a catch of fishy files

when it comes to public transportation, i’ve always been a fan of taxis. obviously, they’re more convenient (not to mention more expensive) than taking a jeep and risking a large dose of Manila’s pollution smacked right down into your lungs. secondly, you don’t have to deal with a LOT of people (i.e. passengers) and this fact comes handy when you just want to read a book to keep sane amidst the traffic in Edsa.

>

in my line of work, i get to ride taxis rather frequently. this happens when i do field work and the company driver isn’t available, or has been reserved for other trips. and since i frequent hospitals around Manila area, taxis have become an essential in my site visits. (i could take Potpot, but i had a traumatic experience with those good-for-nothing MAPSA and it stressed the hell out of me.. then again, that’s another story).

>

anyhoots, here are some of the most unforgettable taxi stories i’ve experienced first hand for the last couple of months:

Taxi Chronicle #1: Save Me

rose (my officemate) and i were discussing work stuff as the taxi made its way to pgh. it seemed like our rather animated discussion intrigued the taxi driver, and he started a conversation. he inquired about the usual stuff, where we work, blah, blah.. then the following conversation followed:

driver: nag-sa-save ba kayo?

jazz: opo.. kaso wala pa po masyado, ang gastos ko kasi..

rose: opo, nag-sa-save din naman po..

driver: hindi, ibig ko sabihin, na-save na ba kayo? handa na ba kayo pag nagunaw ang mundo? pinagsisihan nyo na ba ang mga kasalanan nyo?

*huwaaaat*!!!

>

Taxi Chronicle #2: Walk Away

i was on my way to manila doctors hospital, it was hot, traffic was bad, and i couldn’t understand the ramblings of the radio announcer whose words seem to get caught between his tongue and the bad reception. good thing i had a book with me, so i contented myself reading about why men don’t listen and women can’t read maps. it was a fair deal.

almost halfway throught the other side of UN avenue, the taxi driver broke the devastating news:

driver: ma’am, pasensya na po.. kelangan ko lang talaga pumunta sa LTO. ok lang po ba kung maglakad na lang kayo mula dito? malapit na lang naman po eh.. yun na po ung ospital (pointed to the building who was so tiny at that time, i thought it was a pigeon hole)

jazz: ha? (obviously, i couldn’t believe my ears)

the driver then repeated his dilemma about having something really urgent to do at LTO (something about taxi meter, i dunno) and asking me to walk the rest of the way, all along being very apologetic about it. i was dumbfounded at first, for obvious reasons.. i mean, is he crazy?! i was trying my best to control myself.. his reason was valid enough, but the hospital wasn’t very near enough. i finally got out of the car, paid him half and walked away with a big frown on my face. when i got to the hospital, the doctor i was supposed to be meeting just left. bravo!! then i realized, i shouldn’t have paid him at all. pfft.

>

Taxi Chronicle #3: Mr. Grumpy Gills

rose and i were on our way to the hospital, and we had some take-out fast food with us. it was lunchtime, we were hungry and it was one hell of a traffic. then my favorite song played on the radio and i asked the driver if he can turn up the volume a bit. here’s what happened:

jazz: manong, pwede po bang pakilakasan ng konti ung radyo?

driver: kain kayo ng kain! tapos mamaya magkakalat kayo dyan! (and he went on mumbling under his breath)

HUH???

Taxi Chronicle #4: It’s All About the Paper

on the way to manila doctors again. the driver asked me whether we should take the overpass or not (osmena highway). i told him to take the overpass. then he started a conversation about the local police and bribery. he animated me with accounts about the heartless MAPSA, the unjust pasay police and the stupid MMDA. i was so into the topic, i was even asking him what to do when i get caught WITHOUT a violation he he he..

so for the rest of the way, we talked about a lot of things: philippine politics (about which he seemed to know a lot!), history, current poverty status of the country, his family, his youth and his fraternity days (imagine, a fratman taxi driver!!!).. it was a very interesting conversation, i was so engrossed i didn’t noticed the subtle hints about his true "intentions"

at the last stop light, he fumbled in his glove compartment and whipped up a piece of paper and handed it to me. and guess what.. it was an invitation to join a bible study group somewhere in amoranto.. in all fairness to the fratman-turned-taxi driver, he wasn’t trying to "recruit" me or anything.. he just gave me the paper IN CASE i am interested, which i think wasn’t really bad. it’s just.. weird. hwehe!

>

>>

i don’t know if i’m jinxed or it’s just pure coincidence that i always encounter interesting, if not weird taxi drivers. and i don’t know what have i done to deserve this (over-speeding maybe) hahaha! but then again, come to think of it, the humor behind these experiences is priceless. he he.

*happy cabbing*

JT ^^*