Sorry for my grammar,I’m not good in narrating a story, samot not good in phone conversation.. but hopefully masabtan ra. Shortcut ra ni nako but our conversation lasted for almost 10mins.
Me: hello
Girl: hello, good afternoon, is this mr. elmer diola? (very nice and angelic voice)
Me: yes, good aftertoon… who’s on the line please?
Girl: this is ms. Angela blah blah.… of Astoria plaza hotel, ortigas, manila. I called you to inform that you’re one of lucky person to have valentine dinner for two for free!
Me: answer me please where did you get my number? (mind boggling, I never stay in a hotel for the past 5 years..)
Girl: actually one of our guests which requested not to be named had chose you, just to surprise you and your partner this valentine’s day. He said that you’re an i.t expert…Blah.. blah..blah…
Me: (huh.. expert? Uh-ohh…wow surprising, who’s that generous man) did you know, I’m in cebu city.
Girl: don’t worry sir, you don’t need to come here in manila, are you familiar with cebu city sports club?
Me: yes
Girl: are you married sir?
Me: Yes
Girl: well that’s good please bring your wife and kids sir to complete your dinner date and blah.. blahhh..blah.. very nice words..
Me: ok, but our kid is in her tummy..(laughing….)
Girl: wow congrats in advance sir, please bring your wife. don’t worry about the expenses it all for free, you don’t need to cash out. . Can I ask the name of your wife sir and her occupation and the company name?
Me: (hmmm.. my instinct started to function… if this is a free treat, why could she ask my partner’s occupation…but anyway I answered her religiously who knows that it’s really required) Sure ma’am I will bring her, her name is gerralyn diola and working as supervisor in kmbi).
Girl: ok sir got it, please don’t forget to wear formal attire and bring a valid ID.
Me: (wow.. is it really a very nice dinner date?) ok mam sure.
Girl: sir, the dinner will start at 6:30pm to 8:00pm but much better if you come early. Just look for mr. ivan blah.. blah.. you never feel bored their because they have presentations. but anyway I will text you the complete details right after we talk.
Me: is it ok to bring other person just in case my wife is not available?
Girl: yes sure sir, you can because your free dinner is good for 2.
Me: (very interesting offer, but my instinct says what’s the catch? after the dinner?) wow good, I can bring my friend if ever my wife is not available. So what’s the other event after the dinner?
Girl: aside from your free dinner you will be rewarded with gift certificate right after the presentation. It’s good only for 6 months, you can redeem it here in local hotels and international hotels if you want to stay in Thailand, hongkong, Singapore, Las vegas, bohol, palawan, manila and blah.. blah.. blahh.. blah… all you need is to book your plane ticket. You must come to the dinner tomorrow sir to claim your free dinner and gift certificate and they will also give you instructions.
Me: (another wow…my sponsor is so generous, I want to thank this anonymous person through my facebook status) Ok ma’am that’s sounds interesting. Sure we we’ll go there tomorrow.
Girl: Ok sir, I will text you the details later and congratulations. Happy valentines day to you and to your wife. Good afternoon and once again congratulations.
Me: ok mam.. bye..bye..
End
Right after our conversation (excited much)
1. I started to think and say thank you for the generous anonymous person. First ever happen in my life, not even one sponsored for our honeymoon last year hehehe joke.
2. I will redeem the free 3D/2N stay in their hotel in manila, good timing for the upcoming convention on June.
3. I will surprise my wife, I will bring her to city sports club for the dinner.
4. Express my gratitude to anonymous person through my facebook.
My instinct says.
1. why it took so long to inform about the free dinner and gift certificate?
2. make a research on the internet about the said hotel
funny (I typed it as “astorya hotel” mr. google said it’s “astoria plaza”
well, they have actually two sites
a. http://www.astoriaplaza.com/ – well, just a so-so.. site
b. http://www.astoriaplazasuites.com/ – actually it’s dead
3. check the hotel’s background – well it’s reputable.. of course they reveal only the good side
4. check about their promo – whoaaahh.. I never found about the promo. The dinner buffet and gift certificate.
My instinct says.
See? So, you know what to do next.
Me: Thank you so much instinct. Now I know.
So I landed to this pages:
http://www.pandepanda.com/2008/04/astoria-bogus-raffle-winner.html
http://mmdc7.blogspot.com/2011/05/club-astoria-holiday-ownership-promo.html#ixzz1PJPdeMCW
http://jeremyhk.i.ph/blogs/jeremyhk/2008/10/30/club-astoria-scam/
Happy Valentines Day to All. Hope that Al iZZ Well.
Please advise your friend if they receive the same caller, be always alert and vigilant. They are now back targeting Cebu City. If only I am free tonight I will eat and listen their presentation and then get the gift cert, that’s all coz I already know what will happen next. But it’s not my attitude.
Just this afternoon February 14, 2012 01:50pm - my phone rang with the same person, i never pick it up. Ask me why? No need to answer.
It’s all up to you, if you come or not.
Lesson Learned: Just follow my instinct.
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