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For so many years as a commuter  in this urban jungle, I have taken dozens – no, hundreds – of cab rides to get me safely from one point of this jungle to another.  I’ve gotten through  many cab rides – and the cab drivers who necessarily go with it.

Most of the time, I have it good – I’ve even had the good fortune of sitting with honest cabdrivers who give exact change, or point out items I may have inadvertently left behind. Once I was lucky enough to hail a cab whose driver was kind enough not to rob me blind while I blacked out in a drunken stupor on the way home. I still don’t remember how I managed to get out of the cab and into the house, but I woke up the next morning with all my things intact [and with no physical injuries], so I suppose I was extraordinarily lucky. Another time I chanced to hail a cab whose driver happened to actually own the fleet of cabs and dropped me off without letting me pay a thing. Cab drivers like these restore my faith in human kindness – somehow I know this world is not full of evil people, after all.

And then there are cab drivers from hell. I have hailed cabs whose drivers looked like they would fall asleep while driving on a busy street. I have hailed cabdrivers who drove like bats out of hell, throwing curses at fellow cabdrivers. One time I have had to listen to one who was as passionate about his driving speed as his faith – he was shoving bible verses down my brain while switching wildly from lane to lane at EDSA, to my horror and disbelief. These drivers make me religious – they make me pray to all the saints in heaven to just get me to my destination in one piece.

I thought that I had seen it all – but I never thought the day would come when a cab driver would spook me so much that I would actually have to blog about it.

I was seated at the back of a taxicab, looking forward to a relaxing lunch away from the workplace, away from office politics, away from the gossip, and away from stress. “Resorts World po,” I politely instructed the driver. The cabdriver nodded his head, eyes focused on the road. I smiled, my mind drifting away to more pleasant thoughts. The cab crawled forward through moderate traffic. Everything was normal, everything was fine. Then the driver started twitching soundlessly like a possessed demon in his seat.

I leapt up from my seat and leaned forward to grab a hold of the driver when the twitching stopped. I was so stunned I sat back down. I couldn’t say a word. His eyes were focused on the road. Not a word was said. I didn’t know what to do. A minute later, the uncontrollable twitching was back. And just as abruptly, it stopped. And then it was back.  And stopped. It was absurd – I was alone, paralyzed with fear and confusion from a driver who was parodying “The Exorcist” every 60 seconds. I didn’t know whether to jump out of the cab in fear, on swat him on the head for acting crazy.  Needless to say, I got off as soon as I  determined that he wasn’t suffering from a seizure, regained my voice and transferred to another cab.

Moral lesson of the story? I really don’t know.  I wish cabs came with an “eject” button to catapult drivers out of the cab at moments of discomfort. But then again, if that were true and I pushed the button, I’d be left with an empty shell of a cab and no driver. And then I’ll never get to where I want to go. Then I’d be in an even worse bind than when I started out. Wait a minute, my phone just beeped. I have to leave already. Its time to hail a cab.

This photo was taken along Roxas Boulevard near Baclaran Church (Southbound), where more or less 10-15 traffic enforcers are being deployed by the Government (local and national) everyday, to make sure that traffic rules are strictly implemented.

The law, as stated in Republic Act No. 4136, Section 54 is very clear:

“OBSTRUCTION OF TRAFFIC – No person shall drive his motor vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct or impede the passage of any vehicle, nor, while discharging or taking on passengers or loading or unloading freight, obstruct the free passage   of other vehicles on the highway.”

Unfortunately, these traffic enforcers are also receiving payments “kotongs or protection money” from the passenger jeepney and bus drivers in exchange for NOT DOING THEIR JOBS. But of course, they’re not the only one’s to be blamed, they must be coupled by these stubborn individuals.

If we want progress and change, start within ourselves.

Today, February 25, 2012, is the supposed birthday of a Retired US Marine JAMES THOMAS KAKARA, 61, known to his friends as “BIG JIM”. An American national married to a Filipina.

Big Jim was found dead inside his residence in Tagaytay City in the morning of December 25, 2011. The cause of death: Blunt Traumatic Injuries: HEAD.

In a news article dated 25 December 2011, Police Investigators said that Robbery is the motive behind the killing and that they will conduct a deeper investigation after they found no signs of forced entry into the house. Until now, the killers/ perpetrators are still at-large and unknown.

A friend asked me to look into this case. After careful   evaluation of the facts and circumstances presented before me, I conclude that the killing was planned.

So here’s my birthday gift to you BIG JIM:

“I will find them and bring them behind the bars of justice”

If you are a 42 year old female, widower, living alone in a foreign soil and made to believe that a 22 year old Nigerian lover boy is madly in love with you, what are you going to do when confronted by these words?

“If you love me, you will carry these goods and travel for me….”

“As soon as you deliver it,

collect the money,

come back to me

and let’s take that solemn vow,

in marriage”

Unknown to her, Special Investigator Joel Otic and a team of undercover operatives from the NBI Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force started monitoring her movements from the time she stepped into Philippine soil. Subsequently, she was arrested, charged and detained.

Out of curiosity, I asked her the following questions: The one you inserted in your genitalia is  so big, I mean, you’re small and skinny, how where you able to fit it in? She candidly replied, “it took me days before I was finally able to fit it in and I had difficulty in walking because I was bleeding during the entire trip.

You said you did it for your boyfriend, what’s his name? Was it worth it? She simply replied, “I’m sorry sir, he never told me his real name, I haven’t even seen his passport, I just call him “My Angel” and YES, everything I do for him is worth it.

In my disbelief, I stood up and asked her, “Did you not even think of or consider your family, your kids? “Again she replied, “I did sir, it’s just that I love him so much, more than anyone else and I will do anything for him. I’m sure he will come to visit me.

Her answers reminded me of this quote:

“Then I defy you, stars!”

(William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 5.1)