ILIGAN CITY — A Muslim customer has expressed anger and deep disappointment after alleging that a female crew member at a Red Ribbon Bakeshop branch inside Robinsons Place Iligan joked that a ringing food-order buzzer was a “timebomb,” an incident he said left him humiliated and highlighted what he described as the continuing experience of casual Islamophobia faced by some Muslims in public spaces.
The customer, identified as Omar Morales, recounted the incident in a lengthy Facebook post that has since circulated widely online. Morales said the incident happened at around 6:50 p.m. on Saturday while he was purchasing two bags of mamon at the Red Ribbon branch.
According to Morales, he had earlier ordered a drink from nearby Macao Imperial and was carrying an order buzzer while purchasing food to accompany his drink.
While he was at the Red Ribbon counter completing his payment, the buzzer reportedly began ringing.
Morales said a male cashier pointed toward the device and asked, “Kuya, saimoha na?” or whether the buzzer belonged to him.
He replied that it was his.
Morales then alleged that a female crew member suddenly interrupted the exchange and said, “Kay basig TIMEBOMB! HAHAHAHA!”
He said the employee then laughed loudly.
Morales described the moment as deeply humiliating, saying he was initially frozen in shock and could only respond with a painful smile. He said he restrained himself because of the values taught by his faith, but felt that the remark had seriously damaged his dignity.
The male cashier reportedly attempted to defuse the situation by saying, “Dili, kay basig nabilin…” apparently suggesting that the device could have simply been left behind.
For Morales, however, the explanation did not undo the impact of the remark.
‘Why Was “Timebomb” the First Thing That Came to Mind?’
In his account, Morales questioned why the word “timebomb” was used in response to an ordinary food-order buzzer.
He said there were numerous harmless ways the crew member could have commented on the ringing device, including simply telling him that his order was ready. Instead, he said, the reference to a bomb made him feel that his identity as a Muslim had been associated with terrorism.
Morales argued that the incident should not simply be dismissed as harmless workplace humor, particularly because he perceived the employee’s laughter and manner as carrying prejudice.
He also raised the broader issue of how Muslims can be subjected to stereotypes that associate their religious identity with terrorism or violence.
“We are just normal citizens trying to buy food,” Morales said in his post, arguing that Muslim customers pay the same prices as everyone else and deserve the same basic dignity and respect.
He called on Red Ribbon to examine its customer-service practices and employee training, particularly on cultural sensitivity and respectful treatment of minority customers.
Calls for Accountability and Respect
Morales urged the company to take the incident seriously and called for improvements in customer-service training.
He said technical knowledge and operational competence mean little if employees do not also demonstrate basic courtesy, cultural awareness and respect toward customers regardless of religious identity.
His post has also prompted reactions from other social-media users.
One netizen called for a boycott of Red Ribbon, describing the alleged remark as Islamophobic and discriminatory and urging fellow Moros and allies to stop patronizing the chain until the matter is addressed.
That call for a boycott, however, represents the position of the individual netizen and should not be interpreted as an official action by any organization or as a finding that discrimination has been legally established.
The incident also underscores the sensitivity surrounding references to bombs and other threats in public establishments, where such statements can cause alarm and concern even when presented as jokes.
No Official Statement Yet
As of publication, Red Ribbon Bakeshop and Robinsons Place Iligan have not issued an official public statement regarding Morales’ allegation.
The establishments have not yet publicly confirmed or denied the account, nor has there been an official finding establishing the intent behind the employee’s alleged remark.
This report is based primarily on Morales’ firsthand account as published on his personal Facebook page. The incident has not yet been independently verified by other witnesses or through an official statement from the establishments involved.
The Mindanao Sentinel reached this account with the allegation and the response circulating publicly, while giving appropriate weight to the distinction between an individual’s account and facts independently established by the parties involved.
For Morales, however, the incident has become a question larger than one uncomfortable exchange at a store counter: whether Muslim customers can enter ordinary commercial spaces without having their religious identity reduced to a stereotype.
He is asking Red Ribbon management to address the matter and ensure that customer service extends beyond transactions to include dignity, respect and cultural sensitivity for every customer.