They Don’t Always Go Your Way

Generally, I like taxis and I respect the drivers. It is an honest living and can be very tiring and thankless. I normally trust their judgement when they recommend a short cut because a shorter trip means more chances for them to make money. They usually get me to where I need to go faster and quite safely.

This morning’s taxi  was a pain in the rear. I didn’t note his plate just that on the side the name ROMCAT was painted. He refused to take the path I suggested because there was an alternative he thought was better. Since I’d never taken that route, I agreed to try it. Stupid me!

End result: I was stuck behind one of the slowest changing stoplights on EDSA. I lost my leeway to avoid being late (he used up all 15 minutes just at the stupid stoplight). I had to contend with being stuck behind buses because we were not on the fly-over. And of course, he almost misses turning onto my Office’s street even when I told him where to turn the block before. Then he almost misses my building. Top it off, I find that I m\now have to pay P30 more than if we’d taken the route I wanted and then he claimed he didn’t have change! GRRRR….buster you give drivers abad name! Please get off the road!  

Lesson learned: never again will I deviate from my morning route. Tested and proven, it really is the fastest way to get to my officce. And it is still best to take taxis that are part of an established chain.  

Taxi and Traffic

If there’s one thing I hate about manila taxi drivers, it’s the way they try to make you pay more than what is on the meter when they are supposed to be service anywhere based on that meter.

This morning I took a cab with F&E Limbo painted on the side. As I got in, he said, “ma’am paki dagdagan na lang po kasi traffic po sa EDSA.” Hello?! This was at 840 in the morning, travelling between Cubao and Ortigas. The traffic was light considering it was rush hour!

So I told him, Manong, magaang na nga po iyan eh. Mas grabe po ang C5 (and it is because I’ve tried that route that I know). Paglagpas po ng greenhills bibilis po iyan. True enough… the vehicles were moving steadily if a little slowly til i passed Gate5. Next traffic point was  the usual Emerald intersection cross. I was in the office in under 15 minutes!

So I give him a bill and waited for my change. He says ma’am magkano po sukli? I look at him and say nothing. He gave me the correct change. Grabe! Some people! Shark! And they wonder why we prefer fleet taxis!

Taxi Tales

I’m one of those people who hate rushing, especially in the morning. I usually end up taking a cab to work so that I can have just a few more minutes to get ready for work. Of course, the rest of the population is also going off to their workplaces so it is often a challenge to find a ride to work.

Today I was very lucky, I was able to flag down a cab right away. When I told the driver where I wanted to go, he immediately replied with an affirmative and a smile. He then checked that the aircon settings were comfortable for me then he lowered the volume of his radio a little. Now, the song playing was Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” so as far as I’m concerned, turn it up! It was a really quick, smooth ride and very comfortable. So I will definitely keep my eyes open for this taxi: Golden K, PMX483.

On the other hand, I would hope no one has the misfortune to experience a taxi ride like the one I had yesterday. Coming out of a meeting, we got into the ROGEBETH taxi at Landmark. This cab driver is one of those who makes me wonder if they paid for their license. Not only did he not seem to know what the clutch was for, he never used his 1st or 2nd gear, so the poor car was shuddering because it was so underpowered. This driver also seemed to be courting the cars in front of us, we were so close to their bumpers that everytime they would stop (rush hour traffic) the driver would stomp on his brakes, sending me and my companion sliding forward suddenly. If you bet that I was dizzy and getting motion sick, you’d win the prize. To make matters worse, the aircon didn’t seem to be functioning and the driver had B.O. but he didn’t seem to be aware of it.

So there you have it! Sitting in a almost airconless cab driven by a stinky, stompy driver is not something I would wish on anyone, which is why I recommend avoid this cab: ROGEBETH license plate TYB313.

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Video On Board

I caught a bus that had a TV in front today. Normally, they show cartoons when I’m on my work. Today, they had a B-Movie playing. I could tell it was an 80’s movie because of the hairstyle and make up.

It was supposed to be a horror (I think) where this creature drains the life force out of people then she goes into this cultplace and feeds it to her creatures. The funny/yucky part: she goes into a transformation sequence and her body suddenly has 3 layers of boobs from which the creatures feed.

Thankfully, it was a short bus ride so I got off before it got any more gross. What a way to start the day! Of course,  as soon as I get to the office someone sent me this video which just gets me in the mood to blog about how my Friday morning is going. So here it is.

Reckless Driver

I just had a fright!

My son and I were standing on the sidewalk of EDSA after we crossed from P. Tuazon. I spotted the bus that we needed to ride. It was slowly shifting to the right lane and would be perfectly placed for us to get on in just a few moments.

Suddenly, this other bus cuts in from behind him, overtaking on the right. It’s heading straight for me and my son! I find myself frozen like a rabbit caught in the headlights as it barrels down the sidewalk, stopping about2 1/2 feet away from me.  It had one wheel on the sidewalk just to be able to get ahead of the bus I had planned to ride.

The bus door opens and I step up to the door. I was so mad! “Gusto niyo ba kaming sagasaan?”,  I asked the driver. The conductor says, “aba’y siyempre hindi. Hindi naman kayo tinamaan ah.”

“Hindi niyo ba napansin na sidewalk po ito. Muntik na ag bata!”, I replied.

“Ay naku”, says the conductor as he pushes my son off the step. “Wag na kayo sumakay. Di naman kayo binangga”. Then they drive off as, fortunately for them, the light turns green.

So I guess if he’d hit me we could have gone on the bus?  Or only if I didn’t complain! How many other people has this pair endangered I wonder.

I always thought I’d make a relatively good witness but todays misadventure shows me I need to practice. I was so distraught I can’t remember much. All I remember is the license plate, PXG621, which I had quickly jotted down on my phone’s memory, that the bus was going to Ayala and that the bus had Sta Rita to Baclaran written on its back.

I reported the incident to the MMDA at Ortigas. The officers were very helpful but I personally don’t feel confident that anything will come of it. I wish somebody from either the LTO or the media could hear about this and do something about getting this pair away from vehicles.

I hope no one else has such a frightening experience.