29.11.07
I had the perfect bday gift for myself. I just earned my restricted licence few hours ago.
It took me roughly 18 months to have the courage to sit my practical driving test. But as it turned out, it was worth the entire wait. It isn’t such big a deal really but for me who desperately wanted to have this since hell knows when, it became a major concern for some time.
Getting licence here isn’t as easy as getting one in pinas. There are no fixers whatsoever. You have to do the written and practical tests no matter what. And it’s not very easy. Some get it in their first try while some are lucky to get it in their third or even more. Even my dad who’s been driving in the Philippines for so many years had to sit his test twice (although that’s quite justifiable given how different the driving is between here and there i.e. car orientation, speed limit, car volume, road conditions, route familiarity etc).
Driving here is a lot better though, mainly because they have good roads and cars, operational rules and generally disciplined drivers. Even my dad commended how people drive here. They are just far more ‘refined’ than the average toot-toot-make-way-coz-i-am-passing Filipino driver.
I remember one time while we were having a long drive somewhere here. It was a bit traffic and this car few metres ahead of us without hesitation pulled out of our barely moving lane and swerved to its left which is a roadside and rushed to the nearest intersection at least 50 more metres away then turned left. Then my dad exclaimed, “pinoy sigurado un.” The remark was funny but somehow appalling.
It’s a bit shameful that pinoys are getting known for being notorious drivers. I can still remember how annoying tricycle drivers are in San Pablo, how they would always try to penetrate through the traffic. And how the buses in manila will just swerve left and right or stop in the middle of the highway to let passengers off. And how they would all crowd up into a park causing road blocks to pick up passengers then run off while the last person trying to hop in is still dangling in mid-air. And the endless blowing of horns. Etc etc. Although I have to say, having to deal with a bad traffic condition every time makes pinoy drivers tough. They practically have better defensive driving skills because they know how to play rough. That’s a plus but it shouldn’t necessarily be the philosophy to live by.
Here it’s different. They generally abide by the rules. They stick to the speed limit. They stop at the right stops. They don’t really blow their horns unless someone’s not paying enough attention. Some drivers are rude but most of them are not. And they don’t just park everywhere. Blahblahblah.
i don’t know what to expect when I come back in pinas. it’s been a while since I’ve been there and who knows? things may be different, better. And I certainly wish it has changed. Cause I hope to bring better Philippine traffic memories. But until then, I will just enjoy driving here, and maybe by the time I hit the roads in pinas, I am already more prepared to the rollercoaster drive I am yet to experience.
It took me roughly 18 months to have the courage to sit my practical driving test. But as it turned out, it was worth the entire wait. It isn’t such big a deal really but for me who desperately wanted to have this since hell knows when, it became a major concern for some time.
Getting licence here isn’t as easy as getting one in pinas. There are no fixers whatsoever. You have to do the written and practical tests no matter what. And it’s not very easy. Some get it in their first try while some are lucky to get it in their third or even more. Even my dad who’s been driving in the Philippines for so many years had to sit his test twice (although that’s quite justifiable given how different the driving is between here and there i.e. car orientation, speed limit, car volume, road conditions, route familiarity etc).
Driving here is a lot better though, mainly because they have good roads and cars, operational rules and generally disciplined drivers. Even my dad commended how people drive here. They are just far more ‘refined’ than the average toot-toot-make-way-coz-i-am-passing Filipino driver.
I remember one time while we were having a long drive somewhere here. It was a bit traffic and this car few metres ahead of us without hesitation pulled out of our barely moving lane and swerved to its left which is a roadside and rushed to the nearest intersection at least 50 more metres away then turned left. Then my dad exclaimed, “pinoy sigurado un.” The remark was funny but somehow appalling.
It’s a bit shameful that pinoys are getting known for being notorious drivers. I can still remember how annoying tricycle drivers are in San Pablo, how they would always try to penetrate through the traffic. And how the buses in manila will just swerve left and right or stop in the middle of the highway to let passengers off. And how they would all crowd up into a park causing road blocks to pick up passengers then run off while the last person trying to hop in is still dangling in mid-air. And the endless blowing of horns. Etc etc. Although I have to say, having to deal with a bad traffic condition every time makes pinoy drivers tough. They practically have better defensive driving skills because they know how to play rough. That’s a plus but it shouldn’t necessarily be the philosophy to live by.
Here it’s different. They generally abide by the rules. They stick to the speed limit. They stop at the right stops. They don’t really blow their horns unless someone’s not paying enough attention. Some drivers are rude but most of them are not. And they don’t just park everywhere. Blahblahblah.
i don’t know what to expect when I come back in pinas. it’s been a while since I’ve been there and who knows? things may be different, better. And I certainly wish it has changed. Cause I hope to bring better Philippine traffic memories. But until then, I will just enjoy driving here, and maybe by the time I hit the roads in pinas, I am already more prepared to the rollercoaster drive I am yet to experience.
// posted by jaena*** @ 16:19 
