The Joy of Living in a Laid-Back Society: Macapee's Days #1888

This is Macapee.
I feel that living in the countryside is easier than living in a big city like Manila.

Macapee has been living in Ifugao Province in the northern Philippines for about a year now.

Long before that, I lived in the capital, Manila, for five years, so I have spent a total of over six years in the Philippines!

Even so, I barely understand Tagalog, but I am managing somehow.

People around Macapee don't really care about that either.

This is a "laid-back society."

For example, there are people driving motorcycles.

What feels strange coming from Japan is that almost no one wears a helmet!

Also, many people are riding vehicles without license plates.

There are also beat-up ones that look like they are barely running on just an engine and wheels, and they suddenly appear at night without lights, which gives me a scare.

Moreover, there are places like "police boxes" that regulate such traffic, and you can see people in uniforms, but no one ever gets pulled over.

According to Hana, "I wonder if there are more people who don't have a driver's license than those who do?"

Hey, hey, that's amazing, isn't it?

Wait, you say it's similar everywhere in the Philippines?

But, in the capital, Manila, where I went the other day, there were no such motorcycle riders.

"That place is like a different country!"

I see, Hana also knows Manila well, having lived there for about 10 years.

Even so, perhaps because the local police boxes are useless, a separate unit in camouflage uniforms sometimes conducts "mass inspections" to check driver's licenses.

However, about 100 meters ahead, a large number of motorcycles were hanging around.

"What are they doing over there?"

"They're waiting there for the general inspection to be lifted!"

"But they can be seen from the checkpoint!"

"That's fine. The police don't want to go out of their way to create more work for themselves!"

"In Japan, they would probably stop and question suspicious people one after another."

"It's the same in Malaysia. They would find them and arrest everyone."

Yes, this is the countryside in the northern Philippines.

Seeing how they handle things realistically according to the actual situation, separate from the official stance of a police organization whose motto is "uniformity nationwide," I, Macapee, feel that I am being well taken care of by this "laid-back society."

Everywhere in this area, they use half the road to dry corn.

Everyone is desperate.

A sign was put up saying, "Fines will be imposed if you dry grain here," but they are drying it right in front of it!

There is no one saying, "Hey, that's dangerous, do something about it!"

Yes, yes, let's not get so worked up and just live comfortably and "appropriately."

No one is really causing that much trouble, are they?

Maybe it's fine as long as everyone can live happily and safely!

This was Macapee.
Thank you for reading until the end. I guess I, Macapee, am evolving into a "country person" too!