As you may recall, last week, on Feyma and my 20th Wedding Anniversary, we took a trip to Samal Island for the day. It was a nice day, as I told about in my article last week.
Something unexpected happened, though, on the way home.
When we arrived at the Ferry terminal for the boat ride back to the City, there were a lot of cars waiting. I told Feyma that we would be lucky if we were to make it on to the next Ferry, and that we would likely have to wait until the following Ferry, because the first one would likely be full. Sure enough, I was correct in my assessment. We almost made it, but when the Ferry was full there was us and one other vehicle left to wait for another ferry to come! Oh well, we didn’t feel rushed anyway, and were just enjoying the day.
If we had made it on that first ferry though, we would have missed out on an interesting show!
Only 10 minutes or so after the first ferry departed from Samal terminal, a second ferry appeared, and we were happy that we would be able to leave more quickly than we expected. As the ferry tied up to the Samal port, the gateway was opened, and vehicles were directed to dapart the ferry.
The first vehicle that was to depart the ferry was a small delivery truck. They call it a “6 Wheeler” here. This particular 6 Wheeler was a “Canter” vehicle, which is a type of truck made by Mitsubishi. The Canter started up the ramp, which lead to the concrete terminal, and as it neared the top of the ramp, it became slower and slower. Feyma and I were watching, and I told her that the truck was not going to make it up the terminal! Sure enough, it did not.
The Canter truck came to a slow stop, and then started rolling backwards, out of control! The reverse speed of the truck got very fast, and it appeared that maybe the brakes were not working. Bam! Smash! The truck just rolled back into a bus that was waiting behind it! The bus driver and some of the truck passengers all got out of their vehicles to inspect the damage. After 5 minutes or so, the truck made a second attempt at the ramp. It could not make it again.
After a while, from somewhere a tow rope was produced. The ferry operators saw that a second Canter truck was waiting to board the ferry, and they motioned for the second Canter to come over and pull the stuck Canter off of the ferry, which it did. Well, let me rephrase, the second Canter came over and hooked up, but it was unable to pull the first Canter off of the ferry, it just didn’t have enough power!
I turned to Feyma and told her that the name “Canter” was a very good name for the vehicles. She asked why. I said because they “Can’t” get off the ferry, not enough power, so it was appropriate that they were “CAN’Ters”. 🙂
It took about a half an hour, but finally they got a bigger truck to pull the Canter off of the ferry successfully. Next, the bus started off the ferry, and Feyma and I were anxious to see how much damage the bus had. Luckily, the damage was evident, but relatively minor.
Well, it was an interesting way to cap off a day trip to Samal Island.
Free entertainment at the Ferry Terminal! Thankfully nobody was hurt, and damage was very light.
Bob..its a good think you were not behind the truck that ended up into that bus…that would not have made for a fun interesting day at the Ferry Terminal! You may have had a big dent.
Hi Dan – Yeah, I’m glad that I was not behind that Canter truck… it did not look like a good place to be! 😆
Hi Bob;
Breaks? We don’t need them stinkin’ breaks! (lol) I’ve noticed break lights are not required also. Well it’s good to have a little entertainment while waiting to board.
Hi Paul – There was certainly some entertainment value there, although it delayed our journey by about 30 minutes. And, I was happy that nobody was hurt and damage was minor!
Bob;
No injurys ia always a good thing! 30 minutes delay? Like we got to be somewhere quick. (lol)
Hey Paul – Now you are getting me upset. Feyma and I were on our way to eat lunch… that is a serious thing and a 30 minute delay can cause a couple more hunger pains! 😆 Well, we did make it and had a good lunch in Davao, though!
Hi Bob – Wonder why they didn’t have that bus just push the truck after damage was done?
😆
Ha ha… you’ve got a point there, Paul! I suspect, though, that the push probably would have caused more damage!
Hmmm sounds like my episodes here except im the one getting always getting hit.Its always by a motorcycle,yep they never see my signal lights they say.Im starting to think they see dollar signs instead.Im always getting banged in the rear end of the car.I guess i will buy big lights or something.Maybe off road brush guards like the 4x4s have.Its always funny to no police ever come not even an ambulance.Ok ive rambled on enough lol.Have a great week everyone.
Hi Maynard – Ha ha.. it sounds like you are on the losing end of the battle, my friend! Yeah, I think that the dollar signs are flashing in the eyes of those guys! 😆
I just remembered.. I had completely forgotten… a few years ago, when I was on that ferry, somebody hit me! We were on the ferry, preparing to get off onto the Davao City side, and the fellow in front of me rolled back into me. No damage, although I was not happy!
I guess this post could just as easily go in the previous article on Police Corruption. I havent had a traffic accident in over 20 years- until this week outside NCCC mall. I was in the right turn land going to turn right when a huge yellow Bachelor Express bus passed me and tried to turn right- ignoring the fact that i was beside him! Even tho I stopped he kept going and dragged the side of the bus along my Pajero- damaging the fender, light, and ripping the front bumper and bull bar right off of the car! Soon the local traffic officer [ the guys in green ] showed up, followed by the bus driver, the bus conductor, soon followed by the bus inspector and the traffic inspector. So now I am surrounded by 5 guys all talking in visayan – none of which i understood. Then the traffic inspector told us we had to go to see the police. So we arrive at the police station where we are met by 3 officers- one commander and 2 underlings. The commander asks me what happened and i tell him i was stopped and the bus ran over me! Then he asked the bus driver and he told me the bus driver said i was turning left and ran into the bus ! I said why would i be turning left when i live just to the right of where the accident happened and besides- how could i miss the bus coz it is very big ! and very yellow! So now everyone is laughing except for the bus driver. Next thing i know there is a big argument going on- all in visayan- at the end of which the police commander says ” 15 day suspension” . I asked him – 15 day suspension for the driver or for me?- and he points to the bus driver and says “for him”. i ask him who will pay for my damage and he says when i pick up the police report in 3 days they will give me the contact information for the bus insurance company .
So much for police corruption in the Philippines !! Every one was very polite and respectful and treated me really well.
I talked to my attorney afterwards and he did tell me the insurance adjuster will make my life so miserable, and the repairs will be so badly done that i may as just get them whatever meagre offer the insurance company makes me and get the damage fixed myself .
Hi ian – Oh my, I am very sorry to hear of what happened! All through your story, I was gritting my teeth, thinking you were going to say that you were treated badly by the police, that they found you in the wrong, etc. I am glad that it all turned out the best for you, as it should. I had a similar experience in 2003 or 2004, I don’t recall. I stopped on Macarthur Highway to turn left, had my signal on and such, everything legal. A big truck behind me plowed right into me, not paying attention. We went to the police station and had a similar “meeting” as what you described (I could not speak Bisaya at the time). Luckily, I called Feyma and had her meet me there. In the end, the blame all fell on the truck driver. I chased the truck owner around for months trying to get him to fix my truck, or give me insurance info, though, and never got anything. Ended up having to pay myself. But, the police did all they could, and treated me fairly.
Good luck, Ian.
Hi Bob,
I had a similar traffic related mishap in which the police were pretty fair. The legal system is a bit of a problem though. After it was explained to me that both parties are punished until a settlement is negotiated I quickly worked to find a resoultion that would save face for both parties. I was told that if we could not agree on a settlement that our licenses and regestration would be held at the LTO at which time a crocodile (attorney) would notice a foriegn name and start seeing dollar signs. The punishment that I speak of is that you cannot drive during the time of your legal dispute because you have no license and sometimes your vehicle is impounded.
I can honestly say that my treatment was fair because the man that hit my car was a PNP and I survived the ordeal without a prison sentence. I was admonished for moving my car to the side of the road instead of blocking traffic. They suggested that was hit and run instead of common sense. I did have a nice chat with the commander at the police station and we discussed the chaotic driving here in GenSan. He explained that the police here are not authorized by the LTO to enforce traffic laws. We both had a laugh when I said that eplains a lot of things.
It is safe to say that even if you are treated fairly by the police you can easily become a victim of the legal system. It was fortunate that the guy that hit my car was nice enough to allow me pay for the damages to my vehicle. I do want to emphasize that Filipinos are also victimized by this system. It is not anything against foriegners unless of course you behave badly. You are not in Kansas anymore!
Hi Tom – Wow, you had a doozy there… getting into an accident with a cop is not something I want to go through! I am glad that it all worked out sort of OK for you though!
Thanks Bob ! I was a bit worried at first- well , maybe more than a bit worried, because we hear so many horror stories, and did wonder if there was any way i could end up in a cell for some trumped up charge – either related to the accident or my paperwork [ which i knew was all in order], but decided to see if I could deal with the thing w/o calling anyone else [ altho I did put my attorneys card in my pocket ! ]
But in the end they laughed at all my corny jokes and we all left with smiles [ except for the bus driver of course! ]
I did give the police 200 pesos for snacks- but only after everything was concluded. I consider that good insurance for next time !! lol
Hi Ian – I am very happy that your experience in dealing with local police was the same as mine – corruption free, and fair!
Funny story, Bob! Isn’t it amazing that whenever we are forced to halt our progress, once we start observing what is happening around us, life becomes so very entertaining? I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve been stuck waiting in a traffic jam or for a ferry to load and start watching some seemingly insignificant action of some unknown person(s), only to see something truly bizarre!
Shortly after Victoria Plaza opened, we were sitting inside, gathering our strength to haul our purchases home when, out of no where, a naked woman walks by us! Not streaking, mind you, just out for a stroll, it seemed. We thought that the security guard would be chasing her, but he was standing about 10 feet from us with his mouth hanging open. The woman carried on through the mall as casually as could be. My first words to my wife were, “We have to bring our cameras with us, more often.” She was laying horizontal on the bench, beside me, laughing her butt off! Come to think of it, I’ve seen more streakers in Davao than anywhere else I’ve lived or travelled.( Except on the local Vancouver news when they show the bicyclists riding nude every year.)
Hi Mike – About two years ago, maybe three, I saw a naked woman walking around outside Victoria. She seemed to be some kind of native type lady. Based on the fact that you saw a naked lady there too.. I’m gonna have to start hang out at Victoria more often! 😆
This must be a popular thing! The very first sight that I saw on my very first trip to the Phils. after we left the airport in Manila by taxi was a topless lady weaving her way between the virtually stationery traffic. Unfortunately, she was about sixty and all skin and bone, so not a sight to behold really, but entertaining nonetheless.
Hi Jim – Too bad for you that the lady you saw was already getting into her advanced years. The lady I saw walking around naked was probably under 25. Ha ha…. Most people that I tell about this don’t believe me. 😉
last time i was in P.I i was in Bohol was sitting in traffic in Tagbilarin and I watched this grown man walk down the street bare naked and it was a busy sidewalk with plenty of people around .this guy had a pretty good tan all over his body my wife told me he was probably buong !!!!
Hi mike – Ha ha…. Yes, he was probably buang. I wonder, do the police not do anything when these people walk around in the buff?
A funny story. But just now there is a story on CNN.com about a bus in the northern Philippines whose brakes failed: over thirty passengers dead. On the stretch of highway from Dapitan to our house in Sapang Dalaga (30km = 18 miles), there have been FOUR fatal accidents (with 5 fatalities) this past month. No brake lights, no signals, bad maintenance, overtaking on curves, and so on are not funny matters to these people. RIP.
Sorry to be so negative, but sometimes we treat the driving stories as a joke. sometimes they are, sometimes not.
Hi Don – Well, I actually did consider the situation somewhat serious while watching it. As things turned out it was more of an entertainment thing, but while watching it Feyma and I both were kind of nervous about it.
That’s a good story, Bob. I never thought of the Canter name that way. Come to think of it I know a number of people who are Canters .. and no, not the guys from Jewish religious ceremonies, they are “cantors”.
These “canters” are the ones who automatically “know” it “can’t” be done .. and I guess the truck did as well. No use in trying very hard, I know I can’t do it LoL.
By the way, there must have been an extremely low tide tat day, I’ve never seen that ferry that far down the ramp.
Hi Dave – Ha ha… I had not thought of the “Canter” as the “it can’t be done” crowd, but I like your reasoning on that!
Yeah, I suppose the tide was a bit low that day… but they also have a new ferry which seems to sit lower in the water too, which I believe contributed to this as well.
Hey Bob,
As Tim Allen would say…”That truck needs MORE POWER” It makes me wonder why It couldn’t make it up the ramp. Maybe the truck was not properly maintained.(bad breaks… Hmmmm) I have also heard that there is an engine size limit there in the Philippines. If that is true, the truck was just over loaded for the engine size. Both scenario’s are quite the possibility there in the Philippines.
Hi Hudson – The truck did appear to be loaded down pretty good! That is what both Feyma and I thought the problem was.