Lessons learned at SM

The crowd by the SM Manila entrance

SM Security is far from relaxed nowadays. It took thirty seconds more than the usual three! The security personnel gained an idea of how a scatter brain of a person I am by inspecting the interior of my bag. He made me open my laptop bag, and he searched the small inside pockets of bag revealing a collection of  unused fast food tissue papers and bus tickets! I can’t blame him really. SM cannot afford another shooting incident. Last month, SM malls had two shooting incidents in separate malls within a period of one week. 

I was sorry to disappoint them that I did not have a gun with me to shoot an invisible lover who had cheated me. I never had a liking for guns, and I don’t have a girlfriend to speak of. I don’t see the need to have those two at this time. Hehe. 

An SM mall on a weekend is a happy place for those who have money to splurge. I, on the other hand, associate SM with responsibilities. I am a frequent user of their Business Center when paying bills. It has become a ritual to directly conduct my regular visit once my ATM card produces those much needed moolah! 

I could have enrolled my monthly obligations with my bank and save myself from going all the way to the mall, but I choose not to. I have always attached the idea of paying bills in person as a mature individual’s doing. I have seen my folks do it, and it seems to be one of the most responsible things an adult person can do; thus, I take the long lines in those payment centers eventhough queuing is something I dislike doing. 

I see my money part from me, and with that parting I understand the nature of money. In the process, I realize that maturity is not all about being a responsible adult, it is also about permanently extricating oneself from a seemingly eternal pitfall one repetitively plunges into.

People waiting the for SM Sucat to open