TIMES OF CHANGE.

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY

  I am not going to go in depth here, I have already written a multi part article on the anniversary that will appear on one of our sites, or if PNR employed perhaps in your letterbox, shortly.
  My involvement with the Philippines has been a rollercoaster over the years. While I love the place, there has been a lot of pain endured, especially from selfish foreigners who feel they stake a claim on the hobby there.
They nearly, very NEARLY won that battle, but that hatred only served to make me stronger and now that strength, along with realizing this milestone has arrived, has given me a renewed passion for the Philippine railways that they once tried to diminish.

  Part of the celebrations for this event include a brief article covering the years since 1999, the trials and the achievements, also the reopening of this PRHS Blogsite.
  Today the PRHS again reverts to its mostly internet existence following the failure to launch a preservation group in the country, however our missions of promoting the railfan interest, and now the model railway interest, remains the same.
  We eagerly await the next 15 years, but for now, we celebrate with all our friends, both railfan and Philippine railway industry, the last 15 years of personal passion for your wonderful country.

MABUHAY

PRHS - Website - Hobby - The Future

Yes, the site has been quiet for a while.

  I have been mulling over the pointlessness of the hobby for a while now, following the last

pointless attack and accusations by a American ex-pat living in Alabang, it has become more readily apparent that the Philippine railway hobby is becoming more of a chore than a real interest.
  It does seem that my often being accredited with the starting of a railway hobby in the Philippines is considered as a threat to those who do not wish to make such an effort themselves. Over the 15 years I have promoted the hobby I have found both locals, foreigners and ex-pats who, for some inexplicable reason, would rather bring hate to the hobby than actually have someone try to push it and do more than they were willing to.
  Even sadder is the fact that many locals wish to follow their lead, making it almost impossible for those actually wanting to further the hobby, to actually make the differences needed.
  I look back on where we were going, and then at where we have gone.
  The splinterization, followed by abandonment of RIHSPI.
  The loss of most of the historical carriages still surviving.
  The railways themselves more in decline since President Gloria, than on any sort of increase.

  What become of the positiveness we held in 2007 when the late William Sullivan, Karel Brouwers and myself decided there should be a society to promote the history of the now rebuilding railways.

  All was going so well, but then jealousy, hate, backstabbing and pettiness revealed their ugly heads and soon enough trouble took over from the grand plan. Nothing but rampant suspicion and bullshit remained in its place.

  The tide was turned on this weekend just past, following 6 months work, a successful weekend of promoting the Maroochy Shire Tramway hobby and a very successful fundraiser for the local museum, followed by, not gossip, backstabbing and hate, but appreciation for the effort driving me on to want to do more.
  So much done in one weekend - imagine what we could have done since 2007 for Philippine preservation had we been allowed to function unrestrictedly. But that was not to be.
RIP - MCBP, 7E, CMC/CTC, 7C and sole 4 wheel tank car.

  Today I thus find myself announcing the demise of two of my Philippine related websites, the PRHS Home page set up to raise money to help Philippine preservation, as well as my 'Manila Downunder' website which covered the activities of my barkada down here in Sydney, back before the group imploded through similar hatred in the community.
  This blog site is under review, while the PRHS Database website is the one that will continue to survive as part of the 'Philippine Railway Historical Society'. The PRHS forums and Facebook sites will continue also, with most of the people seeking to destroy the hobby have since left the group.

  I do thank the many people who have given of themselves to make this hobby great, despite also going through their own rough patches during the years.
  My beloved Filipino friends Roberto, Arvin, Reynante, Brian and Michael who have time and time again proven what true friends they are.
  Plus the awesome Alan Hicks who does so much for so many and Karel Brouwers who went far and above in an effort to save Philippine railway preservation and show forgiveness.

  All you guys will remain close to my heart forever - you are the essence of self giving and promoting of the hobby.

  The downsizing does not mean my leaving the hobby (apologizes Harv), just that I need to aim some effort at raising money and helping projects and hobbies that truly appreciate it.
  My recent censorship on Facebook, then subsequent accusations of doing it myself (what the???) has lead me to realise that the hobby there, in large, does not appreciate and this has been proven by the leaving of so many who once contributed so much.
  While I see the Philippine hobby dying down in the next decade, I am proud to know that I made an achievement in my time there. I shall continue to research, continue to model and continue to help my dear friends in the Philippines, all of whom have shown a love for the country and its railways that is selfless. I AM HONOURED, TRULY HONOURED, TO KNOW YOU.
  I shall also continue to help those in need in the Philippines where possible. The poor, the weather victims, the needy, because this is something that needs to be done. Something I doubt my detractors, who care more for themselves than the country, would ever consider doing.

  Anyone wanting stuff from this site, and the two that are closing down, should do so now. I am unsure how long they will remain viewable.

  Lets all pray for better times for the Philippines and a time when everyone can work together and trust each other, so we can achieve so much.

Brad

PRHS - PHILIPPINE DATABASE PROJECT Website

~~ LATEST PRHS ATTACK ~~

 

Yeah it is hard to believe, but even after all this time of peace and constructive work, there are still those out there who, for whatever reason, are anti foreign involvement.
It has long been our policy to make these attacks available to the public as we have nothing to hide. Its a policy that has drawn huge negative comment from those with the most to hide.
A report coming shortly.

~~ PROJECT 5010 ~~

Work on our prototype has been revolving around the air compressor box (thanks Reynante) and has reached completion.
This weekends PRHS/SMUT Modellers night will be mostly based on finalising the joining of the new cab front and starting on the window grills (an interesting mix of plastic weld and super glue required).
If time permits, a good look at detail shots of 5000 class for any other items that may be required.

  If you are interested in modelling the Philippines, please come and join our Philippine Modelling group on Yahoogroups.

~~ PRHS MODELLERS GROUP ~~

  Work continues on a prototype 5000 class in HO scale (see photo below) which I am hoping will lead to a personal collection of around 4-5 units.
  The thought of a commercially available one is still being mulled, however we are in the final stages of working on a kit for the CMC/CTC type railcars (later loco hauled) stock. Once sorted out, the roof will also be attended to.
  These kits we hope will be a good basis for anyone wishing to model PNR in HO (or indeed 12mm).

 

  For anyone interested in modelling the railways of the Philippines, or even the other transport modes, scenery, structures etc, we invite you to join us at the

PRHS Philippine Modelling group.

~~ PRHS Charity Support ~~

Over the years we, along with my business in Sydney, have supported a number of funds to raise money for the Filipino people.
If you are good of heart we recommend the following.

Payatas Outreach Mission - Manila

 

Colord Star Charities - Sydney

 

There is more to life than just trains.

~~ ONLINE TICKETING MULLED ~~

KRIS BAYOS
October 5, 2012, 3:51pm
MANILA, Philippines —
The Philippine National
Railways (PNR) is mulling the implementation of online ticketing for the
interprovincial trips of the Bicol Express as soon as it will start operations
up to Legazpi City in Albay.

PNR General Manager Junio Ragrario said it is inconveniencing Bicol Express
passengers is they have to go to the train station twice: first, to buy their
tickets ahead of scheduled trips and second, to board their assigned trains on
the date of travel.

"We are mulling the possibility of ticketing for Bicol Express through the
Internet so that passengers will only have to go to the train station once,
which is during their scheduled trips," Ragrario added.

The rail official said the online ticketing that they are studying to use for
the Bicol Express would be similar to the online ticketing for airline
passengers.

But since online ticketing would require payment using credit cards, it may not
be convenient for all types of passengers, Ragrario said, adding that cash
payment for advance ticketing at train stations may still be available for the
benefit of those who do not have credit cards.

However, the PNR's commuter line running from Tutuban in Manila to Alabang in
Muntinlupa City will still implement manual ticketing until the government bids
out an automatic fare collection system for the PNR, and the Light and Metro
Rail Transit systems.

Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of rail tracks and train stations in Albay is
ongoing to allow the Bicol Express to run up to Legazpi City before the annual
exodus of people to the provinces for their Christmas and New Year's vacation.

"We target to finish by December so that the Bicol Express could transport
passengers up to Legazpi City in time for Christmas," he said.

Ragrario said the trip from Manila to Legazpi City aboard Bicol Express will be
13 to 14 hours long but they will make its fare "very competitive" with the
rates of ordinary buses to lure passengers to opt for the comfort of rail
travel.

Wooden larch ties are being installed in the Travesia bridge between Polangui
and Guinobatan. There are at least 15 to 20 kilometers of rail tracks between
Guinobatan and Legazpi City that need inspection and rehabilitation before the
PNR's Bicol Express can service the route. The stations in Guinobatan, Camalig,
Daraga and Legazpi City will also need renovation for the reopening.

There is a total distance of 30 kilometer between Ligao and Legazpi City
stations and a total of 478 kilometers from Tutuban to Legazpi City.

RAILFANS WHO SEEK TO DESTROY THE

HOBBY AND THE COUNTRY.

I am deeply saddened today. Not for me, but for how some people let their country down so much. How they will childishly let a moments worth of bad thought, destroy the view of those who care about and love the Philippines.

This morning I recieved this from Alvin Dacome-Radiaganding.
I find that 13 years of promoting, pushing and building a railfan and preservation hobby in the Philippines has been brought to this single comment.

To convey some sort of idea of my confusion over it all. I have never met this lad, never had much correspondence with him, but he has developed a great hatred solely based on my correcting him that the MRT vehicles are not 4th generation LRT ones. Despite my comments solely being to help, as they always are, I, and quite a few others, have recieved threats and hate mail regularly from this lad.

I am now seeking legal recourse against him for the threats made to others and the verbal abuse aimed at me.

For 13 years I have taken interest in the Philippines and its future more so than my own country - today I find a childish turd (apologises but I am disgusted) who would rather destroy all we have achieved. All that the likes of Brian, Michael, Karel, myself etc etc have achieved.
Lets make sure that people like Alvin Dacome-Radiaganding, who obviously dislikes their country, do not sway us from making this a great hobby.
I'm blocking him from my FB and recommend all others who love the Philippines do the same.

To steal a quote "The Philippine Is Worth Fighting For"

OPERATION ADOBO #6

A November 2011 Trip To Manila.

I know I have been slack with my blog posts again.
I've been busy with my Filipino shop since my recent return, along with a couple of new projects to build a PNR database and the long planned HO scale model railway based on Manila.
I have also been working hard to get a new PRHS service up and going to help modellers in the Philippines avail themselves of cheaper modelling options. This being by way of free freight to the Philippines through an occasional Balikbayan box. Obviously every peso counts for the locals, so why not give the chance to help with zero freight cost and the ability to buy second hand models for far less than brand new?

I am always looking for new ways to help my wonderful railfan friends in the Philippines and, along with local British ex-pat Phil Clark, am very proud of this new idea.

ANyway, enough rabbiting on with excuses, below is the first lot of shots from our recent trip.
Sadly the weather was a bit chronic at the start, but they do get better.

The railfan day certainly got off to a dark, gloomy and wet start.

It was a day to meet lots of new friends and catch up with many old ones.
Roberto, Mark, Rodney and Adrian I have know since the last trip, while Phil and Tessie (above), Brian and Michael (Philippine Railways Railfan Group) and many other new people also turned up on the day.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have so many great friends so far away. Many people are lucky to have one or two locally. You guys are all much cared about.

Wooohoo finally got to see one of PNRs new twin-level sleepers.
Great looking beasts and part of the new PNR lineup.
Also got to meet PNR boss Mr Ragragio, Mr Nierva (head of the Transportation division) and the lovely Ms Emma Papa. All do a wonderful job with the nations railways and all true examples of how wonderful Filipino people are.
Thank you so much guys - I miss you.

Heavy rains delayed trains at Pasay Road.

Another highlight, getting CMC-201 out on the tracks on perway duties.

CAR-2 on the Bicol Express. Last time I saw her was 2010 on the Bicol Commuter Train to Sipocot and Ligao.