Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Driving Cars


I don't own a car. My dad has one. My brothers, too. Me, I have no plans of buying or owning one. Which I think is a good idea because I'm way too paranoid to drive a car. But that doesn't mean I don't like cars. There are lots of cars I adore.

There's the mini Cooper, which initially caught my eye when I watched the movie "The Italian Job". And of course, there's the Volkswagen Beetle. I've seen the old Transformers cartoons wherein Bumblebee's still a yellow Volkswagen Beetle. The recent movies showed Bumblebee on its new Camaro design.. but I still prefer the yellow Bug.

I know how to drive. I've taken lessons. I used to drive our Nissan pickup truck around the uni with some friends. And at one time, I drove from Miagao going home to San Joaquin, which wasn't really a feat (since home's only 20 kilometers away from where I work). But never have I tried driving a car within the city. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to focus. When it comes to driving, I tend to think of dreadful things that could possibly happen. Paranoia. I know. It sucks.

The problem with drivers of public utility vehicles nowadays.. they drive fast. And I mean... FAST! I don't know why exactly. They drive their vehicles like they're in a race or something. Life is dangerous in the fast lane. People want to reach their destinations in one piece.. Why floor it?

My dad has the very same problem. Mom's always telling him to slow down whenever he's driving. One thing I've noticed.. Dad usually speeds up when a car's behind us, trying to overtake us. Every time, I resist the urge to shout "Let it pass, dad! Just let it pass!" Is it male ego? Mom feels the same way. She constantly reminds my Dad to slow down when he's on the wheel. Which is only reasonable.

A driver holds his passengers' lives on his hands. Literally. One little mistake, everyone can get hurt. I get annoyed when I see teenagers driving their cars like kings of the road. Owning a car and driving one is not all about fun. It's a responsibility.. to yourself, to your passengers and to the other drivers, as well.

That's why I don't drive. I don't think I can handle that much responsibility. I like to just sit on the backseat, take a nap, listen to music and enjoy the scenery outside the car window. Can't really do that when one's driving. So I don't drive. My head throbs almost everytime I sit behind the wheel.

Here in the Philippines, the downside to travelling as a commuter, riding on jeepneys and buses, are the crowd, the long lines, the heat and the traffic. But then, I'm living in the suburbs. No long lines, the heat is bearable.. there's rarely any traffic.. and not owning a car means I don't have to pay for gas. Though the fare is still fairly high, I prefer to ride than drive. It works for me. Less drama.


42 comments:

  1. I've noticed my brother can be a bit of a paranoid driver, but he's only really started. When you are doing it a long time it becomes more normal for you. My brothers eyes flick between all his mirrors, his speed and of course the road when he's driving. He also doesn't actually speed up when a car tries to overtake him. That doesn't stop him from bitching when someone does though.

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    1. Oh yeah, my brothers do that too.. the "eye-flicking" thing.. between the mirrors, the speed and the road. They're very cautious drivers.. but not overly cautious, bordering annoying. Dad's a different story.. but oh well, Mom's there. lol.

      I don't really wanna risk it. I shriek at the sudden sound of large horns.. I'm not very good behind the wheel. Admitting my flaw..

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    2. Oops! I meant LOUD horns.. I shriek and jump out of my skin at the sudden sound of loud horns.

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  2. driving is fun .sa umpisa naakatakot or naakaparanoid but once you get used to it ay parang balewala na lang kahit pa sa heavy traffic at manual lang gamit.i suggets kung automatic na bilhin para no need to chnage the gear from time to time .i drive both the manual and automatic pero ngayon mas gusto ko na automatic.

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    1. Yung car ng Kuya ko po, automatic. Pero yung pickup truck namin, manual transmission yun. Kaya ko silang dalhin pero hindi talaga pag nasa syudad na, lalo na pag sa long distance drives. Praning lang po ako talaga.. One time, I drove both lanes.. in the middle. LOL..

      But I don't know what the future holds. But for now, I really prefer to just ride than to drive a car. Thanks, ms Tess! :)

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  3. tagal na kong di nagdadrive kasi naaksidente ako. di na ko pinayagan heheh

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    1. Sabi nila, hindi ka raw 100% driver kapag hindi ka pa naaaksidente. Ewan ko lang kung totoo nga yun. Ang mga kuya ko, naaksidente na din dati.. minor accidents. Thank God, right? haaay..

      Katakot namang experience, bino.. but you're safe. That's all that matters. :)

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  4. Ms. Leah ganito na lang, kapag may car ka na akin na lang. Hehehe. But like you, I'm some kind of a paranoid when it comes to driving. I think if I would learn how to drive, I can tolerate long hours of driving but I don't know what to do with the reckless driver that would speed up on the road I'm in. Hala baka mag-race kami.

    I love commuting in the suburbs. Less hassle. Minsan kaya hindi ako makauwi dahil nakakapagod ang byahe pabalik sa Manila. Ang mga bus daig pa ang tinubuan ng pakpak sa bilis. Kapagod.

    Napansin ko cutie cute ang mga cars na gusto mo. Ako gusto ko yung malalaking cars. Libre naman mangarap kaya lubusin ko na, gusto ko Hammer, Fortuner or Nissan Navarra/Ford ranger. Hehehe, sana matupad. Haist!

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    1. Hahaha! Gravity! Oh sige, pag magka-car ako, bibigay ko sayo.. yung gulong lang muna. Hahaha! Bayaran mo yung car sakin, installment. lol. Joke. :P

      Yeah, yun lang yun. Kasi sa Manila kayo.. Ako kasi, Iloilo. Life is waaay simpler when you're in the province. Tsaka hindi masyadong katakot magcommute. Naalala ko yung experience ko dyan sa Manila. They have bus stops there, pero hindi pala talaga nagsa-stop! Like, malayo palang dapat nakatayo ka na para makababa ka agad. Dito kasi sa Iloilo, nilalagay muna ng driver sa tamang lugar yung bus/jeepney at humihinto talaga, para makababa yung pasahero. Ibang-iba yung sa Manila. omegad. :P

      Uwu! I love cute cars! hihi.. Oh sige, ipagnonobena natin na matupad. Hehehe!

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    2. Oh ah oh ah, bilis ko bumalik. Naka-subscribe ako sa comment kaya nabasa ko agad reply. hehehe. Natawa ako Ms. Leah, gravity talaga. Oo sige installment. Siguro Ms. Leah naranasan mo din dito yung nasa unang baitang kapa lang ng hagdan ng bus, kumaripas na sa andar. Hahaha. Yung tipong parang lalabas ang kaluluwa mo sa katawan mo. hehehe.

      Tara ng mag-nobena. hehehe!

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    3. Whoa! Bilis nga! hehe.. nakatulog na ata ako nito kagabi. :P Kaya naman pala, naka subscribe sa comments. Weee! Tenkyow. :D

      Ay oo! Ilang beses na din.. hindi pa nga kami nakababa talaga, bumilis na yung takbo/andar ng bus. Sarap batukan yung driver. pero ganun nga siguro sa Manila? Kakapanibago talaga.. Dito sa amin, ibang-iba. Naalala ko sinabi ni nanay.. "Pag hindi ka nagiging mabilis sa Manila, maiiwanan ka.".. May point! hehehe..

      Tara! Umpisahan na natin! :P

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  5. Because of lots of vehicular accidents nowadays I will think twice to drive a car, wish I have one lol, by the way I am passing you an award here and I hope that you will like it

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    1. Oo nga po eh. Minsan kakatakot ding magbyahe.. pero hindi rin tayo makakarating sa pupuntahan natin kung lalakarin lang natin. LOL.. Kelangan talaga sumakay ng sasakyan.. sakay o drive ng sasakyan.

      Kaya sana sa mga drivers dyan, konting ingat naman oh. Salamat.

      Ay! Napuntahan ko na po kagabi. hehe..Thank you marami sa inyong binigay na award! :D

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  6. tamad na din ako magdrive eh, but i'd still like to experience driving in the Philippines. haha. gudlak naman sakin.

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    1. Hahaha! Paguwi mo ng Pinas, magdrive ka agad. hehe.. Good luck talaga sayo, Chickichickletz! :D

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  7. Wow. This is very timely for me. RELATE! Nagpa-practice ako mag-drive for my driving test soon. Haha. For me, driving is cool. Not the "mayabang" cool, pero ang sarap lang mag-drive. That's it! Actually, nandiyan na talaga yung feeling of paranoia. Mahirap talaga mag-drive at nakakatakot ang daan pati yung ibang nagda-drive. Kaya palakasan lang talaga ng loob at patindihan ng prayers while driving. :D

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    1. Yeah.. naisip ko nga rin yun. The fact that you can go out and drive to wherever you wanna be, it's liberating, I think. Nakikita ko yan sa faces ng mga Kuya ko. Like, pag gustong pumunta sa isang lugar, kukunin lang yung keys tapos aalis na. :)

      Tama, palakasan nga talaga ng loob. Kaya ako, alam kong hindi ko keri. Wala akong lakas ng loob. LOL..

      The way I see it, kapag dyan ka sa Tate, you really need a car.. or at least, learn how to drive a car. Kasi pwede mo lang puntahan ang isang state by riding/driving a car. Roadtrip.. So tama lang, practice lang nang todo, Josh! Pag pumunta kami dyan, ikaw na lang ang driver namin kasi I trust you. Naks! Hahaha! :D

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  8. guto kong matutong mag drive kahit na wala akong kotse. hehe.. I'll learn how to drive when I finally got a car. I think I can handle driving. Ang hirap kasi magpa-drive sa mga marunong mag drive sa amin. lagi silang tinatamad. hehe.. My brother is a fast driver, salamat sa 60kph speed limit sa commonweath area, di na sya makapag drive ng mabilis, pero pag out of town trip, my gosh.. pero I trust him, fast lang sya but he knows what he's doing. But your right dapat careful pa din kasi hindi lang naman kayo ang may sasakyan sa daan. My tatay is a good driver. not too low, medyo fast na smooth lang. buti nga dyan masarap mag jeep, dito naku, bilasa ka na pag dating sa pupuntahan mo. hehe.. But i love riding bus though. hehe... haba ng comment. Good day ms. leah dear

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    1. Problema lang dito, mabibilis din ang mga jeep. Kaya nagba-bus na lang ako, madalas. Unless, wala na talagang choice. Puno din kasi mga buses.. Swerte na pag wala masyadong pasahero.

      My two brothers are cautious drivers. Si tatay lang ang medyo mabigat yung paa sa gasolinador. Kaya pag andyan si nanay, laging nagssabi na "Ling, hinay lang.. di tama kadasig." Slow down, wag masyadong mabilis sa pagdrive.. :)

      Oh no worries. I love long comments, anyway. hihi. Good day to you too, Mayen! :D

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  9. I've been through three accidents that all happened between 2010-2011. My first one, I only had a student license. Malakas talaga loob ko sa pagddrive. I love driving. But you have to have enough funds for maintenance of your car. BTW, I don't drive manual vehicles. I'm too dumb in changing gears! Hahaha.

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    1. Waaah! Really? Pero minor accidents lang siguro.. like no one really got hurt? hay naku..

      Yep, magastos din ang pagkakaroon ng car. Maintenance.. mahirap na pag wala nito. Madalas, nagiging cause rin ng accidents.

      Haha! Nalilito din ako dyan. I remember, isang incident dito sa unni. Paakyat kasi yung road, hindi kami makaalis kasi nagpapanic na ako. Hindi ko alam kung ano yung unahin kong tapakan ko after stepping off the brake pedal, yung clutch ba o yung gasolinador! haha.. hay, ambot.

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  10. Natatakot din ako magdrive. It's too expensive to own a car. Yung tipong kahit milyonaryo na ako, magcocommute pa rin ako sa MRT.

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    1. Or maybe, you can hire someone you trust to drive your car for you! A trusted chauffeur! naks! hehehe.. It's a good idea, gagawin ko rin yun. That is, kung magiging milyonaryo ako. :D

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  11. Marunong ako mag drive pero kainis kasi ayaw ni wehsart na magdrive ako, basta sa mga bagay na ganyan kontrabida siya sa buhay ko.. hahaha! pero naiintidihan ko naman siya kasi kapakanan ko naman ang inaalala niya, haist! kailan ko kaya mapapayag yon?

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    1. Eh siguro pinagda-drive ka rin nya, mommy. Sya yung nagsisilbing driver mo. ayiiii! hehehe.. pag ganun, eh sweet naman ni weshart mo. hehe.. Mahirap din po kasi when you;re behind the wheel. Pero kung alam nyo namang kaya mo, Go lang po. :)

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  12. hala... Iba ang pananaw naming mga Driver... Mas gusto namin nagda-drive kaysa magcommute. hehe. Minsan kasi, mas natatakot kami kapag passenger lang kami. :)

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    1. Naisip ko rin yun.. kung passenger ka lang, you're giving permission sa driver to hold your life in his hands. Likewise, pag driver ka, you;re holding your passengers' lives in your hands. Kaya nga, driving a car is a responsibility. I really believe that..

      Ako, mapili ako sa mga sinasakyan ko. Kapag long distances, I ride buses.. Kpag short distances, jeepney.. Hindi ako sumasakay sa alam kong mabilis magdrive ng sasakyan. At tawagin nang maarte at spoiled, minsan nagpapahatid/nagpapasundo na lang ako kena Kuya, Ate o Tatay.. haha! Si tatay, mabilis nga magdrive yun, pero I trust him. :p

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  13. bata palang ako pangarap ko nang magkaroon ng sariling sasakyan. si mama, may car ayaw ibigay o ibenta sa akin..lol..marunong ako magdrive nasubokan ko na mamasada ng jeep, daming chicks eh..lol

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    1. Hehe.. Lambingin mo pa kasi, para ibigay na sayo ni mommy yung car. :P

      Naku, nasubukan mo na bang maging konduktor? Mas madaling makahanp ng chicks pag ganun. LOL.. Ganyang dati ang trabaho ng ex ko eh. Kaya dami nyang naging chikabebes. Hehehe! :P

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  14. Ako i love cars. super! hehehe. Things I've learned from my present job, sabi nga nung president namin "always use the brake". No matter how fast, how slow you are in the road of life if you dont know how to stop ma-aksidente ka talaga. hehe Another one naman from my manager "When you park, always be ready to go". wahehe. Natuwa ako sa post mung to. Love ko din kasi yung mini cooper, evrytime na may makita akong ganun sa kalsada tinitingnan ko talaga hanggang sa makalayo. Pero pinaka-love ko yung Nissan GTR, loyal sa Nissan e. wahehe

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    1. Nice tips. "Always use the brake." Dami kasing tao na laging nakakalimutan na meron palang brake pedal. Accelerator lang ata yung alam nila.. :p

      Naks, fan ka pala ng Nissan! Pickup truck namin, Nissan din. Frontier. Iba talaga ang Nissan. hehe.. :)

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  15. I dream to have a car pero doon lang sa province ko. I don't like to drive here sa Manila... sa EDSA pa lang.. maiirita ka na. Hehe

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    1. Yep, mas maganda magkaroon ng cara kapag dito sa probinsya. LOL.. Dapat pag driver ka, mahaba rin ang pasensya mo noh? Hindi pwedeng mapikon, lalo na pag nata-trapik. hehe..

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  16. the problem kasi sa mga drivers dito sa pilipinas, puro offensive drivers. di marunong mag.practice ng defensive driving. :)

    i think I'm fortunate enough na sa sobrang paranoid ni mama, she sees to it na bawal lumampas si papa sa 80km/hr na speed so our family is always safe. :)

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    1. Oo nga.. mga kaskasero. They just drive their cars, without a care for the world. Selfish driving siguro appropriate term din..

      I trust my dad, kaso lang minsan, ewan.. mabigat lang talaga siguro yung paa nya sa gasolinador, ayun napapabilis ang pagdrive ng sasakyan. Katakot din minsan.. :|

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  17. i learned driving 5 years ago, personal lang nagpaturo sa brother ko.. but never ko na mag experience to drive! i apply for licence, may student permit pa din hawak ko for 4 years ! i hope makapag drive ako sometime... :) you, take care always and be safe ...

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    1. My brothers taught me how to drive, too. Iba pa rin kasi ang pagtuturo pag kadugo mo yung teacher.. hindi ka mahihiyang magtanong. Lol..

      Hoping you could drive a car na, in the near future po. Take care.. :D

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  18. i dont know how to drive wala naman kasi kaming sariling sasakyan at walang pagkakataon para matuto pero gusto kong matuto. noong mabasa ko to, narealize ko na kaya pala ayokong sumasakay sa pinakaunahan dahil natatakot ako lagi kapag humihinto yung mga sasakyan sa harapan. haaay parag ayoko na tuloy matutong magdrive. hihihi

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    1. Ngii! Personal na opinyon ko naman to.. hehe.. If you wanna learn how to drive, go. Sabi nga ni Joshua (Yow), palakasan lang talaga ng loob yan. Eh, wala akong lakas ng loob eh. lol..

      Uy, sabi ng Kuya ko sa akin, when riding a jeepney, mas magandang nasa likuran ka banda ng driver.. like, sa gitna. Delikado din daw kasi pag sa front seat, lalo na pag mabilis yung takbo ng sasakyan.. tapos biglang hihinto.. :|

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  19. Hi Leah! I super envy you! I dont know how to drive yet and sadly we no longer own a car. I've been meaning to enroll myself in driving schools but I'm really scared because as you've mentioned, people nowadays really drive fast. And I'm also scared of trucks. Hope I get over this fear.

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    1. Hmm, you could enroll in driving schools, if you really want to. Sabi nga, palakasan lang ng loob. I'm really paranoid lang, kaya I'm okay with the idea of not owning a car, or driving one. Pero kung talagang gusto mo, go ahead.. Good luck! :)

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  20. mas mura ang magcommute kaysa magkaron ng sasakyan!! haha at i dont think i will be a good driver too kasi tadtad ang katawan ko pagnagkataon!!

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