Observations On The Philippines From My Morning Bicycle Ride

[earthdome]

Almost every morning I go for a 15-20km bicycle ride. I have a few routes I take which work well for me. Here are some of my observations while riding and the area I live in general.

 

Location

 

I am located in San Fernando City, La Union. This is on the west coast of Luzon on the seacoast just 50km NW of Baguio. The city itself has a population around 100,000 and is a provincial capital city. There is a free port, small airport and a special economic zone in the Poro Point area. The coastal area is a bit of a tourist area due to the beaches and surfing. This doesn't seem to be an area with alot of hot new development yet seems to be better off economically than many rural areas. I rarely am approached by beggars and haven't noticed any obvious street kids. There is a small expat community but I haven't really met or spoke with any other expats. There is an American VFW hall with a bar and restaurant in the next city south in Bauang which draws in a crowd of expats from many different western countries. I have enjoyed the bicycle rides. The weather this time of year is very nice. Dry and relatively cool.

 

Litter

 

I have seen many posts on this forum bemoaning how much litter and how trashy the Philippines is. That is not the case here. On my morning rides I see people out using the little stick brooms to sweep up the side of the road and street in front of their home/business. Though there is trash pickup twice a week many people still burn the small pile of leaves and trash in the morning. I end up holding my breath as I ride through the smoke. Generally the streets and roadside are cleaner here than in the nice progressive city of 100,000 where I lived in the USA. How much litter there is might depend on where you live and differences between regions or big city/small provincial city/rural.

 

Men urinating on side of road

 

Yes, I often see men urinating against walls, poles, trees, etc. I have done it myself when at a party for my girlfriends father. All the men walked across the street and urinated on the cement wall surrounding the local high school. The women used the CR. Would it be better if more CR's were available which are hooked up to real sewers so urine could be properly treated in a sewage facility? Certainly. The reality is that there isn't enough infrastructure to support that yet.

In some ways this is better than the USA where you can be put on some sex offender list if you are caught urinating behind a bush. This is not an urban legend. I know of a real case where this occurred in the US. My brother in-law is very active in swimming for a swim team. A new person wanted to help out and the swim team did a background check and found he had a sex offense. My brother in-law called a police officer he knew and found out that the sex offense was for public urination. So I would rather be in the Philippines where at least I won't get a criminal record if I have to pee by the side of the road.

 

Traffic

 

In the morning there is a fair amount of traffic as people go to work and children go to school. Generally I find other drivers on the road courteous to those on bicycles. Slowing down and waiting to pass. Giving a couple of short beeps on the horn when they will be overtaking you. I haven't had any problems with being forced off the road by traffic. Maybe 2-3% of people are using bicycles to get to work. I might see one other person out bicycling for recreation/exercise. I only see a few joggers, usually down by Poro Point where the Philippine Navy base is. Most people seem to travel by tricycles, jeepneys and motorbikes. Maybe one quarter of the jeepneys are multicabs rather than the traditional jeepney. 

There are trucks and private vehicles, maybe only 25% of the traffic. There is one traffic light in the city but I have never seen it turned on. Seems the locals just ignored it so they turned it off. During periods of heavier traffic unarmed traffic officers will direct traffic at busy intersections.

 

Roads/Infrastructure

 

Roads are generally ok but some cement streets can have rough spots. Since there is no freeze/thaw cycles the roads stay in better condition for a longer time. I do see areas where streets are being improved, sections of cement replaced,

new water lines being installed on the side of the road, etc. There is a one km stretch of road on my route that is pretty rough.

 

Friendliness

 

I go through a security checkpoint on my morning ride and the guards generally smile and say good morning. Sometimes other random people on the side of road will say good morning and smile. I am probably becoming known as the kano on the red bicycle.

 

Security/Comfort level

 

At first I was more hyper aware because the surroundings were very unfamiliar. As I spend more time here I feel more comfortable in my surroundings. You rarely see a police car, I have seen one maybe four times in 2 months. I rarely hear emergency sirens. I just get the feeling that crime here is less than the USA city of the same size where I lived.

There is alot of private security carrying firearms but I rarely see the PNP. The most common time to see them is in the evening when they setup checkpoints for DL/Registration/Helmet checks. Which many filipinos will try to avoid, sometimes just driving around them.

 

Buildings/Property

 

I expect these observations are common for most of the Philippines excluding a few special economic areas like Fort Bonifacio Global City near Makati. I can see homes/business in varying state of construction/decay/use. I have seen what looked like a very nice home at one time sitting there as an empty shell. You see many homes and business where one or two floors were constructed but the money ran out or there are future plans to go up another story where there are cement columns on the roof with rebar sticking out. You see many buildings partially constructed that seem abandoned. But you also see nice new homes and businesses. Of course most buildings are cement block with corrugated tin roofs. Newer buildings are more likely to use more modern roofing materials.

[Jake]

Hello EarthDome,

 

I really appreciate another boots on the ground field report about central Luzon.  The more I learn

about La Union, the more I like about its people, ocean breeze and close proximity to Baguio.  I can

only imagine the scenic rides all the way up the coast and endless rice paddies and mango groves.  

 

I would love to ride with you someday, OK?  Respectfully -- Jake

[earthdome]

One more addition, dogs.

 

I see many dogs during my morning ride. Almost all of them off leash. In all my rides I have only had one time when a dog barked at me and acted like I was invading its territory. That was when I went on the side streets to check out the tennis courts Jake asked about. All the other dogs just seem to ignore me. That is very different from the US where dogs are a common problem for bicyclists.

[earthdome]

Hello EarthDome,

 

I really appreciate another boots on the ground field report about central Luzon.  The more I learn

about La Union, the more I like about its people, ocean breeze and close proximity to Baguio.  I can

only imagine the scenic rides all the way up the coast and endless rice paddies and mango groves.  

 

I would love to ride with you someday, OK?  Respectfully -- Jake

 

Yes, you still see rice paddies but his part of Luzon grows a great deal of tobacco. Yes the ocean breeze helps keep the air pollution down and helps moderate the higher temps.

 

My morning ride isn't that scenic, mostly in populated barangays, but I enjoy it. There is a small part of the ride where I can see the beach. Mostly flat with a few short inclines. Anyone that gets here with a bicycle is welcome to ride with me.

 

I do use the bicycle at times to ride downtown or to the market.

[MacBubba]

Though there is trash pickup twice a week many people still burn the small pile of leaves and trash in the morning.

 

This was once explained to me...the smoke drives away insects and pests from the trees, and keeps them from eating the fruits.

Edited February 17, 2013 by MacBubba

[MikeB]

I have seen many posts on this forum bemoaning how much litter and how trashy the Philippines is. That is not the case here. On my morning rides I see people out using the little stick brooms to sweep up the side of the road and street in front of their home/business. Though there is trash pickup twice a week many people still burn the small pile of leaves and trash in the morning. I end up holding my breath as I ride through the smoke.

Their mentality is that they are responsible for their own small area but where that imaginary line ends is someone else's problem. Many keep their own space spotlessly clean but think nothing of eating a piece of candy and throwing the wrapper on the ground in public. The Philippines is, in general, very trashy and littered compared to the west although there are pockets of places where it is very clean. As someone else said, the burning of trash is done to deter insects and I have also heard that it's very beneficial to plant growth. So they say.

[i am bob]

Depending on if your soil is acidic or not, ashes may help or may destroy your gardens.  And, yes, the smoke will help with bugs but only while there is smoke.  The bugs and pests will move right back in as soon as the fire is out an no more smoke.

[Call me bubba]

just found photo of man on a red bike.

 is this earthdome? you be the judge

[ibemarshall]

Howdy Earthdome,

 

It was just an excellent report you penned.  It was another reinforcement for me as I entend to find my 'perch' in this very same provincial area (or in a province just north or south)...once I 'fy the coop' here.

 

I could almost see you biking along in my mind and boy oh boy, does it make me want to escape all the sooner!

 

I am sure others appreciate as do I, your effort to describe your surroundings there. 

 

Continued best of luck to you and yours..hoping to be able to meet up with you for a glass/bottle/mug lifting in the near future!

[earthdome]

just found photo of man on a red bike.

 is this earthdome? you be the judge

 

Ohhhhh Noooooo.. Pee Wee Herman... you mistook me for Jake.