On tricycle drivers in Metro Manila
[penned May 23 2007]
I definitely dislike most tricycle drivers here in Quezon City. They are quite disrespectful to people.
One particular, and notorious, example is in Quezon City, Mostly the Commonwealth TODA drivers. Of course I can’t avoid riding them every time I can, for most of them are the monopoly of transport in the suburbs. But most of these drivers are uneducated (didn’t finish even high school), or just tasteless buffoons.
Most of them call passengers like dogs. Like “Psst… sakay ka?” (Psst… You ridin’?) or “Hoy pogi/miss, sakay ka?” (Hey handsome/miss, you ridin’?). Maybe the use of “Psst…” or “Hey” is not that much noticed in Western countries, but in Asia, respect is a staple. Respect is as needed as the use of rice in Asian meals. Asians are respectful people, and we Asians deserve respect because we respect in return. But most of these tricycle drivers unmake my day. Disrespectful sons of b**ches. I do respect the fact that they didn’t even finish secondary education, but that fact alone doesn’t justify their lack of respect for their passengers. Heck, even their use of the word “pogi” (handsome). That’s the same way salon owners call their male customers. Or how stall owners at Divisoria call male customers. It’s just service, not really praise. And that fact also sucks.
One time, I got really pissed with one. There was this line, and this driver is waiting for passengers at around 2 pm, one of the hours you wouldn’t wish to be outside the summer heat. He needs one passenger more to fill his quota get out of the line.
I was coming to ride when he spoiled it with the usual: “Psst… hoy pogi, isa na lang!” (Psst… hey handsome, one more [available seat]!). He picked me at the time I’m really pissed with school work, so I just shunned him and rode the only one tricycle driver who didn’t call me “psst…” or “hoy” at the line. He even had the gall to call me back from front, “Hoy pogi, isa na lang… dito ka na sumakay, paalis na ako.”. I don’t need to translate again. That sonofab**ch. The driver of the tricycle I boarded didn’t seem to mind me being an early customer. After all, I think the driver I chose is a good guy. He even gave me a discount even though I didn’t ask for one.
There are only few tricycle drivers that are respectful, give discounts to students/senior citizens, and properly drop off customers in their destinations, sometimes even helping them carry their groceries at no extra credit at all. The fact: only a few. I can even count them with my fingers. I won’t even go beyond 30. And there are more than 100 registered tricycle drivers in Commonwealth TODA.
A few good men.
Briathrail // Albert 2MNG 
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