Out of Palapag
How do you get out of Palapag?
You can count the ways! Yes, there are options. In most cases, travelers just reverse the way they came in. It can be via a bus, van, jeep, tricyle or habal-habal, depending on where they're going - e.g., westward to Catarman, or southward to Lapining, etc.!
Syempre, if you're driving your own vehicle check your map. There could be a better way, in terms of "what to see", than via that road you passed coming in. If there are!
If you're riding buses or vans, you head out to the transport terminal behind the new public market (Merkado Palapag) - via a tricycle, pedicab, habal-habal or even walk.
That place is about 800 meters from the municipal plaza passing by their cemetery!
Who rides the buses? Those going to far places like Bicol or Manila would be better off riding the big buses. They just pass by Palapag from far south (as far as Guiuan).
Of course, the reverse is similar: if you're going to places far south (such as Arteche all the way to Guiuan), you may also prefer to ride the big buses passing via Palapag.
Note too, that D'Turbanada already has buses direct to Tacloban.
Then who rides the vans?! Whoever pa rin hahaha! These would usually be travelers going to 'not so near' but 'not so far' places, from Palapag. As you may already know, these vans (usually 14-seater), for many years now, had been the lifeline of Region 8.
Those vans (mostly white) ply (or should I say fly?) intra-region only. That means they zip or gallop to/from towns/cities within the islands of Samar, Leyte and Biliran only.
Natawa naman ako dun sa gamit ko ng "gallop" hahaha! Eh that is what vehicles do in the Province of (Western) Samar due to their very bad roads. Luxurious nga diba?
Mind you, the farthest direct route of these vans as of now, is no other than Palapag to Tacloban and vice-versa. That's almost 300 kilometers and it takes about 7hours.
Mind you too, (am not sure if I've shared this here earlier), there is a law that says...
UV Express Maximum Distance Policy: For inter-regional, inter-provincial, provincial, and municipal routes not originating and terminating in Metro Manila... 60 kilometers only.
I-it-na-man!
But there are exceptions to that law, with vague basis, so that the said provision can very easily be circumvented, by just anybody who applies for a UV Express franchise!
Tacloban to Palapag is almost 5x the maximum of 60 kilometers hahaha! Hasus, in fact, even Tacloban to Catbalogan is already more than a hundred kilometers, diba?
But come to think of it... these transport operators do have their lawyers or even are lawyers themselves. So, I'm not surprised why D'Turbanada has started deploying a fleet of new buses! I have also seen some buses at Grandtours. Even Duptours too!
They're on the way to compliance, after all. Let's wish them well!
Riding jeeps from Palapag, is supposed to be also at the new terminal, just like with the above buses and vans. However, and uniquely, jeeps are already a 'dying breed'.
Their "practicality" (for passengers) or "lucrativity" (for jeep operators) has just been eclipsed by innovation (vans, buses, trucking services). They're now few & unreliable.
Riding a tricycle or a habal-habal can be anywhere in town, where you chance upon them at busy corners or sidewalks, such as around the plaza. Aw, you 'must haggle'!
Oh, we have to 'clarify' terminologies they use around these parts of Samar Island! It varies from place to place! So we better be aware of them for easy communication!
Tricycle - in Northern and Eastern Samar, that's a motorcycle with a cab or 'sidecar'. Those with bicycles to propel the 'sidecar' are normally called "pedicab" these days.
From way earlier to about the 1980s the "tricycle" or "traisikol" was a tall bike with a sidecar while "pedicab" was a small bike (like BMX) with a sidecar (no roof, usually).
Nowadays, when the power is not a motorcycle, they're all "pedicab" - although you already know that it has so many synomyms, types, and kinds in this country, right?
Habal-habal - as we all know, is Cebuano (though used as a "generic name" all over the country), is a motorcycle "as-is", "without a sidecar", used for paid transport too.
But in Samar (the island, not just the province), seldom do people say "habal-habal". In majority of places, it is called "motor" [pronounced in the Spanish way, not English].
In this area of Northern Samar, however, they don't refer to a habal-habal as "motor". They call it a "scooter" - whether it be the real "step-through" scooter or the standard motorbikes with fuel tanks in front of the driver's crotch. So, scooter is habal-habal!
I'm telling you that because... while they will all get it if you keep saying 'habal-habal', you may not understand when they say 'scooter' among themselves, or even to you!
And be careful with saying "motor" around here, if you mean "habal-habal". Why? Ay, "motor" in these fishing villages is the little "fishing boat" a.k.a. 'pambot' (pumpboat)!
Just for your added appreciation hehe, in some places, the very same "habal-habal" can be called "single" [sing-gol] - meaning 'just the motorcycle without the sidecar'!
And, in places like Lapinig, down to Oras, Dolores and even further south, you might even hear some say 'honda' [note: I didn't capitalize the letter "h"]. It's a common noun!
In that 'use case', "honda" is a synonym of scooter, habal-habal or motorbike.
So if you hear "pag honda nala", that means 'just ride a motorbike' or 'mag-habal-habal ka na lang'! That, is of course, regardless if the damn thing is a Suzuki, Yamaha, etc!
Now that I have explained the "taxonomy" hehehe, be aware that Palapag tricycles & habal-habals are generally for rides around town center, just like and in competition with the lowly pedicabs. But they're best for goin to areas that pedicabs can't reach.
Being so, tricycle & habal-habal (scooter pala) drivers would eagerly drive you to the next town or farther, as they'll earn more - even if you think you're an expert haggler!
That said, let me tell you how my exit went....
My ride of choice
For me this time, it had to be via my most convenient way - and to Mapanas only.
Oops, be aware of what you read. I said most convenient, not most comfortable. This may not even be suitable for many of you - even if you call yourselves 'adventurous'!
That choice anyway was the Scooter! Yes the 'habal-habal', 'single' or 'honda'! Not the best, not even cheap, but most practical and convenient for my objectives of the day!
Objectives? Yes plural! 1) See as many wonderful views as possible from Palapag to Mapanas; 2) Stop and/or go whenever I wanted to; 3) talk with people along the way!
Obviously, my objectives would have been impossible to accomplish if I rode on the regular vans & buses, right? A private vehicle is best for such a goal, but I had none!
How I picked my choice
I loved this experience! Resort staff were kind enough to "deliver" me gratis, via their scooter, from the resort to the plaza (that's 4kms++). Thank you Arnold and Jemuel!
Next, Jemuel (who drove me to the plaza) assisted me in picking the ride - because it's not very simple heheh! Habal-habal and tricycle drivers follow some chronology!
Scooter nga pala, hindi habal-habal hahaha! Nakakalito!
Another case of "OMG I forgot to take a photo"! Mea culpa, but I'll describe the scene anyway: it was somewhere at the frontage of the municipal plaza/park, about here:
Thanks again to google maps, I am still able to point the exact place. Ah, that scene is/was similar to what I saw this morning, yet that shot was taken way back in 2022.
Anyway, when I arrived at that gate, there were more than a dozen vehicles. It was a mix of motorcycles, tricycles and pedicabs. One said 'o pasahero, sin-o na an sunod'?
A man pointed me to this, his scooter. Now I understand why they call it so!
Jemuel advised (within earshot of everyone) that I should take a big 'scooter' with a roof (canopy), as this was a long ride on a sunny day. And, we looked at other bikes.
As we did so, the driver of that scooter was somehow (softly) protesting, that it was his turn to take on passengers. Well, Jemuel explained that his scooter has 'no roof'.
I sensed the manong driver felt like ang arte-arte ko, naghanap pa ng bubong hehe! For indeed he asked me "kay ngain ka, sir"? Jemuel replied for me saying "Mapanas".
That scooter driver seemed taken aback and immediately replied "aw, diri kaya sa ak scooter"! That made everyone laugh. And they teased him. Nice that he laughed too!
I picked (parang bumibili lang ng bayabas ano?) a sturdy-looking regular bike. Not a scooter like the above, but called a scooter anyway. A habal-habal is a scooter here!
My choice was something like still 6th or 7th in the line. Its driver already agreed but he said he can't go before those who were ahead of him on the line. I said I will wait!
O ha?! Akala nyo Jollibee lang ang meron "willing to wait"? Meron din sa habal-habal rides! Aw, scooter rides nga pala! I'll have to let those before him be taken by others.
It's the same as waiting for the jeep or bus or flight that you want. Sige, wait lang!
I liked this experience. They have policies and procedures; unwritten rules; protocols... respetuhin natin. Being a process-review-expert, I salute their desire for orderliness!
However, while I was a WTW (willing to wait), an older scooter driver told my chosen driver "larga na"! And he said many things more like 'maghihinulat manla it siya sa im'.
May point sya. I won't ever ride on the first 5 scooters lined-up. Willing To Wait nga e! And, when my chosen scooter comes to front of the line, I'd be the "next passenger".
Okay... larga, abante, hawa na, birahi, tikwang, go Go GO!
So off I went then, on a habal-habal, ayay scooter nga pala, to Mapanas, passing by everything I (or my very knowledgeable driver) thought was interesting for a go-see!
Let's see the sights and scenes that descended upon me, myself and I!
That would be in my next story!
Wait for it!
You can count the ways! Yes, there are options. In most cases, travelers just reverse the way they came in. It can be via a bus, van, jeep, tricyle or habal-habal, depending on where they're going - e.g., westward to Catarman, or southward to Lapining, etc.!
Syempre, if you're driving your own vehicle check your map. There could be a better way, in terms of "what to see", than via that road you passed coming in. If there are!
If you're riding buses or vans, you head out to the transport terminal behind the new public market (Merkado Palapag) - via a tricycle, pedicab, habal-habal or even walk.
That place is about 800 meters from the municipal plaza passing by their cemetery!
Who rides the buses? Those going to far places like Bicol or Manila would be better off riding the big buses. They just pass by Palapag from far south (as far as Guiuan).
Of course, the reverse is similar: if you're going to places far south (such as Arteche all the way to Guiuan), you may also prefer to ride the big buses passing via Palapag.
Note too, that D'Turbanada already has buses direct to Tacloban.
Then who rides the vans?! Whoever pa rin hahaha! These would usually be travelers going to 'not so near' but 'not so far' places, from Palapag. As you may already know, these vans (usually 14-seater), for many years now, had been the lifeline of Region 8.
Those vans (mostly white) ply (or should I say fly?) intra-region only. That means they zip or gallop to/from towns/cities within the islands of Samar, Leyte and Biliran only.
Natawa naman ako dun sa gamit ko ng "gallop" hahaha! Eh that is what vehicles do in the Province of (Western) Samar due to their very bad roads. Luxurious nga diba?
Mind you, the farthest direct route of these vans as of now, is no other than Palapag to Tacloban and vice-versa. That's almost 300 kilometers and it takes about 7hours.
Mind you too, (am not sure if I've shared this here earlier), there is a law that says...
UV Express Maximum Distance Policy: For inter-regional, inter-provincial, provincial, and municipal routes not originating and terminating in Metro Manila... 60 kilometers only.
I-it-na-man!
But there are exceptions to that law, with vague basis, so that the said provision can very easily be circumvented, by just anybody who applies for a UV Express franchise!
Tacloban to Palapag is almost 5x the maximum of 60 kilometers hahaha! Hasus, in fact, even Tacloban to Catbalogan is already more than a hundred kilometers, diba?
But come to think of it... these transport operators do have their lawyers or even are lawyers themselves. So, I'm not surprised why D'Turbanada has started deploying a fleet of new buses! I have also seen some buses at Grandtours. Even Duptours too!
They're on the way to compliance, after all. Let's wish them well!
Riding jeeps from Palapag, is supposed to be also at the new terminal, just like with the above buses and vans. However, and uniquely, jeeps are already a 'dying breed'.
Their "practicality" (for passengers) or "lucrativity" (for jeep operators) has just been eclipsed by innovation (vans, buses, trucking services). They're now few & unreliable.
Riding a tricycle or a habal-habal can be anywhere in town, where you chance upon them at busy corners or sidewalks, such as around the plaza. Aw, you 'must haggle'!
Oh, we have to 'clarify' terminologies they use around these parts of Samar Island! It varies from place to place! So we better be aware of them for easy communication!
Tricycle - in Northern and Eastern Samar, that's a motorcycle with a cab or 'sidecar'. Those with bicycles to propel the 'sidecar' are normally called "pedicab" these days.
From way earlier to about the 1980s the "tricycle" or "traisikol" was a tall bike with a sidecar while "pedicab" was a small bike (like BMX) with a sidecar (no roof, usually).
Nowadays, when the power is not a motorcycle, they're all "pedicab" - although you already know that it has so many synomyms, types, and kinds in this country, right?
Habal-habal - as we all know, is Cebuano (though used as a "generic name" all over the country), is a motorcycle "as-is", "without a sidecar", used for paid transport too.
But in Samar (the island, not just the province), seldom do people say "habal-habal". In majority of places, it is called "motor" [pronounced in the Spanish way, not English].
In this area of Northern Samar, however, they don't refer to a habal-habal as "motor". They call it a "scooter" - whether it be the real "step-through" scooter or the standard motorbikes with fuel tanks in front of the driver's crotch. So, scooter is habal-habal!
I'm telling you that because... while they will all get it if you keep saying 'habal-habal', you may not understand when they say 'scooter' among themselves, or even to you!
And be careful with saying "motor" around here, if you mean "habal-habal". Why? Ay, "motor" in these fishing villages is the little "fishing boat" a.k.a. 'pambot' (pumpboat)!
Just for your added appreciation hehe, in some places, the very same "habal-habal" can be called "single" [sing-gol] - meaning 'just the motorcycle without the sidecar'!
And, in places like Lapinig, down to Oras, Dolores and even further south, you might even hear some say 'honda' [note: I didn't capitalize the letter "h"]. It's a common noun!
In that 'use case', "honda" is a synonym of scooter, habal-habal or motorbike.
So if you hear "pag honda nala", that means 'just ride a motorbike' or 'mag-habal-habal ka na lang'! That, is of course, regardless if the damn thing is a Suzuki, Yamaha, etc!
Now that I have explained the "taxonomy" hehehe, be aware that Palapag tricycles & habal-habals are generally for rides around town center, just like and in competition with the lowly pedicabs. But they're best for goin to areas that pedicabs can't reach.
Being so, tricycle & habal-habal (scooter pala) drivers would eagerly drive you to the next town or farther, as they'll earn more - even if you think you're an expert haggler!
That said, let me tell you how my exit went....
My ride of choice
For me this time, it had to be via my most convenient way - and to Mapanas only.
Oops, be aware of what you read. I said most convenient, not most comfortable. This may not even be suitable for many of you - even if you call yourselves 'adventurous'!
That choice anyway was the Scooter! Yes the 'habal-habal', 'single' or 'honda'! Not the best, not even cheap, but most practical and convenient for my objectives of the day!
Objectives? Yes plural! 1) See as many wonderful views as possible from Palapag to Mapanas; 2) Stop and/or go whenever I wanted to; 3) talk with people along the way!
Obviously, my objectives would have been impossible to accomplish if I rode on the regular vans & buses, right? A private vehicle is best for such a goal, but I had none!
How I picked my choice
I loved this experience! Resort staff were kind enough to "deliver" me gratis, via their scooter, from the resort to the plaza (that's 4kms++). Thank you Arnold and Jemuel!
Next, Jemuel (who drove me to the plaza) assisted me in picking the ride - because it's not very simple heheh! Habal-habal and tricycle drivers follow some chronology!
Scooter nga pala, hindi habal-habal hahaha! Nakakalito!
Another case of "OMG I forgot to take a photo"! Mea culpa, but I'll describe the scene anyway: it was somewhere at the frontage of the municipal plaza/park, about here:
Anyway, when I arrived at that gate, there were more than a dozen vehicles. It was a mix of motorcycles, tricycles and pedicabs. One said 'o pasahero, sin-o na an sunod'?
A man pointed me to this, his scooter. Now I understand why they call it so!
As we did so, the driver of that scooter was somehow (softly) protesting, that it was his turn to take on passengers. Well, Jemuel explained that his scooter has 'no roof'.
I sensed the manong driver felt like ang arte-arte ko, naghanap pa ng bubong hehe! For indeed he asked me "kay ngain ka, sir"? Jemuel replied for me saying "Mapanas".
That scooter driver seemed taken aback and immediately replied "aw, diri kaya sa ak scooter"! That made everyone laugh. And they teased him. Nice that he laughed too!
I picked (parang bumibili lang ng bayabas ano?) a sturdy-looking regular bike. Not a scooter like the above, but called a scooter anyway. A habal-habal is a scooter here!
My choice was something like still 6th or 7th in the line. Its driver already agreed but he said he can't go before those who were ahead of him on the line. I said I will wait!
O ha?! Akala nyo Jollibee lang ang meron "willing to wait"? Meron din sa habal-habal rides! Aw, scooter rides nga pala! I'll have to let those before him be taken by others.
It's the same as waiting for the jeep or bus or flight that you want. Sige, wait lang!
I liked this experience. They have policies and procedures; unwritten rules; protocols... respetuhin natin. Being a process-review-expert, I salute their desire for orderliness!
However, while I was a WTW (willing to wait), an older scooter driver told my chosen driver "larga na"! And he said many things more like 'maghihinulat manla it siya sa im'.
May point sya. I won't ever ride on the first 5 scooters lined-up. Willing To Wait nga e! And, when my chosen scooter comes to front of the line, I'd be the "next passenger".
Okay... larga, abante, hawa na, birahi, tikwang, go Go GO!
So off I went then, on a habal-habal, ayay scooter nga pala, to Mapanas, passing by everything I (or my very knowledgeable driver) thought was interesting for a go-see!
Let's see the sights and scenes that descended upon me, myself and I!
That would be in my next story!
Wait for it!
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