Mr. Taxi Cab Driver

Over the past few days, I have witnessed the amazing force of hope and volunteerism overwhelm those that the typhoon Ketsana has not hit. Those lucky few that were spared from the murky waters that engulfed some of the metro’s most populous areas. I have seen how from sheer heart and compassion, people massively organize relief good operations in the different sectors whether you be old young, rich or not, working or entrepreneur, gather together and for once act as one people if not to oust a president or dictator. All political parties and ambitions aside, whether you think that the administration is actually doing something good or not , people for the next few days were actually taking it upon themselves to be called Filipinos to help other Filipinos.

But sadly, as work resumes, so does the pride of actually being a Filipino wane. It is so sad that my entire perception of how there is so much hope for the Filipino is suddenly shattered by the few people who have calloused hearts and has lost all sense in the meaning of goodness. When I say calloused, those insensitive enough to take upon themselves to take advantage of people during this time of need when most of our fellow countrymen have little or nothing to eat and has lost all shelter.

I am not talking about the tiny little facebook post by that Jaques girl from Dubai. It goes past the digital community. It was something very concrete and real that I just had to talk about it.

On my way back from the Department for Foreign Affairs for my personal appearance requirement to renew my passport, I had to take a cab. It took me quite some time to actually flag one down in the busy street of Libertad. When finally a new Toyota Vios cab pulled up on the curb.

I opened the door.

The cab driver was nice. He smiled a lot. I told him “Kuya sa may The Fort.”(Sir, I’m going to The Fort area) He quickly nodded and acknowledged that he knew where I was going. I sat in the front seat.

I quickly checked if the flag down rate was correct. (I am a bit paranoid about these things.) I noticed that there was black electrical tape over the meter. I asked him:

“Kuya ano yan? Bakit may tape?” (Sir what is that? Why is there tape over the meter?”

He replied, “Ganun na po ngayon, bagong metro yan. Kada kilometro ang bayad.” (That is how it is now. That is a new meter. You pay per kilometer.)

I was amazed. I saw this on the news about a month ago. I wanted to indulge him. “Magkano naman per Kilometer?”

I got a short reply: “P100”

P100 per kilometer? That is just absurd. A normal taxi rate would run from about P10 pero kilometer.

I quickly answered: “Ok. Pero wag na sa Fort. Sa Abs mo nalang ako dahlhin. Baka makaabot pa tayo sa taping ng Tv Patrol.”  (Ok but don’t take me to the Fort. Take me to ABS-CBN(a local TV Station). We might make it to the taping of TV PATROL (a local news tv show))”

He just smiled. The balls of this guy.

He just said “sige po di bale nalang” (ok sir, nevermind). He pulled over and let me down the cab without paying.

I quickly made a mental note of his taxi name. It is a white toyota vios, taxi name Aileen. The guy driving is an elderly male, around 40+ years old with a mustache. (You know those 1980′s and 1990′s bad guys from those old movies? He looked like a goon!!)

Its sad to see that there are people like this amidst the calamity we all suffered. Thousands of people had their lives literally swept away in the flash flood and people, like this taxi driver, have the guts to deceive people and take advantage of the situation. Today, when everyone needs a hero, where volunteerism was starting to arise amidst widespread depression and corruption, where there was just a glimmer of hope for our country, reality hits you smack in the face. I know I shouldn’t judge because of one incident. I shouldn’t let my hope die just because some people choose not to be noble. I had always believed that the end will never justify the means. I suppose the burden now lies unto me. Do I choose to let some taxi driver dampen my hopes for our future? Or do I use this as my driving force to make a better future for me or my children. I saw someone post this on facebook as her status and I give credits to Shox for the quote. She says:

Life is not waiting for the storm to pass, its learning how to dance in the rain.