Warning: Tricksters and Scammers Await Arriving Tourists and Travellers

Taking Philippine Airlines from Cebu, we arrived at quarter to 12 midnight in Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The difficulty is finding a budget friendly taxi that is safe and secure to take us home. There are taxis in queue at the lobby of the arrival area, but I brought my mom and my sister to the departure lobby instead. I thought that there is a likelier chance for us to get a taxi from there, since there will be those taking passengers for departure.

It took us more than fifteen minutes, one taxi came by but the driver said he would be out of the way since he was going to Cavite. Then the security officer whistled for that taxi to leave. A lady guard approached us and asked where we are going. She warned of "kuratongs" in the airport - taxi drivers getting into the departure area to pick passengers for a higher price.

Kuratong means scam. The guard explained that there are taxi drivers who get inside with fake passengers dropped off at the area, so they can enter the airport. Sometimes they would bribe the guards of the terminalto to let them in. The thing is they ask more excessively than the franchised taxis operators in the airport. Worst, those taxis could be colorum - unregistered to operate from the Land Transportation Office.

After that first taxi that came by, we waited. I was conscious that I had my mom and sister with me. My mom could n ot be standing for long at the lobby, as it was past midnight and she had been complaining about her arthritic knee. Another taxi came. I asked the driver if he could take us to Taguig to drop my sister off her house and then to Sta Ana to take us home, with a hint that I would just add some amount to the meter rate.

The driver agreed. I loaded our luggages while my mom and sister got inside the cab. The taxi moved, but the meter was not still on. I informed the driver about the meter. He pressed a button then told us that he would be charging us 70.00 per kilometer. We complained it was excessive, but I was thinking of just getting to Taguig while I kept my eyes on the meter.

I uncomfortable inside the cab. The aircon was not working well, the doors have no locks and it smells like soiled socks in it. It was very dark outside, no lit public space that we could drop off. Seeing Terminal 4, I thought of getting off there, where security officers where standing by, but the car was running fast.

On the road to Villamor, the driver swerved left going to Tramo without informing us. Immediately, I asked where we are going. Then, he said, he would just be gassing up. That was rude for me. Passengers should be informed by the driver of what's going on and where we are going. The meter then was at 2.7 kilometers. I said uncalmly, "Yes, go get some gas, and we're getting off at the station."

I thought, the gas station would be a better place to get another taxi. It was safer for us to get off there, take our luggages off the compartment and argue with that driver. I told my my sister and my mom to get off the taxi which surprised them. But, they knew something was wrong, and my voice was not calm at all. We paid the driver 180.00 which he asked from us, though I told my sister to give him only 100. Then I took a picture of the cab's plate which was PWC 721.

I felt the need to get off from that taxi, not only because of its excessive charge and uncomfortable feeling I have. The driver misinformed us in the first place, unlawful, and swerved out of the way. He could do things he wanted. If I tried to pull him off the road, we could get out of the cab and he could run away with all our luggages at the back seat compartment. He could hold us up somewhere, drive us off road and still run away with our money and luggages.

Regulated taxi meter rate is 40.00 flat for the first 500 meters and additional 3.50 for every 300 meters.  From the gas station to my sister's house was 16.7 kms. If we proceeded with the first taxi we took, we could have been charged more than 1,000.00 pesos. That is more than the charge of the franchised airport taxis. Although, the driver of the other taxi we rode was amiable and accomodating  I noticed a discrepancy too in his taxi meter, it added 3.50 every 100 meters.

Airports and piers seem to be a vulnerable place for tourist tricksters and scammers. In Tagbilaran, trycicle drivers would offer 200.00 per ride to the terminal in Tagbilaran, while outside the airport the regular charge is just 20 per head. In Cebu pier 1, taxi drivers would offer a ride to the Capitol area for 200.00, while regular meter rate is just 70.00 to 80.00, and jeepney fare would just be less than 20.00. In Cubao, if you are taking the bus and getting a taxi to nearby Manila, taxi drivers will mug you with their contract price of 200.00 or more, while from Cubao to Manila, the meter rate is just less than 150.00

Tourists may be informed of tricksters and scammers. Upon arrival, whether by air, land or sea, the tourist is not ready for any haggling. They are in a hurry if not excited to get home and rest. It is unhospitable, unaccommodating and rude to trick the tired passengers. Tourists and travellers alike, local or foreign are generous to tip the warm, hospitable and accommodating driver. Drivers need not deal with contracted price because for sure, a soul consoled with a safe drive home rewards another heartily.

Now I wonder, is this how fun in the Philippines?

The genius in three Idiots

This review may be a real late, but a great movie for me deserves the best review it could get, no matter how late it might be. It will be idiotic for me not to speak wonderfully of a film that leaves a lasting impression as it rouses the viewers emotions and intellect to look at college education and life with heart, mind and soul.

"Three Idiots" is a typical Indian movie that follows the Bollywood formula of having song and dance at the height of the drama and action. Written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, it is not the usual comedy that would make the audience laugh their hearts out. Its representation of college education, the life of struggling students, the common Indian family's hope for a future, opportunity and helplessness in society, love and happiness are like a blend of spices that put the movie to become a world-wide hit: a delectable Indian dish that fills the taste buds with a soul.

The movie, starred Aamir Khan as Rancho, whom his two other college friends, Farhan (R. Madhavan) and Raju (Sharman Joshi) lost after graduation. It was flash back of memories as Farhan and Raju searched for Rancho who was the wisest amongst them. They were the three idiots in their batch, for they did the strangest things, made worst decisions, cracked the wildest jokes, and resisted the system. They were not the normal college dudes who took the studies seriously, as to the eyes of the school director Mr. Virus and their other teachers and classmates.

Rancho, Farhan and Raju were three idiots for they violated the expectations of the society, they did not live to the norms and standards of the school. The movie is a myriad of stories that unfolded as Farhan and Raju happened to have knowledge of the whereabouts of their long lost friend. Idiocy has been represented in the many egotistic life-decisions of the characters, and the dysfunctional school system and the society that looks at status and achievement.  

Rancho was the son of gardener who ran for errands at the residence of rich family. This was a secret his friends have to discover later. He has a brilliant mind ahead of his academic grade. He delights in learning, so he skipped into school with his master's uniform, and would complete and attend school in behalf of his master. While his master had no knack for schooling, he was sponsored by the older master of the house to pursue engineering for the latter's son. He excelled until college, but he has his own way of learning and expressing ideas. He topped in their batch, although he was often pointed to be influencing his friends badly.

He was a wise counselor and gives good advice but he has no courage speak about his feelings to Pia, the daughter of the school director. Pia is engaged to Suhas, a rich guy who has price tag for everything. Until Rancho made him discover about Suhas, Pia began to fall in love with Rancho. Their love affair did not progress until the end of the story, when Pia will run away from her wedding to find Rancho.

Raju is one poor guy who dreamed of earning an engineering degree so he could buy a car as dowry for his sister and medicine for his dad who uses up his mother's pension. Farhan is an excellent budding photographer, but ended up taking engineering because that is what his father wanted for him. He found himself always at the bottom of the list in terms of academic performance, next to him is Raju. The story of friendship among these three idiots were glued by the passionate desire of Rancho for life.

Rancho has simple philosophies in life, grades don't matter, they actually divide people into classes. Life must be lived for one's happiness and not for others'. One must stand on their own feet and learn to live well for others. "Pursue for excellence, and success will chase you." Rancho's character was built to represent a happy-go-lucky, non serious, college student but with a passion to learn the profession. He gets to be scared too and lacks courage, but he takes heart as tricks his own heart with a belief and mantra that "All is Well".

After years of having lost each other. Farhan pursued his dream of becoming a photographer, an advise he heeded from Rancho. Raju became successful to as an engineer. Rancho, who took a degree for someone else was revealed to be Pukshin Wangdu, a popular scientist with hundreds of patented invention, who worked his passion for learning as teacher in village so far away. The search culminated with Rancho fulfilling his dream of seeing Pia getting off the scooter in bride's dress and removing his helmet to kiss him. But of course, it did not happen with a kiss, instead a spank from her.

There are many scenes in the movie that would really make the audience laugh, but it also has a lot of tearjerking scenes, mushy moments that would wet the audience's eyes. The movie is indeed amazing with all the lessons it imparts to everyone. I have to admit that I watched it 3 times in a row, the whole afternoon and cried the same way I did as the first time.  It is a commentary about life as a school.

The Splurge of Travelling

To others what I have gotten into recently must be a splurge. To me, it's all worth it. Since April I have spent the days mostly off Manila. I've been traveling in places where I have never been. After my first trip in Banawe and Sagada, I went up there again. Then to Aurora and Quezon, next to Tarlac and Mt. Pinatubo. The last one I had was in San Antonio island in Northern Samar and Calbayog City in Western Samar.

It's a splurge if I am to account how much I've spent. Nevertheless, my eyes will never behold the beauty of my country if I don't spend for it. Even if I take the expenses at budget line, I will still be spending. The joy of traveling, seeing places, learning things around the countryside, getting lost in the outdoors and finding my way back, being greeted with warm smiles -- these are perks I could not get from being couch potato in front of the TV.

One time, my cousin asked me an honest upfront question. It must be out his curiosity that I've been away from the house most of the time. "Do you have mission?" He got me there, and I replied. "Yes, I wanted to see the Philippines, that's my mission for now." And, I am really enjoying it.

I am not running away from any obligation. I have my research proposal done, with very little revisions needed. I just needed that prodding, sort of internal motivation. I have this time "now" to be away from work with pay. I have dogged into work for years, and never really had myself a long break for myself. Should I spend it in another way?

I did not save any money for my travel. I actually loaned for it. My mom and my sister, sensing that I had money asked me if we are going to do some house renovation. In my mind, I don't want to be watching over construction men break and refurbish the house, not on days that I should be recreating myself. I also know that moving one beam in our house will need a lot of money, because almost everything above the ground needed to be replaced. Budget wise, my money won't be enough.

I saw an SUV on sale, the day before I left for Aurora. The money I had would be enough to pay the down payment, and the monthly dues are affordable. I wanted a car for me, but I had to let that one pass. I thought, if I get the car it would just sit in the garage more often than when I am going to use it. I still can get along commuting and I know the right time will come when I'll be driving my own car.

Staying in a house where I have my own room, and driving my own car to where I want to go. Those are fine things I want too in my life. Earning my PhD by completing my research this year, that too is a priority of mine. Traveling came to me as a new discovery and I am really enjoying it. It was never in my plan. I may not be able to see all of what the Philippines has to offer, but I am taking this time to see whatever I could, given the resources I have.

Call it a splurge or perky, to me traveling recreates a person to know himself better in relation to other people, to learn what books and online articles don't say about places and culture, and to reinvigorate the burnt out body and down stressed mind. Those things perhaps keep me moving as traveling feeds in me great memories of everything my senses could feast on - that's the splurge of traveling.