I use ride-hailing apps whenever I’m not familiar with the location and have to scout it first before I can determine how the public transportation system works there. I’ve used both a car and a motorcycle. Oftentimes, I establish rapport with the person who has my life in their hands as they operate a speeding metal box. There was no shortage of asshole drivers out there, serial or circumstantial, out there. However, whenever I encounter decent ones, I made sure to make them feel like their actions weren’t thankless. That warm welcome would became a ticket for them to interact with me, which is fine with me as I get to learn other people’s perspectives, philosophy, and thoughts.

From these rides, here are some important life lessons and perspectives I’ve picked up.

There’s no need to rush. We’re all going to get there anyway.

This lesson actually comes from a manager’s husband. During the pandemic, as HR staff, we still had to go to work. My manager carpooled with me since I was on her route. When a car honked at us for letting a tricycle pass, she said, “We’re all gonna get home, anyway.” I responded, “And we’re getting there safely.”

You could look at it this way: we’re all going to die someday. We’re going to get there. There’s no need to rush.

There’s more than one route. We can always take the alternate way (or find one anyway).

For my grandpa’s funeral, we used Grab to go to Manila since the route’s shorter instead of going the long way around using public transportation. It was Sunday, so some barangays were celebrating their fiestas. The roads were closed for the activities, games, and other performances. We got into this long road only to find out it’s blocked. Despite the driver’s comment that public roads shouldn’t be closed as it’s against the law, he turned the car around and told us we’re just going to have to go the long way around. I told him it’s fine, since we’re still way too early in the morning, so there couldn’t be traffic. We got there around the same time we expected.

No amount of planning can prevent things from happening, especially those that are beyond our control. You can just prepare a backup plan. If you don’t have any, don’t be scared to go on an adventure or to experience a bit of exploration. We could all use a little wonder in our lives.

Chatting and music help.

All drivers that I’ve encountered chat, whether it be politics, celebrities, their lives, or their hometowns. The amount of times I have to fight myself from correcting them with what I perceive to be misinformation or debate-worthy was a lot, but I force myself to sit still, acknowledge them every now and then, and stow it away as a lesson or something to comment on. Most of the time, it’s a perspective on psychology and philosophy, both for them and me. That’s why I have my notebook out whenever the trip’s a lot longer than usual, because the driver will surely talk to me to ease the boredom.

Music is also fun. When it’s the radio, it’s a source of topics to chat about. When it’s their playlist, it can be an opportunity to hear new tunes or revisit old ones. I once rode a motorcycle taxi, and upon putting on the helmet, the driver asked me if I was fine with having music on. I said, “Kuya, you’re flexing your playlist on me?” He laughed as we rode off. It’s mostly R&B, which is a safe bet.

In order to enjoy the journey, life and community will be your pit stops.

You can choose to protect others with how you drive.

This one’s a bit unique. We were riding along EDSA when the driver commented on how he was trying to assist the motorcycle taxi beside us. He said that it’s a lot more dangerous for the passenger than it is for the driver. I understand this because the driver, being the one operating the vehicle, will have a faster reflex than the passenger who was just there for the ride. True enough, we’re in an SUV and our driver was wary not only of us, but of the other cars around us as well. I don’t have a driver’s license, but I guess what he meant was that in case other cars around us would get in an accident, he can prioritize ours and the motorcycle riders. He is, after all, carrying a large vehicle that can be strategically used as a shield or something.

I guess this perspective is on a higher level than defensive driving. It’s more than being cautious of yourself and understanding that people around you can fuck up. It’s deciding that others needed to be protected, especially if you have the capacity to do so. I think that’s noble.

Life Lessons I’ve Learned from Patient Drivers

10/6/2025