Habal-habal is derived from the Visayan word “Habal” or the act of sexual intercourse. This term is commonly used to animals on their sex act.
Habal-habal is what we call a motorcycle with extended seat because the passengers along with the driver sit in a way like two dogs having “Habal”. Commonly a motorcycle can carry a passenger only and a driver. But the habal-habal can carry more than two passengers up to 13 passengers.
It can carry 13 passengers? Yes! Mostly in Mindanao areas, habal-habal has wings or extension seats on the left and right side of the motorcycle, just like what is shown below.
This photo was taken on June 26, 2006, during my visit to the town of Bayabas in Surigao del Sur. Notice the wings of this motorcycle. Each of these wings can carry up to 4 passengers. On the main seat of the motorcycle can carry 3 passengers and 1 driver. And the gasoline tank of the motorcycle can still carry only 1 passenger. So, all-in-all, there are 13 passengers that this habal-habal can carry with.
