I was waiting in Ayala for a taxi ride when someone told me a cab was available. As I approached, I noticed a foreigner and his wife just finishing their trip, paying the exact amount on the meter—nothing more, nothing less.
I got in, closed the door, and the driver immediately started murmuring. He pointed at the couple walking away toward the mall, clearly upset.
“Grabe! He didn’t even bother to give extra. Foreigner na nga, nakita pa niya na nagpa-gas ako, pero wala man lang tip!”
I froze for a moment, trying to process what I just heard. I couldn’t believe he was angry… just because they didn’t give more than what was required.
Then he added,
“Pag foreigner talaga, lalo na pag may asawang Filipina, kinokontrol lahat. Dapat nagbibigay ‘yan ng tip!”
At that point, I felt something inside me rise. Not anger alone—but the need to speak up.
“Kuya,” I said calmly but firmly,
“is it really necessary for them to give you extra just because he’s a foreigner? Everything is expensive now. Maybe they’re saving, or maybe they simply chose to pay what’s right.”
Silence filled the car.
For the first time, he paused.
And in that quiet moment… something shifted.
We didn’t speak again for the rest of the ride.
But one thought stayed with me—
Since when did kindness become an obligation?
Since when did someone’s nationality determine how much they owe beyond fairness?
Not all who have more are required to give more.
Not all who give less are ungrateful.
Respect isn’t measured by the tip you receive, but by the dignity you choose to give.
Because at the end of the day…
Gratitude should come from the heart—not from expectation.
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