Air-Conditioned Numb-Nut Thinking

In cab, on way to UP:

Along Commonwealth, while battling the temptation to cut what would surely be yet another boring class, I noted that all of the cabs speeding along the same road (no doubt screwing their innocent passengers with their tampered meters) had “air-con” plastered on their doors.

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t we 8 years into the new century? Shouldn’t every cab, by now, have aircons? I vaguely remember that when I was a child (in age ha), the air conditioned cab was a hit or miss thing. So you had to make sure you flagged down a cab with an “air con” sign that guaranteed that you wouldn’t spend even a few minutes in a literal hell hole.

But now? Today? In the era of people flying to boracay for two grand? Of watching tv shows in marathons, without commercials?

Could it possibly be that somewhere along the roads, avenues, boulevards, streets, alleys, etc., of Metropolitan Manila, there exists even one cab which plies its route without air conditioning, also known as god’s gift to people who take public transport in the blistering and road-rage inducing heat? A cab which offers no promise of cool air within its confines?

Could it possibly be that I might, one day, in a fit of desperation, as when I find myself stuck somewhere random with somewhere important to go, be trapped into taking such a cab?

Please, for the love of all that’s holy.

Say it ain’t so.