True, accidents happen. But the death of the 10-year old 4th Grader Amiel Alcantara should have never happened. At all! And at the Ateneo grounds? Nunca ever. Why? Ateneo is supposed to be one of the crème de le crème of the schools in the Flippines. A school where you would expect that discipline would pervade even in the parking lots. Did I say discipline? Yes. Why did I say that? Because I believe it’s not how car and traffic management system that goes on inside the Ateneo campus that is the real culprit in all of these, although a good system will surely be one good risk management on Ateneo’s part as well as that of the public, but rather it’s Pinoys mentality when it comes to driving that I blame. Yeap, kasama na ang indifference nang mga tauhan nang gobyerness. To me that’s the genesis of this whole issue.
I do have nephews and nieces who went to that school and this is by no means in defense of Ateneo. My point? Let me start by bringing up an entry I made years ago. It’s this one: Driving insanities sa Metropolitan Manila.
Now, I have one more entry about a parking experience which I could not find. Bumili ako nang pagkamahal mahal na parking space, people knew that that was a private parking yet babalandrahan nang kotse nila because they don’t want to pay. Saan ako nag-park? Sa labas nang complex. Getz nyo?! You have no idea how furious I was.
Truth is, which you all know, why is it that majority of Pinoys who have cars eh nagbabago ang ugali for the worse once na nasa kotse na? At mas lalong sumasama at nagiging mga demonyo once they are on the road? Agree or disagree? The roads in Manila are just full of so many undisciplined drivers and the highways in Manila are the most dangerous and most ridiculous that I have ever experienced in all my driving years. So, don’t be surprised kung ang pagkawalang disiplina eh aabot sa parking lot nang Ateneo or kung kanino pang parking lot. That’s where my level of frustration is.
Sometime in 2005, while driving my niece to school, I personally witnessed one woman na binangga nang bus sa Rosario along Ortigas Avenue and the driver run away. Hinabol sya nang mga pedestrians and the whole drama unfolded in our eyes, it was gruesome to say the least. I don’t know what happened to the woman but I know duguan ang driver.
Even getting out of our condo complex to Ortigas Avenue is a nightmare. Kelangan mo pang ingudngud ang nguso nang kotse mo to be given a way. No one – and I mean – no one gives way. Where is discipline? Where is bigayan? And you know what’s worse? Biglang nga-ngaw-ngaw sa likod mo ang mga SUV’s with weng-wengs at tipong itatapon ang kaluluwa mo.
If these are the types of people you see on the streets of Manila, no one can convince me that you’d see angel drivers in any parking lot. As far as I am concerned, they’re all the same stupid ugly fucking bananas. To me, this is all a combined responsibility not only by the government with it’s Department of Transportation arm, the driving public and the pedestrians. At the core of this responsibility are three words: safety, responsibility and discipline. Unless all three parties are ready to learn, accept the responsibility and actually put them in action? Nothing’s gonna happen.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
sinabi mo pa pinsan! puro kasi astig ang mga driver sa Pinas eh…kung hindi ka nga naman matutong makipag ngudnguran ng nguso ng sasakyan eh hindi ka makakaalis sa pwesto mo! nuon ngang nag momotor ako sinabitan ako ng bus, buti na lang masamang damo yata ako….hehehehe kaya heto nakarating pa rin ng Canada! pero walang biro…talagang kulang sa disiplina ang bansang Pilipinas! pero bago madisiplina ang mamamayang pinoy, mag bigay ng tularan ang mga namumuno sa gobyerno…..kasi alam mo naman tayung mga pinoy…dakilang manggagaya! hahahahaha
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
almost anything – discipline is missing at dahil walang pakialam ang mga andyan na dapat pakialaman, puro leche ang nasa kalye.
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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A Romy Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 am
in the philippines no democracy can improve things well. what we nees is an authoritorian government. kahit mas malupit pa kay marcos
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nung umuwi ako last summer meron ako car rental pro surrender ako sa driving style in manila kaya binalik ko din the next day kasi feeling ko katapusan ko na talaga everytime nasa daan na ako. In my barrio siete wala ako gaano kalaban mag maneho, kahit stick shift pa sya kaya ko dun but neverrr in manila maski voice operated pa siguro yun bang ala james bond!
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
they are on an agressive driving mode sa manila. baliktad here sa nakasanayan naten in the US. kaya you have to switch gears when driving in Manila. kaya in the first few days na driving ko, puro ako problema dahil ang utak ko is western driving but after a week, kaya ko na. kaya lang uber ingat talaga dahil sulputan everywhere ang aksidente
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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Kami ay nagmomotor from Ortigas to Sta Mesa so malapit lang, pero que horror ang mga aksidente sa motor, at nakakatrauma talaga, kundi lang mahal ang pamasahe at matrapik, nunca akong magmotor. pero naman, minsan, naka-go kami sa tapat ng Galleria going to La Salle Greenhills, yung bus ba naman na galing Cubao at patawid ay biglang humarurot! ay pusang ina talaga, nagskid kami sa lakas ng preno ni hubby! otherwise, nasa ilalim kami ng lintek na bus! at ang mga mmda sa intersection na yun, ni anino, wala kaming makita! again ha, naka-go kami at siempre first in line kasi motor kami. pero ang bus talaga, beating the light na hindi na red at green na talaga! i am still having nightmares pag naaalala ko yun!
Dinah´s last blog post..I Will Miss The Eraserheads Reunion Concert Part 2: The Final Set
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
naku Dinah, motorcycle is the most dangerous form of transport sa Pinas, exactly as how you described it. ingat ka dyan.
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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parehas lang din sa cebu..grabeh..napaka reckless ng mga driver don.. walang traffic system na pinafollow..at araw-araw may nasasagasaan or may nadisgrasya.. hay nako.
Reesie´s last blog post..THE Dress
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
vicious behaviour sa manila, am sure ginagaya sa probinsya and i would not be surprised.
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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Alam mo Reynz as a mother of a 6 years-old kid…Natakot talaga ako sa balitang iyan kasi malikot na parang kiti-kiti ang anak ko.
Honestly, dito kasi sa Pilipinas palakasan din ang pagkuha ng driver’s license kaya hayun kahit na barumbado sa kalye nakakakuha ng lisensya…tsk..tsk..
Snow´s last blog post..Who Is Your Bet For The Bb. Pilipinas 2009 Crown?
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
snow, it’s almost as if bihisan mo nang bakal ang anak mo. yon siguro ang natitirang safety.
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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This is not good. Wala na yatang magandang nangyayari sa bansa natin. No one does their jobs right!
Ron´s last blog post..The Rise of a Despot (Part III)
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
amen ron. busy sa mga porsyento nila at takpan ang mga bossing nila. that’s pretty much what they do.
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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Ang dali namang sagutin yung tanong mo – e di mas maraming aksidente! Ang problema kasi, pag malaking aksidente saka aaksyon ang mga kung mga kinuukulan samatalang pwde namang prevention muna e.
Ang nakakatawa, tayong mga Pinoy ay mga disiplanado pag nasa ibang bansa (do you agree?) Although I don’t want anymore fatalities such as Amiel’s, I am sad to say that he will not be the last one….unless maibalik ang disiplina lalo na sa mga drivers.
Angel Cuala´s last blog post..Online Money Seekers – Beware of Work at Home Job Scams
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
pag malaking aksidente saka aaksyon ang mga kung mga kinuukulan samatalang pwde namang prevention muna e. – THAT’s very true Angel. kelan ba naging pro-active ang gobyerno? kahit nga response system, wala – pro-activitiy pa kaya?
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
you brought out a very good point Angel. yes, for the most part, law abiding ang mga Pinoys outside of Pinas. Why? Because we believe that the systems work in other countires at meron silang accountability. With that pag nilabag namen yan, opour drour dreams are not going to happen.
sa pinas? judges lang nga nabibili.
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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My husband was here for two weeks, and almost everyday he saw accidents on the road. Merong isang time, nakita nya mismong sumemplang ang isang mama kasi tumatakbo habang may padaan na motorsiklo. Ang verdict nya, worst driving city he’s seen daw ang Manille.
Kung responsible driver ka naman, mya irresponsible pedestrians din. Biro mong tsaka pa tatawid ang mga lintek kapag na ka GO ang traffic light. No wonder, nasasagasaan ang iba.
Hayyy…I rest my (hopeless) case, Your Honor.
ajay´s last blog post..A short journey to Georgetown, Penang
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
hi ajay!
congratulations nga pala uli!
kung ita-tabulate lang nila ang traffic accidents at ibalandra sa front page, i don’t know if that would even make people think. eh kahit ba naman kasi sira sirang bus, andyan pa sa kalsada. kokotongan ka pa. grrrr
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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Hay naku, try riding a bus from Laguna to Magallanes tapos kaskasero pa ang driver. Hahahaha….You will see the yugyugan ng mga utak at boobs ng mga tao…ROFL…wahahaha!!!
*aherm* seriously, nagiging manyabang na halimaw ang ibang tao lalo na kapag nakakotse na. Uber mega duper hangin na sila especially kung naka-SUV sila. I think it will be proper to describe na some filipinos become egoistic when they have a car na since they can relate their car as a part of their fucking ego. Magasgasan mo nga lang ng kapiranggot ang SUV nila e mumurahin na nila pati ang kaluluwa mo.
Hindi maganda ang traffic management system sa atin >>> san ka ba nakakita ng pink fences, pink urinals, giant posters ni bayani fernando, pink signboards?
I think Fernando wants the whole Pilipins to be pink in color. Ewan ko ba kung bakit pink ang natipuhan nya dahil pink is not a visible road color. It should be the standard black and yellow.
Anyways, mayayabang talaga ang ilan porket may sasakyan na sila or motor. Yung mga motor nga e singit ng singit sa kung saan – I witnessed a near-miss accident na yung ale na naglalakad e papunta na sa bangketa tapos biglang may humarurot na motor na ginagamit na overtaking lane ang bangketa mismo. Buti, hindi nadali ang babae or else, nadagukan ko ng bonggang-bongga ang driver ng motor na yun.
Silver´s last blog post..UPDATE: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen Trailer
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
hahaha what can i say, tama naman talaga sinabi mo! i’mm not really sure what’s with the car, parang merong ispiritu that turns one filipino into one demonyo! hahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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Silver Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Ewan ko ba mother..kotse lang yun ha…
Ako nga e kariton lang eh….with matching de-hatak ng kalabaw!!!
Ano nga ba ang tawag dun sa hinahatak ng kalabaw na walang gulong?? hahahha…
Silver´s last blog post..UPDATE: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen Trailer
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kutz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:42 am
talasalitaan101: sa aming mga bisaya kung merong gulong ang hinahatak sa kabaw nimo gitawag na ug “karomata” kung walang gulong, “balsa”, hehehe.
reynz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:58 am
i don’t know silver, kariton din sa barrio siete, balsa pag sa tubig di ba? hahahah
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
Silver Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Hi Kutz and mother highness…
Hahaha…ang saya at kulet ng sagot mo..
I asked my mom kanina lang…
Balsa is kawayan na nasa dagat..you know…
Yung hinihila ng kabaw e na kawayan na walang gulong “barsahan”….
Ang kulet…hahahha…
Mag-crash course na ako sa Bisaya 101…Hak hak hak..
Silver´s last blog post..UPDATE: Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen Trailer
to think that Ateneo is known for its MBA progran that produces people who become experts on organization and management/systems and procedures, it is disappointing to see that it can’t implement a system for its parking area to regulate traffic and parking order.
This is not the first incident but this is the worst because it resulted to death. There where reported altercations among parents/drivers because they try to have pissing contest. Parking in SanFo is like gold. In our limited parking space, the parking privileges are well-distributed to the personnel regardless of the position.
for a place like ours where magkakotse lang akala mo sila na ang anak ng diyos, kailangan siguro sistema. Mahirap ba yon? .
The Ca t´s last blog post..Wish you were here
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
for safety, responsibility and discipline. to be achieved, it really boils down again to education and it’s mind boggling where you start because sabi nga dun sa taas ni bebot, we just don’t have any role model and to think that Ateneo would best set one example, ganito pa ang mangyayari, it’s a hopeless case.
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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hi…
bihira na kita naabutang online sa ym
hehehhe
yffar´s last blog post..MY TAKE ON BB GANDANGHARI
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reynz Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
boyfriend!
sorry sweetheart, nagsasalansan na ako nang mga barko dito sa New Orleans. pasensya ka na. i am now working para me allowance ka. yaan mo, on weekends baka pwede uli mag IM hahahaha
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Isa yan sa mga “culture shock” ko nung dumating ako dito sa Manila. City din naman ang Baguio, pero kahit papano may disiplina pa mga drivers dun.
Pero, babae yung nakabangga dun sa bata…
Ely´s last blog post..Sun Broadband, BayanDSL or PLDT?
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kutz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:48 am
I agree. Mga taxi driver sa Baguio magalang. Sa Davao rin honest, ultimo singko na sulki, ibabalik sa imo….at kung hindi mo bigyan ng tip, okay na sa kanila ang flagdown rate. Sa Manila, ay sus, bill mo sa taxi 50 pesos, wag kang magkakamaling magbigay ng buong 100 at magdadahilan ng kesyo wala pang panuukli or, kung below 20 na rin lang ang sukli mo keep the change na lang daw, grrrrrr, kapal!!!
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reynz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:57 am
agree, yong hire naming taxi driver
nina malen was so nice to us.
buong araw Php2,500. nung binigyan ko nang bayad at di ko na sasabihin kung magkano binigay ko, leche inaway ako nanag Malen hahahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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mahal na reyna, correct ka jan, during our 3 1/2 months stay sa pinas, ako ang nahihiya kay dirk sa kawalang disiplina ng mga driver, i just hope the government can do something about this, wala kasing lanes o lines na sinusunod, kaya left n right ang overtaking, anjan ang bisikleta, tricycle, motorbike, kariton, jeep na biglang susulpot sa gilid o sa harapan mo, kulang talaga sa road courtesy, discipline, at sa edukasyon, saka easy lang talaga kumuha ng drivers license sa atin, sana wag ng maulit yung nangyari sa bata, an2nette
an2nette´s last blog post..My First Entry for Litratong Pinoy
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reynz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:55 am
malabong they will do something about it, eh sila nga mga kurakot na di madisiplina sarili kaya tuloy who are they to tell the people what to do kung di sila magpakatino? leadership issues an2nette
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A Romy Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 am
what we need is an authoritarian governement like of lee kwan yew.
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A Romy Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 am
discipline with democracy does not work in the philippines. we need autocratic governments who makes sure the laws are enforced strictly and violators are given the proper sanctions.if filipinos get used to this then there will be true democracy and the filipinos will emerge as better citizens.
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well, not sure what to comment. dito kasi grabe din mga drivers. lagi rin maraming road accidents dito sa isang araw di pwedeng hindi makaka witness. Marami ring nasasagasaan dito kasi nga ang bibilis ng sasakyan at kapag may accident halos total wreck ang mga kotse.
ang difference lang dito saka sa pinas dito walang jeep pero meron jeep cherokee. saka mas malaki ang kalsada dito na sa sobrang laki, pag maliit sasakyan mo kayang-kaya sumingit kahit land cruiser at gmc yukon. Ngayon lang medyo bumagal na ng konti mga sasakyan kasi madami ng camera at nilagyan ng point system ang violations. pero sa may camera lang bumabagal pag walang camera mabilis pa rin
nina´s last blog post..Tough Four
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reynz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:54 am
iba rin ang mentality dyan di ba?
from what i was told, pag pinoy ka taz na-aksidente ka, kasalanan mo because andyan ka. hahahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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nina Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 4:03 am
iba talaga mentality dito lalo na ng local. alam mo sa fastlane nga mahilig tumutok ang mga yan tapos iilawan ka hanggat umalis ka dun sa lane. kakaloka din, minsan pagkatapos magovertake biglang kakanan pala sa kanto. alam mo halos pareho din sa pinas yong mga drivers dito mas magaganda lang ang sasakyan. uso din ang singitan, lalo na pag paliko sa left, pag mahaba na ang pila, biglang mag-cut yan sisingit kakabuwisit talaga. kaya kung maliit na sedan lang sasakyan, kawawa ka kasi talagang gigitgitin ka lang ng mga naglalakihang SUV.
nina´s last blog post..Tough Four
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alam mo ba minsan nagpunta sa pinas boss ng hubby ko. they had the shock of their lives. kasi yong gilid ng taxi halos hairline na lang ang distance sa bus habang tumatakbo sa edsa. it’s so near he can read the small letters in the bus’ tires. tapos nagtataka bakit kayang dumikit ng ganoon kalapit…yon pala wala raw side mirror!
nina´s last blog post..Tough Four
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reynz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:53 am
that’s right! that’s how close they drive in Manila, exactly kung pano na-aksidente ang bata dahil she parked very very close kaya na-pindown yong bata
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nina Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:53 am
alam mo kasi di ko gets pano nasagasaan si amiel. pero sabi nga sa news nagpapark yong driver. kasi problem din ng driver sa atin yong bigla-bigla may sumusulpot tapos kasalanan mo pag nasagasaan. eh ganun naman kasi ang pag park sa atin dikit-dikit tagala kasi nga kulang sa parking space
grabe sa greenhills dati nagpark ako eh talaga kahit ako di ko alam pano ko naipasok yong kotse sa parallel parking 
nina´s last blog post..Tough Four
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Miles Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 5:35 am
i have a feeling that the woman got confused with the accelerator and the brake pedals. that happens, right? she probably meant to step on the brake pero accelerator ang natapakan. dontchatink? how often do you think she actualyy gets behind the wheel when she has a driver? posible di ba??
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reynz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 10:35 am
one blog na nabasa ko was that the woman was texting daw.
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
ha?
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reynz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 12:53 am
kutz! i deleted the response dun sa ni-response mo who said she cannot understand the problem. i checked, leche spam pala ang puta hahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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Miles Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 1:44 am
sus! ba’t nahaluan ng spam ang name ko?! litochiwa ako sa ingles niya! she cannot understand the problem?!!! the problem is i cannot understand her!
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kutz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:42 am
Nalukring ang byuti ko kanina… akala ko bumalik si…sino ba yung amiga mong propesora Teng yung palaging mega korek ng mga ka grammaran naten, yung kinorek ang imong ambisyon na maging governess ng Cebu or senatress sa batasan, HAHAHAHA!
reynz Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 10:36 am
isang senator wannabe yon Kutz hahaha yong ni-lecture ako sa grammar hahahaha kala ko nga pati do-re-mi turuan ako eh hahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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meron akong kilalang aleman, dyan sya magpapagawa ng driver’s license nya sa pinas kasi daw pwedeng bilhin at tapos mura pa. ibig sabihin, pang international na talaga ang garapalan na yan sa LTO di ba? alam na alam na rin sa ibang bansa.
kengkay´s last blog post..nahanap na
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nina Reply:
March 8th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
buti naman tinatanggap sa alemanya ang driver’s license na galing sa pinas? sa dami ng pekeng driver’s license, ayaw ng tanggapin sa Qatar ang DL galing pinas. Dati kasi pag temporary lang wala ng drive-test. Pero ngayon kahit temporary gusto may drive test na.
Pati docs ang daming peke sa recto kaya tuloy nirerequire na rin sa embassy na dapat autheticated ng DFA. Kaso pati yong DFA authetication napepeke na rin. So kahit di dumaan sa DFA okay lang kasi nga from Diploma to CHED to DFA nagagawa na sa recto.
nina´s last blog post..Tough Four
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reynz Reply:
March 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
huh? pati international kinarir na rin? hahaha anobaaa!!! hahaha
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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Hay nako Reyna….nag-start na nga sila ng road widening chorvanez dito sa Ortigas Ave. Extension pero wala pa ring improvement sa traffic.
Maski siguro gumawa sila ng kalsada na comparable sa mga freeway diyan sa Tate, wa-epek pa rin because of our Third World thinking. Wala talagang disiplina eh.
Take for example yung crossroad dito sa may Rosario na may shortcut na papuntang Marikina. Kapag umuuwi ako ng gabi, nako ‘day. Nasa pedestrian lane ka na nga pero cross at your own risk pa rin ang labanan. Bakit kamo? Yung mga jeep na Marikina-bound doon mismo sa pedestrian lane nagu-u-turn. And what happened to the No U-Turn sign? Malamang ninakaw na at binenta sa junk shop. May time pa nga na minsan yung concrete barrier na mismo inuurong nila para lang makapag-shortcut.
Kung sa parking lot wala nang asal ang mga karamihan sa ating mga kababayan, pano pa kaya sa kalsada, davah?
Tetay Bongga´s last blog post..Tetay Plays Paparazzi For A Day…
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reynz Reply:
March 8th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
hahaha alam ko yan Tetay, tiga dyan lang ako sa Ortigas. At ang lecheng widening na yan eh iniwanan ang poste sa kalye di ba? hahaha ilan na kaya ang nabangga nang mga posteng yon?
reynz´s last blog post..Disco lights!
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That is one of the reasons why our country does not deserve democracy. We will be better off in a government like of Lee Kwan Yew, Nicolae Ceausescu, or even Hitler. If we have a leaders like them now then we will be better off. Undiscplined motorists deserve to be desreved and killed infront of the public eye and putting them in mass graves without the knowledge of their family and relatives! Democracy can only come after people’s habbits change for the better!
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A.Romy Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 4:23 pm
deserved to be tortured not “deserved to be deserved“
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Mas nakakabuti ang Pilipinas sa isang gobyerno na mas malupit pa kay Marcos. Mas nakakasunod ang mga Pilipino sa isang gobyerno na malupit pero gumagawa ng marming nakakabuti para sa bansa natin.
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there can only be democracy when the people are truly disciplined
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