Reigning Miss Grand International Emma Tiglao has gone public with a dining experience that left her shaken — not because of a wrong order, but because of words a restaurant staff member directed at her after the meal.
Tiglao, who is also a business owner and television journalist, recounted the incident at Crabs N Crack’s Infinity Branch on her Facebook page, saying she rarely takes complaints online but felt an obligation to share what happened.
The Kapampangan beauty queen had brought her family to the seafood restaurant, where they ordered Bundle A and B with three sauce options: chili garlic, Cajun, and butter garlic. When the food arrived, the chili garlic had been substituted with an extra Cajun serving. Tiglao said the family raised the issue but was told the order could no longer be corrected since preparation was already done. Rather than push back, they settled for asking if a small serving of chili garlic could be added on the side at no charge.
The staff acknowledged their error and honored the request — a gesture Tiglao said she appreciated.
What came next was the problem. As the family prepared their leftovers for takeout, the waiter who had taken their order said: “ANG KAPAL NG MUKHA.”
“In that moment, my heart started racing and my hands turned cold,” Tiglao wrote. “I’m not someone who looks for conflict, but I also believe that respect should never be optional.”
Tiglao, who manages her own business, said the episode is a reminder that how staff treat customers during difficult moments carries lasting weight. “As a business owner myself, we always remind our team that no matter how busy or stressful the day gets, we must always treat customers with kindness and professionalism. A single moment of disrespect can stay with someone longer than we think,” she said.
She addressed the waiter directly in her post, stopping short of calling for punitive action. “To the waiter who said those words, I genuinely hope this becomes a lesson not just for you, but for all of us in the service industry. We are all human, and we all deserve to be treated with dignity.”
In closing, the queen — who has become something of a public advocate for civil interaction after a similar episode at the Miss Universe 2025 coronation drew attention last year — reminded her followers: “CUSTOMER KA RIN KUYA AT FOR SURE AYAW MO RIN NA GAWIN SAYO YUNG GINAWA MO SA AKIN.”
Crabs N Crack has not issued a public statement as of posting.
