LICENSE TO DRIVE

Finally got my driver's license after a 33-hour course. Hoe-yeaah!

[This is the part where i'm supposed to scan my license, intensify the colors, and decorate my blog with it.... but, nah... the picture's too embarrassing. Let's just say it looked more like a mug shot more than an ID picture.]

Some friends have been inquiring about driving schools from me.. well, since i just got my license.. Many have had theirs for years now, so i'm the most likely to remember rates and stuff. :)

For others planning to enroll in a driving school in Baguio City, read on...

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I started out driving classes 2 years ago..

Being a first-timer, I chose to study at:


A1 Driving School -- The Premier Driving School in the Philippines.

1st session

          1 hour orientation; presentation of slideshows and definition of b.l.o.w.f.a.t.c.h.
          Purchase a Php400 manual (a printed copy of the slideshow)

2nd session

          Hands on, getting to know the car.

          Instructor: "beginner course?.. you understand tagalog?"

          Reika: "yup, opo"

          Instructor: "what are the first things to consider before driving"

          Reika (the clueless beginner): "errrmmm... mirrors?"
          Instructor: "mirrors, cambio,....."
          Reika: "ano po yun?"

          Instructor (pointing to stickshift): "dapat naka-neutral.. wala ka ba background sa driving?"
          Reika: "i'm a beginner po..."
          Instructor: "friends, relatives, boyfriend, di ka ba nagpapaturo sa kanila, mga may kotse?"
          Reika: "ermm.. di po... that's why i enrolled..."
          Instructor: (continued impatiently)


3rd/4th/5th session
          Hands on driving, parking
          To summarize, the instructor was impatient. Since A1 cars are equipped with double foot brakes, one for the student and one for the instructor, my instructor kept on utilizing his. Really, how is one supposed to learn?

6th-10th session
          I relocated to Manila, wasn't able to attend last few lessons... No refund, non transferrable :(

Rates (2011)

                          MANUAL   AUTOMATIC

  5 HRS                 3,200.00         5,600.00

  7 HRS                 4,400.00         7,800.00

10 HRS                 6,200.00       11,000.00

15 HRS                 9,200.00       16,300.00

20 HRS               12,100.00       21,400.00

30 HRS               17,700.00       31,000.00

Routes included: South Drive, Mansion House, Convention Center

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I worked for 2 years, resigned, enrolled in another driving school this time:

UPS  -- The Ultimate Partner in Safety Driving
Now this was new.. I've never heard of this school until my brother brought me to their office at the 3rd flr La Azotea Bldg.


1st session
          2-hour DETAILED orientation, (5 minutes into the lecture, I knew I made the right choice)
          1-hour hands on driving with an unbelievably patient instructor


2nd-23rd session
          Great driving experience around Baguio/La Trinidad
          
24th-33rd session
          Lowland Driving with another yet unbelievably patient instructor
          Baguio to La Union to Pangasinan and back to Baguio


Rates
                           MANUAL   AUTOMATIC
 5 HRS                  2,200.00         4,000.00
 7 HRS                  3,100.00         5,600.00
10 HRS+1 free      4,400.00         8,000.00
15 HRS                 6,600.00       12,000.00
20 HRS+2 free      8,800.00       16,000.00
30 HRS+3 free    13,200.00       24,000.00


Routes included: South Drive, Mansion House, Leonard Wood, Mines View, Convention Center, Harrison Road, Magsaysay Ave, Suello Village, Greenvalley, Camp 7, Philex Mines, Mt Sto Tomas, La Trinidad, La Union, Pangasinan


UPS courses are transferrable :)
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Other Driving Schools CITY/PINES/BSBT  
                            MANUAL /AUTOMATIC
 ANY # OF HRS             dirt cheap. 

During my classes, I've met cars of these driving schools with cigarette-smoking instructors, multiple students taking turns in driving, car breakdown, and the worst -- an engine smoking under the hood while the instructor struggled to fix it holding his umbrella up.
Sad, but entertaining :)


Best choice, UPS. :)