You obviously were in a rush and was not happy with the guy taking his time, so i prolly would of done the same thing lol. When i was in the philippines i learned that if you are a tourist some filipinos will try to swindle you. It happen to me and my sisters when we took a jeepney and we were the only ones on it. They ended up charging us a 150$ for just the three of us. We figured out that they over charged us when we talked to our uncle about.. who is from cebu.
Thank you for your videos sharing, - i really enjoy watching them.
In this situation, i see not about being the cheapskate or versus. Here was a chance for you to to be useful to yourself and that means others as well (but here i had to say: for others and that means - yourself?:)
In my point - SHARING would be the best point of view here.
Knowledge, experiences, feelings/emotions it's worth to share ...including money;)
Afterward all of them will be with you, excluding money...
I think there was a misunderstanding between you two, you see, other than the normal way, there is also another way we call "pakyaw" where you the driver of the tricycle would drive you exclusively to your destination, so he wouldn't make stops to pick up more passengers, but you have to pay extra for that. he probably thought that is what you might be going for, just in my opinion
remember there is nothing wrong with be cheapskate! the few, the cheap and the proud!
Nope! You were not. You are not required to over pay for a service just because you are the only one using it. EX: You wouldn't pay for every empty seat in an airplane just because only a few were filled right. Now as for the age of the person providing the service you might pay more for someone that has more experience in a particular area but otherwise age should not be a concern for more or less payment. We think You did fine.
I'm sonofdsouth's girlfriend, a filipina. Although i grew in the country, i used to live in the city because of my work. Whenever i go to the country, i had to take a tricyle as a mode of transportation. In our place, they usually wait for other passengers so that they will not waste their time and gas going from one place to another. However, when you are in a hurry, you have to pay for the fare of the other passengers that should have ride with you. That's how they do it. Thanks
@sonofdsouth1 Hi. Thanks for your comments. I can understand what you are saying. It's interesting the different opinions of everybody. So, sa tila mo, kuripot nga ako! LOL!
Hindi ka naman kuripot, it's just a matter of policy that they have formulated for their own good. Salamat sa mga video mo, marami nang natutunan ang boyfriend ko na tagalog. Sana i will meet your wife someday at sabay sabay tayong magbakasyon sa Pilipinas! Thanks for posting your videos here!
@sonofdsouth1 You're welcome. We are leaving for the Philippines (Cebu) next month (Feb '11) We hope to stay a year. I should have a lot of good stories to share then!
@sonofdsouth1 Nice to hear about that! May kumare ako sa Cebu and when we go there, she is expecting me to visit her. We'll keep in touch with you then, who knows we might meet there. Sana nga magkita tayo doon. Kumusta na lng ang misis mo. God bless!
I think it's more of a mindset than anything else. I think that if you ask most Americans, they'll say you were right to stick to your guns; we're mostly impatient and want the services done quickly and cheap. Now, over there, I'm sure the mindset is very different. You said yourself that you like the lifestyle they have, which seemed to you to be slow-paced. Knowing this, you may be able to generalize that the people there are a little more patient and understanding. That's how I feel, at least
I think that you are probably a very fair guy. However, I also imagine that the stop for gas, the wait for oil, and yet another stop at the sari sari for transmission fluid - along with the fact that you were already in a hurry - might have put emotions into play that competed with your innate generosity :) It will be interesting to hear from you later as to whether this experience and your reflection on it influences your future relations with service providers in the Philippines. :)
@platosrational Thanks for you thoughtful comments. I love the Fiipino people and I completely understand this man's viewpoint. I'm planning to spend a year in the Philippines this coming year so I will have a lot more stories to tell.
@MagicMaximo I know that you love the Filipino people. I have watched a few of your short language videos, and really, who would undertake the challenge of learning a language of a culture that one does not respect? And then you make helpful videos for others. No, I know that you are a kind person. I hope you do not feel badly about the one experience. The Monday morning quarterback in us can beat us to death with plays we would redo in retrospect. I look forward to your coming videos :)
Depends on the distance, and commuters toward that destination. But you did the right thing and stick to your gun, if another trike get you there for 7 or 14, then you did the right thing. :) His just trying to make a quick buck, why pay more for the same service from another trike. :)
But hey, if his trike was old and you're an American why not just buy the poor man a new trike? Hehehe
Now IF you had wanted to pay him less then you normally did, just because his bike was all rusted and slow, then yes, that would have been cheap of you.
I agree with cyrille,he might just be taking advantage of you since he thinks you have a lot of money :). Infact bud, your being nice to the old driver, I think I'd be pissed off when I'm in a hurry and the driver has tons of stop overs @_@.
Wow stopping for gas and oil while having a customer? That old man is trying to scare the customers away or something! I don't get why your friends said you're a cheapskate when it is clearly that you're not. I understand that your friends is trying to say pity the old man but how can you pity a guy that tries to rip you off w/o giving u the service u wanted . This is one negative thing about Asia, they rip tourists off lol and the tourist always thinks its cheap cuz the money rate is diff.
Probably I would have been less patient than you, step out of the tricicle at the gas station and I would have not accepted his request for more money. Even if I can understand the different mentality, if I would have paid more than the usual amount I would have felt stupid and I would have considered him a profiteer.
I would have paid more only if he honestly told me "I am old, poor and I need some more money, can you please help me?" not otherwise: it feels like a trick.
I been to the Philippines many times and no you were not! That man was trying to hustle you. I notice that some Filipinos love to hustle us Americans because they have the idea that we are all so rich. When in fact we are compared to them. If it was me I would have told him to hurry please and pay him 30 pesos and been done with it.
Nope! Bud hindi ka kuripot! He was trying to take advantage of you. You did not ask him for a special ride. I remember when I used to live there, if I wanted to be the only one, I would have to say that in the beginning. Not saying anything would mean that you are OK to having other passengers. That's the only time you would have to pay extra. Your Tagalog is excellent, by the way. I am amazed!
maybe yes, but that is what you are used to. dont feel upset about it, you cant go into mcdonalds and bargan so price flux's are something new to you.try to carry a magic jack with you to the internet cafe. thats what i plan to do next time.
You sound like you really know the Philppines.... You didn't tell the whole story? Where you going a long way? Maybe a bit out of the city? I don't know. If you were going a bit out of the way, then asking for more is normal. That's the only time I've been asked for more and I paid. The other day my girl paid P50 plus gas for a 10Km trip. P50 not too bad but gas too? Too much, I didn't know or I would have got out then too. :)
Hey Bud, you are not a Cheapskate, I do believed that the old man took advantage of the stiuation. You are doing the right thing paying a fair price on a tricyle ride.
I understand your point, the going rate is what your used to paying, however you should understand the Philippines as well as anyone, since you have been there, although in my opinion you were held up by his continuing stopping to fill the fluids on his trike, he was an old man, and as many filipino, he probally needed money, so a little extra wouldn't have hurt. I guess bottom line you have to listen to your heart, take care!
Nahh! The old man saw you as a potential "Puti" sucker. He'd have made his money that night one way or another. I'd have done the same thing except just bailed on him at the gas station. You're not a cheapskate. 7 pesos is no big deal but I don't think you are there to be a high roller. Don't feel guilty. Pay what the other pinoys pay.
Thanks everybody for your opinions. As I thought, most think I wasn't a cheapskate, some thought I was and one said "it doesn't matter." I know we form our opinions from our view of the world and our experiences. I respect all opinions, as this is what makes the world go around!
@MagicMaximo hello bud, i was just wondering if you knew about Dalena? she's an american who can sing in vietnamese. she's pretty pretty popular amongst the vietnamese community. she has a great voice and on top of that, she's beautiful.
@lucirz Yes, I remember reading about her a couple years ago. My understanding is she sings Vietnamese songs but can't speak Vietnamese. I think her singing is beautiful!
@MagicMaximo she actually speaks some vietnamese. there's an interview of her during a church recession and she spoke some viet. i mean when u sing vietnamese for many years, i guess you'll learn it eventually lol
Ya..we both know how Filipinos tend to look at Americans as if we are all rich which is certainly not the case. Sure its nice to help someone in need but unfourtunatly we have to pick and choose as none of us alone can change the world. I often let my Asawa rent rooms and such because I know ill be charged extra as a white male. Those Filipinos whom we do help out most often are those we are related to and call family. With that in mind I would say that you did nothing wrong. Your relatives were
hello, i'm a cebuana but living out of the philippines now. For me, you are not kuripot. That tricycle driver is an opportunist. I don't bite them too when I am in my country. In the first place, you dont have any aggreement thatyou will pay him more or that you will make pakyaw ], i hope you know what does that mean. Sad to say , but some people think that if you are a foreigner you have much money but hey life is not all like that.
I think you were a cheapskate because for you, 7 pesos is nothing, but also, that old man was an opportunist, probably very poor but not humble at all.
I think the right situation would be, that guy charging you the 7 pesos only, and you saying "I will pay you more..."
Now, what is not fare is, you were in a hurry and the guy was stoping each second, and the othet thing is everybody thing that every american or anybody people living in the U.S. is rich and that's not true.
You are not - he is a businessman running his business. I went though EXACTLY the same in India, the man left the meter running while waiting for gas and drinking a tea. After 5 minutes, I just moved to the first rickshaw going out of the gas station. The "you are only one" thing happened to me too, in Mexico, they always want to win. I save even pennies to afford to travel, as I make much less than $20,000 a year, and I'm not going to give it away to opportunistic taxi drivers.
It doesn't matter if you're a cheapskate or not. The fact that he kept stopping to get gas and stuff would have pissed me off. He should have done that ahead of time. It sounds like he was trying to take advantage of you in my opinion and maybe since he is old he was trying to get sympothy from you.
And Bud, They say never travel alone (if your a foreigner) for this very reason. Some(not all) will try to over charge you,simply because they think being American means you are rich(not true in most cases).Haggling price is tradition in The Phils. Why would your friends tell you, your a cheapskate when they themselves will haggle price?
ok, i finally go to view the whole thing. now ,I am an American,living in America,but own a trike in Davao city Toril.I know for a fact the price is set by Government. It is determined by miles drive,not how much money you have.Your not a cheapskate,but his trying to over charge was wrong in so many ways. Does he own the trike or lease from someone else? talk to the owners. I would never allow my driver to over charge.Filipinos never pay full price anyway. They will negotiate everything.
Bud, I didn't get a chance to view the entire video. For whatever reason, it gets to the 2 minute(11 sec.) mark and just stops. thats it.I did report this to you tube ,cause maybe it is their problem.who knows.
@dustbusterz Hey Steve. Thanks for the message. I just watched the video and it went from beginning to end without a hitch. Who knows? Try it again. Maybe it was sunspots (!) Technology...you gotta love it!
... You might try clearing your cache and cookies. Each browser has it's own way of doing that; you can get instructions on he web (I tried to post a link to help you but YouTube wouldn't let me) :-) . ... And of course it wouldn't hurt to restart your compter after you do that (just as an extra help).
I can;t believe you are asking this question, you must be a experienced Asian traveler, Hard to find a tuk tuk driver who won't try to slam a home run day on every person they see, always find out the going rate from local expats, then agree on price before getting on, NEVER over pay and, You should know in third would Asian countries they always stick the tab on the one who is assumed to have the most money, they have no bones about charging double or far more to "those who can afford it" .
Heck no you are NOT a cheapskate. The fact that the taxi guy was old does not change your need for that service. How often do you get very rich filipino going around throwing money at poor old people on three wheelers? Its just that the pinas culture has grown into a scaming attitude to get the maximum off people from other countries. This is so much in their bones that they feel it is justified. ..Thus at the end the real kuripots are themselves!
@MagicMaximo ... and I was thinking about this again on the way from dropping my wife off. I don't know why it came to mind then.
In any case I thought about the strong influence of Catholic and protestant teachings here in the Philippines and how that is ingrained in the culture here.
Consequently Christ had a teaching about how the purpose of wealth was to share with those that had need (like food and clothing). There lies (me thinks) why your relatives considered you "kuripot" :-)
It's easy to say based on the typical everyday way of thinking about things that you would be "right" regardless of which decision you made.
If you wanted to pay the usual rate, then you would be justified because you has not "cheated" him. However if you wanted to help him then you would be "right" for giving him more.
But I'd be interested by what standard you access right from wrong. Life is a lot more than what you see feel touch and taste :-)
No, you weren't a cheapskate. The man acted inappropriately (it's not the time to change your oil etc... not to mention smoking at a gas station!) Just because he's old doesn't mean you should pay twice as much and get 1/2 service.
It is just a different way of thinking, one that is actually quite philosophical in nature really. Sort of reminds me of Karl Marx's "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need(s)" although still quite different. He is old, he may not have as much money but even still in my opinion he didn't offer service that demanded more than the typical.
Personally, I'd have done the same thing as you. Simply because you were in a hurry and he took his time while he had a customer.
Bud, I don't think you were a cheapskate. thinking of the situation you were in. He filled up with gasoline and that other stuff, and you were in a hurry. But anyways I agree that he should have gotten more than 7 pesos.. Thats just the way it is down there. It might not seem like it, but filipinos belive that those with less needs more than those with enough.. if you understand. But i think i would probably done the same thing as you did.. at least you were polite:)
I visited the Philippines ..Lapu Lapu city .. sure they need to earn money there ..but i think at least you were polite to him. Im sure he did not hold it against you or think you were cheap. By the way ..i noticed that the side cars looked like small carnival ride CARS ..
Well in the Philippines, everyone cares about others because most people arent rich there. You could've just told him you were in a hurry. The job doesn't pay much, and the old man was just trying to make a living. But i dont think that makes you a cheapskate cause you were just looking after your daughter.
Sorry for being very vague on that last comment, but no you are not a cheapskate. When I visit the Philippines, it is obvious that I am not born there, so I was treated differently; people wanted money from me. So I believe that is what he did. I disagree with your friends and family; just because you have more doesn't mean you have to give it to the old man. Yes, he is an old man, but in this situation, it is about fairness not pity or being generous
The psychology of people is that, generally speaking, no one wants to pay more than what is normal. That is why dual pricing offends tourists whether they be wealthy or not so wealthy. From the point of the buyer (Bud), it was a parity issue rather than a money issue.
If the fare was not 7 pesos, but 10usd, and that was what EVERYONE paid because it was the NORMAL rate, then it would have been happily paid. But Bud got the ride he wanted at 7 pesos, so why pay more? Bcos he looks like a tourist?
he didn't provide good service, a bit of a increase say 10% would be fine, but he wasn't deserving of slack, even if its not that much money. i'm sure he's a needy man but aren't most of us in this modern world...
well it depends on how much he would've expected. I live in Vietnam, you can normally get a short motorbike ride from a local for about $.30 for a short distance or $.60 for a bit longer. now obviously these types try to prey on tourists and charge $5-$7 for the same length of travel, so they do practice price boosting, BUT the few times i've done this if i had to get somewhere fast, and they did it, I would pay $2-$3 total to show my appreciation for a safe and quick drive. this man was slow!
Normally, I would agree with your friends. As they argued, he was an old man, and from the way you describe his tricycle, he probably did need the money. However, he did a lot to lose your business by wasting your time doing stuff he should have done when he wasn't carrying a customer. If he had picked you up then taken you straight to your destination, then I would have said that you should pay him more than 7.
You obviously were in a rush and was not happy with the guy taking his time, so i prolly would of done the same thing lol. When i was in the philippines i learned that if you are a tourist some filipinos will try to swindle you. It happen to me and my sisters when we took a jeepney and we were the only ones on it. They ended up charging us a 150$ for just the three of us. We figured out that they over charged us when we talked to our uncle about.. who is from cebu.
pointzeroblack 6 months ago
@pointzeroblack Yike! $150! That's crazy! Like they say, "Education is expensive!" Thanks for commenting.
MagicMaximo 6 months ago
How do you do:)
Thank you for your videos sharing, - i really enjoy watching them.
In this situation, i see not about being the cheapskate or versus. Here was a chance for you to to be useful to yourself and that means others as well (but here i had to say: for others and that means - yourself?:)
In my point - SHARING would be the best point of view here.
Knowledge, experiences, feelings/emotions it's worth to share ...including money;)
Afterward all of them will be with you, excluding money...
5keltai 11 months ago
I think there was a misunderstanding between you two, you see, other than the normal way, there is also another way we call "pakyaw" where you the driver of the tricycle would drive you exclusively to your destination, so he wouldn't make stops to pick up more passengers, but you have to pay extra for that. he probably thought that is what you might be going for, just in my opinion
remember there is nothing wrong with be cheapskate! the few, the cheap and the proud!
mangageekanatomy 1 year ago
Nope! You were not. You are not required to over pay for a service just because you are the only one using it. EX: You wouldn't pay for every empty seat in an airplane just because only a few were filled right. Now as for the age of the person providing the service you might pay more for someone that has more experience in a particular area but otherwise age should not be a concern for more or less payment. We think You did fine.
whitewitchwares 1 year ago
@whitewitchwares Thanks for your comments.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
Hi Bud,
I'm sonofdsouth's girlfriend, a filipina. Although i grew in the country, i used to live in the city because of my work. Whenever i go to the country, i had to take a tricyle as a mode of transportation. In our place, they usually wait for other passengers so that they will not waste their time and gas going from one place to another. However, when you are in a hurry, you have to pay for the fare of the other passengers that should have ride with you. That's how they do it. Thanks
sonofdsouth1 1 year ago
@sonofdsouth1 Hi. Thanks for your comments. I can understand what you are saying. It's interesting the different opinions of everybody. So, sa tila mo, kuripot nga ako! LOL!
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
@MagicMaximo
Hindi ka naman kuripot, it's just a matter of policy that they have formulated for their own good. Salamat sa mga video mo, marami nang natutunan ang boyfriend ko na tagalog. Sana i will meet your wife someday at sabay sabay tayong magbakasyon sa Pilipinas! Thanks for posting your videos here!
sonofdsouth1 1 year ago
@sonofdsouth1 You're welcome. We are leaving for the Philippines (Cebu) next month (Feb '11) We hope to stay a year. I should have a lot of good stories to share then!
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
@sonofdsouth1 Nice to hear about that! May kumare ako sa Cebu and when we go there, she is expecting me to visit her. We'll keep in touch with you then, who knows we might meet there. Sana nga magkita tayo doon. Kumusta na lng ang misis mo. God bless!
sonofdsouth1 1 year ago
I think it's more of a mindset than anything else. I think that if you ask most Americans, they'll say you were right to stick to your guns; we're mostly impatient and want the services done quickly and cheap. Now, over there, I'm sure the mindset is very different. You said yourself that you like the lifestyle they have, which seemed to you to be slow-paced. Knowing this, you may be able to generalize that the people there are a little more patient and understanding. That's how I feel, at least
xktgx33 1 year ago
@xktgx33 Thanks for your comments.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
I think that you are probably a very fair guy. However, I also imagine that the stop for gas, the wait for oil, and yet another stop at the sari sari for transmission fluid - along with the fact that you were already in a hurry - might have put emotions into play that competed with your innate generosity :) It will be interesting to hear from you later as to whether this experience and your reflection on it influences your future relations with service providers in the Philippines. :)
platosrational 1 year ago
@platosrational Thanks for you thoughtful comments. I love the Fiipino people and I completely understand this man's viewpoint. I'm planning to spend a year in the Philippines this coming year so I will have a lot more stories to tell.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
@MagicMaximo I know that you love the Filipino people. I have watched a few of your short language videos, and really, who would undertake the challenge of learning a language of a culture that one does not respect? And then you make helpful videos for others. No, I know that you are a kind person. I hope you do not feel badly about the one experience. The Monday morning quarterback in us can beat us to death with plays we would redo in retrospect. I look forward to your coming videos :)
platosrational 1 year ago
No I think you were very polite and patient, way more patient than I would be. Your a good man.
ledinghat 1 year ago
@ledinghat Thanks for your kind comments.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
Depends on the distance, and commuters toward that destination. But you did the right thing and stick to your gun, if another trike get you there for 7 or 14, then you did the right thing. :) His just trying to make a quick buck, why pay more for the same service from another trike. :)
MrTaterized 1 year ago
@MrTaterized Thanks for commenting.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
I would have done the same thing.
But hey, if his trike was old and you're an American why not just buy the poor man a new trike? Hehehe
Now IF you had wanted to pay him less then you normally did, just because his bike was all rusted and slow, then yes, that would have been cheap of you.
PapaRobbU2 1 year ago
@PapaRobbU2 Thanks for your comments.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
@BobofAmerica Thanks, Bob, for your insightful comments.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
The old man was just taking you for a ride.
veveysan 1 year ago
I agree with cyrille,he might just be taking advantage of you since he thinks you have a lot of money :). Infact bud, your being nice to the old driver, I think I'd be pissed off when I'm in a hurry and the driver has tons of stop overs @_@.
Serenewing 1 year ago
Wow stopping for gas and oil while having a customer? That old man is trying to scare the customers away or something! I don't get why your friends said you're a cheapskate when it is clearly that you're not. I understand that your friends is trying to say pity the old man but how can you pity a guy that tries to rip you off w/o giving u the service u wanted . This is one negative thing about Asia, they rip tourists off lol and the tourist always thinks its cheap cuz the money rate is diff.
iComeWithU 1 year ago
Matipid din ako. I'd probably give him some extra, halimbawa 10 pesos - pero it's hard to think of that kind of thing when you're in a hurry.
veveysan 1 year ago
Probably I would have been less patient than you, step out of the tricicle at the gas station and I would have not accepted his request for more money. Even if I can understand the different mentality, if I would have paid more than the usual amount I would have felt stupid and I would have considered him a profiteer.
I would have paid more only if he honestly told me "I am old, poor and I need some more money, can you please help me?" not otherwise: it feels like a trick.
WoodGirl14 1 year ago
I been to the Philippines many times and no you were not! That man was trying to hustle you. I notice that some Filipinos love to hustle us Americans because they have the idea that we are all so rich. When in fact we are compared to them. If it was me I would have told him to hurry please and pay him 30 pesos and been done with it.
Matt2779 1 year ago
Nope! Bud hindi ka kuripot! He was trying to take advantage of you. You did not ask him for a special ride. I remember when I used to live there, if I wanted to be the only one, I would have to say that in the beginning. Not saying anything would mean that you are OK to having other passengers. That's the only time you would have to pay extra. Your Tagalog is excellent, by the way. I am amazed!
cyrille2188 1 year ago
@cyrille2188 Salamat. I think it's easier to understand the situation better if you've spent some time in the Philippines. Thanks for your comments.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
maybe yes, but that is what you are used to. dont feel upset about it, you cant go into mcdonalds and bargan so price flux's are something new to you.try to carry a magic jack with you to the internet cafe. thats what i plan to do next time.
rjm63379 1 year ago
You sound like you really know the Philppines.... You didn't tell the whole story? Where you going a long way? Maybe a bit out of the city? I don't know. If you were going a bit out of the way, then asking for more is normal. That's the only time I've been asked for more and I paid. The other day my girl paid P50 plus gas for a 10Km trip. P50 not too bad but gas too? Too much, I didn't know or I would have got out then too. :)
CebuExperience 1 year ago
Hey Bud, you are not a Cheapskate, I do believed that the old man took advantage of the stiuation. You are doing the right thing paying a fair price on a tricyle ride.
PaulGelacio 1 year ago
I understand your point, the going rate is what your used to paying, however you should understand the Philippines as well as anyone, since you have been there, although in my opinion you were held up by his continuing stopping to fill the fluids on his trike, he was an old man, and as many filipino, he probally needed money, so a little extra wouldn't have hurt. I guess bottom line you have to listen to your heart, take care!
adobo1965 1 year ago
You did the right thing I would have only given him 5 pisos
bulacan00 1 year ago
Nahh! The old man saw you as a potential "Puti" sucker. He'd have made his money that night one way or another. I'd have done the same thing except just bailed on him at the gas station. You're not a cheapskate. 7 pesos is no big deal but I don't think you are there to be a high roller. Don't feel guilty. Pay what the other pinoys pay.
raimundough 1 year ago
Thanks everybody for your opinions. As I thought, most think I wasn't a cheapskate, some thought I was and one said "it doesn't matter." I know we form our opinions from our view of the world and our experiences. I respect all opinions, as this is what makes the world go around!
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
@MagicMaximo hello bud, i was just wondering if you knew about Dalena? she's an american who can sing in vietnamese. she's pretty pretty popular amongst the vietnamese community. she has a great voice and on top of that, she's beautiful.
if you are interested, here is a song from her
youtube.com/watch?v=nZIlA9PPkMA
tell me what you think.
lucirz 1 year ago
@lucirz Yes, I remember reading about her a couple years ago. My understanding is she sings Vietnamese songs but can't speak Vietnamese. I think her singing is beautiful!
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
@MagicMaximo she actually speaks some vietnamese. there's an interview of her during a church recession and she spoke some viet. i mean when u sing vietnamese for many years, i guess you'll learn it eventually lol
lucirz 1 year ago
@lucirz Oh I see, That's even better!
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
Ya..we both know how Filipinos tend to look at Americans as if we are all rich which is certainly not the case. Sure its nice to help someone in need but unfourtunatly we have to pick and choose as none of us alone can change the world. I often let my Asawa rent rooms and such because I know ill be charged extra as a white male. Those Filipinos whom we do help out most often are those we are related to and call family. With that in mind I would say that you did nothing wrong. Your relatives were
blackunderscore 1 year ago
hello, i'm a cebuana but living out of the philippines now. For me, you are not kuripot. That tricycle driver is an opportunist. I don't bite them too when I am in my country. In the first place, you dont have any aggreement thatyou will pay him more or that you will make pakyaw ], i hope you know what does that mean. Sad to say , but some people think that if you are a foreigner you have much money but hey life is not all like that.
polishcurl 1 year ago
I think you were a cheapskate because for you, 7 pesos is nothing, but also, that old man was an opportunist, probably very poor but not humble at all.
I think the right situation would be, that guy charging you the 7 pesos only, and you saying "I will pay you more..."
Now, what is not fare is, you were in a hurry and the guy was stoping each second, and the othet thing is everybody thing that every american or anybody people living in the U.S. is rich and that's not true.
rpesce2 1 year ago
You are not - he is a businessman running his business. I went though EXACTLY the same in India, the man left the meter running while waiting for gas and drinking a tea. After 5 minutes, I just moved to the first rickshaw going out of the gas station. The "you are only one" thing happened to me too, in Mexico, they always want to win. I save even pennies to afford to travel, as I make much less than $20,000 a year, and I'm not going to give it away to opportunistic taxi drivers.
michulin07 1 year ago
It doesn't matter if you're a cheapskate or not. The fact that he kept stopping to get gas and stuff would have pissed me off. He should have done that ahead of time. It sounds like he was trying to take advantage of you in my opinion and maybe since he is old he was trying to get sympothy from you.
donfulcher1 1 year ago
And Bud, They say never travel alone (if your a foreigner) for this very reason. Some(not all) will try to over charge you,simply because they think being American means you are rich(not true in most cases).Haggling price is tradition in The Phils. Why would your friends tell you, your a cheapskate when they themselves will haggle price?
dustbusterz 1 year ago
ok, i finally go to view the whole thing. now ,I am an American,living in America,but own a trike in Davao city Toril.I know for a fact the price is set by Government. It is determined by miles drive,not how much money you have.Your not a cheapskate,but his trying to over charge was wrong in so many ways. Does he own the trike or lease from someone else? talk to the owners. I would never allow my driver to over charge.Filipinos never pay full price anyway. They will negotiate everything.
dustbusterz 1 year ago
Bud, I didn't get a chance to view the entire video. For whatever reason, it gets to the 2 minute(11 sec.) mark and just stops. thats it.I did report this to you tube ,cause maybe it is their problem.who knows.
dustbusterz 1 year ago
@dustbusterz Hey Steve. Thanks for the message. I just watched the video and it went from beginning to end without a hitch. Who knows? Try it again. Maybe it was sunspots (!) Technology...you gotta love it!
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
Comment removed
tg3793 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@dustbusterz
... You might try clearing your cache and cookies. Each browser has it's own way of doing that; you can get instructions on he web (I tried to post a link to help you but YouTube wouldn't let me) :-) . ... And of course it wouldn't hurt to restart your compter after you do that (just as an extra help).
tg3793 1 year ago
I can;t believe you are asking this question, you must be a experienced Asian traveler, Hard to find a tuk tuk driver who won't try to slam a home run day on every person they see, always find out the going rate from local expats, then agree on price before getting on, NEVER over pay and, You should know in third would Asian countries they always stick the tab on the one who is assumed to have the most money, they have no bones about charging double or far more to "those who can afford it" .
hbhale2000 1 year ago
Heck no you are NOT a cheapskate. The fact that the taxi guy was old does not change your need for that service. How often do you get very rich filipino going around throwing money at poor old people on three wheelers? Its just that the pinas culture has grown into a scaming attitude to get the maximum off people from other countries. This is so much in their bones that they feel it is justified. ..Thus at the end the real kuripots are themselves!
lildude8210 1 year ago
By the way .. I'm an American 'living' in the Philippines ... Marikina to be precise.
Thanks for your Filipino lessons! :-)
tg3793 1 year ago
@tg3793 Thanks for your comments. Especially since you are an American living there you have a unique perspective.
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
@MagicMaximo ... and I was thinking about this again on the way from dropping my wife off. I don't know why it came to mind then.
In any case I thought about the strong influence of Catholic and protestant teachings here in the Philippines and how that is ingrained in the culture here.
Consequently Christ had a teaching about how the purpose of wealth was to share with those that had need (like food and clothing). There lies (me thinks) why your relatives considered you "kuripot" :-)
tg3793 1 year ago
It's easy to say based on the typical everyday way of thinking about things that you would be "right" regardless of which decision you made.
If you wanted to pay the usual rate, then you would be justified because you has not "cheated" him. However if you wanted to help him then you would be "right" for giving him more.
But I'd be interested by what standard you access right from wrong. Life is a lot more than what you see feel touch and taste :-)
tg3793 1 year ago
No, you weren't a cheapskate. The man acted inappropriately (it's not the time to change your oil etc... not to mention smoking at a gas station!) Just because he's old doesn't mean you should pay twice as much and get 1/2 service.
rfwelsh 1 year ago
no, u were not a cheapskate.
asomarriba18 1 year ago
It is just a different way of thinking, one that is actually quite philosophical in nature really. Sort of reminds me of Karl Marx's "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need(s)" although still quite different. He is old, he may not have as much money but even still in my opinion he didn't offer service that demanded more than the typical.
Personally, I'd have done the same thing as you. Simply because you were in a hurry and he took his time while he had a customer.
saronix 1 year ago
Bud, I don't think you were a cheapskate. thinking of the situation you were in. He filled up with gasoline and that other stuff, and you were in a hurry. But anyways I agree that he should have gotten more than 7 pesos.. Thats just the way it is down there. It might not seem like it, but filipinos belive that those with less needs more than those with enough.. if you understand. But i think i would probably done the same thing as you did.. at least you were polite:)
redmickeys 1 year ago
I visited the Philippines ..Lapu Lapu city .. sure they need to earn money there ..but i think at least you were polite to him. Im sure he did not hold it against you or think you were cheap. By the way ..i noticed that the side cars looked like small carnival ride CARS ..
mahalkolico 1 year ago
Thanks everybody for your opinions. Very interesting!
MagicMaximo 1 year ago
Well in the Philippines, everyone cares about others because most people arent rich there. You could've just told him you were in a hurry. The job doesn't pay much, and the old man was just trying to make a living. But i dont think that makes you a cheapskate cause you were just looking after your daughter.
FlipFame 1 year ago
well
i think it was ok
of course after thinking about it everybody would say that it wasn´t enough.
but if you normaly realy pay the same to other drivers why should you pay him more???
that´s what i think
thanks for all the videos i love to watch them
and greetings from germany ;)
Q3zq 1 year ago
Sorry for being very vague on that last comment, but no you are not a cheapskate. When I visit the Philippines, it is obvious that I am not born there, so I was treated differently; people wanted money from me. So I believe that is what he did. I disagree with your friends and family; just because you have more doesn't mean you have to give it to the old man. Yes, he is an old man, but in this situation, it is about fairness not pity or being generous
DreaOmega 1 year ago
Honestly, I think it is because you are a tourist and he just wants more money out of you.
DreaOmega 1 year ago
The psychology of people is that, generally speaking, no one wants to pay more than what is normal. That is why dual pricing offends tourists whether they be wealthy or not so wealthy. From the point of the buyer (Bud), it was a parity issue rather than a money issue.
If the fare was not 7 pesos, but 10usd, and that was what EVERYONE paid because it was the NORMAL rate, then it would have been happily paid. But Bud got the ride he wanted at 7 pesos, so why pay more? Bcos he looks like a tourist?
Mark2790 1 year ago
he didn't provide good service, a bit of a increase say 10% would be fine, but he wasn't deserving of slack, even if its not that much money. i'm sure he's a needy man but aren't most of us in this modern world...
boardsdecanada 1 year ago
well it depends on how much he would've expected. I live in Vietnam, you can normally get a short motorbike ride from a local for about $.30 for a short distance or $.60 for a bit longer. now obviously these types try to prey on tourists and charge $5-$7 for the same length of travel, so they do practice price boosting, BUT the few times i've done this if i had to get somewhere fast, and they did it, I would pay $2-$3 total to show my appreciation for a safe and quick drive. this man was slow!
boardsdecanada 1 year ago
Normally, I would agree with your friends. As they argued, he was an old man, and from the way you describe his tricycle, he probably did need the money. However, he did a lot to lose your business by wasting your time doing stuff he should have done when he wasn't carrying a customer. If he had picked you up then taken you straight to your destination, then I would have said that you should pay him more than 7.
dattomcat89 1 year ago