Philippine Highways and Major Roadways

[JudeD]

There were actually several self-service gas stations in Manila during the late 80s to early 90s, this included the Shell station in Magallanes (which is where we'd always gas up back then, the food you could buy in their shop was always interesting imported stuff, they even had Twinkies). I'm surprised nobody else remembers this. I guess self-service didn't catch on. Labor costs are really cheap here naman so I don't think it's really necessary yet. Besides, Filipinos like being waited on.

The huge Caltex and Shell stations in San Pedro Laguna along SLEX are really close to where my parents live so we're trying to figure out how to get to them without having to exit to the highway. :-)

[bagel]

Self-serve in RP? I remember. In the 80s... We used to think "Feeling Stateside tayo ngayon! Let's fill up ourselves!" The one I remember was a Shell station on Sucat Rd, between SLEX and Loyola Memorial Park, back when the road was less crowded. I remember how spacious it was and how well-lit it was and how my friends and I competed to press the buttons on the pumps. I also remember how excited I was to squeegee our own windshield! This was also the time when KFC was called Kentucky Fried Chicken and you can get legitimate biscuits with gravy there-- none of this chicken and rice weirdness.

But it really doesn't make sense. As Jude said, labor is so cheap here and Filipinos are used to having people do menial tasks for them.

[Æsahættr]

What do you guys think is better (gasoline quality + service), Petron, Caltex, Shell or other?

[apiong]

Originally Posted by JudeD

There were actually several self-service gas stations in Manila during the late 80s to early 90s, this included the Shell station in Magallanes (which is where we'd always gas up back then, the food you could buy in their shop was always interesting imported stuff, they even had Twinkies). I'm surprised nobody else remembers this.

I remember... back late 90's (good old college days)... during the bulk of the construction of the skyway, we always stopover there at Shell Magallanes to eat and let the traffic "dissipate" itself... we kind of made it a habit of stopping over there... maybe that's why the name of the store there (before they changed it to Select) was "Bad Habit"

[apiong]

Originally Posted by lotrfan55345

What do you guys think is better (gasoline quality + service), Petron, Caltex, Shell or other?

we find Petron the best!

as much as possible, we try to fill-up with XCS... on long haul journeys, Blaze.

(our engine seems to have this weird reaction to Caltex Gold lately... quality issues?... also, Shell Velocity's high price for a 95+ octane rating seems unjustifiable... it was 96+ before.)

btw, they're building a Petron station at the northbound stretch of the STAR tollway (near Lipa City interchange, just after the Pusil overpass)

[federal]

Am really surprised at our fuel grades here in Manila... in the US, when I fill up my tank, i see octane grades at 89+ only! But despite our high fuel grades here, polluted pa din... why?

[amras]

kasi most of the vehicles are dirty.. especially the jeepneys... and also due to lack of trees along major roads, nothing absorbs the pollution. plus the volume of vehicles is too much.

[bagel]

Originally Posted by federal

Am really surprised at our fuel grades here in Manila... in the US, when I fill up my tank, i see octane grades at 89+ only! But despite our high fuel grades here, polluted pa din... why?

Re: the fuel grades, one reason why you may be surprised is because the rating system for rating octane in fuel is possibly different in the Philippines and in the US. The gas filler door on my car has a table on it that says that my car requires 91 octane or above (US) and 95 octane or above (Eur). My conclusion was that they just have a different equation for calculating octane in the US. For what it's worth, in California, the max octane you can get at gas stations is 91 octane. Back east in NJ, I remember seeing 93 and even 94.

[Skyblade]

Originally Posted by Kiel

here's a picture of the newly opened McDonalds in Caltex. I'll have more pictures soon

Ooooh I must say, very nice!!!

[SKYLINEPIGEON]

Perhaps There Hundreds Of Bridges Scatterred Around The Archipelago, I Love Bridges And Feel Excited Passing Through Long Ones

[ryanr]

[renell]

is that the Petron Station in NLEX? i don't really look at where we stop, i just eat there

[Kiel]

This one is in SLEX, I think...

[mysaong03]

that one is in slex, near the manila southwoods exit (Km 31)

[mysaong03]

that one is in slex, near the manila southwoods exit (Km 31), in front of it is the new caltex tht weve been talkin bout.

[ryanr]

bump! Anything new in this topic?

[Francis20]

there's this bridge in our province...a truss bridge actually...very long one, and relatively high, overlooking Cagayan River and the cornfields along the banks. about 30 minutes ride from our town. was supposed to stop by when we went there, but it's almost sundown and we have to go back home for some party. they actually changed the bridge into a different type, the usual type, so the steel trusses, which i find nice are now gone without my knowledge i will share some photos next time.

[renell]

any updated with the Estrella bridge or other MM ones?

[mysaong03]

i hope someone could take some shots of Manila's 4 main bridges along pasig River (jones, mcarthur, quezon & ayala) at night. the bridges have a very colorful glow at night... ganda. kaya lang, i was shocked the next morning on my way to the church, some colored bulbs on the railings were stolen!! pinilit nilang hilahin & tanggalin yung 2 bulbs, & 2 knotted wires nalang yung natira clinging on the sides, aarrgghh... the city govt must man at least 1 guard on the bridges' opposite ends to watch them over at night.

the underground tunnel leading to alabang zapote road from festival actually pretty neat