Maybe it is time to think before travelling to the Philippines?

Do you normally carry K&R insurance when travelling on holiday? I must say I have never done so.

my wife wants to go home for a holiday next spring.
after reading this--and the other thread--i will NOT be going with her.

Don't be put off bigmac, you'd have a trouble free and wonderful time................guaranteed

You need to experience where your wife is from.

Tut tut...
Methers old boy!!!!!
Look what you've done now!!! lol

Is this a Grand Prix bus, because there appears to be little or no tread visible on the tyres?

Will be able to give first hand information in couple weeks as that's when I'm off back to the Philippines, not one of the so called western tourist spots but to my fiancées home town in Mindanao. I have been there previously a year ago, and will be able to see any differences if there are any in the time I am there.

Just a regular Philippine bus. Tyre tread optional.

They look like they were bought from a jeepney driver, who no longer considered them safe enough.

Very lucky not to have been on it. I think I can vaguely remember this accident. We used to travel a fair bit on those but quite frankly they scare the willies out of me. We sometimes have to use a bus from the province to Tacloban. That road isn't the best with some quite steep drops, quite glad I'm normally a little drunk on them.

Jeepney drivers normally keep them until the steel cord starts to fray badly ...

Thats true.. The metal fray also gives a bit of extra adhesion for when its re capped.

I expect to be going back with the wife in March, staying in Pasig, Albay and likely visiting either Cebu or Coron. Probably taking the parents there for the first time too! Whenever I visit I'm always careful (the wife wouldn't have it any other way!). Vigilance is always key, as is your own actions, not making yourself an obvious target etc. Only on our last trip, earlier this year, did my wife feel confident enough to let me travel on the MRT alone! I still don't think she likes me going across the road to 7/11 (in Pasig) alone either, but you have to respect how much a white person stands out in a country with a lot of poverty. If you're mainly in the tourist areas, no worries. If you're travelling elsewhere, be careful, but I wouldn't be cargo fearful

When in the Phils I just love the many stickers on the back of all vehicles ... "HOWS MY DRIVING"

Seriously ???

Where in Mindanao mate ??

.

We will be staying in Tubod, my fiancées home town where we have apartment. Always feel quite safe there but you do need to be careful, and keep your wits about you.

Have a few weeks in Birmingham instead!!

I'd also be interested in your report, assessment.
Probably visiting Cotabato City and Midsayap at year-end

Ditto, Molave, Ozamis, maybe Pagadian and Dipolog...

Will keep

Will give an update on here when I return or when I can while I'm there. Will be mainly in Tubod and surrounding area and will do some shopping in Oazmis at some point.