grocery shopper

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

I was able to speak to Sarry while I was in the traffic going home (7:00 pm).   They’re leaving the next day and she hasn’t bought all the things she wanted from the Philippines.

A——— “Ano ang gusto mong bilhin?” she said Boy Bawang,  Knorr sinigang.
Perfect,  I was already in Guadalupe,  next building would be Robinson’s  in Pioneer.    I got off and bought Knorr and Boy Bawang.

Since I was already there,  I might as well buy some stuff for us.

I saw big potatoes.  My daughter likes home made fries.

A———— “Paki kilo”.

After a few minutes,  he still wasn’t putting the potatoes in a plastic bag.

A———– “Asan na yung potatoes?”

Guy——– “One hundred twenty five”.

I didn’t say anything,  I extended my right hand,  Para iabot nya sa akin.

He didn’t move.  Instead he repeated “One hundred twenty five”.

A———– “Oo nga,  akina”.

Mukha siguro akong walang hanap buhay at inulit pa
“One hundred twenty five ito”.
Ano ba yun, either mukha akong bingi or mukha akong dahup (poor).

A———- “Hi, meron kayong organic rice?”
Guy #2—– “Wala”.
A——— “Saan galing itong mga ito? Sa China?”
Guy #2—- “Yun lang ang organic, Ifugao, pero takal-takal.
A——— “Okay”.

I stood for a few seconds trying to decide how many kilos I would get.

Guy #2—- “Mahal talaga yan”.

(He is  pro-active.  Is he a mind reader?  Did you hear me asking for his financial advise? I wasn’t complaining naman that it’s expensive.)

Guy #2—– “Ilang kilo, isa? dalawa?”
A——— “Ten kilos”.

Bakit sobrang konti naman ang iniisip nyang bibilhin ko? Ano bang suot ko nung tuesday? Naka daster kaya ako? Mukha ba akong gusgusin?

They have Wagyu Beef from Australia. Minsan si Oyen ayaw kumain kasi she doesn’t eat pork anymore. Mabili nga for her.

I bought the balikbayan favorites- Boy Bawang, dried mangoes, sampaloc, Knorr sinigang, Knorr sopas for Sarry. I placed them in a separate cart.

Cashier:

Upon seeing the wagyu beef, she looked at me, looked at the price, then looked at me again.
Cashier “Kasama ba ito?”
A——– “Miss, dalawang balot yan”.
Cashier– “Ito?”

Oo nga, kaya nga nadyan sa harap ko. Siguro worried sya wala akong pambayad.
Eh wala nga kasi na reject yung credit card ko. Hayan tuloy, their fears were validated.

Background story:
I couldn’t find my Allied Bank credit card (now PNB). Since I am leaving for abroad in two weeks time, I had my card replaced. The new one arrived that morning. I wanted to try using it to make sure  there are no damage in its magnet kasi I was so bobo, I tried to sign my name on the magnetic strip at ipinagdiinan ko pa yung sulat. Baka kako na damaged. So I wanted to make sure. Kung sira, I still have time to request for a replacement. Problem. I haven’t activated it pala kaya na-reject.

Problem solved, I used another credit card to pay for my hoard.

The grocery bagger put the items in the cart then left me. I called him
“paki tulak”. He looked unsure.
“paki tulak dun sa main entrance”.

“Taxi? Sa taxi stand?”

I didn’t answer. I just followed him. When we reached the door, my vehicle was already there, parked, lights flashing.

I walked to the van, the person pushing my cart walked past me and hailed a cab.

The security guard called him. “Hoy, etong sasakyan ni mam, hindi taxi.
Si mam, hindi mo kilala si mam?”
(Exaj naman ito.)

Next time nga,  I would wear a gown and high heels  para mukha akong donya.  Pag bili ko ng bigas,  instead of asking isa or dalawang kilo ba,  the staff would say “Mam, ilang truck na bigas?”