Teaching fellow drivers the right way.

In my opinion the best way to teach proper driving manners in Manila is to basically react the right way. Say for example a car is struggling to merge in a lane, using his signal light, you should give way. Its a way of confirming his right move or action of using his signal light. That way, you showed him that if he  acts the right way, he’ll receive the proper reaction. The same goes for thanking people if they give way, a short honk of the horn or a wave would really go a long way in affirming that the driver who gave way made the right move. A sort of reward to him. I've always thought about these things, that the best way to educate a driver or slowly erase the rudeness that we Filipino drivers are known for is to act within ourselves and pave way to a cooler way of driving, that no matter how much cars you didn’t give way to, you cut and overtook, there wouldn’t be a 1-2 hour time difference on your arrival of whatever destination. That at the end of the day, we are part of this unsolvable massive and overpopulated road and we just have to barrel through it. 

At 7:45pm and 8:10pm, I made two quick parts deliveries. In just feels right making these deliveries as I have done years ago. Feels like home, feels natural and no hassle. I remember back in 2008-2009 I would drive as fast as I can to deliver parts while working a day job. At night after work, my schedule is usually busy as I would allocate all deliveries during those hours at various meet up points most often as nearby gas stations. Truly those times were part of the internet revolution/e-commerce. Online sales were skyrocketing and for some reason, people would ride the hype of inquiring to online stores and meeting up their owners and having their parts sent via the local courier. Thats what i thought. I remember back then when I had empty bat on the cellphone and my then GF and I would guess who among the people in front of Shell Select was our buyer. That was something nice to look back to, also various transactions which would occasionally disrupt our dates may it be during dinner, a movie or while shopping. The growing years of business, especially if you’re on your own and no partners whatsoever and have never asked for angel financing is one of the most difficult phases in life. It's always truly rewarding to have gone through all that, on my own was my common adage and independence was deeply rooted in my belief. Walang nang sasarap pa kung ikaw any nagtaguyod sa sarili mo, at wala na iba. 

Another traffic rant...

Finally done with work at 9:32 pm since we had to check and do some adjustments on the Type R kit which we are going to install Tom at 7:00am. The amount of preparation is more than usual since we have one of the most meticulous customers around. We get used to it, and I always consider it a challenge since when a customer goes in our doorstep they expect more from us, or shall I say it's the fact that our image has in the industry. So I guess there none again left for the weekend. The aspirations of doing DIY, or propabably a run at Ateneo, UP or a quick drive up the mountains has then again evaporated. 

Like a seasoned veteran, worn by the daily horrors of a daily "biyaheng" North to South, I say with much exhaustion that traffic in Manila is like a constant struggle to see through the road in such a way that you need to know how it's doing on the way back while you are actually going to your destination. Sometimes, Waze is used not to show you the direction but to estimate the time in traffic and skip to another route which you already know and see if it comes up with something faster. This is the common case for me, or at least I share it with the PUV drivers or messengers of the road, since I need to see through the road for the simple reason of deliveries and errands to and from South. As great at the efforts of the HPG and our hardworking MMDA, the roads are too tight for such a volume of cars. Check the releases by the dealers and surely you will understand why. I usually use sweet spots going to South especially at night which is at 9pm. By that time you should be rolling at Libis. Any earlier and you'll be stuck with the rush, and later on the other hand will be such a joy maneuvering in between large trucks as they come out of the ban.

I just thought that the government always falls short of the things that they need to provide to us. From social services, to proper roads, to traffic management, transportation to health care. As far as the standards accepted worldwide, I'm pretty sure we are and will always be way below standards.

Will we ever see better roads? I think thats far from happening, our good politicians have blessed us with such a good country, that it would be wise to just go to  a far away destination and unleash your beast there. Flat out, windows open, scream as much as you can, take pictures, eat at the carinderias by the side-road, skip from one beach to the other, stay at a cramped hotel and read your books and upload your stuff while in a bed that has 10% the foam of your uber expensive mattress at home.