Iris Melodia a customer lounge attendant of Ayala Center Cebu returned a pouch containing an amount over P800, 000.(Contributed Photo)
Iris Melodia was alone when she found a black translucent pouch containing more than half a million pesos in cash and checks at a counter inside a toilet cubicle at the Ayala Center Cebu in the evening of July 3.
A single mother of three children and a native of Catmon town in northern Cebu who works as an attendant at the mall’s costumer lounge, Melodia admitted to being tempted to taking home the P800,000.
“Iuli lang gyud. Naa man gyud na ang temptasyon sa tawo pero akong gihuna-huna, di man na nako gihagoan. Di nako na kaya gamiton para ipakaon sa akong mga anak (I just thought of returning it. The temptation was there but I did not earn that money. I can’t use that to feed my children),” Melodia said.
For her honesty, Melodia will be commended in a resolution filed by Provincial Board (PB) Member Arleigh Sitoy in today’s PB session.
Sitoy said Melodia’s honesty is a worthy example for Cebuanos to follow regardless of their station in life.
She said the appreciation of her “little deed is also a fitting birthday gift since she turns 37 today, the 21st of July.
Honest
“What she did is very rare nowadays. It shows us that it does not matter what kind of job one is in, we just have to be honest on fulfilling our duties at work,” he said.
Melodia and her three children–Ivan Dave, 14, Inah Dane, 10, and Irene Denice, 9–live in a rented room at a boarding house in barangay Apas, Cebu City.
With a monthly salary of P7,800, Melodia tries to make ends meet for her family.
A commerce graduate of the University of the Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F), she was originally assigned by her outsourcing company as a cashier in-charge of the collection of fees in the mall’s parking area.
But on her request, she was transferred to the customer’s lounge for utility services.
Safekeeping
Melodia said no one was around while she cleaned the toilet and spotted the black pouch.
Without thinking twice, she reported the item to the officer- in-charge of the lounge.
Aside from the P64,747 in cash and four checks worth P750,222.99, the pouch also contained a passbook, a checkbook and a rosary.
It wasn’t the first time she returned a lost item. In the past, Melodia also turned over a tablet, an Iphone she found on a couch and the black pouch. The owners claimed the belongings.
Positive response
The following morning, the owner identified in earlier reports as Joan Calvo asked about the missing pouch at the mall’s concierge.
When her description fit the contents of the pouch, the item was returned to her.
She was also introduced to Melodia. Melodia said Calvo offered her money as a reward for her deed but she turned it down.
Government service
“Since I was separated with my partner, I’ve been crying during my birthday. But my prayers were answered and the Lord has given me a blessing,” she shared in tears.
But before that, she said she will try her luck in applying for a job in government service.
Melodia said she earlier applied at the Cebu City Hall and the Cebu provincial government but was not accepted.
But if ever she is given a chance, she just might cancel her plans to go out of the country.