I don’t feel safe everytime the plane touches down at NAIA in Manila. And why not? The news I see on TV day in and day out like theft, snatching, murder and other heinous crimes give me goosebumps. I don’t mean to nitpick but the thought of getting a taxi ride to get to the place I want to go makes me feel unsafe and unprotected. I am a complete stranger and being unfamiliar to everything around me makes me so vulnerable. And I don’t like it. That is the reason why I had to contact friends or my cousin prior to my arrival at the country’s capital.
Last week however, I have never given much attention to our arrival in Manila because on the same day, we will be departing for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But since we will have to wait for six (6) hours before we could check in for the KL flight, we deemed it best to go to Mall of Asia (MOA) just to kill the time. I called up my cousin 
Ally and asked how to get to MOA and how much would it cost us. She instructed us to get a cab and that it would only take less than 15 minutes before we reach Pasay City for a maximum fare of PhP 150. 00. She apologized for not being able to pick us up because she was rather busy at Church. I assured her that it’s OK and that we will be fine.
THE DECEITFUL TAXI DRIVER AT NAIA
Star and I then hailed a taxi and immediately got in. But before the taxi driver could even start the taxi engine, I asked for the taxi meter. It took him a long time to retort back. I waited for his answer which he only gave while we were on our way out of the NAIA vicinity. He told us that he doesn’t do meter and that he has a standard price. The explanation had me totally perplexed. He then handed over to me the laminated price list. I got agitated. I could feel my blood rushed up to my head when I saw that it would cost us PhP 600.00 going to Pasay City where MOA is located. I immediately dialed Ally’s number and told her what’s going on. She told me to argue with the driver and insist that we are looking for a metered taxi. If we can’t meet half-way, she told me to request the driver to drop us where it’s allowed to unload passengers so we could get another taxi. The taxi driver argued back that we still are required to pay the full amount of PhP 600.00 even if we don’t reach our destination. To appease us, he even said he is giving us a discount of PhP 100. 00 so that makes it only PhP 500.00. Star and I never stopped telling him the entire time that we can’t absorb the idea that we are going to pay that much where we know for a fact that we could get a ride for only PhP 150.00. I further told him that though we came from the Province, we aren’t that dumb!
The driver couldn’t be swayed. I kept telling him that it’s not just and fair to ask that much from us. Right from the start, he knew that we were looking for a metered taxi. He pretended to have one not until we were out of the NAIA and declared that he drives an airport taxi. I made it clear to him the entire time that I will never pay the amount. That’s the time when he suggested to us that he will drive us back to NAIA when MOA was already visible from where we were. I told him that he should have done it a long time back when I asked to be dropped so we could hire another taxi. At the time Ally called me up and gave me another instruction to ask the driver to drive us to the nearest police station so we could have him reported. I rejected the suggestion because we wouldn’t want to be late for our KL flight that day. At the time, Star was very apprehensive because the driver turned around when we reached MOA. Though I felt scared, I was still on the fighting mood and told him to stop the taxi at that instant. Star motioned the PhP 500. 00 to give it in full to the driver for our safety. I had no other recourse but to do just that. We were completely helpless. I have never felt so vulnerable my entire life! It was not within my comfort zone!
We didn’t go out of the taxi without lashing out some words which he will forever remember, that is, if he got some conscience going in his body. Star emphasized that he will pay dearly for deceiving us. I told him that he will one day find his match. He had the nerve to hand over to us the receipt which isn’t official. The receipt he gave us wasn’t registered at the Bureau of Internal Revenue. That’s true blue deception!
The taxi's Plate Number is UVF 392
I am not stereotyping but this bad experience had me thinking that the deception was the driver’s desperation act to save up an impoverished family. But the end does not justify the means. Taking advantage of other people’s vulnerability won’t make him rich. I somehow believe in Karma. Whatever he sow he shall reap. I just know that the driver will have his own karma one day.
“I am the owner of my karma .
I inherit my karma.
I am born of my karma.
I am related to my karma.
I live supported by my karma.
Whatever karma I create, whether good or evil, that I shall inherit.”
The Buddha, Anguttara Nikaya V.57 – Upajjhatthana Sutta
General Santos Time
Hola my dear friend Lainy
Bill´s last [type] ..Franki Love A Star In The Making
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 16th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
@Bill,
Hello Bill! I dropped off a comment at your entertainment blog
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Wow that is so bad that people have to do that. I had a similar experience when i went to Manila to me what was back then my fiance. The cab driver was going to make us pay a big amount and i told him to stop right were he was and we got out. I agree with karma Lainy. What you sow you will also reap. I am glad you were safe. Take care dear friend Hugs
Bill´s last [type] ..Music Monday
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 16th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
@Bill,
Oh! So sad that you had the same experience as Star and I, Bill. I am sure there are a lot of people out there who had similar experiences.
I am just too grateful we’re back in one piece and still able to blog about this bad experience, LOL!
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Thanks mi amiga i will respond back to it in a bit
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 17th, 2011 at 7:30 am
@Bill,
You are most welcome, Bill!
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Grrrrrrr, I hear u sweetie! I hate cheating cab drivers who like to con u thinking that they’re the only ones who have to work for their money.. overcharging for no reason….grrrr.. .hugs for u!
Mariuca´s last [type] ..European Escapade – Leaving for Amsterdam!
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 17th, 2011 at 7:32 am
@Mariuca,
You said it, Sweetie! Hugs back to you!
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Gurl, this month din pumunta kami ng manila for Mj’s competition, we asked the driver to take us in santolan pasig, we even said evangelista, but we said pasig. grrr dinala ba naman kami sa pasay, evangelista, wahhh, from then on hindi na kami nag taxi buti pang mag fx na lang or jeep makakauwi ka pa sa oras, alam mo bang it took us like 4 or 5 hours to find our way home. we were so exhausted. grrr
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 17th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
@anne,
That’s no good, Anne. There are a lot of cheaters swamping around Manila and anywhere else that’s why it’s too hard to let our guards down.
Thanks for the share.
Hugs!
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I do believe in karma too.
Your story reminds me of the hotel taxi that drove us to the centennial airport from the hotel in Manila. It cost us Php 600 too and I was really shocked kay duol ra man. Wa pa jud traffic. I think it only took us 10-15 mins from the hotel to the airport. But the man was very nice so sige na lang. Mao pud daw to ila rate jud. Kapoy na makig argue.
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 17th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
@Lynn,
It was actually a total rip off, Lynn. It’s Ok if the cab driver was nice and helpful. In our case, we even had to ask for our luggage to be carried in and out of the cab. Duh!
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Ohh.. its really a NO NO NO for me to take a cab in NAIA, grabehh talamak dyan ang mga lokohan. There is a bus, that will take you upto pasay taft its only 15 or 20 ang pamasahe. At exclusive yun bus na yun sa mga passengers lang.
lady´s last [type] ..Virtual Party for BB Karen
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 17th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
@lady,
Yes Ada. We could have opted for the bus but we did not coz we have a lot of luggage in tow, LOL! And as per instruction of the cousin, 150 maximum for a fare wasn’t too much. But 600 was a total rip off, grrrrrrrrrrr!
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Hi Leyn, sorry about that!! gosh! Next time though, sa arrival sang international airport,go to the right facing the taxi, naay office sa airport where you could get an official receipt and the crew will ask you kung asa imong destination sa Manila, then kung duol lang they will give you a price of 150 dayon imo na ihatag sa taxi driver na naka pila sa airport. Mao na perme amo buhat aron dili cla maka atik..if ma detect sang taxi driver na wala mo receipt na gunit gunit diha cla mag start ug pangatik ug tigaan mo ug unofficial na receipt.
Twerlyn´s last [type] ..Hot Air Balloons Festival
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 18th, 2011 at 8:33 am
@Twerlyn,
Hello Lermz. Problem is, wala pa mi nakahawa ani for our trip. We just arrived from Gensan.
It’s actually the first time that I had the guts to ride the cab unaccompanied by someone that’s familiar in Manila.
Anyways, a hard lesson learned. Sige lang kay ang gaba, wa man gasaba.
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glad to see you back lainy. at times when i’m forced to use public transport before when i was still in Manila, I’d go for the bus. i think i had never tried a cab in NAIA before…
ah, just once pala but there were four of us then, two guys pa. it’s either the driver was honest or he was wary of the two barakos with us.
Techie She´s last [type] ..Techie She’s Lucky Blogger Weekly Giveaways Week No 3
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 18th, 2011 at 8:36 am
@Techie She,
Thank you,She!
I feel unsafe anywhere in Manila, may it be in a cab or in a bus. I mean no offense but I’d prefer the laid back life in the province.
I’d definitely not go around Manila unaccompanied again. Sigh!
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Hi Lainy…sa Davao kay kung nakaline ang taxi didto, naa man na ginahatag ang airport nga papel inyo fill-upan in case nga magka problema. naa pud ko similar experience ana, as in nakig lalis jud ko…pagsakay namo ingon jud nga ibaba ang metro, unya wala man, di nibaba mi…kuk. charge to experience na lang.
Avs´s last [type] ..Sepia 136
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 18th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
@Avs,
Hello Avs!
Gusto lagi jud namo unta manaog ato pero pagsulti namo naa mi sa Superhighway. Ingon ko idrop kung asa puede pero ingon ang ungas nga driver kay mao ra daw gihapon bayran namo. Mangingilad jud lagi. Charge to bad experience nalang jud.
Thanks for the visit. Ni-c0mment ko ngadto sa imong sepia nga hulagway
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Ang dami talagang nanamantalang taxi drivers sa airport, akala nila lahat ng galing sa airport eh maloloko nila. Haaay, they should be banned from falling in line there.
Followed your GFC, hope you could follow mine too. Thanks!
Badet´s last [type] ..Look who’s flying
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Lainybelle Reply:
June 19th, 2011 at 10:41 am
@Badet,
Sinabi mo pa, Det.
Thanks for the follow. I followed you back and dropped off a comment at your recent post.
See yah!
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sad to hear about your bad experience lainy..
visiting u here.. hope we can see each other again soon
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Lainybelle Reply:
February 2nd, 2012 at 5:12 pm
@reyapot,
I hope so too po.
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Hello Lainy, howdy? It’s been a while since my last visit. Makashock kaau ang 500php nga fare from airport to MOA oi…that was a bad experience indeed. Makasurop jud og dugo ng gahaman kau nga drivers. Karma nalang jud iya.
chie´s last [type] ..I Lose Weight In Three Weeks
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Lainybelle Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
@chie,
Hi Chie! I am good, thank you.
How have you been? Haven’t seen you in ages
Lagi uy! Daghan kaayo mangingilad karon ba. But I do believe in karma. Bahala na si Lord.
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