Philippines

Philippines
Information
Language:	Filipino, English, Many other dialects
Capital:	Manila
Population:	90,500,000
Currency:	Philippine Peso (PHP)
Hitchability:	(very good)
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The Republic of the Philippines is an island nation located in South-Eastern Asia.

Hitching in the Philippines is compared to other Southeast Asian countries a little bit harder, but this often depends on your location. You can make 200-300 km a day, maybe a bit more, depending on the route. Near tollgates and on the NLEX/SLEX (North/South Luzon Expressway) you will probably get in trouble with the police. Nevertheless they are friendly at many checkpoints. Ferries are frustrating though.

Filipino's are well known for being very hospitable and friendly, and are a very social people. Hitching a ride is often very easy because if this trait, and in the provinces and rural areas out of the cities it especially is easy to get a lift, whilse in the city you may not be as lucky because of the chaotic schedules of the drivers, especially around the bustling traffic, however Filipino's are known to go out of their way to help people and you will be surprised how many people will try and help you. Often drivers will stop to see if you need a lift in the provinces, especially if your look like a foreigner. Public transportation in the Philippines is very widespread and very cheap, so it is rare to find many people hitching a ride in the country, it isn't as common thing among locals as it is with tourists.

If you travel within the island provinces out of urban centers it is a great experience for hitch hiking as many locals will often always stop to see if you need a lift (especially if you give the thumbs up or wave your hand in a downwards manner, commonly used to hail a Jeepney, a type of local Filipino bus), this is much more easier done if you look like a foreigner, as many locals consider you exotic and are interested in you, you often find yourself making new friends through this.

It often can be harder to hitch a ride if you are travelling in some of the isolated islands, which often do not have very good road infrastructures in the first place. You will find out about this especially if you are wishing to hitch a ride in a mountainous area, where their is often a lack of flowing traffic, and often fewer vehicles because fewer people actually have them in more rural areas. Again, public transportation is common even in these areas and you can often get yourself onboard a local jeep run or on a tricycle bike.

Island Hopping

The Philippines is the worlds second largest island nation, with over 7,000 different islands. Because of this unique geography it may be harder to get very far without boarding a ferry (we assume your not flying if your hitching a ride), often you could get dropped off at a port area and find yourself on the ferry, but once you are at your destination you may run out of luck if you wish to hitch a ride, especially since many of the ferries arrive early hours or in the evening. However public transportation at the ports is plentiful every hour day, and if all else fails it really isn't much money to pay for a local jeepney or bus.

Personal Experiences

I have hitchiked around many of the rural island provinces of the Philippines, especially southern Luzon/Tagalog region and the Visayas and found it incredibly easy and enjoyable, Filipino's are a very hospitable and fun people who genuinely wish to help out. A couple of times i have prefered to actually walk the distance of a island by foot, rather than hitch hike so i could see the various villages and sights, however in my 2-3 hour walk two vehicles actually stopped to ask if i wanted a lift, without me even asking or showing any intentions. I found the peoples genuine happiness to help very good in hitching a ride, however public transportation is so cheap in the Philippines that often you really don't need to hitch a ride unless you really need to, or if that route has no public transporation servicing it. Many of the people who picked me up in the provinces where relatively poor, so i sometimes i paid for my lift, but other times when offered they refused my money. I found many did not want my money, and often many locals jump on for a free ride going through each village, i assume they knew the driver however and it's not uncommon to see a private persons vehicle all of the sudden seem like a taxi or bus. Safety is not a big concern in the Philippines, mayby in the bigger cities, but in the provinces generally the road rules are very laidback, and it is not uncommon to be seated in unsafe places (by western standards) such as the back of a ute, or on the roof of a jeep. Keep in mind this is normal, and often they drive fairly slow. Normal procedues in hitch hiking and safety, of course apply all around the world. Take care

Cities

• Manila
• Quezón City
• Cebu
• Davao
• Angeles City
• Baguio
• Zamboanga

Transport is found everywhere in the Philippines, their often is a ferry or boat leaving port every hour depending on the port, and often not following the schedule to exact times, so it is a gamble sometimes. Flights are cheap to the Philippines thanks to a number of low cost airlines flying in the nation, the premier Filipino Low Cost airline is Cebu Pacific, which also serves international flights around the region.

Be careful on Mindanao island, especially in the city Zamboanga. Getting a free boat (there is only one regular one: Zamboanga to Sabah state in Malaysia) From Indonesia to Malaysia it's very very hard, Malaysia immigration is pretty tough though.

Air Asia has discount flights to Malaysia.

If you like boats you can try your luck here.

Islands

• Luzon
• Mindanao
• Visayas