Thursday, May 1, 2008
Philippine Cars
First time, 1982, when I visited Mindanao I really got amused watching the very few cars i.e. in Davao City
Time changes many things: but, until now cars in the Philippines
Why Philippine cars will not fade away? As we could learn from columnist Jullie Y. Daza, Manila Bulletin, Philippine cars never die, because they just get repainted and repaired, repaired and repainted again. Jullie asked the question: How can Philippine cars survive travelling millions of kilometers over some of the worst roads in Asia?
Good question…
So what do you think, dear reader? And, how is your car doing???
Related Posts:
Philippine Fairy-talesPhilippine-German Relations (X)
Philippine-German Relations (IX)
Philippine-German Relations (VI)
Philippine-German Relations (XV)
Philippine-German Relations (XIV)
Philippine-German Relations (IV)
Philippine-German Relations (VII)
Philippine-German relations (I)
Entry and Stay of Foreign Students in the Philippines (I)
# 1 Dr. Sponk Long said:
Hi Klaus. I just talk to a Cuban friend of mine with the same story. At least in the Philippines there are spare parts you can buy off the shelf. In Cuba he said, they make the parts themselves.
Also the funniest thing he said was: his father bought a brand new car in the 1950’s for $2000.00 (before the revolution). My friend inherited the car with all the hand made spare parts in it. When he left Cuba 10 years ago he was able to sell his vintage 1950’s car for $8000!!.
Now that’s appreciation.
He was very proud of that story until I told him that he should have waited until Fidel (Castro) dies…and that will be anytime now…and bring the car here in the U.S. I’m sure Antique car dealers will pay 10 to 20 times more….now he is sad……
Nah ….not really he is just glad he was able to get out of there.
Cheers!
# 2 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Dr. Sponk Long, very funny and very interesting. Thanks for sharing this with us and regards to your Cuban friend. It’s amazing to announce, that I got 2 emails because of this post from people asking if i would have “my old car” ready to be sold… Mmmh - unfortunately NOT. But anyway THANKS and Thank you Dr. Long for stopping by… BTW, I experienced the same during my stay in Jamaica in 1974. But NOW I am here - and thansk God, I AM!
# 3 Malcolm said:
Hi Klaus
The reason we see so many old and delapidated cars in The Phills is simply because there is nothing to put them off the road! In UK as in most other countries, there is an annual test of road worthiness, as the car gets older it becomes more and more difficult to pass this test till in the end it it is not economical to repair the car and it is scrapped, thus clearing old cars off the road. The only “test” in The Phills is an emissions test once a year and if you pay your money under the table you don`t even need to take the car to get the certificate! (:-))
All the best
Malcolm
# 4 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Malcolm, thanks for dropping by. As I know, we have both tests also here in Davao City - but we also noticed, “paying under the table” seems to remain “normal” - even we DON’T do it…
# 5 Bruce said:
Klaus,
When I moved here in December Elena wanted me to have a car. I bought a new inexpensive Kia. One time leaving the parking at a downtown Hotel after a wedding the security was waving me back but was not looking. He backed me up to where my right side wheel well hooked the bumper of the car next to me. They made me wait until they found the driver. Good for us his car was just scratched and said no problem. Then there was squeezing in our driveway at the house.
We live on a busy road just around a curve. One day as cars were stopped behind me as I was turning into our driveway, BOOM, a motorcycle driver tried to pass the cars on the curve by jumping into the left lane, gunning it and then smashing into my drivers door. No damage to the motorcycle but my door was badly dented and the front fender and back door was dented.
Luckly he was honorable and left his motorcycle as colateral. The next day we went to the service dept. at Kia and was told the insurance would cover the repair and the driver would pay the deductable of 10,000 pesos.
The service writer also told me she would fix every dent and ding and repaint the car. The day I left it I asked if they would remove some of the tinting on the windshield because it is hard to see at night. She showed me a tint where day or night you can see out and no one can see in. When I asked how much it would cost, she said she would add it to the insurance.
Now my car is in the shop for about 2 weeks and I am back riding taxis to work.
# 6 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Bruce, wow, thanks for your interesting stories. Yeah, that’s how it works…
Anyway, I am blessed to have two brothers-in-law driving our car (and taxi) - and, they know how to fix everything. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and regards to Elena… 
# 7 Beng said:
Ahh, so you experienced riding a PU
. Those were the days where Davao was not yet so crowded.
Übrigens Klaus, mein Mann und ich haben sich entschieden, eventuell für immer hier in Davao zu bleiben. Meine Kinder und ich sind bereits hier…mein Ehegatte kommt erst im Oktober nach.
# 8 klaus said:
Hi Beng, yeah, it’s great during the earlier 1980s. Wow, that’s great that you and your husband decided to stay in Davao for good. Compliment: you write in a very prefect German style. Let’s keep in touch and regards to your husband and kids… take care.
# 9 Beng said:
Thanks for the compliment. Hehehe, learning German language was tough. I sweat blood and twisted my tongue with all those Umlautung
Well anyways, it would be nice if we could meet personally. My hubby is a doctor specialized in internal medicine. He is actually still young to retire but he doesn’t like it there anymore. This move that we made is like a Harakiri because the future is unknown. But just like you said…don’t worry be happy. Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt, nicht war?
# 10 Klaus Doring said:
Hi Beng - you are right. I have several students now in USEP - and the number is growing. They all have most the same problems - but they are doing very well. You can check out my latest post asap, I am sure, we will find time to meet each other personally. Regards to your hubby. A doctor of internal medicine? Wow, great. But allow me one important suggestion; don’t make a “harakiri” - move and just come here. Plan well; of course “don’t worry - be happy”, and, as you quoted: The hope dies at last. But many ex pats struggle because of just coming here without any idea. I am also getting a lot of emails of people, who asked advice “how to survive in the Philippines - because they don’t like in their home country any more…” - Keep in touch with you and all the best for you…