Movies are cheaper in the Philippines than Australia. I was hoping to catch Oppenheimer or Barbie so my sister dropped me off at Alabang Town Centre (ATC) after lunch. On my previous visits a trip to the mall is also a chance to go shopping. The most prolific mall in the country is the SM brand, not sure how many people actually still remember what SM stood for (Shoe Mart). It used to be a chain of shoe stores, and later grew into department stores. However, in the 80s the Viktor Gruen concept of malls with car parks was changing the world and they built the first "mega mall" in Mandaluyong. It was a brutalist windowless air-conditioned rectangular block housing three storeys of retail and food outlets anchored by the department store, supermarket and multiplex cinemas. At latest count there are 83 SM malls in the country (and apparently 7 in China).
ATC though took a different approach by not adopting the big box. The mall consists of several smaller buildings, each with its own character, and inter-linked by aesthetically landscaped walkways and all tied together with a coherent Spanish/Mexican villa style. It's kind of clever because one could just pleasantly meander around and get lost, thereby increasing your chances of spending more money due to the extended linger time. Reminds me of casinos that have no right-angle corridors and no clocks to discourage punters from ever leaving Notwithstanding, hands down it's my favourite mall in the country.
So that's what I did, I walked around and took note of which shops were as I remember from previous visits, some relocated, some new, and some gone, the empty shells boarded up waiting for the next entrepreneur willing to take a stab at retail success. Eventually I did make it to the cinema and bought a ticket for "Blue Beetle" (Barbie had only one session but for later in the day). It was then that I noticed I couldn't find my phone. I was horrified when I emptied my bag and my pockets, reaching the unavoidable conclusion that I had lost my phone. After the movie, I retraced my steps searching. When that yielded nothing, I asked the concierge (yes the mall had a concierge) if by chance someone might have handed it in. They said no, but if I leave my details, they'll contact me if someone does. I thought this is the Philippines, if no one has handed it in yet I probably would never see it again. Fuck.
As soon as I got home I went online, and tried Google's find my phone feature. It said unable to contact phone, the last time it was in contact was 4 hours ago before I left for the mall. Of course. I had it in airplane mode because I didn't want to pay $10/day for roaming, but I did use it when wi-fi was available, like at home.
As a last ditch effort, my sister lodged a post on the Southies facebook group hoping it would be found by a member. People made helpful comments like try Google find my phone feature. Uh-huh.
I accepted my android phone was gone for good. So I needed to secure it on Google. When I followed the steps to do so, Google wanted to verify my identity and sent a 6 digit one time code to, see where this is going? Yes my phone before it will let me access the secure function. To secure my lost phone I had to put in the 6 digit code that was sent to my lost phone. Grrrr.
I tried to turn off 2 factor authentication, but before I can do that I had to authenticate first. With. A. Code. Sent. To. My. Phone. Grrrr.
I also needed to let Telstra know that my phone is lost so that whomever found/stole my phone can't use it to rack up roaming / call charges. I get on to the Telstra website. They want me to use the Telstra app (on my lost phone) to access the feature. How about using the browser? The webpage says to use the browser on my lost phone. Grrrrrr.
Eventually I found a link to contact Telstra via facebook messenger. The support person needed to verify my identity (not again). She sent me an authentication form, but the link wouldn't load. She asked me to clear my browser cache and try the link again. When I cleared the browser cache, I got logged out (duh). But oh no, that means my Google session was also logged out! Luckily Google didn't ask for 2 factor authentication and I was able to log back in (maybe because Google recognised I was on the same IP address). I tried the link again and it still wouldn't.
Telstra support asked if I have another device. I told her THIS PC IS THE OTHER DEVICE. Oh.
So as an alternative, she suggested that I have to go to a Telstra shop and do this in person. I reminded her I was overseas. Oh.
So she asked again if can I use another device. I was ready to strangle someone, but my sister loaned me a smart phone. I had to reinstall facebook messenger and try the authentication link again. To my suprise that worked! She said great! She processed the form and sent me an email with another link, and when I clicked that, she was finally able to verify me. Now she can suspend my services so that no one can use my phone / sim. I will have to go in person to a Telstra shop when I get back to Australia to lift the suspension when I can get a new phone / sim.
Aaaarghhhh!
My sister and her daughter were convinced my phone was lifted from me by a skilled pick-pocket. I insisted that would not be possible, I was aware of everyone around me at ATC and no one got close enough to me the whole time I was there. I did concede that if I had accidentally dropped it or if it fell out of my bag, I had little faith the finder would turn it in. It's a poor country and a free phone is a free phone.
The next day, my sister got a call from the ATC concierge. My phone was found by a security guard at the bottom of an escalator. However, since I didn't leave my contact details, how did they know to call my sister's number? They found her post on the Southies facebook group.
Thank you to all who helped reunite me with my phone. May the universe repay you with good karma.
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