KEY Thread Best Posts in Thread: Driving in the Philippines and Dumaguete

Why do they drive like that? How many times have you been asked or asked yourself? I recently came upon a secret manual that answers this question. Please pay attention.

Basic rules of driving in the Philippines.

1. Drive as if you’re the only person on the road (because you are).

2. Drive as if you own the road (which you do).

3. Drive however fast or slow you want any time, anywhere.

4. Park wherever you feel like parking, preferably as close to the middle of the road as possible. You may use your emergency flashing lights to show others that you’re blocking traffic, but don’t worry if you don’t have them or don’t want to use them.

5. Don’t use lights when driving at night. They waste electricity.

6. Pass anyone any time you wish. If you’re barreling down the road in the opposite lane, you may wish to flash your headlights to warn others to get out of your way.

7. If you have mirrors, especially on bikes, remove them before someone steals them. They’re worthless anyway. Who wants to see what’s coming up behind or beside you?

8. Driving is a good time to get caught up on text messages or facebook.

9. Don’t bother licensing yourself or your vehicle. Make a simple u-turn if you see a check point.

10. Don’t waste money servicing your vehicle. It will service itself.

 

I have been liveing and driveing here for about 16 months now and comeing from the wide open spces of Australia it was quite a lot of adjustment...........yes it is crazy driveing here like most asian countries but I have accepted that and really take my time and be aware of the lunatics both local and foreign...............I drive down from Liptong/Valencia a couple of times a week for shopping and eating out in resturants and usually find a shade park in Robinsons to prk my little suzuki van and catch a motor taxi into town if need to go into town and as a few people have mentioned here is that no amount of complaining will change the attitudes and conditions...........so I guess it is either adapt and accept or go back where we come from.

 

Driving in Dumaguete is a learning experience in itself. I consider myself a very good driver since I drive for a living but I was not prepared for the lack of rules when I first came here and started driving a motorcycle. I did find that after a while there was some sort of secret right away granted to bigger moving vehicles I drove a car for a while too and that is maybe safer but far more challenging in the city. Motorcycles are the quick and easy way around the city but certainly it takes some time to learn the non rules like Ceres Liners are no fun to travel behind

 

If you drive around long enough, eventually you will find a parking spot. I used to park a block off the boulevard and walk around town. If you are buying much or have about 5 places you need to go, it becomes a lot less practical.

Wrye has a good point about there being hours when the traffic is not horrible. Unfortunately Immigration and stores like Hypermart are not open for many of those hours that are not horrible.

 

Actually I do not mind traveling behind the Ceres Liner on my motorcycle, I use them like you would a "guard" if you were a quarterback in American football, as a blocker for other vehicles. No one is going to drive through a Ceres Liner to hit me on a motorcycle. The buses generally travel well down the road in the open areas, the only problem being their many stops, and multiple times they end stopping, passing me again, then stopping again when on a trip. I would prefer them in front of me, than behind me.
When making a left turn I many times stay on the buses right sides, as they will certainly use the unwritten rule (the biggest vehicle gets the right-of-way) and give me a cleaner and saver path on making a sweeping left turn. I do not do this while driving in a fantasy world of thoughts as you never know what some other driver will come up with as a new driving technique here, I stay very alert. I do not look at the pretty ladies along the road, and I generally do not even talk while on the motorcycle... all my attention is on the road, but I do use other vehicles as "blockers" to maneuver my way through traffic here.
Regarding "blocking" or "clearing" vehicles... watch the next ambulance that passes you and notice how many motorcycle drivers jump right behind him so he can clear the road for them with his siren and lights on ... very common practice here.

Drive carefully and wisely.

 

Especially Malungay leaves if you have the tree. Very tasty and nutritious.

 

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I agree that traffic can be pretty bad in Dumaguete, but if you take time to explore the back streets there are a couple of 'rat runs' that will get you through the city in a reasonable time. Also, I can usually find a parking spot in town, even if it means walking a couple hundred meters to get to where I want.