Manila taxi drivers on the meter

[flying fish]

i think you handled it quite well. especially with the cold stares and all. personally, i'd just tell them to run the meter and i'll give them something extra. they normally shut up or start chatting you up hoping you find them friendly enough to leave a good tip.

dennis

 

[Pez7378]

"We have a contract with the Hotel", "Oh its a flat rate due to Airport regulations", "Oh you can afford it, really it's not that much" Blah blah blah.

No meter no fare, period. Sounds like you handled it the only way that works. My girlfriend would generally scold these guys in Tagalog saying they're giving Pinoys a bad name for taking advantage of foreigners.

 

[Hank49]

I was just in Manila today Mike and I see they are cracking down on all the illegal buses. Out of 3,500 buses on Edsa 1,000 are illegal. They are the worst, they try to kill me at least 4 or 5 times a day there...

What's illegal? Emissions?
Yeah, arriving in Manila and riding a taxi is pretty shocking at first. But there's order in the chaos...you just have to learn the unwritten rules....controlled "chicken", sort of.
I could write a book on run ins with taxis over the years. The best was a guy bringing me home in Iloilo at 5 am from a Manila flight. I handed him a P100 note for a P40 ride (1988 or so) and he tells me, "you give me 25 more". As I was cussing him for all I was worth, my wife shows up at the side of the car and tells me "hipos na" (be quiet). The next morning the cab shows up, the man with his hat in his hand...nice as could be, with my P60 refund. HAH !!. My wife's father was Asst Director of Iloilo Land Transportation Office and took his license away until he paid me back. I'd see the guy for years after that and it was like we were long lost buddies. Life in the Philippines....gotta love it.

 

[happybuddha]

I used to stay quite a lot at a friend's in Valle Verde, I once got in a taxi and the driver wanted P300 to take me to Makati (this was 6 years, so petrol wasn't as expensive) and we argued. I eventually got out of the cab to look elsewhere, but as a parting gift as I was getting out of the taxi I pulled down my shorts and shot a huge moon his way (those that have met me can attest that it would be a rather large moon). Plus I did what I always do when taxi piss me off, I left the back door open.

I have dozens of Manila taxi stories, I have no humor when it comes to taxi drivers, but I won't bore you with them. Bottom line is, you handled it properly jbb.

Drew

 

[Diver Dennis]

What's illegal? Emissions? /QUOTE]

The buses have to pay a licensing fee to be able to operate, otherwise they are "colorum" or illegal. From what I understand, there are a limited number of licenses so that should limit the number of buses. Taking almost a third of the buses currently running off the road would make a huge difference. Especially in Cubao where there are huge bus jams at times.

The legal ones have had RFID chips installed in them so the crocodiles know which are colorum. The illegal ones are spray painted with a big colorum on each side.

 

[shugar]

What's illegal? Emissions? /QUOTE]

The buses have to pay a licensing fee to be able to operate, otherwise they are "colorum" or illegal. From what I understand, there are a limited number of licenses so that should limit the number of buses. Taking almost a third of the buses currently running off the road would make a huge difference. Especially in Cubao where there are huge bus jams at times.

The legal ones have had RFID chips installed in them so the crocodiles know which are colorum. The illegal ones are spray painted with a big colorum on each side.

wow! thanks for that dennis... never knew some of what you said...

you've become quiet the filipino i see

Jag

PS
@jason: great way to handle them the mother!@($#($&!(&#!#$*#**$@!

 

[Diver Dennis]

Jag, when something is trying to kill you every time you dive into Manila, it's prudent to study your enemy...

 

[clgsamson]

Jag, when something is trying to kill you every time you dive into Manila, it's prudent to study your enemy...

hehe I love gago drivers....

 

[jonix]

Jag, when something is trying to kill you every time you dive into Manila, it's prudent to study your enemy...

@jason: well done. if it happens again just get another cab.












they're gonna get you dennis....

 

[Diver Dennis]

Well, Amie finally got me to quit giving them the finger...