Life in the Philippines

It’s funny how driving and riding in Metro Manila for any length of time changes your feel for the road.  As we drove to Subic Bay this past weekend, we took the crowded bumper car roads up to the North Luzon Expressway and then made our way on the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway.  We’ve heard this expressway was not here when the bases were and a ride from Clark to Subic could take 3 hours. The SCTEX is a dream road compared to most others here. To be able to go more than 25 miles an hour is quite a change.  So much so that it almost makes you feel you are going to fast when you get up to just 55.  Johnnie says if he had brought his car over, he would have had to have an excuse to come to this expressway often just to be able to really drive.  The Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway was built as part of the Base Converstion and Development Authroity projects to help improve business in the areas after the bases closed. You can see pictures as the expressway was being built on this site.

As we were reentering the SCTEX from the Subic area, I snapped a picture of the expressway mascot. Isn’t he a beauty?

Yes, it’s another in the series of Manila traffic posts.  And yes, traffic is still out there in tremendous volume. When I was headed to Korea folks told me that I had to prepare myself for the traffic situation there.  Gotta tell you Korea doesn’t even come close traffic wise to Manila. And I was just amazed at the silence while riding. It’s odd not hearing the constant horn blowing.  The one thing that is the same though is the bus situation.  Those huge passenger bus drivers rule the road and they don’t care if you are around or not. You had better move for them because they intend to go where they please.

We almost made it with the vehicle in country for 6 months with no significant events.  Note I said ALMOST.  Last week as we returned from Christopher’s music concert we stopped to grab a quick bite of dinner.  As we left the drive through and headed to the road back to our place we encountered the event you really have to watch out for - that right hand turn by the vehicle in the middle lane.  I didn’t see it completely, and I am glad I was not the one driving.  I just caught the four letter words and felt the impact. It didnt wind up being so bad.  At first when I got out to look I thought the driver front end was going to be pretty messed up because of the way it pushed us over.  I guess the large bumper helped and we really don’t have a huge amount of damage.  What we did have was an hour or more delay to get home because you have to wait on security to come make their pictures etc, then go to the police station to file your report…which doesn’t declare anyone at fault.  Odd huh? That’s just how it is I guess, even when fault seems to be without any question, it is left to the insurance companies.

Such is life, and as long as no one was hurt vehicles are fixable and replaceable and it’s just another day in Manila Traffic with one more memory to file away.

Rule #1 - There are no rules which are followed hard and fast!

Things you should remember when driving in Manila Traffic

1. You do not have to be in the right hand lane to make a right hand turn.  Good to know info if you are having a tough time getting over to the right but even better no know info if you ARE in the right hand lane. Watch out for that guy in the middle lane trying to cut over traffic!

2. Size does matter in Manila traffic.  If you are a bus, you go where you please at whatever speed you please. If you are a moped, motorscooter, bicycle, you can go where you please even when traffic is at a stand still. Just ride on the sidewalk, curve, in between the cars, wherever you please.

3. Just because the left hand lane says turn to the left, the car in the left hand lane may very well be going straight no matter what. Heck, he may even be making a right hand turn!

4.  The Hurricane states should take contraflow lessons from Manila traffic cops. All they need is a sawhorse to close your lane, a few cones to tell you not to come into another lane, and wallah, they reverse the flow of one or more lanes of traffic. Of course creating a 5 mile long traffic jam is nothing new here.

5.  Manila traffic is reported on radio stations too. Typically 45 min or so after the traffic jam has gotten so bad no one is moving.

6. A parade or unannounced celebration in the middle of morning rush hour Manila traffic is really no big deal. Just find that guy with the sawhorse and send the cars down the other side of the median instead.

7. The Manila traffic norm of seven lanes of cars in a 4 lane road is easier if you just remember to bob and weave, surge and pause, and hit the horn like everyone else.

Adapt and Overcome…that’s life in Manila traffic!

Jeepney travel is a way of life for many around Manila and in other parts of the country. You can see a picture of a jeepney here . There is one other type of jeepney here. I don’t know if it is a correct term but we call it a jeepney junior. These are jeep type vehicles, not large like the bus style but bigger than the typical American jeep. They are also used for transporting passengers. They seem to be a combination of a jeepney and a taxi. They don’t seem to run a regular route like the jeepney does, but maybe pick up specific customers on a per call basis. As you can see in the picture, the jeepney junior is also a decorated vehicle like the jeepney.