A GUY NAME NAMED MISSY a.k.a. JESSIE's GIRL
By: Iris P. Concepcion

"Where are you going Ma'am?" asked a taxi driver with an extremely happy, round face.

I figured he has a pretty neat family tucked in a perky brood; smiles do not come easily to abandoned kids but this one might have been raised to widen his lips when prompted.

Lunging my heavy bag filled with summer clothes for a Mindanao sojourn, I managed to reply through his rolled down window: "Airport."

"Hop in," he said, maintaining a disposition of a somewhat reckless but responsible guy.

I did as told, bringing myself slumped on a chair with butterflies in my stomach (I always have winged creatures playing footsies in my tummy, giving this writer endless tickles, always.)

I started a conversation with my usual "hhhmmmm, okay, aha, yeah" nonsense to exhibit that I am a human being with a functioning mouth.

Actually, he started to talk, Mr. Loquacious without even trying.

He said: "I don't know why they are fixing the roads here," looking at an elevated construction of a main thoroughfare always visited by flood.

"It looks good though, " I replied. "Look at the elevation, properly done."

"You know what Ma'am, you need to fix the drainage systems first before you can build solid roads in flooded areas. That's the first thing you need to do."

"Uhhh, okay," I slurred. "But is sure looks good. The road gets wider, more room for vehicles."

He scored the first point.

"What is this?" I pointed at a sticker on his taxi unit with the hilarious "Bawal ang Umutot dito!" (No farting here). There was a guy there saying it. I will not mention what color he is wearing for fear of smelly retaliation.

"Did you get it already Ma'am? Hahahahahaha," he jovially interjected.

He drove on.

I got going.

"So much bottleneck in that block earlier. Traffic," I said.

"That's only a gridlock. We'll pass by in a less congested highway, " he commented.

Somehow I trusted that he would deliver that promise.

He talked about politics. I silently laughed at his choices. They certainly did not match mine in all terms. I did not supply any riposte least he'll knife me or something.

"You know, they should stop pasting posters on those walls. It is hard to tear them down once the campaign is over," I madamely explained.

He drove on.

"How about you Ma'am, who are you voting for the local officials?"

I said I am registered in Mindanao but if I were allowed to vote in the city, I'd choose ____________.

"Ay pareho tayo Ma'am," he gleefully complied.

"I hope the boulevard shall be lit up again, with those night owl spots," I said.

"No Ma'am, it is cleaner without those restos and bars. People can walk freely. That used to be an excuse for drug dealers to sell their wares at night," he explained.

"But it gave the area a good place to enjoy some sunset moments."

"No Ma'am, it is really better. You can see the ocean clearly."

I insisted : "They should have food stalls there. Like siomai. It is difficult to cross the street when you get famished while promenading. I just saw rolling stores selling buko and the like there. But I like the statues."

"Maybe. Siomai, but you can't have restaurants there," he defended.

He seems to be dismayed as he took note of some blockades that he thinks, should not be there in the first place.

We passed by high rise buildings, well constructed skyways and all the while, he was picking on that they are ugly, that much is spent for these structures. I told him the designs are extremely, to say the least, exceptional.

I explained that when done for the public, it doubles its aesthetics. He said we do not pay the toll at this time but if it is _______, mentioning some tagline, it shall be with pay already.

We passed by an unfinished dome-like landmark and I was struck again by its beauty; the buildings were formed quite creatively, like you are propped in first world countries.

"Wow. I muttered," I could not really complain much if I see works done versus those that were not done simply because everyone got tired of moving for something only aliens can detect.

I said I hate whiners who talk much while disarray behind their backs keep on rolling like bad films.

"Mahal yan Ma'am, di pa nga natapos," he said.

Arriving at the airport, I disembarked. He bid me good luck and I gave him the exact fare he definitely deserves just because he took a time out to give me some pointers on the problems of drainage, roads and well, traffic.

Very good taxi driver, I ruminated, as he sped away in his roaring cab.