As I said in a previous post, I own my own vehicle, a Mitsubishi small SUV. The next thing that people ask is this – “do you have a driver?” No, I don’t. I drive myself. I would not have it any other way.
As I said in a previous post, in 2001 I had a stroke and was incapacitated for a time. One of the things that the doctor ordered was that I was not to drive. So, my wife hired a driver to take me around where I wanted to go. I really hated it! Personally, I don’t like having somebody else in control of where I go, or even behind the wheel. I like to be in the driver’s seat and able to make decisions myself. It didn’t take long, maybe 4 to 5 weeks, and I fired the driver, and took the controls back myself. This was, of course, approved by my doctor.
I am able to drive fairly aggressively, and this has it’s positive sides. One thing that is positive about this is that if you are out in the countryside driving, there are sometimes ambushes or illegitimate checkpoints on the highways. I feel pretty strongly that I could get out of a situation like this if I was driving, but am not sure that a local driver would be able to do that. I trust my instincts, but not necessarily others. I have had times when I was driving in the middle of nowhere and came upon a checkpoint with people in camoflauge uniforms manning the checkpoint. I looked and determined that I didn’t care for the look and feel, and I gunned it through the area, not stoppping to be “checked.” There have been plenty of other times when I stopped and complied with the Army guys at the checkpoint. But, I want to have the ability to make that choice myself, not be at the mercy of just anybody behind MY steering wheel. Don’t take me wrong, I don’t feel that driving most highways is a dangerous thing to do. I just feel more comfortable when I can make the choice, though.
It is true, though, many ex-pats living here hire a driver to take them around. It’s just not my choice. Your mileage may vary, as usual.
I agree with you, Bob. In the states, you drive defensively to look out for other agressive drivers. Here in the Philippines, it works the opposite way. You have to drive offensively. And I mean that literally. You seem to get more respect on the road if you're the agressive driver. And size do matter. If I'm up against a truck, I yield whether or not I'm on the right of way. In the end, even if you're dead right, you're still dead.
Newer vehicles also yields to the older vehicles for obvious reasons, especially if the owner of the newer vehicile is still paying for it. However, if you're driving a Ford Expeditions or Explorers, most vehicles will try their best to yield to you, especially if your windows are tinted. There could be a big shot politicans or high ranking military officers in those vehicles. These are the elites that the average drivers want to stay clear of. Even the police and traffic enforcers are wary of these vehicles because they never who's inside. so these types of vehicles can break most driving rules without getting pulled over. It's kind of hard to accept, but it's just one of the idiosyncracies of living in this Paradise. Till next time….
Right on, Julius!
Well thanks to Julius I know what vehicle I'm going to buy now.
Yes this is one of the sore points for me as I am at the mercy of Manila taxi drivers, generally it's ok but when it's raining or if they don't fancy going to your destination then it's… no meter sir… I fight that as much as I can but when it's raining and you just want to get home.
Also a lot of times they will say… no meter sir as there is a lot of traffic… but this is Manila, there is always traffic so maybe you should think of doing a different job !!
I would love to drive my own car but parking here in Makati is very difficult and the condo that I am renting for my 8 months here doesn't have a parking place.
If I do decide to live here I will definetly have my own car and now that I know…. it will be an Expedition or Explorer !!
Hi gerry – it seems those Expeditions and Explorers are going to be quite popular! 😆
Was wondering Bob how do you really know a legitimate checkpoint from a fake one. I know you have been here for a long time so what is your telling signs. obviously, I would also like to avoid them as well so do you have any specific tells other than beedy eyes or a look and feel. If you were wrong would you risk bullets and being chased? DO you do this with your family in the vehicle as well. I like to drive and obvioulsy avoid getting robbed, kidnapped or killed. Any more specific suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi Bob, since living in the Philippines, I haven't drive my car myself yet. Good, we have always somebody around, who will drive us whenever and where ever we would like to go. I have driving experiences even from South Africa, left hand drive, at night, heavy rain – no problem.Up to now I couldn't adjust myself to the FIlipino traffic. Neither in big cities nor in the province. Yesterday we came home from a little trip to the provincial mountains. I admired my German friend again, how he managed even "critical situations"…
Hi Julius, I also agree with you. Same in Germany. Before I even enjoy many highways without speed limit. I never got scared…
Hi Corey – I play it by ear. Pull up to the checkpoint, take a look at uniforms, anything to see how official it looks, put my window down just a crack and see the reaction of the guy when he sees me, and make a call. I don't "smash through" or floor the accelerator. If I decide I am not going to stop, I slow down, give a wave, and just ease my way through.
Hi Klaus – I live driving in the Philippines. I think I'd have a hard time re-adjusting to driving back in the USA. Too many rules! 😀
Bob,
What about insurance. Is it manditory? Do you need to prove insurance to register the car? IF so, what does it cost there?
Hi Bruce – You can buy insurance from an agent just like in the States, or you can purchase a minimal insurance coverage when you get your license plate too. Some kind of insurance is indeed mandatory. Cost will vary depending on how much insurance you buy, and what you are insuring.
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
Hi Malcolm – Take the time to read my comments above. I don't "gun it", I do slow down, not just smash through it…..
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
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.
Bob
Yes, we`ll have to agree to differ there I`m afraid (:-))
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.
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.
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
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 …?
Hi phil R – I love driving here! I much prefer driving here compared to the States! 😆