I don't believe there is a better way to get around places in the Philippines than driving a motorcycle. Motorcycling is not only a
- The up front cost of the motorcycle (I got mine for 15,000 Php)
- Fuel efficiency (obviously), and
- Parking costs (motorcycles can park almost anywhere, and even when it does cost money, it's cheaper than a car)
However, there is at least one drawback to motorcycles, and that is safety.
On September 12, while I was driving around the island of Negros Oriental (on the road between Siaton and Zamboanguita), I was in a 40-50kph motorcycle crash. The details of how the crash happened aren't important (it wasn't my fault), but what is important is that it gave me my first experience with the Philippines emergency healthcare system.
Within a few minutes of the crash, I was surrounded by about 10 people that were trying to help. They made sure that I was okay, and they also called the police. I was mostly okay, except for my shoulder which began to hurt more and more as the effects of adrenaline were wearing off. By the time the police showed up about 20 minutes later, I could barely lift my arm. The police showed up in a vehicle that was very similar to a Songthaew, but it had a back seat attached to the cab up front. The police helped me get into the back seat of the cab, and then (with the help of the bystanders) loaded the motorcycle into the back. They drove us to Zamboanguita, and dropped us off at the Zamboanguita Health Center. There, I was supposed to get cleaned up, and then walk to the police station (directly next-door). I can say that I was "cleaned up" only by the loosest of definitions, but after they were finished I went next-door to the police station to complete the incident report and wait while they called my friend to come from Dumaguete (the place that I was staying) and get me.
When my friend finally arrived, I found out that she came with her boyfriend on a motorcycle and there was no way that I would be able to ride with them (no, not because I was too scared, but there just wasn't enough room :P ). So I hired an ambulance to take me to the hospital in Dumaguete because I needed to get an x-ray of my shoulder.
On the way to one of the private hospitals in Dumaguete (Siliman University Medical Center--described to me as the "most private," which apparently equals the best), the ambulance had to stop somewhere to pick up another guy who had been hit by a motorcycle. They loaded him and his friends/relatives into the back with me and my companions, and then dropped them off at another hospital before bringing us to our destination.
Do you know how much the x-ray cost?
- 450 Php. And no that isn't a typo.
What about the ambulance ride (a little over 1 hour long)?
- 100 Php. And no, that isn't a typo either.
My prescription drugs (antibiotics and mild anti-inflammatory painkillers) ended up costing more than 3 times as much as everything else at around 2,500 Php. But get this--the motorcycle's insurance covered all of my medical care, including the drugs and ambulance.
Cool, huh?
Overall, everything worked out fine. I can still barely lift my arm, but my road rash (on my right arm and leg) is almost entirely healed already. Now, I'm back in Manila, making the preparations for my next trip which is in just a few weeks. I'll keep you posted.