The Adventures of Zoe & Zeth: Mother's Day Morning @ EDSA Shang

MAY 8, 2011

My mobile phone beeped around 8AM. It wasn't the alarm; it was a text message from my sister-in-law. Kuya was about to check out of EDSA Shangri La. They were looking for me.

Groggy, I rushed to dress and in 34 minutes, I was at the hotel lobby. He forgot to greet me,and then he said, 'Tapos na. Nagbayad na ako.'

Ulk, I swallowed and then groaned. Slightly embarrassed, we exchanged a few words, nice ones. His wife's facial expressions were those of gratitude, it made up for my usual morning grouchiness, and then Kuya gave me chocolates for my children. After, he left for the cemetery to say his prayers for Tatay, and then flew home to Osaka.

I miss you, too, Tatay!

Kuya, his wife, Yachan, my niece, Jazz and nephew, Jerzee

with my two jewels, Zoe and Zeth.

As his rented ride disappeared from the hotel driveway, I thought to myself, someone at the front desk need extra training. He or she bungled the instructions I left before I went to bed last night. And it was supposed to be my day...

But forget that. I did not want to be upset...

So, I approached the hotel counter, and presented the receipt paid in cash, for the room booked under my name and Kuya. I needed to know who was responsible for the error. I was supposed to pay for his room.

Did I mention that the room was guaranteed with my credit card?

My Kuya and I have different last names. (My B, stands for his surname, Bolo.) Usually, one cannot check out without the hotel calling the other person, even if only for security reasons... When I pointed this out, the counter guy said something like this, 'Mr. Bolo's name was also listed, if he wishes to check out, that supersedes any instructions beforehand.'

REALLY? You might want to check SOP pertinent to that. I've had my time of hotel hopping back in my 'roaming days', and I know for certainty, it doesn't work that way, man. Nope.

Needless to say, we had a few words exchanged, and the room was reinstated. Of course.

Remember I just got out of bed. I needed a bath... bad! It's psychological on my end.

And I wanted to use the jacuzzi before the official Mother's Day celebration began... that was all I wanted.

Oh, and a breakfast with my family@Heat.

That was the plan.

scary table. messy table.

There were simply too many guests for Jayjay, the waiter,

to clear in time for our next plates of breakfast treat.

DID I NEGLECT TO SAY SHANGRI-LA EDSA HAS THE best breakfast buffet

IN ALL OF METRO MANILA?

Well, EDSA Shang has the best breakfast buffet in Metro Manila.

It's so distractingly good, I always forget to take photos. Sad, really. Just that the spread is so extravagant, the the human brain simply cannot function beyond figuring out where to get the plate. The rest, well, it's autopilot once the hands touch the plate... he he.

Breakfast was courtesy of Ms. Maricar de Ocampo, the duty manager at the time,

who not only apologized to me, but was also generous and thoughtful enough to gift me with

free breakfast.

Thank you, Ms. De Ocampo for the breakfast and the late check out at 3PM.

Mickey not so hidden

I know it takes a lot more than not arguing back to a pissed-off Mother on Mother's Day, to earn a Les Clef D'or pin, but I suddenly wished I had one similar tangible form of gratitude to give to the hotel manager. It's not everyday that I am humbled by a person from the service industry. It doesn't sound good when put that way, but my experience with her was completely fantastic.