SAFE SPACE, SAFE JOURNEY: MY HAPPY EXPERIENCE WITH JOYRIDE'S SUPER TAXI

We tried JoyRide newest Hatid Airport Super Taxi service. Here’s what happened.

- By KATHERINE L. MAGSANOC

I don't remember the last time I took a taxi to go to the airport.

Since the advent of ride-hailing services in the Philippines 10 years ago, somehow my mindset shifted to booking cars via apps first. It was worth it to pay extra for the convenience, and it helped that I could share ride details with loved ones for my security and their peace of mind.

It did not help that I had negative experiences with taking the taxi when I was still a student and during the early days of my work and parent life.

One would encounter drivers na nangongontrata (they would ask for a fixed amount to take you to your destination, usually much higher than the metered rate) or namimili (they would choose passengers heading to the driver's preferred destination).

I also remember riding cabs with tiny cockroaches and other crawling insects inside them. Or there were those that smelled of pesticide spray that would give me headaches or cause dizziness. Or the driver was unpleasant or using his mobile phone while driving.

Somehow, the words "comfort," "cleanliness," "safety," and "taxi" just did not go together until JoyRide's Super Taxi.

CARE AND COMFORT

In early July, I went on assignment to Cebu. It was one of those alanganing oras flights where I needed to leave home at around 5 o'clock in the morning or earlier in order to check-in conveniently and without stress. I had seen the JoyRide Super Taxi Hatid Airport button on my JoyRide app, and thought I'd give it a try.