A Redditor’s amusing experience involving their mother’s homemade okoy, a greedy co-worker, and an unfair Human Resources Department entertained and frustrated folks on the Internet. While most Pinoys are enraged at on behalf of the Redditor, some called their story out for being fishy. As it turns out, the doubters’ Spidey senses might’ve been right after all. What exactly happened?

The epic Reddit story about an okoy thief

wtf??? pic.twitter.com/6iEYWh5VtN

— Ted Lubid (@OKNOTOK2017) January 22, 2024

Reddit user u/Away_Explanation6639 posted their story last January 22 on the subreddit r/AntiWorkPH. “Pina-HR ako kasi nagka-allergy ung officemate ko sa baon ko na nasa ref na ninakaw at kinain niya,” read the intriguing title.

The original poster (OP) told the story about how they brought their mom’s homemade okoy (shrimp patties) to the office for lunch. The food was placed in a container inside a paper bag with OP’s name on it. However, come lunchtime, OP found the container in the sink.

“After ilang minutes may kawork ako na di daw makahinga at pantal ung face,” wrote OP. “Allergy daw ganun so ako wala akong pake kasi gutom na ko and galit na galit. Umuwi akong badtrip and alam ng manager ko un.”

The next day, HR summoned OP for a meeting where OP found out they were accused of “causing a near-death experience for a coworker.” Apparently, the co-worker who ate OP’s lunch has a shrimp allergy.

“And grabe ung galit ko sabi gusto andito boss ko, pinatawag ko boss ko and told HR everything and demanded them to check ung CCTV sa IT kasi mag rereklamo ako ng theft. Pero mukhang siding ung HR sa magnanakaw ko na katrabaho,” said OP.

“So dapat before ako magbaon ng pagkain, ask ko muna mga katrabaho kong magnanakaw if allergic sila?” they added.

OP’s story goes viral

If you steal someone’s lunch and get an allergic reaction to it, you deserve it. https://t.co/FOaiWQIGsg

— Paul Catiang (@paulcatiang) January 23, 2024

At first, the Internet was infuriated. What kind of HR personnel would let a coworker sue OP for damages when OP is a victim, too?

“Report to DOLE, send a complain about the HR specifically. Halatang magkakilala si HR at si pataygutom, dapat matanggal yang dalawa kundi papahirapan ka niyang HR na yan,” wrote a fellow Redditor.

Screenshots of the story went viral on X. It was an entertaining and believable read, but once Manila Bulletin, a reputable news outlet, picked it up, some began to point out how OP’s story suspicious.

“Filipinos need more online literacy especially dealing with seemingly authentic experiences shared on platforms like Reddit,” said one X user after Manila Bulletin reported on the story. “This particular post is a rage-bait copypasta, something that was adapted from an earlier, viral post that even made it to a Reddit best-of list.”

A copy-paste?

An office lunch thief ate my spicy leftovers and is accusing me of poisoning them
byu/BakingGiraffeBakes inBestofRedditorUpdates

True enough, if one does a bit of digging, one will find a similar story posted on the subreddit r/BestofRedditorUpdates (BORU). It even had a similar title: “An office lunch thief ate my spicy leftovers and is accusing me of poisoning them.” The post, which was made last July 2022, is a copy-paste of a story that was originally published in 2016. Aside from a few details, the 2016 story seems eerily similar to OP’s viral post.

“My food is always really, really spicy. I just love it that way. Anyway, I was sitting at my desk when my coworker came running out, having a hard time breathing. He then ran into the bathroom and started being sick. Turns out he ate my clearly labeled lunch,” read the story.

Try replacing the “spice” with okoy and translate the story into Tagalog. Sound familiar?

OP gives another Reddit update on okoy thief

So, totoo raw ang Okoy Issue

Points:
1. Magnanakaw gurlie is put under PIP
2. HR Rep na nagsabing “involuntary manslaughter” is also under PIP
3. Gurlie and HR Rep are friends. HR rep made pasok kay gurlie sa company
4. Gurlie has had previous incidents of theft pic.twitter.com/g3spLCGnWR

— Cholo (@CholoI_) January 24, 2024

While a handful of folks online believe OP’s post was a direct translation of the viral BORU one, OP made everyone know they don’t really care about the doubters.

“BTW, sa nag-message sakin ng masasakit na salita dahil di daw to totoo, kayo na po bahala ang masasabi ko lang ano mapapala ko? Nakakain ba na parang okoy ung karma? r/OffMychest post lang tlaga to eh. Feel free to check my Reddit activity and history,” said OP in their update.

OP clarified that the okoy thief already had a history of stealing items at the office. In the end, the okoy thief was fired and the HR rep who backed them up received a one-month suspension. OP also shared that they found out it was the HR rep who referred okoy thief to the company.

If you still aren’t convinced this might be a copy-paste, the OG 2016 story said that the spicy food thief and their HR rep were romantically involved. Coincidence?

You can’t believe everything you see on the Internet

Did the okoy thieving really happen? Are the similarities to the old viral story a mere coincidence?

Here’s a tip: Folks on Reddit use their anonymity for many reasons. Stirring drama, creative writing exercises, and gaining Reddit karma (Internet points) are some of them. So if you’re reading a story on Reddit and it seems a little too wild, feel free to enjoy it but don’t feel obliged to believe it.

What do you think of this okoy thief Reddit story? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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