The Meanest Thing I Said To A Cab Driver
The Philippines for the lack of a better description is a littered with opportunistic cab drivers. By that, I mean the kind that will be more than happy to take advantage of anyone they would deem unwitting.
This little tale happened just before I started working for Telus. I was procuring documents in Makati and upon dropping off near Makati Cinema Square, I did my best to hail myself a cab because Grab rates were a bit too high at that hour. Another thing you have to watch out for would be the opportunistic dispatchers. You want to keep them from hailing you a cab against your will for an extra buck. Because they will seize every opportunity to charge you even for something as small as opening a door to a cab you hailed on your own.
Now, upon hailing the said cab, I told him to go to Glorietta 3. It seemed like a typical slow ride (thanks to the traffic), until I noticed that the meter had already spiked to 95.00 PHP. Now, I wouldn't mind this if we've already near the Glorietta area. We barely got far enough from MCS as we were only in Chino Roces.
I'd be damned if I let a cab driver con me around that strip. For a second there, I lost it and spoke up.
"Hold on. We're still in Chino Roces. Why is the meter already at 95?" I asked in an irritated tone.
The cab driver responded with a tone that said "It's the standard rate here." with a look on his face thinking I would buy his idiocy.
"Dude, I picked you up at MCS!" I said sounding more pissed than ever.
He then rebutted with "It's traffic Sir."
"Allow me to call you out your b******t. We hardly got as far as a ten minute walk from MCS. I wouldn't mind seeing 47 or 50 on your meter given the traffic but 90? Who do you think I am? A tourist?"
Before he could rebutt, I cut him off and went on to say what I could describe as the meanest thing I have said to a cab driver.
"Wow, you're the biggest idiot I ran into today! You're really gonna try and con a guy who used to live in Washington St? What are you? Retarded?"
What followed next was simply magical. I saw what looked like the most miserable and nervous expression on a cab driver's face. For the lack of a better description, every muscle in the guy's face mourned. He just froze there and took at least 30 seconds to even realize that I just ripped the ID that dangled off the rear view mirror, opened the door and called a cop (who I applaud for actually responding real time).
I watched in amazement as he pleaded with the police officer. It was simply the most priceless moment that will forever be burnt in my memory. And the two gentlemen involved. Moments later, I rode another cab, gave the driver the same directions and slipped my headphones in. The scene of the cab driver tearfully begging a police officer not to take his license away faded with the rest of the background as I looked away with the song "Sweet Dreams" by Marilyn Manson kicking off my playlist.
Lesson learned: If you're a cab driver, think twice before you con a guy just because he doesn't speak your tongue.
Less than a year later...Yay! A local cab driver just conned Mike Chen from Strictly Dumpling during a ride to his hotel. Never mind that I love his channel. You just put us on the map warning foreign YouTubers to watch out. Next time, do try that on someone like Pewdiepie and let's see how that turns out.