FREEBIES

I know there are some who already had an experience on freebies. But in our situation right now, freebies are just promos, and to give people something to make them happy isn't�t really their ulterior motive.

I remember when my family and I were walking inside SM City Cebu, a girl gave my mom a flyer saying there was a free something. (I was still around 9 years old that time and I can�t remember what the free thing was.) My mom was so excited about it and she drag the whole family to the place stated in the flyer where we could get the freebie.

While we were walking I was thinking about the promo. I thought about the status of the people and I can say that freebies that time were just too good to be true. Probably, they just did it to promote new products.

Finally, we came to the venue and we directly went to the line leading to the counter. When we reached the counter, my mother handed the flyer to the person at the counter. Imagine my mom�s surprise when she found out that we should buy something to get the freebie. My mother turned her face behind her to see the line. And she thought, I guess, that instead of being humiliated, she might as well pay the charge.

Instead of making a big fuss out of what happened, my mother decided to just enjoy the whole afternoon. We continued to roam around the mall. We bought the things we needed at home and at school. We acted as if nothing happened when in fact; I know they are still thinking of what had happened.

On the way home I guess my mom just couldn't�t help it. She blurted out what she had inside. She told us to learn from that lesson- that never readily believe any promo that seems too good to be true. Like my mother, I can�t also get it out of my mind. That�s why until I slept I still have it with me.

The day after that incident, I told one of my friends about what had happened. And she told me that she had also experienced the same. But hers was a different thing because she was just alone when she was handed the flyer. Like us, she was also excited. She went to the place and when she knew she had to buy something to get the promo, she was irritated and instead of paying the amount, which appeared on the monitor, she turned her back to the girl at the counter. I silently wished that my mother had done the same.

From what I have heard and from what I have encountered, I made a promise to myself never to believe those promos that are too nice and tempting because they might have something in exchange.

I have learned something from that experience. And it helped me somehow I living my everyday life.