8 Reasons why being a Petrolhead in the Philippines SUCKS

Updated: 29 Nov 2024

I was born and raised in the Philippines. The Philippines is known for its wonderful destinations such as Boracay and Palawan, but putting all the tourism aside, living in the Philippines is no easy task especially if you’re a car enthusiast. Food is on the cheap side, and so is gas and some cars (mostly Japanese and Korean). So what are the reasons why it’s hard living in the Philippines as a car enthusiasts? This post was inspired by: [https://naturehealth.fit/post/ajb7v95/%3C/a%3E%5D and another post. Thanks a lot!

1. Lanes? What Lanes?

A lot of drivers here in the Philippines seems to find it hard to stick in one lane, the reason maybe is because of road hazards, but that’s for later. Other countries might have the same problem with their own unique reasons, but unlike there it’s almost tradition here. To know more reasons why a lot of drivers where doing this, I asked a driver of a taxi and all he said was (translated of course): “ So I won’t find it hard to switch lanes later…”. And that brings me to the next reason…

2. Kill or be killed mentality

It’s difficult to drive here in the Philippines. If you don’t have a dark side in driving you’ll be frowned upon by “veteran” drivers. Here in the Philippines it’s kill or be killed in driving. You drive too slow? Get ready for horns, threats (from other drivers), flashing lights and lots more. You drive too fast? Get ready for threats (from the same drivers), a possibly broken spine and let’s not forget the Police. So remember when you rent a car in the Philippines to drive around, you’ll be driving in a warzone.

3. SUV drivers think they are the Kings of the roads

Not all SUV drivers here are knuckleheads, but 97% of knuckleheads (in the Private Sector) drives SUV’s. One of the main reasons they drive like knuckleheads may be because they think BIGGER=SAFER. They also drive recklessly fast and usually counter flows in two-lane roads. Two good cars ruined by knuckleheads drivers. PS: If you ever encounter a honking SUV behind your rear-view mirror, it’s best that you let it trough.

4. Color Coding Scheme

The color coding scheme is created to reduce traffic in the Philippines. What you do is take the last number of your car’s plate number and look at the table. So for example: UKZ 145, we take the number 5. That means you can’t use your car on Wednesdays, except if that day is a holiday. So if you only got one car, then you have to take public transportation at least one day every week.

5. Variety of vehicles on the roads

Here in the Philippines there’s a lot of different kinds of vehicles. Eco-cars, hatchbacks, coupes, old, new, sport cars and even hyper cars!!! (it’s actually like and ice cream shop here, LOTS OF FLAVORS!!!). But that’s not what i’am talking about. The roads here are dangerous to some degree because of these vehicles:

Kalesas or horse carriages

They are slow, have no signals and lights and leaves fecal matter on the roads. Bad for road safety, bad for your new car.

Jeepneys or simply Long jeeps w/ truck engines

Remember when I said that 97% of SUV’s are knuckleheads (at least in the private sector)? The jeepneys are the same in the statistic side, but in the Public sector. Almost all jeepneys have no tail light and/or signal light, produce smoke (imagine american diesel pickups), useless tires and brakes and drive more aggresively and recklessly than any other driver on the road. STAY OUT OF THEIR LANE (usually the lane nearest to the sidewalks)

Pedicabs

I know some Pedicab drivers so I know what I’am talking about. They are some of the hardest working people on the roads, but great accomplishments come with great egos. They don’t care if you’re in a truck or in a car, they won’t let you overtake them. They randomly appear out of nowhere, has no signals and tail lights and are just plain dangerous. AVOID FIGHTING THEM they fight in groups and usually hides a knife or sometimes even a gun.

There’s a lot more, but let’s go to the next reason.

6. Criminals… Criminals everywhere

Carnapping, Falling cement blocks, nails on the roads and even insurance frauds are common here in the Philippines. Let me give you an example: Basag-kotse gang or Break your glass and steal your things/ for fun gang.

Also common here are (to name a few): sidemirror theft, hubcap theft, wheel theft, accesories theft (chrome sidings and grills and badges) and “poor kid” con (kid ask you to drive to an adress, then bang… carnapped).

7. Corruption in the system

By now you’re wondering “why can knuckleheads drive on the roads, how did they even get their licenses?” One word: Corruption. In the Philippines, MONEY=POWER. Want to drive 200kph+ on a highway, pay or befriend the highway managers or officers. Want to drive while you’re still under 16? Pay the Licensing staffs to get you a license immediately. It’s a sad thing that it has become almost a tradition to bribe police officers here… but don’t worry we are making changes for the better.

8. The Roads

Smooth and amazing roads exists in the Philippines, but they are just temporary. Heavy trucks, Crazy weather and Inadequate road materials are just one of the reasons why Smooth roads becomes Rally roads (and not in a good way). Most roads here are filled with potholes and/or are obstructed by obstacles such as wrongly parked cars, potholes, oilspots (thanks to vehicles that did’nt pass the M.O.T. equivelant here in the PH) and lots more. Also, some traffic signs and lights are either broken, hidden or unnecessary. At night, some of the roads (highways even!!!) are unlit and further increase the danger of driving in the Philippines.

With all that said, I still invite you to come to the Philippines and drive. Why? Because you'll be trained to become a racing driver. Your skills, patience and luck would be tested. Don't worry mga *kabayans* I'll make another post stating reasons why driving in the Philippines ROCKS!!! 

Thank you for reading, this is my first #blogpost in CT. Have tips or suggestions or more reasons? type in the comments below! BTW, I made this as a tool for helping first time drivers in the PH.

Comments

Bro this is awesome!! I loved it. Good job

Thanks man! Just thought to try it because i’am seeing a lot of repost or instagram posts here.

Haha sounds like driving here in Africa! Warzone is definitely the way to describe it…

Nicely written article! Based in the Philippines, I can surely relate to this.

chirp chirp

One of my favorite CT user is a fellow Pinoy :o

Kababayan!
hahaha honestly im quite scared to try and drive in Manila or just in Philippines in general (a did but only in the provinces) just cause everyone is so reckless but they know what they’re doing. I heard the Sierra Madre mountains are pretty good.
check out this channel in yt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMhtKcPv6Bs

I’ll make a post similar to this one, but the other way around. Thanks!

This could probably be said for all third-world countries. I know a bunch of petrolheads in Myanmar. They can afford pretty nice cars, but could also relate with you on the crappy roads, traffic and a*sehole bus drivers problem.

i don’t need help it’s the same thing in iran and iraq. so i feel u bro,

Great post, my man! It’s the same in Indonesia about the corruptions. But we still have beautiful roads (especially in Bangka Island, if you’re looking for a nice lonely country/coastal roads, look no further).

Thanks, yours too! Their are some beautiful roads here, I’ll make a post about it.

That number coding… Similar thing to what they’ve done in China
To me it seems like the silliest idea ever
Why not introduce some sort of congestion charging, like in London? You get less traffic, government gets more money to spend on improving the roads.
Maybe its the fact that I have my education in economics but when I see things like this it just makes me want to cry

tell that to the people in charge here, for them if it’s stupid but it works, then it’s not stupid.

same here in Indonesia. A lot of thiefs here could steal avanza’s side mirror in less than 30 seconds

I’ve seen kids in certain parts of Quezon City do it under 20 Seconds… And sell them minutes later.

Why it sucks to be a Petrolhead here in the Philippines…

1: BroScience. Yes, 80% of the “Petrolheads” here use Bro Science as a reference.
Some are even deluded enough to believe that a Chevrolet Suburban is a FAST car.

2: Ricers. Civics and Corollas with Wings that can put an STi to shame are the norm for “Petrolheads” here. As well as fartcans and slamming… Combine that with BroScientists…

3: Lack of Performance Mods. Actually, lack of Petrolheads that are willing to sacrifice a few MPG for horsepower’s sake.

4: Costs. Unlike in the US or UK, the average man can’t even afford something like a used E36 325i whereas in the US, A Teenager working at a McDonalds could work himself up to an E36, E46, Mustangs, Miatas, C5 Corvettes, WRXs, and more.

5: Parents. The Average Filipino parent will most likely frown upon anything badass. Most of Filipinos are cultured by our mass media to live contently in boring mundane lives.

Not really, 1st, I do research about certain car the fastest TUNED car is Venom, production is Bugatti Veyron(Koenigsegg was not tested due to VW wont let them use their runway.

I know what ricer is.
Im more into performance rather than looks and gas. Frankly you cant have power if youre concern is effiency in gas thats just, stu**d.
Yeah thats right because our sh**ty government is corrupt af.
Ahmmm yeah hahahaha

80% true, i have some friends that thought like that, luckily they grew up.
Actually, it is not so bad… I’ll include and further explain this subject on my next post.
Not really, just know where to look for. (Almost all the people i know wants to increase horsepower than mpg)
European and American cars are expensive as f*. Japanes and korean cars on the other hand is cheap, just know where to look for.
You are 99.99% right. An “average” parent would say: “Nice mustang, but what’s the point you are still stuck in traffic just like me…”.