Greedy Taxi Drivers

Yesterday evening, just before the end of the work day, it rained heavily. Some streets were flooded. Some people were drenched and soaked.

At about 8:15 pm, I tried catching a taxi. It took me a little over an hour standing on Dela Rosa trying to flag a taxi. People were competing for the next cab. Fortunately, it stopped raining by this time.

A cab passed by and didn't want to take me anywhere except to the MRT. I suppose he just want to make a quick buck.

Another cab passed by and said that he can't go to Eastwood. What a drag!

Finally, I was able to catch one who could take me to Eastwood City. There was no traffic at all, and I got home in less than 45 minutes.

Sometimes, taxi drivers pick and choose their passengers. Most times, I should say. Their doors are badly painted with "To any point in Luzon." It should be, "to any point I agree to take you."

It's a dog eat dog world out there.

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It's been a long time...

I've managed to survive the Philippines. Some people struggle with not having enough food to eat. Some struggle with the lack of good education. Some fight against corruption daily.

Here I was struggling with self-identity. I did not know if I belonged here. If I was a Filipino. If I was an American. If I was a Filipino-American. A year and a half later, I realized that we are all people, wherever we go. We have our own struggles; some just have it more difficult.

The things that used to bother me still bother me, but not to the extent that they would drive me crazy. I have learned to accept things that I cannot change and to continue fighting for things that really matter. I have learned to smile despite the hardship. I have learned to dignify people even more. I have learned that a fellow man, regardless of where he's from, is still a man.

When I first came here, most of my family and friends thought I was going crazy. They thought I've lost my mind.

They were right. I was crazy. And I did lose my mind. But I lost it when I got here. Then I found it again. I saw the horror, yet learned from them.

There are some things that are difficult to fathom here, but they can be surmountable. It starts from within. It starts in a change of attitude. I am continuing to change my attitude while I am here.

And I know that I am not writing specifics in this post, but I am glad that I came back to this blogging again to have a reflection so that I can see where I've been and where I am going.