Howdee ho,
We return once again to the beautiful island of Masbate in the Philippines.
This time, however, we ventured beyond our usual patch of paradise and headed across the island for a day trip into Masbate City itself.
And for a change, we did it aboard a tricycle.
Now, before anyone starts picturing a leisurely ride on something normally associated with toddlers, we're talking about the Philippine variety: a motorcycle with a sidecar attached. In my humble opinion, there are few better ways to travel.
From the back of the bike, you enjoy uninterrupted 360-degree views of the world rolling past around you. Some of those views were breathtaking. Others were simply fascinating. A few merely reinforced the fact that gravity appears to be optional when it comes to electrical wiring in the Philippines.
Our journey began amid the island's picturesque rural landscapes, with rolling green fields, distant hills, grazing livestock and the sort of scenery that makes you momentarily forget the existence of deadlines, alarm clocks and social media arguments.
As we drew closer to the city, the countryside gradually gave way to busier roads, roadside businesses and the increasing signs of urban life. Naturally, being me, our long-suffering tricycle driver quickly learned that "just one quick photo stop" rarely means just one quick photo stop. Numerous pauses were required for the mandatory collection of bus photographs, jeepney photographs, infrastructure photographs, and even photographs of what appeared to be a long-derelict ship (see below) that has spent several years quietly rusting away in a bay near the city while seemingly contemplating its life choices.
The result is a wonderfully random collection of shops, street scenes, food stalls, transport, scenery and everyday life. In other words, exactly the sort of content that appeals to people like us and leaves normal people wondering what on earth we're looking at.
So come along and join us for a little day out around Masbate City. It may not be a comprehensive guide, and it certainly won't appear in any luxury travel brochure, but it offers a small snapshot of life in this fascinating provincial city during our 2025 visit.
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Above and three below.
Representative of the stunning scenery to be seen along the road from Mandaon to Masbate City. Beautiful green fields and hills.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
Another stopover closer to the mandaon end of the trip.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Our chariot across Masbate Island.
Now my favourite mode of transport for taking it all in.
Now my favourite mode of transport for taking it all in.
Obviously on the bike, not those horrid little cabs :-)
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
Another random jeepney find along the highway.
VEA-759
Photos: Brad Peadon
Had to attend to my tractor fetish when I saw this.
Alas, no identifying rego plate, however the brand looks to be TYM (South Korean Agricultural Machine Manufacturer).
Photo: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
Jeepney VAK-307 'Three Brothers' appears to be missing an eye.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
The township of Asid on Masbate Island.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
EVH-138 looking a wee bit decrepit alongside the Central Nautical Highway.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and two below.
Jazul Fuel truck has just arrived at their petrol station in Asid Masbate.
Photos: Brad Peadon
NPR-719 looks to have seen better days.
Photo: Brad Peadon
Lovely old 'Charlie Boyz Transport' bus on the approach to Masbate City.
Central Nautical Highway.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
One of Masbate City's more unusual tourist attractions for many years wasn't a church, a beach, or even a shopping mall—it was the long-suffering cargo ship Jake Vincent Seis.
Originally built to carry cargo around the Philippines, the vessel eventually found a far more demanding role: sitting absolutely motionless in the harbour for years while slowly transforming itself into a floating rust demonstration project.
By 2025, the old freighter looked as though it had personally fought every typhoon in the central Philippines and lost most of the arguments. Rust streaked down her sides, paint had become little more than a distant memory, and various bits of deck equipment appeared to be engaged in a slow-motion escape attempt.
Despite her condition, the Jake Vincent Seis remained stubbornly afloat, seemingly determined to outlast governments, shipping companies, redevelopment plans, and possibly civilisation itself. Generations of locals, visitors, and transport enthusiasts became accustomed to seeing the vessel sitting quietly off the waterfront, where she had achieved something most ships never do—becoming a permanent landmark without ever actually going anywhere.
At this point, she was less a cargo ship and more a floating retirement village for steel plates. Whether she was awaiting repairs, a court decision, a new owner, or simply the end of time itself was often difficult to determine.
Whatever her future may hold, the Jake Vincent Seis earned a place in Masbate folklore as perhaps the most famous ship in the city—a vessel that spent so long not moving that many people probably assumed she had been built there.
NOTE: It seemed to have gone by the time of my 2026 visit. Trackers seem to, quite surprisingly, show it in use/
Photos: Brad Peadon
The name Jake Vincent Seis translates from Spanish as "Jake Vincent Six", reflecting the naming convention used by Villa Shipping Lines, which operated vessels such as Jake Vincent Uno, Dos, Tres, Seis, and so on.
Some random Masbate City house taken for railway modelling purposes.
Photos: Brad Peadon
Above and below.
Revenue raising duties on the Central Nautical Highway in Masbate City.
Photos: Brad Peadon
The corner of Medina and Danao Streets in Masbate City.
Photos: Brad Peadon
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Nhing, Tins & Esther.
Gerry & Betty
Ukmed the trike driver.
Sunset Villa - Lantangan
'Artocillo Family & (Known) Friends' Group.
Group only for friends and family - random weirdos please stop applying as you shall be blocked and reported.
The questions need to be answered when applying so the aforementioned weirdos can be found. That's what the questions are there for (not rocket science).
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Philippine Model Railway Club.
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Pio Duran 2022 - Part 2
Philippine Model Railway Club.
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