I don’t get it. They call it color coding. But really, the basis is the last number on your car’s license plate. It should be called number coding. (don’t you think?)
This country is so weird.
Another example would be the black-outs (power interruptions) which everyone refers to as ‘brown-outs’. I get the logic of black-out (no power= no light, therefore..darkness..), but brown-out?
And what’s the deal about road signs gone wrong? Like, no parking on both sides. Come on, you can’t park on both sides of the road. It’s impossible. The sign should say: no parking on EITHER side.
These are very simple things. Why can’t we do it right? It’s irritating how we manage to mangle someone else’s language on a daily basis. It is impressive that we try to learn it and use it, but there simply is no respect for the borrowed language.
This post has gone on long enough. And I’ve deviated from my first topic of the hour. I think it’s time for me to stop yakking.
****
EDIT:
Here are some references for the Color Coding or Number Coding or unified vehicle reduction program
http://www.klima.ph/cth/solutions/transport_demand/index.php
I tried to find references from the LTO but they did not provide guidelines in their website. You could check since they might add it in the future. http://www.lto.gov.ph/index.html
To explain briefly, color-coding is a law that requires all Manila vehicles to be off the streets one weekday each week between 7am and 7pm. But there is a window between 10am and 3pm wherein the rule is suspended everywhere except Makati City and Parañaque City. It has nothing to do with colors, but is based on the last digit of your license plate number. The number ban is as follows: 1 & 2-Mondays, 3 & 4-Tuesdays, 5 & 6-Wednesdays, 7 & 8-Thursdays, 9 & 0-Fridays. The traffic coding scheme is suspended during weekends and non-working holidays. For some reason everyone who has been driving for some time is aware of this inspite of the lack of information on the internet. Hopefully this helps new drivers who are yet to be familiar with Manila traffic.
My apologies to everyone who visited my blog for this info and was previously disappointed.
***edit September 9, 2007
I’ve had to turn off the comments because this really is getting out of hand. No matter what I say about this, people will twist it to mean something nasty. I am thankful for Robby Villabona who understood what I meant and knew that it was merely an observation. For anyone who has taken offense, I apologize that you had to read what I wrote.
How about that ubiquitous “OFFER GOOD UNTIL SUPPLIES LAST”? Written by ad agency copy writers, no less.
…or taxis with the “SERVICE” sign who won’t give you any.
thanks for the info
i’ve been driving for 3 years to and from LPC to Makati, and didn’t know of that 10-3 temp lift, or the exception of paranaque and makati
Blackout = Wide scale power outage (eg all of metro manila)
Brownout = Similar to a blackout but on a smaller scale. hence, it is not as dark as a blackout, so to speak. It is kind of like “Red Alert” and then “Orange Alert”.
Using your logic, having a “Orange Alert” is retarded because red is the universal color for danger.
Please use your brain before posting. And please, don’t park on both sides.
glad that you found the information useful April17th Anonymous.
july12th anon: thanks for taking the time to explain the difference between the blackout and brownout. if you think this blog is brainless babble, go away.
check http://www.mmda.gov.ph. they have information on number coding but its essentially same as yours
wow..at least the information is now official.
the traffic coding scheme started really started as a color coding. In the early days, they required jeepneys and other puv’s to have uniform “roof” colors. it was the initial attempt for a traffic solution, it was then expanded to include the private cars.
the coding scheme had huge impact on the pinoy that the term “color coding” became a household term and eventually transformed its meaning. i bet linguists knows what im talking about.
as to “no parking on both sides” i think it serves its purpose and is meant to be read by pinoys. you have to make the signs intelligible to the masses. its an adaptation.. as long as the people understands what you’re saying then it’s fine.
in singapore i have observed that they use “way out” instead of “exit”, queue instead of fall in line.
the author of this article is stupid. Hey bitch! think first before posting. You don’t know what ur saying. Asshole!
videokeman, I had no idea it started out as colors. When I started driving it was color coding based on numbers, so I came to that conclusion. I assume it was a lot like my grandpa calling the refrigerator a Frigidaire (not sure about the spelling) which was a really old brand of refrigerator that stuck.
how did they select jeepney colors? was it by zone or route? is it similar to the way the tricycles are organized? also, what happened that made them change it?
I know the most Pinoys understand the no parking on both sides, I just felt the people who know must make an effort to teach the right way of saying things. I was pointing out that it was grammatically wrong is all.
Also, in most places they do use queue. I think we’re one of the few who use fall in line.
shippuden, I never asked you to read my post. I’m asking you nicely to please go away and leave me alone.
where are you from? why are u visiting the philippines?
i hope you dont have any filipino blood in your body before you say anything bad about the country. Philippines has its own problem and so are all the countries in the globe. if you wanted to help dont just write and say bad words coz ur making every filipino mad, why dont you teach english for free to all the filipinos so you’ll be more blessed and productive.