Zen Den
Mar 22 2008, 02:38 PM
larryandlizel
Mar 22 2008, 03:07 PM
I remember my first trip to the Philippines; I landed in Manila and had to transfer over to the domestic airport. I was so excited to finally be there in Manila, that I immediately changed US to PHP and went outside to look for a taxi. I was greeted by a guy in a white shirt that had a badge on and he asked me if I needed a taxi. I told him yes and he said follow him and that it would be 500 PHP. I asked him how long to the domestic airport and he said 15 minutes, so thinking about how much a taxi cost in the US, I really did not care. We waited for a few minutes, I paid him, I jumped in the taxi and like 5 minutes later I was at the domestic terminal. Lizel was having a lot of fun over this the entire time I was in Cebu. She did teach me the way with taxi drivers and took very good care of me to make sure that we did not get ripped off. On each one of my three trips there, there is always some taxi driver trying to make some tricks. So are small tricks, just trying to add on a few extra pesos and some are much larger.
ray77755
Mar 22 2008, 07:26 PM
I think I could write a book about taxi drivers in the Philippines.
Samuel + Retchel
Mar 22 2008, 08:12 PM
I was riding a mopped close to the old Clarks Air Force Base and some police were pulling over foreigners. They noticed me and pulled me over. I was told I needed to pay 20,000 paso or I was going to jail for not having my license on me.
I told them I didn't have the money, but did in a safe at my hotel. They as where was the hotel. I told them the hotel was next to the tours police, they seemed not to like that and told me to cross the street and put the 2,000 paso I had in my pocket under the blanket in the back seat of the van parked there.
QUOTE(dennis777 @ Mar 22 2008, 12:38 PM)

Zen Den
Mar 22 2008, 09:12 PM
QUOTE(Samuel + Retchel @ Mar 22 2008, 09:12 PM)

I was riding a mopped close to the old Clarks Air Force Base and some police were pulling over foreigners. They noticed me and pulled me over. I was told I needed to pay 20,000 paso or I was going to jail for not having my license on me.
I told them I didn't have the money, but did in a safe at my hotel. They as where was the hotel. I told them the hotel was next to the tours police, they seemed not to like that and told me to cross the street and put the 2,000 paso I had in my pocket under the blanket in the back seat of the van parked there.
QUOTE(dennis777 @ Mar 22 2008, 12:38 PM)

Jesus, I'll have to remember this next time akin fiancee ask me to drive the van.
chuck_n_rose
Mar 22 2008, 11:03 PM
The taxi cabs, jeepney, tricyles, and buses are always an action packed adventure. No ride ever the same twice. I figured out to get the price before I get in to the cab and even pay them that amount what they will enroute to the destination, so he/she (I never encountered a female driver, but I'm sure they exist) cant change his/her mind about the transaction or if they get lost, that's on them.
All the rides are better than any roller coaster you will find in the U.S. plus they are much longer with no restraints [Living on the edge]
As a firefighter, I would expect to see much more traffic collisions, but I can't remember seeing any, kinda strange.
ChrisB0707
Mar 23 2008, 02:06 AM
I have been to the Philippines many times now but I can remember my first trip when I didnt know much about the area. The first time after checking into my condo I went down to get a taxi to Greenbelt Mall in Makati and the driver drove me around for 15 minutes and when I arrived at the mall i could see my condo building 1 block away. The mall was just 1 block behind the condo building. Best taxi to take from the airport is the airport taxi just out side at the Manila airport. Just ask where you can get an airport taxi and you will need to go to a little building outside. Only cost 330 pesos from the airport to Makati. its always a set fee and wrote on a paper slip before you even get in the taxi and its run by the airport so wont get scamed. I found a honest driver and got his cell phone and call him on his cell when im there because I know I can trust him. I have had a few who refuse to turn on the meter also. I ask them to turn the meeter on and if they dont I get out and give the taxi plate to the police. Never drive in a taxt if they wont turn the meter on.
ChrisB0707
Mar 23 2008, 02:06 AM
I have been to the Philippines many times now but I can remember my first trip when I didnt know much about the area. The first time after checking into my condo I went down to get a taxi to Greenbelt Mall in Makati and the driver drove me around for 15 minutes and when I arrived at the mall i could see my condo building 1 block away. The mall was just 1 block behind the condo building. Best taxi to take from the airport is the airport taxi just out side at the Manila airport. Just ask where you can get an airport taxi and you will need to go to a little building outside. Only cost 330 pesos from the airport to Makati. its always a set fee and wrote on a paper slip before you even get in the taxi and its run by the airport so wont get scamed. I found a honest driver and got his cell phone and call him on his cell when im there because I know I can trust him. I have had a few who refuse to turn on the meter also. I ask them to turn the meeter on and if they dont I get out and give the taxi plate to the police. Never drive in a taxt if they wont turn the meter on.
ChrisB0707
Mar 23 2008, 02:06 AM
I have been to the Philippines many times now but I can remember my first trip when I didnt know much about the area. The first time after checking into my condo I went down to get a taxi to Greenbelt Mall in Makati and the driver drove me around for 15 minutes and when I arrived at the mall i could see my condo building 1 block away. The mall was just 1 block behind the condo building. Best taxi to take from the airport is the airport taxi just out side at the Manila airport. Just ask where you can get an airport taxi and you will need to go to a little building outside. Only cost 330 pesos from the airport to Makati. its always a set fee and wrote on a paper slip before you even get in the taxi and its run by the airport so wont get scamed. I found a honest driver and got his cell phone and call him on his cell when im there because I know I can trust him. I have had a few who refuse to turn on the meter also. I ask them to turn the meeter on and if they dont I get out and give the taxi plate to the police. Never drive in a taxt if they wont turn the meter on.
banananut
Mar 23 2008, 02:11 AM
I can hardly argue or complain whenever Im in Manila because I speak funny tagalog....so that makes me hate them a lot more lol.
Ting Tong Farang
Mar 23 2008, 02:14 AM
I lived just outside Manila for a year and I could tell some stories about cabbies and cops.......
The one thing that pissed me off, when opening up a facility in down Laguna, we were delayed 4 months by PLDT in getting our DSL line for many bogus reasons. Funny how 5,000 Pesos solved the problem........
july052007
Mar 23 2008, 03:47 AM
im the one here in manila and yet i hate TAXI drivers sooooooooo much!
timcass_12
Mar 24 2008, 04:26 AM
My husband almost had a fight with a cab driver during our Cebu trip last July. It was his 2nd time (my 1st time) there and knew Cebu very well like a local so when he noticed that the taxi driver is taking a route different to the directions he recognized, he immediately called his attention and asked him to take the path we wanted. Unfortunately this very rude, stubborn and so impolite cab driver didn't conform because of traffic jam excuses. He told us that he was just taking a "short-cut" which of course means "danger" especially if you don't see any reason why he can't do as he was told. My husband got so furious and wanted to beat the guy but knowing we're both foreigners there (I am from Manila), I asked him to please calm down and we can just get another cab that will take us to the mall. We got out of the car but funny thing is he slammed the door so hard that he nearly break it.

Whew! I would honestly pity the cab driver if he went into a fight with my husband because he's so small compared to my husband who's 6"2 and 220 pounds.
SHAPE OF MY HEART
Mar 24 2008, 06:02 AM
Hi there,
First of all, i am nice person.
BUT
When i encounter a rude taxi driver, ( i can be a meany too!)
i say to him (driver) it's either you take my payment or i wont pay you at all..
There is this incident, i am with my mother from Shaw to Megamall,the driver is asking me 200, when it's only 60. i gave him 100, and he asked more, i said give me the 100, and so he gave it back to me, he thought i will give him 200, what i did was i closed the door and i said ok, if you dont want my 100, i will leave, and i said let's go Mom. My mom was shocked to what i did. The driver called me,and said "ok na po 100 Ma'am."
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