The Amazing Habal - Habal

When you go to the provinces in the Philippines, and if you are not ready to hike miles of mountainous and rough terrain of the barrios, don’t worry. Just hire the nearest habal - habal driver to take you to your destination through dangerous trails and he will surely bring you unscathed.

The Habal - Habal

The habal - habal is the most common mode of transportation in remote areas of the country that cannot be reached by Jeeps or tricycles. It routinely traverses narrow, steep and bumpy roads that looks like small nuclear bombs had ravaged the area.

It is a public utility motorcycle improvised to have a larger seating capacity to accommodate more passengers as well as their baggage to be transported usually from the supermarket to their far - flung homes. The vehicle would usually carry three to six passengers, including the driver. Baggage would include a sack of rice, groceries, vegetable or sometimes live animals that are tied in various strategic places of the vehicle.

The Ride

Riding the habal-habal is a thrilling yet challenging activity. Passengers are perched dangerously in the seats provided, and holding nobody. Yes, you maintain balance by just holding on to the seat or to your knees or your belongings. This is maybe due to nonverbal modesty rules.

So what about those who are in tight skirts? Well, those in skirts (this are usually teachers who are assigned in the barrios) sit side-saddled, with both legs on one side and manage to stay perched. Sometimes, if there are no more available habal-habal, they got to sit on the gas tank in front of the driver. Whew.

That’s only normal since waiting for another would mean hours of waiting. Sometimes, I wonder why some teachers marry habal-habal drivers. :)

Anyway, despite the precarious ride through bumps, difficult trails between cliffs during the ride the driver expertly maneuvers his partner, the habal - habal, and would bring you safely to your destination.

 The Business

Obviously, the business for this type of transportation is very feasible because of the geographic nature of the locality. Residents from the barrios before the existence of habal-habal would walk days just to buy fish or other household needs. Four - wheeled vehicles would be stuck-up in the ‘traffic,’ especially during the rainy season.

Another possible reason for the flourishing business is the availability of cheaper bikes. Jeeps or even trikes need a larger capital base to start picking up passengers. Aside from that, the flow of habal-habal is largely unregulated. No rules, no franchise is needed to start. Just get a driver’s license and you’re off to have your first passenger.

So if you are an adventurer, you should not try walking to your camp. Get a habal - habal.