Egay Uy .
THE husband of my wife Juliet’s elder sister Carmencita (may her soul rest in peace), Atty. Elmer Manganar, told me that he was reminded of my column about the restroom Juliet experienced at Banco de Oro because a similar incident, all four square of them, happened to him recently.
The incident, he said, happened at Land Bank-Capistrano. The more than 70-year-old Atty. Manganar said he went to the bank to claim his GSIS card on the advice of the latter office. You see, Nong Elmer used to be the legal officer of the Development Bank of the Philippines so he has a continuing transaction with the GSIS after he retired from DBP.
As narrated to me, Nong Elmer felt the need to answer the call of nature. He asked the guard where the restroom was, only to be told that it was exclusive for employees so he was instead referred to the restroom of Savemore-Capistrano, across the road!
Sounds familiar? Yes, this was exactly what happened to my wife Juliet at the other bank although that was already settled with the apologies extended by the soft-spoken bank manager, Mr. Herminio “Jun” Banados.
Back to Nong Elmer. He told the guard he could not blame the latter because he was just following the instructions and policies of the bank management, so he asked for the manager. At this point, he said he could hardly hold nature that was calling loud.
The manager was reportedly out of the office so he talked to the cashier who confirmed that the restrooms of the bank are for employees only especially because the restroom is located in an area where the bank’s vaults are. Nong Elmer, using his wit, told the cashier not to blame him if he could no longer hold and discharges nature right there and then – in front of the cashier’s table.
He added with a grin: “Raising both my hands, I told the cashier that at my age and physique, I swear that I will not rob your bank.” It was only after this that the cashier asked the guards — yes, two guards — to accompany Nong Elmer to the restroom. One guard was “guarding” the vault, while the other kept watch outside the restroom door.
Incidents such as this may not be isolated. There ought to be a regulation by the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas requiring banks to offer comfort to their clients, the owners of the money they are holding, or the ones who are giving them their business, especially the senior citizens.
The use of restrooms is one such service while providing sufficient number of benches or chairs would be another.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
