Fun Day Monday: Free Transport from NAIA Airport
By World Wide Ed
Happy Fun Day Monday y'all! This one was forwarded to me by my Filipino friend Glenn, so no get mad at me if you feel offended. Kay kuya.d and tita leerz? 
Meetcha at the bottom!
To my fellow Filipinos, Good news from GMA.
Starting January of 2010, Filipinos from all around the world will surely benefit from this one-of-a-kind service from the newly passed law by the government of the Philippines . The service is entitled Hatid Kabayan. Any Filipino who has lived in any part of the globe for more than six months is said to be entitled and will benefit from this service. As soon as he lands at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, go to a special booth that has been set up for this purpose and fill up some forms, and all he has to do is show his passport to confirm his status abroad and everything is all set.
This also applies to all immigrants and non-immigrants.
Hatid Kabayan is a service where the Philippine Government has arranged a special ride for Filipinos from NAIA to any point in the Philippines or to any province. It will surely be a very memorable ride.
Hats off to GMA and the Philippine Government that in spite of this ongoing economic crisis, high fuel cost, perceived corruption, among others, they have managed to pay the returning Filipinos at least a respectable amount of gratitude and tribute for all their hard work abroad.
Specially-trained GMA employees will accommodate them and guarantee that they know every single route all across the Nation. So sit back and relax and let us be proud of what our Government can offer.
Below is the Hatid Kabayan on its Test Run. Mabuhay ang Plipinas! Mabuhay si GMA!!!
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Free Transport from NAIA Airport
Talk to me!
* Got any transportation horror stories to share?
* Good stories?
I have a few that include a taxi driver in San Antone with horrible B.O., a crazy, psycho shuttle van driver in Philly that almost got us into a beef (staring contest with other car sticking middle finger at us), and the mutes who don't say a word to you. I guess that's better than the motor mouths out there though. Hehe!
Have a great week guys!
World Wide Ed
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:42 am
Aysus, Mr. Ed. You stay make pun op us Pilipinos? Das not one veddy guud ficchur of a jeepney. Awan ti Carabao. You know de water buppalo? And dot one no mo de back seet. Mo betterrrr I fay por de taxi. Only 3 pesos and it comes with security guard
Me tink you betterrr go eat Pinacbet and Adobo-man.
Mabuhay and Salamat Po
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:11 am
Oh yeah Ynaku, dat iz one carabao...at perst I thought waz one donkeee.
Actually, growing up on a farm in the 40's-50's, we had one carabao to plow the fields. His name was Jimmy...my grandfather for some reason named all of the animals Jimmy...da dog, da myna bird was all Jimmy.
Worst taxi experience was in Chicago about 20 years ago. We were there for a convention and a group of us took the taxi from a greek restaurant to our hotel and driver was making racist comments about japs and pearl harbor and threaten to drop us off at some slum area in Chicago...was totally unbelievable.
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:54 am
Escuse me hema. Youse right. Dat is one Carabao, but look like dey been cut da steering wheel (horn) Look little bit short.
Taxi experience. We called for 2 cabs to take us from work to the hotel IN HONOLULU. One cab broke down so instead of calling for another cab, they piled us ALL into one cab. Needless to say going down H1, we get pulled over because we were overloaded. Good thing we were close to the hotel and they let us go. I will never ever sit on another man's lap
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:42 am
Ooooh, adobo! Love it, but every time I see it on a menu I think of Adobe like Adobe Photoshop.
Also love me some pancit! Mabuhay!
Holy cr@p! I don't know what I'd do. I'd wanna scrap, but then again, he's in control of your life. LOL! Hmm... I think I'd wait until after he drops us off and then tell him if he wants payment come get it.
I'm surprised he even dropped you guys off at the right place, given his rage.
Woah! Dat's crazy. Oh yeah, and the taxi ride was crazy too.
For a friend's wedding, I heard one of the limos (the other one) broke down on the way to the wedding. I'm sure that wasn't a fun experience either... 
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:13 am
@hemajang - yikes, that's terrible.
Last trip to Seattle, caught the city bus after the UH vs WSU football game. Got out long before our stop. So, waited for the next bus to come along. Then, ended up missing our stop and staying on the bus until the end of the line. We ended up walking to our final destination. Lesson learned - don't catch the bus at night when it's hard to see the street names and you're not too familiar with the area!
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:03 am
like hemajang, my worst "transportation" experience was in chicago.. a taxicab ride, too! thankfully, the driver wasn't racist or anything, he was just trying like the dickens to get us to our destination as quickly as possible! not sure why, we didn't tell him we were in a rush... maybe he just wanted to get as many fares as possible! anyway, as we rushed along in traffic... i probably had a least 5 near-death experiences! i don't think i've ever clutched the door handle so tight... i probably left my fingerprints on it!!
never had i been so glad to reach my destination... in one piece!! 
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:12 am
… hey, Ed … is it just me??? … am I just slow today??? …
what da frick is GMA??? … this is like a joke that just flies over my head … whoosh … 
…
… maybe someone else out there can fill in on the GMA reference …
… all I keep thinking is … that poor water buffalo gotta pull that heavy truck cabin … and I would not step foot into that unstable accident waiting to happen … and just how the heck is that thing staying balanced … without flipping the water buffalo 20 feet into the air …
… maybee I’m taking things too serious today …
… you’re right … would loves me some pancit and adobo, too!!! … where’s the party Ed??? …
… Hab a Good One Eberybody!!! …
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:55 am
Here is my short story.
In Tokyo I caught a taxi because we were late for a bus departure from our hotel. I sat in the front seat and for only a short drive, I believe I had multiple heart attacks. Needless to say, we made it back to the hotel in time.
We were warned that taxi drivers are crazy in Japan. I now understand why.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
ROFL! Das one strong carabao! But maybe somebody wen Adobo Potochop dis picture!
@Ray: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo...the president.
hhhmmmm...now i like go Golden Coin and get me some Adobo Fried Rice Omelet.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
Worse taxi experience I ever had was in NYC. Airport shuttle guy had his walkie in one hand and a cell phone in the other. I was squeezing @$$ big time cuz he was driving like he was in Manila or something! Yeah, dis guy was worse than the taxi drivers in Manila. Ho man, I was sweatin' bad! I was like Oh Em Jee...I just landed in New York and I'm going to die on the Van Wyck!
Boy was I ever so glad to get out of that taxi!
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:14 am
I forgot to mention he was driving with his elbows while talking on both his walkie and his cell phone.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:41 am
Howzit Ed!
The only thing I can think of is riding the colorful Jeepneys in the Philipines. That was a trip.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
Wow, wow the carabao!
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
oh yeah, forgot about da time in high school hitchhiking from school to home with friend. This guy stopped to give us a ride but mistake...he was all pilut and weaving all ovah da place...was squeezing, thought was going crash into another car. I made him drop us off about half way home and walked rest of the way. We saw his car parked at Rudy's Grill, a bar close to where I lived, he probably got thirsty again.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:51 am
Crazy transportation - here's a flashback for Ed. Remember our winter trip to Cheney, Washington? We all went skiing in Idaho, and caught ride with a bunch of peepz.
I recall you, Momito, and Minna riding with this dude in a bronco. You guys kept weaving in and out of your lane on the snowy roads.
When we got back to Eastern Washington U, you guys were like, "not scary ... our lives wasn't flashing before our eyes". And then you guys added, "the guy was falling asleep at the wheel and futted the whole way back!"
Classic ...
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
One time we had a field trip to Kamehameha's birth place in Hawi, almost two hours from Puna. Two busses with 80 kids each and a bunch of chaperones.
We get on our bus all excited because it's a tour bus. Fifteen minutes into our ride, a/c broke. We ride all the way to Kawaihae, zero a/c, zero windows just warm air recycling. Better yet, one of the kids got motion sickness, and ... You know.
Even better, the second bus picks up a flat. So we had to wait for their replacement, but they wouldn't replace ours. Best field trip evah .... yeah right!
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Oh no! At least you were safe (I hope!) Hobbz. Doesn't really apply for this situation, but I heard that if you get a transfer - no mattah what - you're safe. True?
Yikes! Note to self: Never catch a cab in Chi-town.
Whenevers wherevers beej! You plan um! Hehe, nah! BTW, I like your spelling of "errr-one". I goin steal um!
Not crazy. Just get more skills than we think. Those roads in Japan are pretty nuts! LOL!
LOLOL! BTW, if you go Golden Coin up here in Wahiawa, holla!
Wot? Das nothing, try driving with your knees. Haha, nah, nah, just joke. Kids, no try dat at home!
That's on my bucket list fo sho emmz.
Lau lau.
Holy cr@p! That's pretty scary! I hope he got busted before he hurt anybody!
LOLOL! Ho, you get good memory ah dewz!? I don't remember that, but I do remember Idaho. First (and last) time skiing. My legs don't bend that way.
Ewwww! Warm ralph. Ewwww!
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
@tita leerz ... aisooos ... how come I nebberrr know dhut??? ...
... goes by initials, huh??? ... wow ... only one US prez I can think of that goes by initials - JFK ...
... don't keep up much with Philippines politics ...
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
In keeping with today's Filipino theme ...
You're probably be Filipino if ...
• Your yard has at least one eggplant or bittermelon plant in it.
• You have a refrigerator in the garage for the overflow from the one in the kitchen.
• You blow your nose by standing on the side of the road, holding one nostril, and blow out through the other.
• You're at a party and you throw your plastic fork and spoon in the sink instead of the garbage can.
• You describe a heavy traffic condition as "bumpuhrr to bumpuhrr."
• You pronounce "people" and "simple" as "pee-pell" and "seem-pell" respectively.
• Your car sound system consists of all tweeters: Psssst!!!! Psssstttt!!!
• Your house is carpeted and it has plastic runners on it.
• You have one copy of the Last Supper in tapestry or in a metal relief wall hanging.
• You have a 3 foot high wooden fork and spoon hanging up in your house.
• Your curtains match your prom dress.
• Your rosary is prominently displayed around your rear view mirror.
• You could ride across a flooded river standing up on your carabao.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
@ray
1. no eggplant or bittermelon. but i do have a rogue tomato plant in my rain gutter. does that count?
2. the overflow fridge is to store all the stuff i'm saving for my relatives to take back to the mainland when they come to visit...like the frozen pinakbet and dried fish...heaven forbid those go in the regular fridge else they will stink up the ube ice cream.
3. yeah, save a tree, don't use tissue!
4. ...lessens your carbon footprint!
5. dude, it's trapik
6. and police is pulis
7. my tweeters are strong enough to jingle my tassles. get your minds out of the gutters!
8. my sofa set also still has it's plastic protecting it.
9. you ever seen an episode of everybody loves raymond? evidently, italians got those big forks and spoons too! go, check out one episode. it's in his mom's kitchen.
10. my curtains match my mom's prom dress.
11. i also wear a little brown amulet around my neck to keep the ghosts at camp erdman away from me.
12. riding carabao in a flood...the original SUP!
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
@rbj - too funny! you seen that movie, the Debut? Those guys put on film what pinoys our age went through ...
In addition to your list:
- "fee-nuts" instead of peanuts.
- you had a cousin who was a member of ABC Breakers or YMCA Club 21.
- how about the kalamungay tree?
- instead of dinner rolls, get Pan De Sal.
- not manapua, siopao (sho-pow).
- not shave ice, halo-halo.
- not kalua pig, lechon.
- not Bud, San Miguel.
- not just the oversized utensils, the wooden statue of the guy with the boner in the barrel.
- not only the last supper, the map of PI, and the mini sword chart thingy.
... And on for days!
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
@leerz
- #7 ... jingle your tassels, LOL! My uncle used to ask, "do you need to jingle (shee-shee) before we go?"
- #11 ... PUH-LEEEASE, the ghosts was sked of you!
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Caught a shuttle from Newark airport to Manhattan. Waited about 20 minutes to get started from the terminal, made a few stops in the terminal, then made a complete circle to where we started. Wasted about an hour just to get going. Then it was rush hour into Manhattan. We were traveling with my toddler son.
Not worth the few bucks we saved over a taxi.
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 pm
@Hobbz - thanks for letting me slide this week! Good match.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:31 am
@kuya - congrats! Good game. Your team is peaking at the right time of the season
November 24th, 2009 at 8:19 am
@Hobbz - I need some miracles ... I got all tough games the rest of the way! Good luck to you!
November 24th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
LOLOLOL! Oops, I mean *short giggle*
LOL! I actually thought you were talking about Twitter at first.
LOL! What? I nevah saw this at our home boys' houses! I'm missing out!
I think I may've actually seen the ghosts wearing the amulet around their necks.
Arrrggghhh! Dat kine stuff irritates me. Sorry to hear about that Dubbs.
*sigh* Wish I could say the same. I was in the hunt there for a while. Now, my team is scrubbing it up!
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
the poor carabao fecthing that lazy guy on his back like that ..you think the lazy guy would get himself umbrella and mosquitoe net..OH NO THE CARABOA must carry him like a prince! ..so where does he plug the aircondioner in that thing? TOO BAD THE CARABOA didn't go straight to the river and drown the guy..omg!