that I was sooo late. People probably have gone inside the ballroom.
I asked the reception counter where the meeting was, she didn’t know. No one knew where the meeting was being held. It was also not showing in their events for the day. Then a woman at the reception counter said “mam is it Management Association of the Philippines? It’s in the ballroom”
The meeting was supposed to be jointly organized by MAP, AMCHAM, PCCI, Philexport, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, and many other business groups.
I took the elevator, crossed the long hallway with my aching feet and all this time, walang tao.
Not a single soul.
Ako lang ang naglalakad. Again, maybe I was really late. All the business people were most likely inside the ballroom listening to Sec. Dominguez’ presentation.
I was calling our secretariat but she wasn’t picking up. I wasn’t sure if they moved the venue or maybe I made the mistake, maybe bukas pa or tapos na nung isang araw pa.
I crossed the long walkway to the hotel’s other wing. No people. Just me. I was beginning to worry, baka mahold-up ako, baka ako mamolestya dito. Baka may maniakis or aswang.
Look to the front, look to the left, look to the right, where are they?
How come there are no registration desks? Hmmm, parang may multo. Ako!
Oh hellooooo, I am here. Where are you guys?
If you are le tou in your life and you want solitude and are looking for a perfect place to commune with your innerself, this humongous ballroom is the perfect place to be. You can dine and whine and scream your heart out and no one will speak his mind. The chairs and table will be your quiet and passivie audience. I can have a concert here with no fear of condemnation from the public. I can sing Never Enough! Never Never! Never Enaaaa- hafff! Never! Never! Never! For meee, For meeeee, For MEEEEE HEEEE!
The stupid me, I still couldn’t believe that the event was nowhere to be found. I went back to the main lobby to ask the receptionist.
I went up to the second floor again and at last our Womenbiz secretariat sent me a text message. “Hi Ms. Annie. Amcham event is canceled po. My apologies. Thought nainform po kayo ni Ms. Monette. Thank you.”
They didn’t inform me beforehand. Thank you.
Hay naku, such a waste of my time, gasoline, and effort, and stress for being late or so I thought. And my feet, they hurt from walking back and forth looking for the venue. Nag-step-in pa ako at nakakahiya namang naka flat sandals lang.
Sakit paa ko. May sugat na.
And what now? I scheduled a 2:30 pm at an office nearby. If I go to Pasong Tamo, that would mean an hour of travel time, then another hour to go to my next meeting. I didn’t want to go to the nearby malls. I wasn’t primed to shop or window shop. I just wanted to sit down. Instead of sitting inside the car stuck in traffic, eh dito na lang ako uupo sa hotel. Sakit paa ko. Hay Never Never Never Never Ennnaaaahafff, for meee for meh for meh heeeee. HEH!
Irritating