3 Stars and a sun
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- Forms of Transportation in the Philippines – The Jeepney
The Jeep or Jeepney is considered the “King of the Streets” in the
The Jeepney started out as a retrofitted U.S. Army Jeep modified for civilian use. The design and production of the Jeepney have not had a major difference from how it was produced back then. But instead of modifying a Jeep car, today’s Jeepney are often made from putting together different parts from different car manufacturers. A typical Jeepney can be made from an Isuzu small truck or a Toyota/Mistubishi multicab chassis fitted with an Isuzu Diesel Truck Engine. The body is made from steel sheets and rods. Jeepneys that are to be used in the Urban areas often have 8 seater capacity (8 people can seat on each side inside the Jeepney) but there are also monster 12 and 14 seaters which is often found on longer routes. There are also Jeepney that are aircondtioned, specially in the Ayala Area in
Most Foreigners say that riding the Jeepney is almost like riding a rollercoaster. Indeed, most Jeepneys often speed up and zigzag the road, missing other cars just by mere inches. When a Jeepney is speeding or zigzagging along the road, better hold on to the handle bars at the roof of the Jeepney. Don’t let this scare you though, Jeepney accidents are uncommon, and despite the utter lack of any safety devices, death and injuries involving Jeepneys are rare, often resulting in only the Jeepney taking the damage. Most Jeepney Deaths and Serious Injuries often occur in Jeepneys in Rural Areas. This is a testament of how good Jeepney drivers are. Where else in the world will you find a driver who drives a car with the most basic mechanism and manual transmission in a poorly constructed road, holding a cigarette in one hand, money on the other hand, talking to a passenger, looking at the skirt of the a lady passenger, while going up to 80kph while zigzagging in a congested road and singing to the tune in the car radio?
You can also try to “Sabit” (which means cling to) where you stand at the end of the Jeepney and cling to the handle bar while the Jeepneey is moving. Be very careful though, since it often takes skill to do this. If ever visit the Province of the
Riding in the Jeepney can also be a social event, since you can talk to the other passengers. Be careful though, there are also some people who do criminal acts inside the Jeepney. There are Pickpockets, snatchers, people who slash your bags and pants, those who take advantage of female passengers (touching your legs, peeking at your cleavage/skirts, and just recently, taking snapshots of your skirts/cleavage using camera phones). There are also holdups and robberies in Jeepneys, spcecially during the nighttime.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:24:00 +0000 - Terrorism and Violence in the Philippines
Foreigners often shy away from visiting the Philippines because of the crimes and terrorist acts often featured in the news. There are often travel advisories by Embassies of other countries such as the U.S., Japan, and Australia warning their citizens to refrain from visiting the Philippines.
The news however, can be misleading. Despite the various crimes that plague the Nation, the Philippines is still a safe country to visit in my opinion. First of all, hate crimes and racial discrimination is almost non-existent in the Philippines. There are also no drive-by shootings and no teens carrying semi-automatic weapons blasting their classmates.
Most muggers and thieves won’t even scratch you. They’ll just point a knife or a gun at you, and as long as you don’t fight back and just give what they want, they’ll just quickly run off. There are also Fraternity Gangs here, but Gang wars and Gang violence are often confined between rival Gangs and Gang members, they don’t often target people who are not Gang Members. While the U.S. have Gangs such as the Aryan Brotherhood where you have to kill to be a member, most Gangs here often offer membership by just paying money, engaging in sexual acts (for female gang members), or the usual hazing (Gang Members beating you up). There are people who get killed or badly hurt for the most ridiculous of reasons. Some often stem from a quarrel over politics, religion, or even when someone insults a favorite local basketball idol. Just recently, the Frank Sinatra song “My Way” was banned from Karaoke bars since singing the song badly resulted in many brawls and even death. Most Filipinos are often nice and quiet people, but some tend to get rowdy or raucous and sometimes violent when they had a few. And as I said before, most criminal elements shy away from victimizing tourists. Those who does target tourists are often con artists trying to sell you fake property or embezzling money.
Tourists being killed or badly hurt because of crimes are rare in the Philippines. There are however the news of Tourists and Foreign Nationals being abducted by terrorist groups, such as the case of the American Burnhams abducted by Philippine Terrorist Group Abu Sayaff. Remember however, that the Terrorist Groups who does kidnap foreigners and tourists are doing it for the money. They don’t have any political or idealistic motive for kidnapping. To this point, they are not different from the other Kidnap for Ransom Gangs. They don’t kidnap or hurt Foreign nationals because they see them as “Infidels” or to demand anything else other than money. There are a number of suicide bombings and bomb explosions that happen every now and then, but the motive is primarily just to terrorize and cause panic, often to demand money. Bombings or attacks that target a specific nationality or group is very rare. Most bombings are often targeted at companies and commercial establishments to force the owners pay protection money. The CPP-NPA group often demand “Revolutionary Tax” not only from corporations, but also from civilians.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:16:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Cellphone Robbers/Muggers
Cellphone Robbers/Muggers
Since the popularity of Cellular Phones in the Philippines, there are a growing number of incidents involving Cellphone robbery which results to death, but this can be easily avoided just by giving you phone. Here in the Philippines, some people who earn $300 a month often buy cellphones costing $400-$1000, often using it as a sort of status symbol. That’s why some people often resist when muggers or robbers try to get their phones. They often see their $1000 dollar phones as their life savings. People in other countries often give up their $20,000 cars to a carjacker without any resistance, while some Filipinos risk their lives to protect their $1000 cellphone. In other countries, most cellphones are given away free by their service providers, so I think tourists will find it easy to just give up their cellphone units when they are mugged. If you’re going to buy a cellphone here, it is best to buy the cheaper ones, since most muggers usually target the more expensive cellphone models.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:09:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Carnapping/Carjacking Syndicates
Carnapping/Carjacking Syndicates
Back in the late 1990’s, the Philippines was smothered with Carnapping Incidents. The carnappers often target SUV’s and luxury sedans that were parked in Public parking areas. Some people even reported that their cars were stolen right in their very own garages. As vehicle anti-theft gadgets and the increase in security of public parking areas, the Carnapping Incidents decreased, but some are still able to do so, often targeting vehicles that don’t have anti-theft mechanisms.
Since more and more vehicles nowadays are being equipped with anti-theft mechanisms carnappers have now diverted their modus operandi into carjacking. They often target vehicles which already has the engine running, then walk into the driver side of the vehicle and aims a gun to the driver and instructs the driver to get out of the vehicle, then they get in and drive off with the stolen car.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:08:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Kidnap for Ransom Syndicates
Kidnap for Ransom Syndicates
The most renowned crime syndicate in the Philippines is the Kidnap for Ransom syndicate. They often target wealthy businessmen, Tourists, and Expats. They often scout and carefully watch the activities of their targets and monitor the places they go to.
Some of the Kidnap victims are hesitant reporting the crime to the Police since it is widely known that here in the Philippines, most of the Kidnapping Gangs have members who actually are high Ranking officers of the police or the Military. Dennis Roldan, a once famous actor and Politician was even apprehended and found guilty in this kind of illegal activity. It is highly advisable for foreign nationals and tourists to consult their local national embassy for help instead of going to the police.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:06:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Salisi Gang
Salisi Gang
The Salisi Gang is a gang of thieves whose modus operandi is to rob their victims while they are distracted or not attentive of their belongings. “Salisi” literally means “to go unnoticed”. Most of the Salisi Gangs are pickpockets, who work by providing a means of distraction to their victims, then quickly snatching their wallets or purses. This comes in many forms such as a beautiful lady chatting to you, an elderly asking for directions, or a child telling he is lost.
Modern Salisi gang members now often target cell phones, small purses, and clutch bags. This is because some people often put these in the table while they are having coffee or dining. It only takes mere seconds for the best Salisi Gang members to pick-up an item from your table and then disappear. So if you’re in a public place, always be aware of your personal belongings and avoid putting cellphones, purses, and wallets on the table.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:05:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Maid for hire Gang
Maid for hire Gang
A gang which seems to be the combination of the Ativan Gang and Akyat-Bahay Gang. The maid for hire gang works like this; A woman will knock on your doors and ask if they can work in you household as a maid. She tells you that she can give you references such as NBI and Police clearances. She will then tell you that she is an all-around worker and that she specializes in cooking. She will then present that she cook a dish for you so that you’ll be impressed. As you are eating the dish that she cooked, she will then ask if you want any part of your house cleaned, and that the cooking and cleaning is a free demonstration of her skills and that it doesn’t matter if you decide to hire her or not, she just wants to prove that she’s a good maid. What you don’t know is that she drugged the dish she prepared, and once the effect of the drug kicks in, she will then pillage your home, mostly looking for cash or jewelry.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:05:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Akyat-Bahay Gang
Akyat-Bahay Gang
Akyat-Bahay literally means “Climb-House”. This is a robbery gang the specializes in breaking and entering your homes and robbing your valuables. They often do “reconnaissance” in your home and family activities such as what time you leave, what time you return, who is left in the house, and how can they get inside the house. They often do this in long periods of time, so that they can precisely time, plan, and coordinate their attack.
Homes that live in villages which have security guards patrolling the village are not safe from the Akyat-Bahay Gang. They also scout the activity of the security guards, your neighbors, and even your housemaids, so that they can get into your house without too much hassles and avoid being detected.
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:01:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Dugo-Dugo Gang
Dugo-Dugo Gang
The Dugo-Dugo gang’s modus operandi is calling up your house and tell you that your loved ones got on an accident, and that they need immediate medical attention. The caller will often tell you that you need to go to a certain place and bring some money and/or jewelries so that they can pay the “hospital admittance deposit” which is necessary so that the supposed accident victims can be admitted to the hospital, and that they can’t be treated without first paying the deposit fee. They will then ask you to meet up with them in a certain place, often asking you what you look like and you are wearing. When you go to the meeting place, someone will approach you and asks for the money, then speed out of the place, citing that he must return immediately to the hospital to pay the deposit fee. They often draw up profound and seemingly shocking situations about your loved ones so you will panic and get confused so they can manipulate your actions.
Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:42:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Budol-Budol Gang
Budol-Budol Gang
The Budol-Budol Gang or “Exchange Gang” is a criminal group who specializes in conning their victims with lucrative offers which is most of the time difficult to resist. Some say that they even use hypnotism in their activity. The Budol-Budol Gang’s primary modus operandi is selling or pawning seemingly valuable but apparently almost worthless items in exchange for cash or other valuable property. The most common scenario is they come up to you and talk to you about how they need money for emergency purposes. They will tell you that a buyer is supposedly running late in their transaction and that they really need the cash as soon as possible. They will offer you their jewelry, land/property title, bars of gold or any other valuables as collateral in exchange for cash, and that as soon as the buyer arrives with the money, they will buy back the items. If you agree, they will give the items to you and speed off, telling you to wait as they give the money to the hospital and meet the buyer of the items you are holding. They won’t be returning of course, and you soon find out that the jewelries or land titles are fake, or the supposedly gold bricks are just painted blocks of bricks.
Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:40:00 +0000 - Philippine Gangs and Criminal Syndicates - Ativan Gang
Ativan Gang
Probably one of the oldest criminal group in the Philippines, the Ativan Gang targets mostly male tourists who goes to the Philippines seeking some “Adult Fun”. The primary modus operandi of this gang is to attract a male tourist through a pretty female gang member. As the female is “charming” her way to the unsuspecting victim, or as she and a “customer” is engaging in sexual activity, she slips in some drugs in her victims drink to knock him out cold, similar to how date-rapists do their deeds. As the victim is sleeping, she will then proceed to rob all the valuable possessions of the victim.
The Ativan Gang can be primarily found on most “Red Light” districts of the country such as Olonggapo in Pampangga and Malate in Manila. Some Gangs even have penetrated the Makati and Quezon City Yuppies hotspots and blends in with the Yuppie party partygoers.
Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:38:00 +0000 - Scams and Fraud in the Philippines - Annoying Airport Photographers
When you visit the Philippines and land on the airport, you will encounter people who will take snapshot photographs of you. They will even ask you to smile or wave to the camera. No, they are not your fans or neither are they just happy to see you. When you step out of the Check-out counter, they will come up to you and present you with your snapshot. They will then ask you for a photographer’s fee which amounts from 10 US$ to 20 US$. If you choose not to buy the photo, they will tell you sad stories such as they need the money for their children’s tuition, to pay hospital bills, or that it’s the only way they can get money for food. Don’t believe them. Most of these guys earn around 100 US$ up to 200 US$ per day doing these kind of scams. Besides, who wants their picture taken after a long grueling flight?
Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:13:00 +0000 - Scams and Fraud in the Philippines - Fake and Detestable Authorities
The Philippines is famous for erring policemen and authorities. It’s even generally accepted by most Filipinos that the Philippine Government is dishonest, and a majority of Government Employees and Politicians are crooked. There are a few who really work with integrity and honesty though, specially in the civil service section.
There are however people who pose as Government officials and Policemen who would try to extort money from you any which way they can. They often have ID’s with them to make their scam more real but these ID’s are often Fake or Expired. Even lowly traffic enforcers, Baranggay Tanod (Government Neighborhood Patrol Officers), and Mediamen will try to con you. There are even Airport and Immigration officers right at the Airport who will try to extort you. A recent news story reported how some American tourists from California U.S.A were stopped by two “supposed” Immigration officers and tried to swindle them at the Airport while they were flying back to the US. Since it was their first Visit to the Philippines, they had no clue why the officers were charging them with overstaying in the country even though they had taken all the proper proceedings for their stay. They were taken into a room and were told that they have to pay 1000 US$ each as penalty for overstaying. One of them excused himself to go to the bathroom and managed to call a Filipino friend and reported the situation. The Filipino friend of the American tourists rushed to the airport and called in security. He told airport officials that he will report the incident to the US Embassy and call up some media men. They released the tourists and they were able to board their flight. One of them was so scared that she promised herself not to return to the Philippines because of the incident. What a sad and humiliating story. If you ever get in trouble with these kind of scumbags, your best defense would be to consult your Embassy. Do not panic and be cool headed. They can only extort and exploit you if you panic or get scared. If they threaten you, threaten them back. Tell them you will report to your Embassy and that you know some Police officials (even if you don’t). Try to get out of the room they confined you in, in most cases, they will try to stop you but will definitely avoid hurting you.
Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:07:00 +0000 - Scams and Fraud in the Philippines - Obnoxious Taxi Drivers
The streets of the Philippines are littered with obnoxious taxi drivers, specially in the National Capital Region. These people often charge you extra fee aside from the meter reading or even ask you for a flat “contract fee” saying that the place you want to go to is too far or the traffic is heavy, or tells you that you have a lot of luggage. Some would “beat around the bush” and drive through a labyrinth of streets so that the meter would jack up.
Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:06:00 +0000 - Scams and Fraud in the Philippines - Fixers
Government offices are swamped with “Fixers” who would offer faster processing of legal papers and documents for a fee. Most of these people are legitimate employees of the office who claim they have “powerful connections” that would enable you to get your papers done quickly. Though some of these “Fixers” do tend to get the job done, they often charge a huge amount of money, often 10 to 20 times more than what you really have to spend. There are also those who hand you out fake documents.
Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:04:00 +0000
