Mother's Day story: 'Stolen' red roses for my dear wife

MANILA, Philippines - My daughter, Atty. Jinel Macalintal, and I watched the Pacquiao vs Mosley fight at the Boxing Arena of MGM Grand Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada last May 7 which ended until about 10 p.m.

The following morning (May 8), being Mother’s Day, I woke up early at around 6 a.m. to look for some fresh flowers for my wife, Mila. She did not see the fight because she preferred to stay in the room to pray for Manny’s victory. She was still sleeping when I slipped out of the room to buy the flowers.

I walked along Las Vegas Boulevard and found no flower shop or any store opened.

Even the shopping outlets located throughout the MGM Grand were still closed.

I was about to give up on my search for those elusive flowers when I noticed the floral arrangement of beautiful red roses on each and very counter of MGM Registration and Reception Area. Of course, those flowers were not for sale but for display only to add more glitter and glamour to the reception and registration area of the hotel.

But I needed those flowers.

While there were seven receptionists attending to the clients of MGM, I chose the lady receptionist.

I didn’t get her first name but her nameplate says she’s Ms. Bri. I asked her if she is a mother. And when she said “yes,” I immediately greeted her: “Happy Mother’s Day, Ms. Bri.” And she said, “Thank you, that’s very nice of you, Sir.”

Then I said: “I tell you what, Ms. Bri, I have been looking around for flowers to buy as a surprise gift for my wife on this Mother’s Day. But I found no flowers for sale inside or outside this hotel at this time. And knowing that these flowers in front of you are not for sale may I ask you if I could ‘steal’ four pieces of these red roses so I could give them to my wife?” Those four pieces of roses would represent me, my daughter Jinel and my sons Victor and Michael who were left behind in Manila.

I’m sure Ms. Bri was a little bit surprised with my approach but there was a twinkle in her eyes when she replied: “Well, I couldn’t say if you can or if you cannot get them because this is the first time somebody asked me or anyone of us here for these flowers. However, I will just do what I’m doing here and you may do what you want, as if I don’t see what you’re doing.”

I responded, “You are so kind, Ms. Bri, thank you so much,” and started taking out four pieces of those beautiful red roses from the floral arrangement on her counter.

Then I went to McDonald’s restaurant located at the food court of MGM and ordered my wife’s favorite Fruit & Maple Oatmeal and burrito and hot water.

When I got back to our room she was still sleeping so I had the luxury of time to place on the table those four red roses beside the oatmeal, the burrito and hot water with a short note saying “Happy Mother’s Day, Rogi (our word of endearment which means ‘Irog’.”

And the rest was history after my wife woke up and saw her breakfast ready with four red roses and our greetings.

And thanks to Ms. Bri of MGM Grand Casino and Hotel for allowing me to “steal” those four pieces of red roses for my wife to express my and my children’s love, care and appreciation for her on Mother’s Day.