Hitchhiking in Philippines: way to Manila
21st of March, 2025.
Nobody stops until near 10 o’clock, which is very weird as my sign says “Manila”, the capital, and normally it should be easier to get lifts to the capital.
The man who stops for me, Song, is going to a small town near the big city of Baguio, in the La Union District, which is great because I would have good chances there, and it’s not that far from Manila. Plus, the trip to there should be of only a few hours.
Song and I have a few things in common, but mostly, our taste for films. We keep on talking about our favourite films, and all the time I’m just asking the universe why is it that, after having my heart broken about the news from Aamir, now I have to encounter someone who’s into films just so much. We also have a similar taste about music, but Song is much more into this area, as he has many instruments at home and play them all. We stop for lunch in a nice local restaurant.
Unfortunately though, it takes much longer to arrive to Rosario than I was expecting, so we arrive there quite late in the afternoon already. Song drops me off after his actual turn, so I’m closer to the highway to Manila. I’m not waiting by the express way, but walking towards a secondary highway, the low cost one, as I know it will be easier for the cars to stop for me, and there will be more cars there too.
But as I’m walking towards there, a car already stop for me (as I’m holding my sign already) and tells me they can take me to Manila. An incredible journey was about to start.
There are three men in the car: Johnathan, the driver (who is a comedian in the free time); Mark, in the passenger seat, and Zei, sitting on the back with me. They all work together for the same company, one of those which transport money in safe cars. They are coming back from an accident scene, which took place not so far from where they picked me up. They are responsible for going there and dealing with the victims and everybody involved. In this case, there’s was a terrible tragedy, and an eighteen years old boy died, so they had to overnight in the place, and are coming back today to Manila.
As we talk, and I explain everything about my travels to them, I also tell them that my plan is to stop somewhere in San Fernando for tonight, find a family house to camp there, and tomorrow I will carry on to Manila. My flight to South Korea is only on the 24th of March, on Monday, and tomorrow is Friday.
They keep on thinking about a way to help me. They don’t want to simply drop me off in San Fernando, they want to help me with a place to stay tonight. Mark says I cannot camp in his place because he lives in an apartment. When Zei tells me that I can come and stay with his family, I’m already so happy, but then he mentions that it’s not only for tonight, they want for me to stay until Monday, the day of my flight. I am like – what? I know I always stay with locals but I’ve never staid this long, even though it’s only a few days, it’s different than only staying only one night, and I don’t want to be a burden to anybody. I also don’t want to simply refuse and I try to make they understand why I cannot stay until Monday, and I’m sure they do understand, but Zei still insists that I should come and stay. The only issue it is to find an extra helmet once we arrive to their work place, because as Zei will ride back home in his motorbike (they all will), he doesn’t have an extra helmet for me. In some how they get one.
Before we arrive, we stop in a very traditional and old restaurant for dinner. It’s a Chinese restaurant and the food is great. I even have a coffee! It’s in the restaurant that I discover that both Zei and Mark are Marvel films fans, so we start talking about that. Then Mark and I start talking about films from the 90’s, my favourite decade for films, and also his wife favourite. He tells me that she made him watch all this great films, including Double Jeopardy, which a lot of people don’t know the existence of it, so I’m really surprised. Apparently, Mark’s wife also love the TV-show Friends, just as much as me, and has also watched all the seasons many times already.
When we arrive to their work place, Zei insists that Johnathan ride his motorbike all the way to Zei’s house, just so he can bring my backpack. I explain to Zei that I have ridden in motorbikes with the Hulk many times, and even in the highway, for hours, so I would be totally fine to ride now with her, as we are only about 30 minutes from his house. But he insists that for our safety is better if Johnathan bring it. I feel so sorry for Johnathan because the Hulk is so big and heavy, and I’m sure he’s not used to it. But it’s all fine in the end.
We arrive to Zei’s home around 23.00 hours. I’m shocked when I get out of the bath and see that’s already 23.30 and I’m still awake. I quickly say hi to his family, who are playing card games, and go to sleep in the bedroom they prepared for me. In the bed I’m sleeping, which is already all tidy and made, there’s a towel, a package with soap, tough paste and tooth brush, ans shampoo, with a label which reads “you may use this”, and a smile face; plus a tin with a label which reads “these are some snacks for you”, and another smile face. The snacks are the best in this world! Some delicious chocolates with almonds, menthol candies, and mini-brownies! I cannot resist and eat some, laugh, and I have to control myself to not finish them all. This would be a small sign of the incredible caring, kindness and generosity of this lovely family towards me. I would stay until Monday, that’s for sure.
10 Years Around the World 