‘Traumatized’ sampaguita girl does not want guard sacked

‘Traumatized’ sampaguita girl does not want guard sacked | Daily Tribune

The sampaguita vendor at the center of a viral mall incident has revealed the deep humiliation and trauma she felt after being forcibly removed from the premises by a security guard.

She said the encounter, captured on video and widely shared online, has not only disrupted her life but also exposed her to baseless accusations and public scrutiny.

The vendor, a medical technology student, said the incident left her feeling dehumanized and embarrassed.

“I read in the comment section that I am allegedly the leader of syndicates, which is not true. They also said I’m a thief, that I curse, and that I spit. I don’t act that way, especially since I was wearing my school uniform,” she said, speaking in Filipino.

The vendor explained that she had been selling sampaguita garlands outside the mall when light rain began to fall.

She said she decided to wait for her twin sister and a friend, who were also vendors, so they could go home together. But when the guard approached, her request to stay fell on deaf ears.

“He didn’t want to listen when I asked if I could sit there for a while... then it seemed like he was threatening to take my sampaguitas. I stood up at that point, and when I did, he grabbed my merchandise,” she recalled.

What followed was a heated exchange, with the vendor throwing the ruined garlands at the guard out of frustration. “I couldn’t hold back anymore because what he did really hurt. It felt like I didn’t have the right to even rest,” she added.

She rued that the video has gone viral, bringing her unwanted attention, online bashing, and even the leakage of her personal information, leaving her ashamed to go out in public.

“I’m embarrassed to go to school. I feel like everyone is looking at me. I didn’t want this, but I have to endure it,” she said.

She explained she relies on selling garlands to fund her education and support her aging parents. While some netizens and organizations have offered financial aid and legal assistance, she said she’s been affected emotionally.

The management of the mall has terminated the security guard. The sampaguita girl said she wanted to apologize to the guard as she did not want him to lose his job.

Likewise, she said her family does not wish to press charges against him.