Banca beggars along the highway

The Philippine archipelago comprises 7107 islands, but interestingly you can drive the somewhat 2,500 km long Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway) from North (Laoag City, Luzon) to South (Zamboanga City, Mindanao) by using two ferries only. The first ferry is cruising between Southern Luzon and Northern Samar and takes about one hour. The second ferry is sailing approximately four hours between Southern Leyte and North-Western Mindanao.

At all four piers you will encounter ‘banca beggars’ asking the passengers to throw some coins overboard.

Photo from Matnog, Sorsogon in April 2007.