Visitors to our country regard our security guards with a mixture of bafflement and amusement. Where else but in the Philippines that we have bank security guards, sporting long firearms, yet courteously opening and closing doors for clients? Or escorting customers to their cars with an umbrella when it's raining? Indeed, where else but only in this country that we have them alternating as parking attendants, doormen, porters and receptionists?
Security guards are like a dime a dozen here in Cebu. They're more ubiquitous than the cellular phone. You can't go anywhere, or enter a building or office without running into them. Which could lead to some unpleasant encounters, especially with overbearing, inflexible guards who are simply "following orders."
Let me cite my own experiences. The first case occurred years ago in White Sands Beach in Mactan. Bored with swimming back and forth from the shore to an anchored boat, I set my sights on a more challenging goal, the coral islet of the Maribago Bluewater resort. I was panting when I finally reached it. Here comes the security guard, demanding if I was a registered guest of his resort because only registered guests are allowed in this man-made islet. "Okay, okay, just give me five minutes to catch my breath because it's another long swim back to the shore," I asked. But noooo, he wanted me to get off his island pronto. I waded back knee-deep, then waist-deep into the water but he said I was still in their property. Geez, they might as well put a billboard in that islet for everyone to see that "only registered guests are allowed here."
Another pet peeve of mine is that mandatory inspection of bags before entering any moviehouse at SM. It feels so invasive when a stranger goes over my personal effects. I've been there on previous occasions with a bunch of shopping bags when the guard checks only my shoulder bag. It is so ridiculous when they do the same with those pocketbook-size handbags that can only hold a wallet and handkerchief. What do they expect to find there, bombs? I can understand the concern way back when people smuggled in video cameras to make "film transfers" of blockbuster movies. Which brings me to my second example. The security guard won't let me bring in my automatic photo camera. Why, I asked him, how could I possibly make a profit off your movie by bringing this in? "Sorry, ma'am, but those are our orders, you must leave your camera at the office." Well, it's a stupid policy by the theater management if that's the case. If they want to ban all hardware from a theater, they might as well confiscate those pesky cellular phones and beepers. People have no right to be talking over their cellular phones while a movie is going on anyway but this always happens.
Managers of commercial establishments should bear in mind that security guards who follow orders like robots will only drive away customers. Be careful in giving instructions because many guards take these literally as gospel truth. It is hard to blame them when they think they're only doing their job. Like the guard at Yamaha who didn't let my friend park because the parking lot is reserved for their company vehicles. How easy do you think is it to find a parking space along Osmena Blvd.? Or the guards at Mr. A in Busay who wordlessly watched our convoy of three vehicles negotiate that steep uphill climb, and when we reached their guardhouse calmly told us "sorry, the parking lot is full, you have to turn back." I heard the management corrected the situation by stationing parking attendants down the road where arriving vehicles still have room to maneuver and park.
Security guards have a vital function to perform, which is to protect lives and property. But this has been overlooked as their roles have been expanded, turning them into some sort of customer relations personnel. That being the case, they should be tactful and diplomatic. They are often the first person we are in contact with and that encounter could spell the difference between satisfied repeat customers and turned-off, disgruntled ones.