Dissecting the Pedicab Drivers of Tagum

They dominate the streets of this city like no other. They treat it as their own kingdom. From sun up until sun down, they are there to save our day. For the commuting public of Tagum City, we cannot imagine how our life would be like without our pedicab drivers. Their green-painted tricycle units add weight to the statement that we are a city bleeding in green. The city mayor even noticed that all of the drivers/operators are really serious in making their units look good. Otherwise, no one will really care to ride because of it is karag-karag, to put it in our dialect. It can be recalled that it was through the directive of the local chief executive mandating that all tricycle units in this bustling city be painted green. I would understand if you feel awkward if you see one painted in red or blue in Tagum. I’ve been riding motorcycle units since elementary years and I have encountered many attitudes (and sometimes mood swings) portrayed by our beloved pedicab drivers. For the sake of entertainment, I am listing below some of the amusing and irritating attitudes of our drivers --- the king of the roads. To put it into the language of the internet craze last year, Dili ka Taga-Tagum kung wala ka ka-experience ani.






THE SNOB
These are the kind of drivers mostly existing during the rainy season who are not minding whether you are dying to death stretching your arms for a ride. At the back of your mind, you are wondering if you are wearing an invisibility cloak! And if they would let you ride, the most probable scenario is that they will be asking for a higher fare. You just have to agree since you have no other choice. When it rains very hard, you have nothing to do but wait for that Samaritan kind to take you to your destination.

THE TALKATIVE
This is the kind of driver who initiates a talk with topics ranging from politics to their family affairs, never mind if nobody is really asking. Worst, they will be complaining about how far your destination is, and will end up asking for an added fare. 

THE SNOB II 
The paradox of our time is that when you are not waiting for a ride, they’ll stop and ask you to ride but when you are really in dire need them to stop at you and let you ride, no one will. WTF.

THE VAGABOND
Believe it or not, there are some drivers who don't know about some well-known places in the city. They will let you ride, provided that you have to teach them the way. Back in your mind, you feel like saying ‘Hey, bring a street map!” When you already arrived in your destination, they’ll just say this with a grin: “Ay, diri-a diay.” Now you know.

THE CHANGE-SEEKER
Regular fare here in the city is tagged at nine pesos. So when you give a ten-peso coin to the driver, the chance is they will say they have no available one peso coin for a change and you’ll have no choice but to walk away without having your change.

THE LOBBYIST
This is best explained with the conversation below:
                Pasahero 1 : Sa Capitol nong bale baynte. (namara sila sa SP Building, downtown)
                Pasahero 2 : Diri lang ta agi sa Garciaville kay didto man ko, para traynta tanan among bayaran.
                Drayber : I-kwarenta na lang na madam para dili ko lugi. (pero naa na sya sakay daan nga silingan ni pasahero 2)
                Pasahero 2 : (Gisapot kay gigutom na) Ah sige, musugot ko pero pag-abot sa capitol iyabo imong gasoline sa kanal.
                Drayber : Ah sige, traynta na lang.  (Haha. Maldita.Haha.)

THE SLEEP-DEPRIVED
I would usually fear for my life on my way back to downtown because the driver is fighting his urge to sleep, prompting the tricycle unit to go to the other lane. That’s scary when Pioneer Avenue in Mankilam is accident-prone. When this happens, I would usually fake a cough to keep the driver awake.

Despite of this, there are still plenty of our pedicab drivers who are on the right track and is a perfect example of being a responsible one. We are thankful for their genuine public service. The commuting public will always be in debt.

This is my list. I know other Tagumeños also have their own funny anecdotes about them. What’s yours? Feel free to share it by leaving a comment below.

Louie
Ang basa kaayo kadtong mingbundak ang ulan kay wala gipasakay

Photo courtesy of Mr. Francis Abrenica, CIO Taggum