It’s 2025, the Year of the Water Snake. Could that be why Robina Gokongwei-Pe’s secret “twin” finally felt safe enough to reveal himself?
“Look who finally decided to come out of hiding,” Gokongwei-Pe said in a Facebook post on Monday, January 27, as she shared a photo of her posing with the mall decorations set up ahead of the Lunar New Year festivities.
“My shining, shimmering golden twin (with his pretty in pink girlfriend)! Here’s to a slitheringly good Year of the Snake!”
It’s urban legend that spread in the nineties — a half-human, half-snake creature apparently hides in Robinsons Galleria’s basement and targets beautiful women in the mall’s dressing rooms. The creature was linked to the late Filipino tycoon John Gokongwei’s eldest daughter, who started working in the family business as a clerk at the stock room of the Robinsons Department Store.
As the legend goes, those who caught the attention of the “twin” no longer reappeared. They were either eaten by the snake or kidnapped forever.
![[Ilonggo Notes] The vanishing mansion, the growing statue, and other Ilonggo urban legends](http://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2022/04/tl-ilonggo-notes.jpg?fit=449%2C449)
The story reached the Gokongweis and even the Ayalas.
In his online show After Six, Ayala Corporation chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala asked if there was any truth to the rumors of a snake lurking in Robinsons Malls.
Gokongwei-Pe’s brother, Lance Gokongwei, replied in the negative: “If there would’ve been a snake, my sister Robina would’ve caught it and converted it into a handbag.”
Gokongwei-Pe denied the story in 1991, but years later she would post photos of her with plush toys to poke fun at the urban legend.
For everyone wondering about the "snake", we're giving you some rare photos of Madam Robina with her twin. 🐍😂 pic.twitter.com/vO7tokQo5c
— Robinsons Galleria Ortigas (@RobGalleria) November 1, 2018
She was born on July 15, 1962 — the Year of the Water Tiger. According to Feng Shui Master Chau Kam Shing (Joseph Chau), Tigers have a “busy year full of changes, with frequent obstacles in work” ahead of them.
And recent developments do make it sound like she has a full plate this year.
She stepped down as chief executive officer of Robinsons Retail Holdings, Incorporated effective last January 1, after steering the ship for almost three decades.
However, she will be transitioning to being the chairperson of Robinsons Retail, replacing her brother Lance. She will now oversee the company’s 2,413 stores across the country, along with 2,163 franchised stores of The Generics Pharmacy.
But is anyone wondering what’s next for her snake “twin”? – Rappler.com