Fake Airport Taxis Charging Exorbitant Rates

Remember the ‘Imbestigador’ episode where they exposed the airport taxis not using the meter and showing passengers a laminated menu charging exorbitant rates and threatening to run away with your luggage if you don’t pay? Well, guess what? They’re back.

I arrived at the NAIA last September 15, 2010 from Dubai, UAE. My brother was waiting for me at the arrivals area and together we walked towards the gate to exit the airport when a man asked us if we need transport. I asked him how much they charge and he showed me a folder with rates per destination which was in Dollars. I told him we’re only going to Mall of Asia and he said it will cost around 950 pesos. I declined and we continued to the exit where buses going to Cubao are passing by.  Reaching the waiting shed, I hailed a Taxi, the name was ROSE with plate number TXY 339, 

When he drove off.. Don't worry I got my luggage *heh*

and asked the driver if he will take us to Mall of Asia and if he’s going to use the taxi meter. He said he charges by ‘meter rate’ and tired as I already am we got in. A little way ahead, I noticed that his meter is covered by a brown towel so I asked him why he isn’t using it. He said they charge only a small amount and that he only gets 1 peso and their organization? Gets the most and kept rambling on. I asked him how much he will charge going to Mall of Asia and he gave me an A5 sized yellow laminated paper with the places and the respective rates. Pasay (for MOA) costs 650 pesos. I told him to stop the cab because I will not pay that amount. We were currently in the junction waiting for the traffic light and he said he will drop me at the Park and Fly building. I told him I know about their modus operandi and I saw this in Imbestigador but he said he’s not trying to fool me and they were legitimate. I told him how much I should pay if we get down now and he said 100 pesos. I am worried he might drive away with my luggage so I paid but not before I took a snapshot of his plate number and if you will notice one of the digits in the telephone number has been blacked out but I still could read it as 9.

See the blacked out number? 9 isn't it?

I decided to report this incident as I’m a really huge fan of Imbestigador and I have faith that *in a Mike Enriquez voice* ‘hindi namin ito tatantanan!’. I came home from Dubai several times before already and because of Imbestigador exposing those scumbags charging exorbitant rates to unsuspecting passengers, I opted to either use the airport taxi or when budget is low, go outside the airport vicinity and hail a taxi but always making sure they use the meter.

As a parting note, I would like to warn people who arrive at the NAIA to be careful when hiring a transport. Either use the airport Taxis (located just above the waiting area), get a relative or a friend to pick you up, or if you really need to use a normal taxi outside the airport premises, make sure the taxi driver will use the meter and avoid dingy looking cabs which are most likely ‘kolorum’.  For those drivers engaging in this kind of extortion, not all people who come out of the Airport Terminal 1 are rich. A lot of us are also workers who worked our asses off to support our families. What you’re doing is called robbery. Shame on you.

Loving from a Distance...

"Time doesn't matter. Each time we see each other, it's wonderful.." - Gaurau from Sex and The City 2

Gaurau is Carrie Bradshaw's butler at the hotel where the STC girls are staying and while he was warming the milk for Carrie, he suggested adding cinnamon as he had learned from his wife that it tastes good. She agreed and apologized for not dismissing him earlier (as the butler stays until he is dismissed). Gaurau said it's ok as his wife is in India and they only see each other every three months. Carrie asked if it's hard not seeing each other for a long time and he said that line.

I was with BB at her room watching Sex and the City 2 while eating lunch when I heard this line. It perfectly describes how I feel whenever I see my husband after a long time. Even if we are separated for so long, you'd think we'll act like strangers or worse lose whatever feelings we've had when we were together but no, it's like he never left and yeah, feelings do change. I feel that I love him more. Call me a lovesick fool but for the 5 years we are married (well, not counting the time when we met and were friends that'll add another 2 years), we are still thriving in this thing called Long Distance Relationship.

When he first became my Boyfriend, he was in Caloocan, Manila while I was living in Sorsogon City in the Bicol Region. I went to Manila three months into our relationship to work and was able to see him regularly. When we got married in 2005, he had to leave for Dubai and I was 6 months pregnant that time. That was the worst time of my life. It felt like I was being abandoned but we have to do it for our baby. I've heard many stories where spouses become unfaithful while they are overseas and I was a little scared. I would remind myself that for the 3 years I have known my husband then, he never, EVER made promises that he cannot deliver or say things he doesn't mean. He said he always wants to see me smile and he makes me. We chat weekly on his Off even though he has to ride a bus for an hour just to go to an internet cafe and he texts at least 3 times a week (load is expensive). Then came the last week of September, 2006 where a week after typhoon Milenyo struck, Michael surprised us all by walking in the front door. He kissed me and there was nothing quite like it. It was a passionate kiss filled with a year of longing. After a month of pure bliss, he had to go back. There goes my heart again...


To be continued....

Farewell Parties and Change of Plans

Today is Thursday, my usual Day Off at work. But my last day at work was last Sunday, August 22, 2010 and today, I am feeling melancholic.

It's crazy how time goes so fast when you're enjoying yourself at the same time it can be a real drag when you want it to be over quickly. I wanted this day to end FAST! During my last day at work, my manager asked me how I'm feeling now that it's only a couple more hours to my freedom. I told him It's the same as everyday, as if I'm still gonna come to work the next day. Funny, but that's what I felt. I thought maybe I'll be emotional later and this is just a case of late reaction. I got home but I still couldn't feel anything except happiness and excitement.

That night, we had arranged to have a small pot luck courtesy of my Friends and Colleagues from the Front Office. As I didn't have much money at the time, I decided to cook 'Goto' or 'Rice Porridge' with pig's intestines. I started cooking while watching the news and reading facebook posts when (my hubby) called me on Skype. He said he had bad news (he typed it) and then I waited, dreading what he's gonna say and hoping it's a joke. He took a while to type it and said HR told him that my Visit Visa was denied by the Bahrain government. I was still waiting for him to say JOKE! and give me that silly grin of his but when he didn't, i realized it's true. I asked why and he said the embassy told HR that his Salary is not enough to procure a husband visa. I was stunned. Michael continued to say his loan had not been granted by Citibank as they currently have a problem with Mike's company. All I could think of was why have they not informed us earlier of the requirement for a visa sponsored by the company. Mike was calm but I can feel his disappointment and anger. He said the HR will try to call the embassy to reconsider but if it's not possible, by January it will be. I told Michael It's ok and probably God has other plans for us because our goal is still to come home on Lara's birthday. As I was reassuring him (it's not working) I didn't notice my tears flowing until Mike told me not to cry. Even though it's choking me I forced myself to be rational and assured Mike it's ok and we'll wait for the visa status before we plan our next move. Mike said he might not get to go home this year because the loan was not approved. He doesn't want to go home without lot's of money as the two times he went home before, he only had enough and had to stretch it until it's time for him to go back. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and if I can't go to Bahrain right now, then It is God's will and he has something better in store for us. Mike told me he is so blessed to have me as a wife and If it's any other woman, he'll be doomed. I felt comforted and a lil' happy with that.

I finished cooking and called the gang outside at the Block C barbecue area around 10:30PM and lo and behold! a good luck banner for me. I'm just a little surprised because I did not plan this to be my farewell party yet because I'll still be sticking around until I get the go signal. I was touched. There was Ate Ghe, Ate Ai, Lexy, BB, Heather, Cha-men, Ate Amor, Henry and Lourdes who dropped by straight from Abu Dhabi.

They even had a cake and gifts for me. Leya gave a yellow box to be opened when I'm alone while Ate Ghe gave me the chewy candies I loved from Malabari lol. Leya and BB made Tokwa't Baboy to complement my 'Goto' (Technically, ate Ghe was the one who fixed the taste heehee). After some picture taking we started to chow. It was so nice to have home-cooked food again after suffering cafeteria food for so long.

We had no alcohol but still had fun baiting each other and joking around. The others had to leave as they are morning shift and need to sleep. BB, Amor and Bregis (who passed by drunk) waited with me for the Late Shift people to arrive. Ate Fats and Yogie-bear came from somewhere and the Late Shift gang came straight from the bus: Dale, Larcy, Arvy, and Kim. They ate and afterwards we cleaned up. I would say it went well.

Once I am in my room, I felt a little dejected. I mean, after the carefully laid out plans we have of me going to Bahrain for a month and finding a job then both of us going home to Philippines in October with enough money to really have a great vacation, we're suddenly back to square one. I still prayed though that the second try will be the charm. I really want to go to Bahrain before going home to Philippines with Mike. We want to have Lara with us by next year if I get a Job in Bahrain. I would like us to have a decent family picture, too. I looked at the box Leya gave me and opened it. I laughed at her jab at me being annoying at times (*sigh* I know, I know but you love me anyways lol) and greatly appreciated what she gave me. I smiled and opened my browser to type a thank you message...