Plus

The very few times that I take a taxi cab, I almost always end up having a verbal clash with the driver. At the height of the oil crisis mid-2008, the LTFRB had this "brilliant" idea of legalizing the act of some taxi drivers on asking for more money from their passengers especially during rush hour and heavy traffic.



As indicated in the sticker, a passenger needs to pay 10 pesos more on top of what is indicated on the meter to "augment" the cab driver's "suffering" caused by the petrol problem. They are allegedly no longer earning anything because 1) they are stuck on traffic limiting the number of passengers they can pick-up, and 2) the price of gasoline was skyrocketing.

I was okay with the fare add-on at that time. I somehow understand where they're coming from, I think. What I can't fathom is the reason why these stickers are still on display and the drivers are still asking for more when in fact the price of gasoline has dropped. Will these stickers ever be removed? Shall I hold my breath?

No!

One of life's mysteries for me is that some things are not allowed to be captured in a camera. As an (amateur) photographer, nothing makes me more happy than to take a photo of a sweeping landscape, a majestic building, a macro shot of a flower, a candid smile from a friend or a stranger and share it to the rest of the viewing world. Whenever I go to Makati, I have to resort to using my point and shoot camera as its less visible to the evil eyes of the guards. Even here in Quezon City I always get a not-so friendly reprimand from the watchdogs the moment I lift my camera to take a snap shot of something interesting. What's up with that? Can somebody help me understand?

Anyway, I took this photo at the La Mesa Eco Park (where its obviously fobidden to do so) in the spirit of defiance.

How about you? Did you ever take a "forbidden shot"?

Make her cry with joy

Survey says that women love flowers, probably up there with the shoe addiction. It may not be Valentine's Day nor her birthday, but if you do decide to surprise her with a bunch of lovely flora, please do consider the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation, Inc. Located at the corner of Quezon Avenue and EDSA, it offers a wide array of flowering and fruit bearing plants. Herbs, seeds, pots and other gardening needs are also available should you wish you to cultivate your green thumb.