Comments on: How do you get around? – Part II

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:43:29 +0000

Hi phil R – I love driving here! I much prefer driving here compared to the States!

By: phil R

phil R — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:40:17 +0000

hey Bob… i do not drive in the pines , i will leave it to the filipinos they seem to do better then i would . Too crowded for me even in the country …?

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:26:12 +0000

Hey
I agree with Francisco (:-)). If they have guns, be ready to stop, its no good talking about what you shoud have done later! Where the safety of the family is concerned, no risk is worth taking. I certainly agree that it is no good driving in Davao the way we drive back home. I am a driving instructor in UK, but once in Davao, I forget all the rules back home and do as the Romans do!
Malcolm

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:11:04 +0000

Hi Francisco – I have traveled some very remote parts of Mindanao, and in some areas that are not widely traveled by Filipinos, let alone foreigners. You can be sure that I have seen checkpoints that probably you and Malcolm wouldn’t want to stop at. In Basilan I passed a checkpoint that was a single tire in the middle of the clay road (not the zig zag checkpoints that you see on the highway) with 4 guys in shorts and t-shirts manning it with automatic weapons. I was not driving on that occasion, but you can bet the my driver didn’t stop there. I have also had CAFGUs try to get into my car after boldly displaying their weapons at the side of the road. Such incidents, as I say, happened in very remote areas, not along highways where regular army, PNP and LTO checkpoints (by the way, the Comelec also has checkpoints as well as the groups that you pointed out).

Anyway, suffice it to say, that I believe that driving aggressively is not only a good thing, it’s a necessity in certain areas.

By: Francisco San Giorgio

Francisco San Giorgio — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:43:11 +0000

Bob: When I first moved here, and married,(March of 2005) for the first 7+ months. the wife and I relied solely on trykes for tavel within Pagadian City, and vans for trips to the parents home in Subecao, Dumalinao. We bought two trykes in June of that year and I learned from my drivers about driving rules, or lack thereof so, when we bought our first car ( a KIA Pcanto) it was with this knowledge in mind. We had blacked out windows added to avoid some problems. Since that time, I have been stopped at checkpoints exactly twice. Once, I’m sure was out of curiousity of the PNP and the second duriing election time by the Military to check for weapons. There are three different types of checkpoints that I know of: PNP, military and LTO. The difference in uniform is the military and PNP are comoflauge but different color and the LTO have bright yellow shirts. Most all the checkpoints are a zig-zag configuration and requires a slow passage. Stopping to check the authenticity of the uniforms is not a option. If they want you to stop they will be at the road side and specfically motion for you to stop. If you don’t, I’m not sure what the conciquences would be but, I for one, really would not want to test it! These guys have big guns!! The LtO don’t…..they will chaxe you down as I have seen on one accaision.

I agree with the aggressive driving thing…..if we drove in the US like we drivce here, we’d be in jail in a minute. I learned to always give way to large trucks and Rural Transit buses. In most other cases, the most agressive wins.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:16:17 +0000

Bob
Yes, we`ll have to agree to differ there I`m afraid (:-))

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 10:36:39 +0000

Malcolm – I don’t know that I’ve ever been through a checkpoint where I was specifically told to stop. A lot of locals go through checkpoints without stopping too. Anyway, I’ll consider my safety for myself – you consider your safety. I’m sure we can each make our own best personal choices.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:40:44 +0000

Hi Bob
Read your blog, you did say you gunned it through when you didn`t like the look of the checkpoint! (:-)). If they say stop, I think the sensible thing to do is stop, ater all, they are armed, you aren`t.
All the best
Malcolm

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 01:39:48 +0000

Hi Malcolm – Take the time to read my comments above. I don’t “gun it”, I do slow down, not just smash through it…..

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 01:21:56 +0000

Hi Bob
I have driven quite a bit in Davao as well. I am surprised to hear you say you should just drive through some checkpoints, some may be fake, possibly, but just get it wrong one time and you could get your head blown off, doesnt matter how fast you gun the car, you can`t beat a hail of bullets. is it worth the risk with family in the car!
All the best
Malcolm