Buhay Bangkok

It was already 7:30 am when I was finally able to flag this yellow Toyota Vios taxi. Traffic was congested in Bangbon 3 and I was running late. As I always did every morning, I told the taxi driver, “Pay Thannon Wittayu na kap. Say nay pay Praram Song, Sappan Praram Khao, Praram Si (I’m going to Wireless Road. We pass by Rama 2 Road, then cross the Rama 9  bridge and exit at Rama 4.”

 

I shouldn’t have troubled myself. It turned out that driver could speak English. Just some problem with the tenses, along with the sing-song accent, but striking up a conversation with him didn’t prove to be as stressful as conversing with some of his countrymen.

 

Our exchange started with the usual, “Where are you from?” “I’m from the Philippines,” thing. When he learned that my wife teaches English at Sarasas Bilingual School, he became more interested.

 

“I have son, three years,” he explained. “Next year, go school. He learn English school. Salasat expensive?” Thais pronounce Sarasas as ‘Salasat.’

 

“Well, it’s definitely cheaper than Assumption,” I assured him. Assumption is one of the schools that charge a high tuition in Thailand. Only the international schools charge higher.

 

According to him, his son is being taken care of by his mother in the province. I forgot the name of the province (Its name is quite long) but it’s midway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

 

So you and your wife are working here in Bangkok? I asked him. He hesitated before answering. Yes, he said finally. My wife is also in Bangkok.

 

I complimented him on his English skills. He explained that he once studied in Ramkamheng University, though he wasn’t able to graduate. He started three courses but didn’t finish any.

 

He said he used to work as a traveling salesman in a company that sells bags. However, the Taiwanese-owned factory closed and relocated to China. That’s when his problems started. He and his wife had frequent quarrels and he later discovered that she even had a lover. “I work very hard, go to province, go home only Friday,” he explained. His wife must have grown lonely during his absences and had taken on a lover.

 

So they separated and he took his son to his mother. Once in a while, his wife would visit their son. The driver said he’s already  43. So you married late? I asked him.

 

No, have three wives long ago, he said. Now that’s a surprise. Ching may? Really? Ching ching, he said. Really-really.

 

But here’s the bombshell. He divorced his three earlier wives because…you guessed it: they also had taken on lovers.

 

He was staring ahead, his eyes fixed on the road, his face losing its smile, as he told me his story.

 

Great. What a story. A tearjerker.

 

Then I thought to myself, this guy’s really had bad luck Four of his wives took on lovers! Pendejo! I can imagine somebody playing a trumpet in the background.

 

Can somebody be that unlucky? Ang malas naman niya. Somehow his misfortune cast a shadow on an otherwise beautiful morning. I don’t want my day ruined just because a Thai driver shared his tales of woe with me.

 

“You can always get a new girlfriend!” I suggested, hoping to cheer him up.

 

“No, no have more girlfriend. No have wife. Same same. Just problems.” The way he shook his head was emphatic. “I take care my son. I’m happy my son. No have plans new girlfriend. Thai women, not honest.”

 

“Really? Do most Thai wives get lovers?”

 

No answer from him. Stupid question.

 

At that time we were already making a right turn to All Seasons’ Place. I noticed that the driver had been taking glances at the well-dressed Thai women on their way to their respective offices.

 

“Hhmm…Office girls pretty, na?” he remarked.

 

“Yes, sure, they’re pretty.” I answered, and then something dawned on me. I can’t suppress a smile. “Maybe this year will be luckier for you. You’ll have a pretty office girl as a new girlfriend, eh?”

 

Now, he smiled at that. “Kap, kap. Yes. Thank you. Hope so.” The bastard. One moment he was all pensive at getting four of his wives shit on his head, probably even vowing celibacy for the rest of his life, and now, the sight of those well-dressed, slim, fair-complexioned office girls changed his mind.

 

I’m really amazed at the Thais. I won’t be surprised if a Filipino murders his adulterous wife in a moment of passion. Our Malay blood, influenced in no small part by the equally fierce Hispanic heritage, will explain away such things. I can’t imagine a Filipino being wronged by his wife four times and not to commit murder.

 

But with the Thais…I guess they’re different. They can still remain complacent in the face of that kind of catastrophe.

 

But one thing that Thais and Filipinos share a similarity is in their capacity to hope… that one day they’ll meet the woman who would be honest and faithful to them.

 

The morning is beautiful, after all. I walked into the CRC Building lobby with my feet acquiring a certain sense of bouyancy.