Grocery Madness

Ate Richie arrived yesterday, as usual, it’s grocery time!  Nanay was in her ‘contestant in a timed kabuhayan showcase gameface’. It was three full loads of carts worth 30,000+.
I drove Ate Richie, Nanay, Tatay with Miguel to SM Supermarket. Ate Pam and her daughter, Ponette, came with us also. All four of us filled the three trays for two hours.
It was a tiring ritual so we can’t help openning 2 chips while doing the shopping. Ponette decided to slip a mentos candy in her pocket and Ate Richie felt thirsty and openned a mineral water bottle. Miguel also got hungry so he openned a pack of grapes while still inside the grocery store.
After two hours of grocery shopping, we all checked out at the cashier. Unluckily Ate Richie’s American Express card was not accepted by the cashier. Ate Richie then handed over her Mastercard Credit Card from the US. It was still not recognized. I volunteered my UAE Mastercard Credit Card but it was also not accepted.
Ate Richie approached the Customer Service, “This is not acceptable. Nagamit ko na ang card ko nung December dito sa SM Supermarket. My brother has also has been using his credit card since he arrived. Bakit di pwede?”
“Ma’am kailangan pong itawag n’yo sa banko n’yo sa Amerika,” the customer service manager advised us.
“Hay naku, dati kayo ang tumatawag bakit kami na ngayon. Saka tinawag na to ng husband ko.”
“Ma’am baka po pwede i-confirm n’yo na lang po sa asawa n’yo?”
“Madaling araw ngayon sa Amerika. Hindi pwede. Mag-wi-withdraw muna ako.”
“Sige po ma’am balikan n’yo na lang po lahat ng gi-norocery n’yo, itatabi nalang po namin,” the customer service guy answered, while looking at the 43 bagged grocery items. 3 cartfulls!
“Ayoko na, nakakainsulto,” ate Richie answered, while walking away. The whole family followed.

After afew yards we were all talking about the 2 wasteful hours:
“Sayang naman yung mga dinampot kong mga lotion.”
“Pinahiwa ko pa naman yung karne pampirito. Pinatanggal ko pa yung taba.”
“Pambaon ko pa naman sana sa Dubai yung mga oatmeal.”
“Sayang ang diaper ni Miguel saka gatas.”
“Dalawang oras natin ang naubos sa walang kwenta.”

We were all pissed at the SM Supermarket when we realized:
“Si Ponette pala may candy pang di bayad!”
“Binuksan natin yung dalawang chips tapos naubos na.”
“Naka inom pa kaya ako ng mineral water.”
“Si Miguel naubos yung ubas.”
“Ok na rin pala, nakapag merienda tayo saka nakapag lakad lakad.”
“Mapapagod silang isoli yung lahat ng dinampot natin.”

We were pissed and satisfied at the same time.