Taxi

With a very strict time today, I just took a TAXICAB on all my appointments. And I just realized, based from my observation on the QUEUE, we are the most Polite passengers whenever we take Taxi in Manila.

Why?

Scenario1

passenger : Manong, Makati?
driver : Ay! Trapik don!

lesson : we ended up being turned down, because we handed him the "leverage" to choose between where to go and where not to go.

It is polite in a sense that we assume that the TAXIs have this "sole" right to choose where to go, but in reality , and look closely on the items written on the car, it clearly says "TO ANY POINT IN LUZON/MANILA" which means they don't have the right to refuse.

Scenario2

passenger: Manong, Makati
driver : nodded
passenger : sigh of relief (since it took him about 10 minutes under 32degrees to take a cab)

another 10 minutes have passed .....
passenger : realized that the meter was not running, asked the driver, "manong, bakit di ho tumatakbo metro nyo, nakalimutan nyo yata"
driver: magkano ba bigay mo doon? dagdagan mo na lang

lesson: we politely accepted the drivers acceptance on the route , but not too keen on observing the basic procedures, and later ended up "paying" more just because the driver felt it was our "priviledge" that we took his taxi on that trip.


Scenario2 :

passenger : Manong, Makati?
driver : nodded, and said "BOSS Kayo na po bahala sa akin"

lesson : We instantly became a GODFATHER of his family that we are obliged to increase the standard fare. I personally make it a point to tip the driver depending on his performance on the road , which includes his road discipline, and ability to converse with the passenger, and how he manages the volume of his AM radio.

Personally, our "taxi" culture were based on the notion that we are "just" passengers. But whenever I go to places like Hongkong, China and Specifically Japan, the procedure is different, and It's very simple.

1. call a taxi
2. get inside
3. tell the driver where will you go.

That's it! no haggling, no jedi mind tricks!

I had applied the same procedure whenever I'm in Manila, and lucky only 5% turned me down, I just point out to the remaining 95%their very basic and important role as a cab driver.

5%? yeah, they have a pretty clever reasons

1. coding
2. they don't have enough time for the carbarn
3. they don't have enough LPGas

I just hope that, when you go to Manila, you'll do the same thing that I do, and you will not be stressed out.

And just to be on the safe side, I have with me the numbers of the largest taxi operators in manila,

1. EMP - 2935931
2. MGE - 3636096
3. RENO - 9313272

Just tell them where do you want to be picked up, and they will tell you the estimated time that they'll be there.