Vitamin Dy

Ever since I moved into the city, I’ve decided that the only forms of transportation I can still take are cabs and the occasional trike and train. On most occasions, I would get a cab where the only piece of conversation I would have with the driver is him asking me where I want to go and me giving him directions. Sometimes, though, I would get myself a ‘chatter’. Most of the chatters I encounter are harmless enough and mostly talk to themselves.

Tonight’s taxi cab tale is of a particular type of chatter that I hope never to encounter again. Though I have to admit, it was mildly amusing.

I had a coffee date with my friend Rory at Greenbelt and since I was already running pretty late, I decided to take a cab instead of the original plan of taking the LRT-MRT route to Makati. I managed to get a cab right in front of my apartment building and when I hopped into the cab, the driver kissed the rosary hanging from his rearview mirror and uttered the words “Salamat po, panginoon, nakakuha po ako ng papuntang Greenbelt.” (trans: “Thank you, Lord, I’ve got someone who’s going to Greenbelt.”)

I thought to myself, “Okay, maybe that’s just his ritual.” I didn’t think it was going to get any weirder, until he started singing to himself. Not only was he singing to himself, he was singing… inspirational songs, like the ones you hear in church. At first, he kept his voice to a level which I can still shut out. Halfway to Makati, a homeless person (I’m assuming) walks up to the taxi and asks for some change. The cab driver gives the guy a few coins, and says “Merry Christmas”, then turns to me and says “Sinabi ng Holy Spirit na dun sa taxi humingi.” (trans: “The Holy Spirit told him to ask the taxi for change.”) He then proceeds to quote verses from the Bible, and lectures me on how doing good things for others is good for your soul, etcetera.

Throughout his sermon, all I did was nod my head in pretentious agreement. After his lecture, though, the cab driver starts singing again. This time, much louder and with more gusto. In between songs, he shares tidbits from his life, how his 17-year-old son died of gunshot and his wife passing away from sickness (I felt a little bad about this). He tells me how he learned to never lose hope, and how singing helps him to stay awake. After another song, he pretended to thank the crowd for the silent applause, which, I admit, made me laugh.

It’s not everyday that I meet a cab driver who can double as a preacher/entertainer, but I still prefer cab drivers who just turn the music up (even if it was a bad radio station) and don’t bother to talk to me unless they need to ask for directions.

I ended up tipping him Php25, though.