I’m out of coins again. I used it to pay the jeepney driver which is more than the usual fare that I used to pay. I expected this to happen though it happened after three years. Before, I used to pay only 3.50 but now I have to pay 5 pesos. That’s really a big leap. In our province, if tricycles wanted to raise the minimum fare, then they will just add either .25 cents or .50 cents. But this one is really too heavy for anyone.

It’s only now that I understand those people who do the “1-2-3…run,” where they are forced not to pay the fare since they can’t afford it, so they do it the easier way. Even in my case, I wanted to try that but I have this Catholic idealism, so I can’t. But the problem that I am encountering now is that I can no longer afford to have a joy ride going to SM twice a day. I needed to know the shortcuts now so as to economize my allowance and my salary. People now needed to be more than thrifty. Let’s just thank our fate because tricycles haven’t raised the minimum fare. But should we rally be happy for that?

Tricycles bound to Philcoa from Krus na Ligas used to get 4.50 pesos from their passengers. Of course until now, innocent passengers still pay the same amount. But one should be careful because if he gives 5 pesos to the driver, then it’s a miracle for him to get the change of .50 cents. Now this is more frustrating I guess. I experienced standing outside the tricycle waiting for a my change, but unfortunately the tricycle started moving away from me (which is obvious that the driver no longer has a plan of giving me back my .50 cents). Maybe .50 cents is just a little compared to a hundred but can we complete a hundred without .50 cents? This is now what I call the aftershock created by jeepneys’ raise in minimum fare.

But this is no longer a new case since even before; there has been the “keep the change” mentality of Filipino people. This thing is so common to taxi drivers. They don’t just turn you round and round to your destination, they also pretend to not know the way, some meters move faster than the taxi, and the worst is they don’t give you your change if it’s 5-10 pesos. There is what we call an unwritten rule that justifies “keep the change.” Of course, these taxi drivers also consume a bit of their saliva while entertaining you inside the taxi. Of course they will also smoke just after you get off the taxi. And of course, it also pays to be courteous (like it pays to be a good man). Now, who would need a memorandum or a bill to implement this?

Because of this habit, I experienced walking long distances since I lacked .25 cents to pay the jeepney driver. Because of this habit, I experienced not eating lunch or dinner. I want to blame the taxi drivers especially. If only they can recall the elementary value which is “honesty is the best policy,” then I can already fill my piggy bank with coins. But who needs honesty in a society that’s always in crisis? This is actually the least that the people need.

I pity those people who do not know their ways. I pity those people who do not know the regular fare. I pity those people who have bills to pay the tricycle drivers as well as taxi drivers. I pity those people who fell close and those who befriend the drivers. They are more prone to the “keep the change” habit.

For now, let’s rest from blaming the increase in oil price. Let’s pause from blaming the government of our sufferings (let’s continue it tomorrow). Let’s blame it to the “keep the change!”

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