I got my Smart Amazing Phone (SAP) just after my 23rd birthday in 2004. I was eager to get one because one of my friends showed me all the cool features of her SAP and I had heard good reviews about it. I started taking videos of my mom, our house and my puppy named Pugsy. I only learned to take pictures with it when a High School friend of mine showed me how to change the capture mode.

Since then, I’ve shot a lot pictures and taken a lot of videos with it, including the time when our company opened a new office next door, when my uncle and aunts were here in the Philippines, when I went to Puerto Galera, Enchanted Kingdom and Boracay, when I climbed Mount Daguldol, and the numerous times my officemates and I went malling.

I planned to use my videos in my upcoming videoblog but I’m not sure if this will push through with the loss of my phone.

So how exactly did I lose my beloved SAP? It happened today (June 18), on the eve of my 24th birthday. A lady inquired about becoming our boarder and she claimed to be a teacher who was taking up her Materal Studies in a nearby school. She and my mom got along well and my ever-trusting mother even suggested that she join in their weekly prayer meetings. I was texting my brother when I realized that I did not have any more load so I asked my mom to load it for me.

At the time, I was at the other side of the living room and I thought that I had my cellphone nearby so I didn’t pay attention to them. My mother went outside to attend to our store and it was at this time when our "boarder" left, saying that she would just go for lunch.

Needless to say, she never came back and neither did my cellphone.

I had the gut feeling of making small talk with her to learn more about her (and keep an eye on her at the same time) but I guess I didn’t view her as the magnanakaw (thief) type.

I have heard stories of people inquiring about bedspacers and rooms for rent as a way of getting into people’s homes and stealing stuff from them. I never thought I would be a victim as well.

I would appreciate it you could help me rebuild my phone book again by sending an email to gimikera@gmail.com. 

When my brother first saw me after learning of the incident, he asked me,"What about your memories?" I’m attached to my SAP, not only for its photos, messages, contact numbers, etc, but most importantly because I purchased it entirely using my own resources. For me, it was a symbol of my growing independence and the loss of that symbol is what I mourn today.