When it rains, it pours...buckets and buckets of water! Every Filipino must have prayed for the rains to come to replenish the Angat Dam which has been below its critical level. Now, after typhoon Chedeng and the current one, Dodong, the water level at the dam has increased about 1.5 meters. Still under the critical level but at least it is rising.

The problem the Philippine still faces after all these years is with regard to the drainage all over Metro Manila and some of the densely populated city provinces. One of the reasons the drains do not work is because most of the Filipinos do not know how to dispose of their rubbish (which is mostly plastic) - some throw them in a nearby canal or drain thinking that they will all wash away once the water flows through. Is it the lack of common sense or the lack of respect for other Filipinos - doing things without thinking about the consequences because they just don't care. What is it really?

Filipinos are a very hospitable lot, especially with their family and friends, But, very seldom, with other fellow Filipinos they encounter along the streets or the malls.

Just drive in Manila or anywhere in the Philippines. Every driver seems to be very impatient. If the lane they are on is slow, they immediately swerve to the next lane without first looking at their rear view mirror if it is clear. If one car swerves, the rest swerves along with it, just like a ripple. Despite this habit, the Filipino drivers have the best reflexes when it comes to maneuvering their vehicles. There aren't that many accidents in the roads or highways.

The worst drivers I've seen are the bus drivers and jeepney drivers. The bus drivers feel like they are the kings of the road that they can easily switch from lane to lane while speeding. They would weave along the roads as if they were the only vehicle there. Then when a passenger needs to ride or get off, they would stop (on a dime) wherever they are - in the middle of the road or diagonally along the road. Then if they need to make a u-turn, they do it from the right most lane then block everyone while they do it. The reason for this impatience and non-caring habit is because all these drivers compete with the other drivers to get the most passengers per day for more income. Hence, the racing to get all the passengers along the roads and highways.

Another reason why the buses and jeepneys stop wherever is because the passengers themselves choose to stop wherever it is the most convenient and nearest their destination. They also choose to wait to flag a bus or jeepney or taxi right where they are (eventhough are are loading and unloading areas along the road), they even occupy the 2 right most lanes during rush hour so that these public transportation vehicles will see them.

I am too scared to drive here because I am not used to dealing with 1) vehicles that do not stay in their own lanes, or signal when they wish to change, 2) pedestrians that cross the street everywhere (even if there's an overpass walkway just a few feet from where they are, 3) the motorcycles that drive close to you and weave in and out of lanes even if it's only less than 2 feet of space.

I remember taking the driving test here. The rules of the road are the same as in the U.S. but once they have gotten their licenses and drive the streets of Manila the rules have disappeared. In China, road rules are just suggestions, as I've heard someone explain to me. In the Philippines, road rules are no rules at all. No wonder that if you have driven in the Philippines you will definitely be able to drive anywhere in the world.