A night with a Singapore taxi driver

I got out of the office around 11 PM today because of some data patching that we did with the server of one of the systems that our call centre is using. Since it’s very late already and I am so tired, I decided to get a cab to send me home from the office.

I got a cab and asked the driver to send me to Marsiling. I also asked him if he accepts cab charge as I will have my fare tonight charged to the company for I have stayed very late.

So, after I put on my seatbelt, I asked the driver how is his day and if he have been earning today very well. The driver who is about in his 40-50’s I believe answered promptly however he is quite sad as he said he is not earning well because there’s not much passengers today.

So we were chatting and comparing taxi drivers in Singapore of taxi drivers in Philippines. There is really difference in how much they earn however as the way he tells to me everything, I can sense that there is nothing much difference about how they complain life. All taxi drivers do the same type of job and the same way of earning money. They share the hardship of getting passengers during off peak hours and the joy of getting passengers on peak hours.

I had a very nice conversation with the taxi driver as we both talking about how is living in Singapore compared to living in Philippines. In a very short time that I was on his taxi back home, I learned and realized a lot of things.

But what made me smile when we are almost completing our journey is his admiration to Filipinos. He said I admired Filipinos very much as they know how to enjoy life, rich or poor, has money or not. He said that Filipinos can always find a way to laugh and enjoy. One example he cited is that most Filipinos can actually bring out a guitar, a case of beer and a simple pica pica and they can already start singing and being happy.

He also noted that he rarely encounter a Filipino who complains about taxi fare. He also said that he usually encounter Filipino who would say taxi fare is vey expensive. Most of the time, his Filipino passengers would always tell him thank you instead. He said that such attitude is very notable. Filipinos are very relax and easy.

For a while, I smiled and told him “yes uncle, you are very much right”.

Filipino attitude really brings out the positive if we only carry it positively as well. Don’t forget to smile and stop frowning because others actually admire us with the way we deal life; something that they may not be able to experience even if they have so much money in their pockets.

Just a thought.