A Shocking Misunderstanding: My Experience at Gateway Mall Araneta

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

There are moments in life when good intentions can be twisted into something unrecognizable, leaving a person shaken and questioning the very principles they live by. What happened to me at Gateway Mall Araneta was one such moment—an incident that escalated into an ordeal I never expected.

The Incident Unfolds

On the morning of the press conference I was set to attend in UP Diliman, I was waiting at the Starbucks Araneta Coliseum branch. Our media shuttle was scheduled to pick us up at 9 AM, with the same service set to return us to Gateway Mall after the event.

As I waited, I noticed a mobile phone left unattended. Concerned, I looked around for anybody who might be returning to the seat where it was left charging on a wall outlet, after a few minutes, I picked it up and checked if there was any identifying marks, and then believing it was best to surrender it to Araneta's management or security. However, knowing that the mall wouldn't open until 11 AM, I decided to hold onto it until after the press conference, when I could properly turn it over to the appropriate authorities.

While waiting outside for the shuttle, I moved to a shaded area since that outside part of Starbucks was facing the sun. Looked around the area where I can wait comfortably and found a spot in front of Cafe Adriatico where there were vacant seats. At that moment, the a guard approached me, I later found out he was the Starbucks guard, stating that the phone’s owner had been found and was waiting at the security office. Relieved, I asked if he could return it himself, as my shuttle was on its way. He refused, insisting it would only take a moment. Trusting his word, I agreed.

A Sudden Change in Narrative

The moment I arrived at the security office located at the basement, the atmosphere shifted. The Starbucks guard suddenly claimed the phone was his and presented a completely different story to the Gateway Mall security guard inside the basement security office. I stood in disbelief as he falsely asserted that he had chased me down, despite me having been stationary the entire time when he approached me.

The mall guard dismissed my explanation, treating me with hostility even after I introduced myself and clarified the situation. When they refused to listen, I requested management's intervention. However, just as I initially suspected, they told me the security head wouldn’t be available until 11 AM. I offered to wait—but instead of allowing me to do so, they escalated their threats, insisting on taking me immediately to the police station.

At that moment, the contact from the media shuttle called, looking for me at the meeting area. I informed them that I was being detained in the basement security office and asked if they could come down to explain. Even then, the guard remained unconvinced, refusing to acknowledge any possibility that I had acted in good faith.

Lessons and Regrets

Looking back, I regret not simply surrendering the phone to the Starbucks crew. My hesitation stemmed from past experiences where lost items were not properly returned to their rightful owners. I believed that handing it over to mall management, where proper documentation could be made, was the most responsible course of action. Since we would be returning to the same location after the press conference, it seemed logical to wait until then.

Unfortunately, my judgment call led to an encounter with deceit and aggression. The Starbucks guard outright lied, and the Gateway Mall security guard went so far as to use physical force while frisking me, seizing my bag in a way that made me fear he might plant something in it. I was lured into that basement under false pretenses—trapped in a situation I never could have anticipated.

Moving Forward

I know some people might say it was my mistake to take matters into my own hands instead of immediately surrendering the phone. But was it really wrong to want to ensure its safe return? Was it foolish to think that both acts—attending the press conference and personally ensuring the phone reached its rightful owner—could coexist in one productive day?

The truth is, no security personnel has the right to hurt someone they are questioning. Investigations should begin with open dialogue, listening to explanations, and giving people the benefit of the doubt—especially when good intentions are evident.

I shudder to think of what could have happened to someone else, someone without the platform I have, who might have been lured into that basement with no one to vouch for them.

Final Thoughts

For those who have been reaching out, I truly appreciate your concern. I have been advised to stop explaining, as it seems I am becoming too defensive. But for me, writing is not just about defending myself—it is an outlet, a means of processing what happened and analyzing where things went wrong.

I am taking the weekend to rest and reflect. To those who can connect me to the right people to ensure accountability, your help would mean the world. Rest assured, I am working through this, and I will not let this experience be in vain.

Thank you to everyone who has shown support. I will be back on Monday, stronger and wiser.

Beware the Beauty Trap: FDA Flags Seven Unauthorized Cosmetics Sold Online

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the ever-growing online marketplace, the allure of affordable, miracle-working cosmetics can be irresistible. Promises of flawless skin, youth-restoring creams, and blemish-erasing serums flood e-commerce platforms, drawing in unsuspecting consumers eager for quick fixes. But beneath the glossy ads and attractive price tags lurks a hidden danger—unregulated and potentially harmful beauty products.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines has sounded the alarm, warning the public against purchasing and using seven unauthorized skincare products originating from China and Thailand. These items, widely available on online shopping platforms, have failed to pass the mandatory notification process, raising serious concerns about their quality, safety, and compliance with regulatory standards.

Unmasking the Culprits

Following rigorous investigative work by the environmental health watchdog EcoWaste Coalition, the FDA issued multiple advisories banning the sale of the following unregistered cosmetics:

Dragon Blood Cream

Sweetrip Whitening Freckle Removal Cream

Lifusha Green Tea Cooling Cleansing Mud Mask

Jaysuing Wild Yam Cream

Lifusha Nicotinamide Moisturizer

Yunji Plain Face Cream

Perfect Skin Lady Melasma Breakdown Cream

Though these products were tested and found free of mercury—an infamous toxin frequently detected in unauthorized cosmetics—their lack of FDA certification leaves open the possibility of other contaminants lurking within their formulations. Without proper scrutiny, consumers risk exposure to harmful substances that may trigger severe allergic reactions, skin irritation, and even long-term health complications.

The Deceptive Lure of Cheap Cosmetics

Many of these unauthorized skincare items are aggressively marketed with grandiose claims: anti-aging properties, skin-whitening effects, freckle and dark spot removal, and even miraculous solutions for melasma and acne scars. Some are priced shockingly low, such as the China-made Sweetrip Whitening Freckle Removal Cream, available for as little as PHP 16 per unit—a price that should, in itself, raise red flags about quality and authenticity.

"We thank the FDA for duly alerting the public about the non-compliance of these flagged products with the notification requirements," said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition. "To avoid potential risks from using such products, we urge consumers to heed the advice of the FDA and seek authorized products that have been properly assessed for their quality and safety."

The Perils of Unverified Beauty

According to the FDA, purchasing and using unregistered cosmetics is a gamble with health. Without undergoing stringent quality control, these products may contain:

Banned or untested ingredients that pose long-term health risks.

Heavy metal contamination from improper manufacturing processes.

Harmful preservatives or allergens that can cause severe skin reactions.

The FDA has reiterated that the use of substandard and possibly adulterated cosmetic products may result in adverse effects, including skin irritation, itchiness, anaphylactic shock, and even organ failure.

How to Stay Safe in the Beauty Jungle

To safeguard against counterfeit or hazardous cosmetics, consumers are strongly encouraged to verify product legitimacy through the FDA Verification Portal (https://verification.fda.gov.ph) before making a purchase. If a product does not appear in the database, it is best to steer clear and opt for verified brands that adhere to safety and quality regulations.

As the beauty industry expands and digital marketplaces thrive, unscrupulous sellers will continue to prey on uninformed buyers. The EcoWaste Coalition's relentless efforts to expose these dangers serve as a critical reminder: when it comes to skincare, safety should always come before vanity.

A Call for Stricter Online Regulations

Beyond consumer vigilance, there is an urgent need for stricter enforcement of e-commerce regulations. Online shopping platforms must take greater responsibility in policing their listings, ensuring that only FDA-registered and properly vetted products make their way to virtual storefronts. Regulatory bodies must also intensify their crackdowns on unauthorized sellers who continue to profit at the expense of public health.

The battle against unsafe cosmetics is far from over, but with proactive awareness and regulatory action, consumers can be shielded from the hidden dangers lurking behind seemingly harmless beauty products.

Your skin deserves the best—don’t gamble with your health. Choose safety, choose FDA-approved products.

Stripped of Dignity: A Firsthand Account of Security Abuse at Gateway Mall Araneta City

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

What happens when those meant to protect us become the very source of harassment? When security officers, instead of ensuring safety, use their authority to degrade and humiliate? This is not just a personal ordeal—it is a wake-up call for everyone.

A Morning of Commitment Turned Nightmare

Sleep-deprived, exhausted, and battling hypertension, I set out that morning with a singular goal: to fulfill my professional commitment. I had spent the night finalizing logistics for an upcoming event—one aimed at empowering the youth against fake news, fostering responsible content creation, and promoting critical thinking. Despite my fatigue, I pushed forward, skipping breakfast and even my usual cup of coffee, determined to make it in time for the media shuttle that would take me to a press conference at UP Diliman.

I never made it.

Instead, I found myself trapped in an hours-long ordeal, subjected to humiliation and outright abuse at the hands of the very people who are supposed to uphold security and order.

From Protector to Perpetrator: The Abuse of Power at Gateway Mall

It started at Gateway Mall Araneta City’s basement security office—a place that, alarmingly, is hidden from public view. There, I was frisked aggressively, my body pushed and pulled at will, my bag thoroughly searched as if I were smuggling contraband. My explanations were brushed aside as though my words carried no weight. When I requested to wait for a friend or family member, they scoffed at my plea and insisted I could be taken to the police station immediately in their patrol car.

Even when my contact—the one facilitating the media shuttle—arrived to clarify the situation, the security guard refused to back down. Instead, I was treated with further disrespect, accused of lying despite presenting multiple government-issued IDs and a media ID.

I wasn’t a nameless stranger caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am a journalist, an advocate, an organizer dedicated to social causes. I have worked tirelessly for disaster relief efforts, children’s feeding programs, and community outreach initiatives. Yet, none of that mattered in the eyes of these so-called security personnel—who saw fit to degrade me first and ask questions later.

Dragged Through the System: Police and Barangay Indifference

As if the degrading treatment at the mall security office wasn’t enough, I was then hauled off to Cubao Police Station 7, where the situation only worsened. The police insisted on calling in the Gateway Mall security guard for a statement, yet these so-called enforcers of law and order never even bothered to show up.

Hours were wasted, my dignity stripped, my well-being ignored.

I was then shuttled to the barangay hall that oversees the Araneta Center area, where the narrative took an even more sinister turn. The Gateway Mall security office went so far as to call the Starbucks guard, attempting to influence him against me. Thankfully, the barangay officials saw through this manipulation, recognizing that the issue at hand was separate from the misunderstanding with the Starbucks guard—who, by then, had already acknowledged the mix-up and accepted my side of the story.

But why did this have to escalate to such an absurd extent? Why was I subjected to this ordeal in the first place?

Gateway Mall’s Hidden Basement of Harassment

This isn’t just about me. It’s about the unchecked power that security personnel at Gateway Mall Araneta City are wielding against innocent people.

How many others have been dragged into that hidden basement security office, where they are harassed away from the public eye? How many voices have been silenced, forced to endure mistreatment without witnesses to hold these so-called "protectors" accountable?

If this can happen to me—a journalist, an advocate, someone with a platform—then it can happen to anyone.

A Demand for Accountability

Enough is enough. I demand accountability from the management of Gateway Mall Araneta City.

That basement security office should not be hidden. It should be fully visible to ensure transparency in their actions.

Their security personnel must undergo proper training to prevent abuse of power.

Clear policies should be in place to protect individuals from being mistreated, ensuring that security personnel cannot arbitrarily detain and humiliate people.

No one should ever have to endure what I went through. If we remain silent, we allow this cycle of abuse to continue. It is time to demand better—not just for ourselves, but for everyone who steps into that mall, expecting security, not suffering.