I rarely ride a taxi. I am so afraid of taxi drivers who get angry and hit their steering wheels whenever it's traffic.
I am afraid of taxi drivers who asks "San mo gusto dumaan? Gusto mo dito na lang para mabilis at hindi traffic."
I am afraid of taxi drivers who tells me "Ma'am, dagdagan niyo na lang kasi ang traffic at ang layo nang lugar niyo eh."
I am afraid of taxi drivers who do not smile.
I am afraid of taxi drivers who swears.
I am afraid of taxi drivers because there are news about them drugging their passengers then stealing their stuff or raping them.
I rarely ride a taxi dahil minsan, mas mainit pa sa loob nang taxi nila kesa sa labas. Sayang sa pera.
But I sometimes enjoy riding the taxi. Minsan. You can learn a lot of things from Manong Driver during a traffic jam.
These were some of the memorable conversation that I had with some taxi drivers:
1. Manong Driver #1: The pilot turned driver.
He was in his late 40s to early 50s. Grayed hair but mukhang meztizo. If he would wear a suit and tie, I would have easily mistaken him as a CEO or a businessman working in Ortigas or Ayala.
He was supposed to be a pilot. He studied to become one but I guess something happened. He said he was a ladies' man - a bolero. Soon his parents disowned him and he went living on his own. He worked as an airplane mechanic. Then something happened again (I can't remember what). He went working from one job to another until he got married. He now has 2 kids.
Wala daw siyang pinagsisihan with all the things that he did because his experiences made him learn a lot of things about life. He told me about his life, his wife, and how he tells his kids to value education. "Kahit nasa public school kayo, galingan niyo. Pakita niyo na masipag kayo at mag-aral kayo nang mabuti." - that's what he kept telling his kids. Most of the things that he kept on telling me was the value of education.
I could somehow feel that he regrets not finishing his studies, that it could've been better for him and his family. That he could've given his kids a more comfortable life. That he could've been a pilot.
Lesson learned: Do not let a good opportunity pass by and whether we like it or not, education is still important.
2. Manong Driver #2 - The 'model' taxi driver.
I was a bit upset with him during the first few minutes of the trip because he did not follow the road that we were supposed to take. He insisted on what he knew so we ended up being stuck in a traffic jam. Ang tigas kasi nang ulo.
Then he started talking about personal hygiene of taxi drivers. From proper haircut to ironed uniforms, he had this list of things that taxi drivers should do to look presentable to the passengers.
He told me he was interviewed by GMA news about 'being a good taxi driver' and he was a 'model taxi driver'. "Dapat bawal yang mga taxi drivers na may putok! Nakakahiya sa mga pasahero. Naka-aircon pa naman". I really laughed when I heard this. He defended the use of fabric conditioner to make the taxi smell good for the passengers. He hated passengers who leave their trash inside his taxi. Honestly, he really looked clean and his taxi smelled good.
Lesson learned: Look good, smell good. Always.
3. Manong Driver #3 - The sick one.
Once I entered the taxi, I could smell the scent of flu virus emanating from the air conditioning unit of the car. Amoy sakit.
He was coughing, sneezing, and had a runny nose. I felt like the whole taxi was contaminated with some virus.
It was the flu season so I totally understand his situation. Everyone was getting sick that time. Good thing I was taking vitamins and I was sort-of healthy that time. Pero honestly, I wanted to get out of the taxi.
I felt really sorry for him. On our way to the office, he kept on saying sorry about his condition. He told me that he was really in a bad condition but he needed to work para maka-boundary. He was working so hard so that he could put food on his family's plate.
We had a conversation about health, flu, and virus. Then I told him I an a licensed nurse (although I am not practicing my profession). I suggested what kind of medicine would be better for him. I told him the what's a "non-drowse" medicine (he didn't have any idea what Decolgen No Drowse does).
Before we I paid my taxi fare, I gave him some medicine that I have and some vitamin C tablets that I had. I hoped that he would make it through the day so that he could earn what he needed for that day.
Lesson learned: It's a cliche but health is wealth.
4. Manong Driver #4 - The OFW
He was I guess he was the best taxi driver to have a conversation with. My husband and I rode his taxi from the domestic airport. I was so glad he didn't think twice when I told him our destination. The trip from the domestic airport to our house is quite far and taxi drivers usually hesitate to give us a ride. But he just asked us to get in and did not say anything like "dagdagan niyo na lang, ha" or "malayo ma'am at matraffic, kayo na lang bahala kung kung magkano idadagdag niyo".
He was a jolly 50 - 60 year old man. He used to work in South Korea and he told us how difficult it was to work abroad. He shared a lot of things about his experiences working abroad, mostly good ones. He could even speak Korean!
"Nakakakuha pa nga ako minsan nang ginto sa poso negro nila kasi yung iba ayaw maglinis non. Binabayaran na ako nang amo ko, may ginto pa ako!"
"Mabait naman yung amo ko. Ang kelangan lang eh marunong ka sumunod at makisama."
He was a hard-working man and he was rewarded well for all of his hard work. He loved his work in Korea. And it seemed like he is also enjoying being a taxi driver.
I enjoyed the conversation with him. He works because he doesn't want to stay at home. "Tatanda lang ako sa bahay."
Lesson learned: Love your job.
I am still afraid of riding a taxi - slight lang. But moments like these with different taxi drivers make me smile.
These were some of the memorable conversation that I had with some taxi drivers:
1. Manong Driver #1: The pilot turned driver.
 |
| http://fabioandgabriel.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_archive.html |
He was in his late 40s to early 50s. Grayed hair but mukhang meztizo. If he would wear a suit and tie, I would have easily mistaken him as a CEO or a businessman working in Ortigas or Ayala.
He was supposed to be a pilot. He studied to become one but I guess something happened. He said he was a ladies' man - a bolero. Soon his parents disowned him and he went living on his own. He worked as an airplane mechanic. Then something happened again (I can't remember what). He went working from one job to another until he got married. He now has 2 kids.
Wala daw siyang pinagsisihan with all the things that he did because his experiences made him learn a lot of things about life. He told me about his life, his wife, and how he tells his kids to value education. "Kahit nasa public school kayo, galingan niyo. Pakita niyo na masipag kayo at mag-aral kayo nang mabuti." - that's what he kept telling his kids. Most of the things that he kept on telling me was the value of education.
I could somehow feel that he regrets not finishing his studies, that it could've been better for him and his family. That he could've given his kids a more comfortable life. That he could've been a pilot.
Lesson learned: Do not let a good opportunity pass by and whether we like it or not, education is still important.
2. Manong Driver #2 - The 'model' taxi driver.
 |
| http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-man-spraying-deodorant-image20665429 |
I was a bit upset with him during the first few minutes of the trip because he did not follow the road that we were supposed to take. He insisted on what he knew so we ended up being stuck in a traffic jam. Ang tigas kasi nang ulo.
Then he started talking about personal hygiene of taxi drivers. From proper haircut to ironed uniforms, he had this list of things that taxi drivers should do to look presentable to the passengers.
He told me he was interviewed by GMA news about 'being a good taxi driver' and he was a 'model taxi driver'. "Dapat bawal yang mga taxi drivers na may putok! Nakakahiya sa mga pasahero. Naka-aircon pa naman". I really laughed when I heard this. He defended the use of fabric conditioner to make the taxi smell good for the passengers. He hated passengers who leave their trash inside his taxi. Honestly, he really looked clean and his taxi smelled good.
Lesson learned: Look good, smell good. Always.
3. Manong Driver #3 - The sick one.
 |
| http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/geared/your_driving_skills/driving_skills/too_sick_to_drive.html |
Once I entered the taxi, I could smell the scent of flu virus emanating from the air conditioning unit of the car. Amoy sakit.
He was coughing, sneezing, and had a runny nose. I felt like the whole taxi was contaminated with some virus.
It was the flu season so I totally understand his situation. Everyone was getting sick that time. Good thing I was taking vitamins and I was sort-of healthy that time. Pero honestly, I wanted to get out of the taxi.
I felt really sorry for him. On our way to the office, he kept on saying sorry about his condition. He told me that he was really in a bad condition but he needed to work para maka-boundary. He was working so hard so that he could put food on his family's plate.
We had a conversation about health, flu, and virus. Then I told him I an a licensed nurse (although I am not practicing my profession). I suggested what kind of medicine would be better for him. I told him the what's a "non-drowse" medicine (he didn't have any idea what Decolgen No Drowse does).
Before we I paid my taxi fare, I gave him some medicine that I have and some vitamin C tablets that I had. I hoped that he would make it through the day so that he could earn what he needed for that day.
Lesson learned: It's a cliche but health is wealth.
4. Manong Driver #4 - The OFW
 |
| http://definitelyfilipino.com/blog/2015/04/26/ofw-heroes-or-victims/ |
He was I guess he was the best taxi driver to have a conversation with. My husband and I rode his taxi from the domestic airport. I was so glad he didn't think twice when I told him our destination. The trip from the domestic airport to our house is quite far and taxi drivers usually hesitate to give us a ride. But he just asked us to get in and did not say anything like "dagdagan niyo na lang, ha" or "malayo ma'am at matraffic, kayo na lang bahala kung kung magkano idadagdag niyo".
He was a jolly 50 - 60 year old man. He used to work in South Korea and he told us how difficult it was to work abroad. He shared a lot of things about his experiences working abroad, mostly good ones. He could even speak Korean!
"Nakakakuha pa nga ako minsan nang ginto sa poso negro nila kasi yung iba ayaw maglinis non. Binabayaran na ako nang amo ko, may ginto pa ako!"
"Mabait naman yung amo ko. Ang kelangan lang eh marunong ka sumunod at makisama."
He was a hard-working man and he was rewarded well for all of his hard work. He loved his work in Korea. And it seemed like he is also enjoying being a taxi driver.
I enjoyed the conversation with him. He works because he doesn't want to stay at home. "Tatanda lang ako sa bahay."
Lesson learned: Love your job.
I am still afraid of riding a taxi - slight lang. But moments like these with different taxi drivers make me smile.
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