Taxing Commutes

T*nginang mga taxi drivers na yan talaga.

Today i was able to meet the bad and the worst of taxi drivers in a day filled to the brim with commute madness. Suffice to say that i have had very little sleep before this, thus not enough patience to deal with people at this point --- and yes, this was further fueled by the insipid and annoying drivers who "charmed" me with their witless antics on the road.

Take driver number one: I took a cab to visit my friend at the hospital in Mandaluyong. Mamang driver maneuvers his way through Makati traffic with ease, confidently telling me he knew where that hospital in Mandaluyong is. It's partly my fault --- i wasn't familiar with the area --- so i took his word. We travelled quite a distance when he dropped me oh so quickly by a side of the building telling me this was it. I paused and asked him to wait while i talk to the security guard, but feeling nice since he was nice, gave him the payment (plus tip!). It wasn't even 10 seconds when he zipped away from the curb, leaving me stranded in godknowswhere, Mandaluyong (it turned out ot be a different hospital).

Driver number two was only too happy to pick me up, then fuming out loud at the audacity of driver #1. He asked for directions and i, equipped with broken text messages from my friend, told him to take the underpass and make a left to get back to EDSA. Not only did he take this opportunity to jam us right into a traffic packed area (which stalled us for 20 mins or so), he decided to take the "long scenic route" going through the malls and telling me "bawal kasi dumaan dyan" when we both knew that it wasn't so. F*ckin' 45 mins it took for us to cross EDSA. 45mins!

Driver number Three, whose plate number TWH 944 is forever embedded in my head now is a scum of the earth manloloko who forces his passengers to pay his "flat rate" or else get knocked out of the cab. His meter was working but what did he care? He just wanted his money. He nearly cut my hand off swerving away from the curb after i got out---i barely had enought time to close the door before he sped away! PEOPLE, if you see this cab, DO NOT take it --- he will not only leave you stranded if you don't agree to his demands, he may take your hand or limbs with him!

As much as i would like to be sympathetic to taxi drivers (driving through the streets of Manila isn't easy, i know), having experiencing such bad treatment from these drivers make me less so. How can you complain about people trampling on you and your profession when you can't even be courteous or nice enough to deliver honest services?!??


Take action! Text or call the LTFRB (tel. No. 9257191, cellphone 09214487777) with your bad driver's plate number and/or cab name and why they suck!

Spread the Word!