In the past, when I have written about various subjects on this site, in the comments the Jeepney has been brought up in the discussion. One vocal commenter has said quite clearly that the Jeepney is not and should not be considered as part of the Philippine culture. In my view, the Jeepney is one of the most strong pieces of Philippine culture that we can find! Why shouldn’t it be?
The Jeepney is the most common form of Public Transportation in the Philippines. Where you would see a bus in most parts of the world, in the Philippines it is the Jeepney that you will see rolling down the highway, or on a rural country dirt road. Just about anywhere you are in the Philippines, a Jeepney is usually just a few minutes away from passing by and picking you up if you are looking for transportation. In Cities like Manila, Cebu or Davao there are literally thousands of Jeepneys plying the city streets, and most of them are usually carrying a rather full load of passengers. You can ride the Jeepney for a fare of P7.50 in most cases, although it may be more if you are going a long distance.
On average, for a Jeepney in the City, you can expect that a full sized Jeepney may be carrying about 15 to 20 people if it is full. When you go out in the Province, that is a small load though! Outside of town, you may get up to 30 people inside the jeepney, plus people will sit on the hood and also on the roof if needed! Of course, people will also be standing on the bumpers or anywhere else that they can find a place to stand! No question, Jeepneys out in the Province are a real workhorse! Some Jeepneys out in the Provinces are loaded down with goods instead of people – rice, fruits or whatever the local product of choice is. Other Jeepneys carry a combination of people and goods. You can bet, though, out in the Provinces it is almost always a FULL load on the Jeepney!
The Jeepney is not only a mode of transportation, but also a personal expression for the owner. Have you ever noticed how Jeepneys are painted up in all sorts of colors and decor? I would venture to say that no two Jeepneys look exactly alike, and virtually every Jeepney around is a work of art in itself.
To show that the Jeepney is indeed an important part of Philippine society and not just a passing trend, the Jeepney has been in use on Philippine streets for about 60 years now! It was first introduced here after World War II, when US Soldiers left many Willys Jeeps behind in the Philippines. The Jeeps were converted to hold passengers, and decorated with a little Filipino Flair, and it has become part of the local culture ever since! The Jeepney is not going away anytime soon either! In fact, as you will see in the photo at the right, a new cleaner Jeepney is hitting Philippine streets – the Electric Jeepney! This new vehicle is currently making waves in Makati, but will be rolling out to other parts of the Philippines soon too.
In my view, the Jeepney is one of the most ubiquitous signs of Philippine Culture. In my view, the Philippines simply would not be the same place it is today if you didn’t see Jeepneys roaming the streets! I don’t ride Jeepneys myself often, as I have a car of my own, but when I do take a Jeepney ride it always kind of gives me a different perspective, and one that I need from time to time.
What do you think of the people who decide to move to the Philippines and want to buy one, two, or a fleet of jeepneys to finance themselves?
I really don't understand how the Jeepney could _not_ be an important part of Philippine culture.
The actual capacity of all Jeepneys is well documneted … "One more".
@ Tom … I think these folks need to be very ciatious in their "dream" of being a "Jeepney King". Fiest of all, it may not look like it but Jeepneys are highly regulated, by both the government and owner/operator associations. Aside from the usual issues with foreigners owning businesses, no one can just buy a Jeepney and start operating. You must have a franchise for the route you wish to ply … and in big cities people often wait years for a franchise to become available … in fact franchises themselves are a very active market commodity … most jeepney owners rent their franchise from the franchise holder and are at the mercy of price increases or being "outbid" by someone who wants it more than they do.
Jeeney profit margins are slim .. fares are very strictly regulated .. and in congested areas the number if daily trips that can be completed is limited.
Not saying someone can't make money owning Jeepneys … but they better know a lot about business in general and Jeepneys iin particular. I know of a number of Americans who have lost their investments … mainly because they "blow into town" thinking their "superior knowledge" will equip them to "out Filipino the Filipino" who has been running a business for 60 years. seldom works. there are Much, much easier and more profitable ways to earn money in the Philippines.
Hi Tom – A while back, I wrote an article about the Jeepney business, you can read it here:
http://liveinthephilippines.com/bobm/2007/04/30/t…
Hi Dave Starr – Oh yes, you are correct that the Jeepney can always hold one more person! No doubt about that one!
Whomever wrote that the Jeepney should not be included as a part of the cuture here needs to learn a thing or two! The Jeepney is the quintessential mark of "Philippine Style". I love watching the jeepney's go by and I'm thinking of doing a photo book documenting the Jeepney's of Davao.
Hi Louis – I don't care to mention any names, but if you look back in my columns over the last 3 weeks or so, you will see this one person making lots of comments badmouthing jeepneys, and generally badmouthing Filipinos and their culture. It has started a number of mini-wars on the site, although I must say that most people have been pretty good in that they have refrained from confronting this guy.
Anyway, I agree with you that the Jeepney is indeed the quintessential mark of Philippine Style, and I think it will be for generations to come. A photo book about Jeepneys would be cool, although I'm not sure how big the market would be. Market or not, it would still be a nice book. 🙂
Bob-Ahhh!, The Philippines would not be the same without the jeepney! The jeepneys you speak about in Davao City, Manila and other larger cities are not like the ones here in the arrea around Pagadian City in terms of the looks. The jeepneys here are in pretty sad looking shape. Always overloaded (I had to smille at the "room for one more" thing. Whenever we see a jeepney or van in our travels here, I always comment; "looks like there's still room for one more". Vans are more numerable here than jeepneys and, they are in the same shape…….I'm sure you'd think twice ab out taking an extended trip in either.
tom- reply#2 is as accurate as you will get but, one thing not mentioned is that if you get a few jeepneys, you would have to hire drivers and conductors……they generally work as a team and they keep track of the number of riders and fares so, unless you hire a team of saints, be advised.
I've read a comment before that mentioned ( and I paraphrase here), something to the affect that it was a wonder why people here would want to be satisfied with 'left over US military vehicles. I doubt thqt any jeeps from 60 years ago are still used for passenger service. The jeepneys here are just larger representations of the former jeeps left behind. I believe that some are manufactured,new, in Ozamis or Cagayon de Oro.
Hey all check out this link for a site dedicated to the Jeepney. Heaps of pictures of all that fantastic Jeepney artwork. http://www.stuartxchange.org/Jeepney.html
As for me I can't wait to come to the Philippines to see the Jeepney and ride one for myself. Maybe they do put out smelly fumes but so do the diesel buses and trucks anywhere in the world and as I live next to the main State Highway (north to South) here in New Zealand, I can vouch for the black soot that decends on my house. Yet there's not a Jeepney in sight.
Hi Frank – We have some sad looking Jeepneys here too, and I am sure they do in Manila and Cebu too. But, there are also some very nice ones around as well! One funny thing… when my youngest son was about 3 years old, he liked riding jeepneys, but he had to choose the one to ride on. If anybody else chose the jeepney, he would cry. He would only choose the fancy looking, very colorful ones! Anything else was unacceptable!
Hi Richard – Thanks for sharing the link! You are right, there are dirty types of vehicles in every corner of the world, the Philippines is no exception!
Hello Bob – whenever my cousin (half filipino half arab) visits Philippines, she insisted to take the jeepneys…she just loves it just like i do.
I remember whenever we go to Digos for a trip to the Beach we would hire jeepneys, 1big family fits all!
Hi- Bob in the defence of the Jeepney critic what he was trying to say I think is, there has been no real advancement in rural or city mode of travel.
One must confess elongated, re-painted or other wise city and rural transport has not changed much although life styles have. I think its more about advancement in the eye's of the Filipino rather than how we view the Jeepney as outsiders, however I may be wrong.
Hi marygrace – oh yes, we have also rented an entire jeepney to take family on an outing somewhere in the past. Great fun!
Hi Jim – I did try to point out advancements that have been made in the jeepney, particularly the new electric jeepneys, which are a huge leap ahead! In addition, we have gone from true Army Willys Jeeps to Manufactured Jeepneys to multicabs to the new electric vehicles. I personally believe that the jeepney has moved right along with Philippine society. Sure, the jeepney is years behind things in the west, but then again isn't just about everything in the Philippines?
Hi Bob,
I’m still hesitant to post a comment but… what a heck… I can see that so far most of the posters are behaving well on this particular subject.
I know exactly who you are talking about, Bob. It is not that we Filipinos don’t want to be criticized on how we do things in our country. In fact, with criticisms, we will be able to foresee different perspectives to solve an issue or a problem. But when someone criticizes unreasonably and made a point of ‘No Hope’ and ‘Not give us Room for Improvement’, then it is detrimental.
Jeepney as our number one means of transportation equates to the Filipino way of life. It represents the Philippines innovative ideas and we are very proud of it. EVEN IF the Philippines will become a first world country, jeepney will always be there. Just like the Netherlands. Dutch people are still using bicycles as one of their means of transportation regardless of society status. “Tuktok” in Thailand is also a good example.
Over the years, our innovators (e.g. Sarao and Francisco Motors) have been trying to modernize jeepneys that fit to the needs of the commuters by using technology that they can afford. Anyone who criticizes irrationally on the jeepney style that currently exists does not really know the innovations that have been developed through the years
Hello all,
I don't know what negative jeepney comments you are all referring to, but I do want to point out that electric jeepney is not really a jeepney. Just because it carries people on jeepney routes does not make it a jeepney. Jeepney is a special term give to Jeep "hybrids" for the lack of better word. All the F/X (tamaraw), vans also serve the jeepney routes, but are not jeepney in remotest sense of the word. I believe the term "electric jeepney" was given simply so that it is easily understood by the locals as to what the purpose of the vehicle is for, not because it comes out of the original jeepney culture or design.
The definition of the jeepney should be vehicles that resemble the WWII jeeps left behind by the American forces. Electric "jeepney" does not fit this bill. It simply isn't a jeepney.
In this sense, Filipinos do seem to want a better form of transportation. Otherwise, you would never see the F/X, vans, electric "jeepeneys".
Oh, and another. Multi-cabs are replacing jeepneys in many provincial towns.
Hi Teng – I don't know why you would be hesitant to post a comment! I hope that you won't feel that way, though, because I want you to feel comfortable to post any comments here.
Cris – I don't know if you are Filipino or a foreigner. The way I feel, though, is that if Filipinos say that the electric vehicle is a Jeepney, then it is a Jeepney. It's not up to me to say that it is wrong or right, nor would I even consider doing so. In my opinion, maybe this is the next incarnation of the jeepney. Certainly the jeepneys on the roads today are not the same as the original ones that were Willys Jeeps from the US Military, yet today's version is still a Jeepney.
I am an American.
I guess you can name it whatever you want, but they don't look anything alike. E jeepney looks much more like a multicab, do not have any features the original jeepneys have. And do not share anything under the hood or chassis.
I agree the jeepney is a part of Filipino culture, whether it is a good thing or bad. I only rode it once, but didn't enjoy it too much. Just a touristy experience.
But I do hope they get phased out to new and improved "jeepneys" so that there is less pollution on the road.
Hi Bob,
I second that observation of yours…
Wouldn't make sense at all if we have to be some kind of purist in relation to the jeepneys. No matter what version of vehicle it is made of, it is still a jeepney in sense but if Cris (Hi Cris) would really insist that it is not then so be it and he can call it whatever he likes…but I will still call it a jeepney.
🙂
I am an American.
I guess you can name it whatever you want, but they don’t look anything alike. E jeepney looks much more like a multicab, do not have any features the original jeepneys have. And do not share anything under the hood or chassis.
I agree the jeepney is a part of Filipino culture, whether it is a good thing or bad. I only rode it once, but didn’t enjoy it too much. Just a touristy experience.
But I do hope they get phased out to new and improved “jeepneys” so that there is less pollution on the road.
Hi Bob- One thing that all Jeepneys have in common is the fact that all their tyres are bald, making them a liability in an emergancy stop situation.
on our holidays we allways ride yeepneys , but i must say , many time's
we missed something through that.
on our way from iligan to cagayan airport , one wheel get broke , get out , take another one , but the wheels where not balanced , so can not make speed. So we missed the plane.[ wait 4 day,s ]
As i think of it , in the 20 years we go on holiday [ 6 times ] every time
something happened with our yeepney [ and then you must wait ]
but most of the time the driver can fix.
And for us , we have allways 10 or more family to go with us.
So most time then, we take one the whole day.
And in the future , next time , i am sure , we do the same.
Hi Cris – Think of it like this – Do the cars for sale today in showrooms still look the same as Model A or Model T cars that were sold in the USA back in the early 20th Century? No? Well, why are they still called cars then? I mean, that is what you are saying about the e-Jeepneys, they don't look the same so they are not Jeepneys. For me, the Jeepney is a Philippine thing – if Filipinos say that the e-Jeepney is a Jeepney, then to me it's a Jeepney! 🙂
Hi Rey – I'm with you!
Hi Jim – You are certainly right about bald tires! I wonder how many kilometers they go on a set of tires? 😆
Hi Anton – Oh boy… sorry to hear of the problems you have had on Jeepneys!
About 400,000km Bob 😆 Seriously I have a pinoy friend in Cebu who builds houses for a living, great architect. We were riding his multicab to Villa Teresita swim club when he got a flat. His spare tire was, and no joke, stuffed full of old socks to maintain pressure. I truly marvel at the philippine ability to fix anything with whatever is at hand. I love riding jeepneys or the larger multicabs, but you can forget it on the small multicabs, my knees just about touch the seat across from me and I have to keep my head to the side lol.
Hi Bob – I look at it this way, if I were to print one Philippine postcard with a photograph of something that covers the diverse Pinoy culture, it would be of a jeepney.
Other symbols like Mt Mayon, Rice Terraces, Sto Nino or the Philippine Eagle draw regional or ethnic lines. But the jeepney covers everything. I also think the history of the jeepney is quite interesting to both Filipinos and foreigners.
In a certain way, Cris does have a point. I'm not a big fan of the multicab. I also think they're extremely slow and unappealing. But that's just asthetics to me. In the end, a Filipino will say they "took the jeepney" raither than a "taking a multicab". A person would call a taxi a taxi, and not a sentra or a kia pride. It's a jeepney, just not your "lolo's" jeepney.
Same with the e-jeepney. Hopefully, it'll take off. Design-wise, it's pretty radical…But my guess is that if they become popular, some creative pinoy will start experimenting with the body design (i hope so, they ain't pretty).
If you can fit 8-10 in the back, with a barker hanging onto the rails and Evil Pinoyvel as the driver. You got yourself a jeepney (barking dog or crowing rooster horn is optional).
Hi Bob,
To me, the Jeepney is the quintessential testament to Filipino ingenuity. Having been ravaged by WWII, Filipinos had practically nothing left including their daily means of transportation. They needed to replace what was lost during the war. Hence, the birth of the Jeepney. The Jeepney is part of our national identity, uniquely Filipino. It represents our resilience and how we are able to “make do” with what is available. It is also interesting as it reflects the Filipino sense of humor, with the different slogans painted across the front, back and dashboard and the gaudy ornaments that come with it. I have fun just reading these slogans.
It may have outlived its purpose in some areas of the Philippines, have become inefficient and may be in the process of being phased out, but I hope that it will remain as a memento of how we, as a people, were able to rise up from the ashes of war. It will serve as a reminder that we, Filipinos, can overcome whatever comes our way.
Hi Louis – Now that IS funny! Socks? Never heard of it, but it also doesn't surprise me! 😆
Hi Macky – Yep, I also believe that the Jeepney is the single best example of the Philippines. Like you say, other things are regional, etc. I also agree that if the e-Jeepney can gain a foothold it will morph in design, and will be the Jeepney of the future!
Hi Tina – You make some nice points about the Jeepney being the symbol of resilience of the Philippines. I never thought of it like that, but I believe that you are 100% correct on that!
Haha ok. It looks like you guys really want the jeepney culture to last in Philippines. I looked at some of that poster you mentioned. It was obvious. But I have to wonder why Japan and Korea, both equally ravaged by wars, and both with abundant sources of jeeps, never had any jeepney culture. I suppose they make do with their own car companies like Toyota and Hundai?
Is throwing trash part of culture, I wonder?
Don't mean to offend anyone. Cheers.
Hi Cris – Frankly, what you say about "throwing trash" is indeed offensive.
Hi "Chris & Carmen" – I just wanted to mention that I find it very interesting that your IP address is the same as the one that Jae had when he was posting here! Of course, you are not Jae, I am sure, because certainly Jae would not hide behind a fake name. I just thought that it was really a huge coincidence! Stranger things have happened!
Of course I am Cris. Jae was actually my pen name. I am an American raised in San Fran. But did have Korean wife.
Philippine cities were strewn with trash for 50 years. Much longer than the jeepneys been around. So, isn't throwing trash everywhere a Philippine culture? Just as a graffitti jeepneys?
Don't try to spin everything in positive light. Jeepney is an embarrassment to Philippines. It doesn't show ingenuity. It shows the PAUPER MENTALITY of Filipinos. Real ingenuity would have make jeepney history a long ago. And real form of modern transpt would have come about.
I wonder why Koreans and Japanese, with absolutely no natural resources whatsoever, are vastly ahead of Philippies with great deal of resources?
Perhaps INGENUITY???
Hi Jae, Chris and Carmen – Now you are admitting that you cannot argue for yourself, but rather need to have names that you can hide behind! Not much of a man, if you ask me. Of course, maybe you are a woman, I can't really tell since you have not been honest with us.
You know, it's funny, because I really used to like Jae, and felt that he was principled. But, then he started getting bitter and drifting off into la la land, and not listening to reason. At that time I started getting disenchanted with Jae, and now I just find him downright spiteful.
I'm kind of glad that Jae left, as he promised to do. We'll see how Cris is. Maybe Carmen will start commenting too! Or, since it says "Cris & Carmen" maybe Carmen has to help Cris post, because he can't do it on his own? Nobody knows the real answer, except Jae, Cris and Carmen.
I didn't know you had to use your real identity on sites like this.
Now that things are out in the open,I actually went off before because some members of this site were ridiculous. Ridiculous because they don't want to admit that some things are crazy. You guys are like clowns sitting around thinking Jeepney, the junkmobile, is a great cultural icon. What a joke. This is only because philippines does NOT have a culture. Philippines should create a real culture, not on some crap like jeepneys and broken ruins of old conquerers like intramurals.
The mentality you guys have that the status quo is OK in Philippines is the exact reason Philippines is a sad sad state that it is now in.
By the way, I see your readership really dropped off. Talking about how great things are in Phlippines is boring, dude, because everyone knows it's not true. Hmm, you send your kids to ateneo for 50,000pesos per year? Why? because the rest of schools suck, right? Even atneo sucks.
Speaking of suckiness, your new format sucks. It's convoluted, and you make your other contributing bloggers look like they are second-rate.
Hi Bob,
Wow! I think what we have here is a schizo! The poor guy/gal/it needs to see a psychiatrist big time to help him/her/it resolve his/her/its identity crisis! Whew! 😯
Okay gotta go to my garden center to pick up my fall flowers. I'll be spending the rest of this beautiful Sunday in my garden.
Have a good day everyone! I know I will! 😉
Hi Tina – Yep, Jae/Cris etc are really showing the true colors now. It's OK, some people are angry with life, and I think that Jae is showing that he is like that.
Have a great day with your gardening! 🙂
Why keep visiting and commenting on a site that he can't stand? I don't get it. And then hiding behind some names because he wants his opinions heard…in the site that he dislikes. I bet you even visit the site everyday.
How sad is your life that you have to hide behind 3 names. 2 guys and a girl. You used to be korean now your an American in SF? Personally, I think your from Mars.
You got caught hiding behind another name because you needed to come back and comment and did not want to admit it, how humiliating is that? By the way, nice catch, Bob.
I once tagged him as the guy who looked down on Philippine culture as "found garbage" and he was extremely peeved by that accusation. Today, I just read him imply that "throwing trash is part of the (Philippine) culture". Now, I won't even be surprised if you have a toy jeepney collection in your room. That's how much you've flip-flopped.
It's sad that I once thought the guy brought an interesting perspective in things. I even defended you when a poster tried to attack your so-called Korean heritage. So much for that.
I don't even care about your dislike for my country's culture, little man. Your opinion has no value. What gets me is that you've gone so low as to denigrate the education of a person's children. Did you also even think we care about your blog design taste? really? How old are you?
Sorry, Bob. I don't mean to go off-topic here but the I felt he needed to read this. Looks like you have a virus on your hands.
Hi Macky – No apology necessary! Everything you said fits in, and makes sense to me. I find it actually kind of funny that Jae/Cris says that the site is so boring, yet he can't seem to stay away! It is also funny how he talks so much about education being poor here, yet so many of his words were misspelled. Intramurals? I would have thought he meant Intramuros! I'm not going to go further on it, because the fruit is hanging so low that the pickings are just too easy….
Jae/cris/carmen/sir/madam; Shame on you! I have found most of your comments to be rediculous and insulting. If the culture of a particular country does not agree with you……leave it alone.
I had spent 35- years traveling throughout the US (not as a tourist) and, I have seen some pretty sad places there but, I would not presume that it was cultural. As for th e Philippines not having a culture, what culture is the US? You forget that the Philippinnes has only been and independent country for a little over 60 years….much les than some other underdeveloped countries
I noticed you mentioned your wife in a past tense….could it be you insulted her culture beyond acceptance?
How about those horse drawn carrages (bad spelling?) in NYC……must be thay haven't heard of the motorized taxis yet.
I dare to say that you probably don't know anything about the Philippines beyond what you have read or seen on TV
Again……shame on you!
with out the jeepney the philippines just would not be the same, i love em
Hi Frank San Giorgio – I think that Jae/Cris is really Korean as he said all along. Now he's too embarrassed of his own country, and doesn't want to admit anymore where he is from.
Hi Ken – I agree, the Jeepney makes the Philippines unique! 🙂
Hi Bob:
O my, there's someone lurking in your website whose personality is identical to the Virginia Tech mad man. Possibly he's into some prohibited substance. Beware guys, don't fall into his trap ! It's good that you exposed his "triple" identities, and more, you've got a statistician who keeps tab of your readership, Bob. Thank God, he's not in the streets of the Phils !
Speaking of jeepneys, their names are fascinating indeed. My neighbor's jeepney is named Guapa Ka, Guapo Ko (You're Beautiful, I'm Handsome). It makes me 🙂
Hi Jul – Ha ha…. I think that I might have to fire the statistician, though! His figures are so far off from reality! He said that the site readership is way down, however the number of pageviews per day has more than quadrupled since changing the site design!
Yes, I agree with you and Tina, the names or slogans on the Jeepneys are always so entertaining! It's kind of fun when driving around to watch those names and see the variety! 😆
Hey me and my husband are still here. Haven't posted a lot lately but we are, every now and then. So I don't think the readership here drops off. This Jae/Cris/Carmen I think is a bitter Pinoy who claims he is a Californian American. Since he eats bagoong. LOL, no Foriegner loves Bagoong. Show your face to us Cris/Carmen/Jae so we can slap your face! I hate his convuluted brain and bad mouthing my wonderful jeepney. I still missed jeepney even we have the nice cars here in US now. Like my husband mentioned, he want a jeepney here in US and I supported that idea. If we can get one since we have a unimog already and a classic1950 silverstreak.
If Jae/Cris is Korean then why does he debunk Philippine education here when it's a fact that a lot of his Korean countrymen flock in the Philippines to learn English language?
Indeed, this guy should look first at himself before belittling other's culture. What a sad little guy he is. Nothing but polluted air and "trash" inside. 🙄
It's not the first time that this guy has been using different names here actually. Seems to me he's got a multiple personality disorder and now he's claiming he's from a different country again…How do you call that one? "Mutliple State Disorder"?
He also said before that he had lived in many different cities in the Philippines. I wonder how many enemies he left behind in all those cities he lived before. No doubt he is a Psychopath. 😈
And by the way, I just want this guy (make me v***t if I mention his name) to know that in the Philippines, a person who transfers/lives from one place to another we call them "Langaw Nga Pula Ug Lubot", which means "A Fly with Red Ass". Do you know what we do with the Dirty Red Ass Flies? We simply extermiate them.
Wow and I thought I was controversial… lol, this guy is off the deep end. Where he sees a junkmobile I see the ability to make something out of anything. As for the trash, yes it is indeed a shame, but I blame it more on the powers that be than the average Philipino. Look at Davao, the mayor actually spent time and money on the problem and the trash is cleaned up.
Hi Mady – Nice to see you again! I thought you might have been one of those many lost readers that Jae told me about! 😆
Hi Teng – I guess I better just stay here in Davao! Don't want to develop a reputation!
Hi Louis – Yep, Jae is in need of some help, I think!
Hi Jio – I think he is Korean… who knows, though!
Hi Rey – How about Multiple Multiple Disorder! 😆
Hi Bob,, reading this..comments and experiences reminds me the day my husband got to ride the jeepney..those were the days ,,the louder the sounds the better..horse is the central piece in front of jeepney accessories…can you imagine after he asked to stop (whether saying it in tagalog(PARA) or english to how far he is on his destination after it stop??) 🙄 🙄 To how many times he destroyed the string accidentally 😯 (there is some jeepney that you got to full the string for them to stop) 😀
jeepney is part of our transportation..that's a fact.. (guess meant for short legged)..Imagine how a 6 ft. long legged guy, will gonna have to go through..embarassing everytime you have to lift your leg (sideways)for others to get in or out.. 😳 and by doing this, next to you is a passenger kid…(the last thing a foreigner wants is to get physically close to a stranger kid) especially to jeepney that is compacted.. FULL LOAD and still picking up a passenger..How many passenger can you fit in a jeepney…(ISA PA..ISA PA) one more, one more…
Then we tried the front sit (which we still do if there is no other choice to get in to our destination)…pretty good..but yet Bob (my hubby) got his knee locked ..back aching..Ohh many times he bumped his head to the ceiling of the jeepney(doesn't matter where we sit) esp. those smart ass driver kind testing the water when a foreigner on the way out.. 👿 ..(to be continued) prob occur
maria clarang hindi maintindihan
Hi Jocelyn – Thanks for sharing your tale! It gave me a good laugh! 😆
Hello Bob, We are still here both Jon and I. We just got so busy with the new school year. Specially for me since I got a very different schedule at work.
Hi Mady – No problem! We know that both of you are regulars! Sometimes all of us have busy schedules! We do always enjoy your comments and participation on the site! 😀
Hello Jocelyn that is a funny experience but I can understand the dilema of a very tall person. My husband is not that tall so he fits in like most Pinoys and love it. We also ride a full load bus to Kapatagan, Laak which he was fine with it.
Hi Bob,
I have been reading your blogs since 4 months ago and this is only the second time I posted a comment. I would check your sites every night when I get home from work. I guess I am addicted to your site. Ehem! ha ha ha. It helps relieve my homesickness. Thanks Bob.
I like this site the best because your topics are simple day to day events/things that are interesting to most people, local or expat. I find comments here are both very interesting and amusing. Love the Tomato topic, insects, jeepney, etc.
Jae/Cris/Carmen is definitely a character, a bad one though. I could not help but laugh hysterically at those comments made about his opinion. He might really be a schizo, I think his/her/its other name is BRENDA … for "braind damaged".
I used to look at jeepneys mainly as a utility. I never thought it will ever make a nice topic to talk about.
Tina certainly made a new point about the jeepney being a symbol of Philippine resilience. "Wow" to that!
Hi Joy Co – Thanks for reading my blogs! I hope you will keep coming back and start commenting more often! 🙂
Hi Cris and Carmen. I think it's not historically fair to compare postwar Philippines to postwar Japan and Korea (your post #26).
Japan had already had a robust heavy industrial complex in the second half of the 1800's. In fact Mitsubishi was already founded then.
Japanese-occupied Korea (late 1800) was a recepient of the above heavy industry technology transfer.
So after the war, it was easy to rebuild these industries because the knowledge has already been institutionalized. They don't have to make do with jeepneys.
The Philippines had no such heavy industries even today. It's still a predominantly agricultural country.
The Philippines has no immediate future in heavy industries. The country has the competitive advantage in the service industry. It should develop it to the hilt.
Corporate culture is at the early stage of acceptance in the Philippines.
This Domestic Helper industry for example is so fragmented (like the Jeepneys). If this was run by Americans it would have already been professionalized, organized, branded and marketed like Starbucks and McDonalds.
It will happen eventually.
>This Domestic Helper industry for example is so fragmented (like the >Jeepneys). If this was run by Americans it would have already been >professionalized, organized, branded and marketed like Starbucks and >McDonalds.
>It will happen eventually
God forbid!! . . . . . I'm amazed you can even think of people like branded products.
Hi Richard – He didn't say the people will be a brand, he said that the industry will be branded. Nothing wrong with that, in my opinion.
Definitely a common man main mode of transportation. Until the government can come up with enough modern and efficient mode of transportation for the masses the Jeepneys will be around for more years to come. It’s good that they are starting to go electric but still there are so few of them on the road. Cost must be one of the reason. The government must subsidize, lower taxes, give incentives for the operators to replace their old Jeepneys to more efficient vehicles and most of all, get rid of red tapes.
How about the Karetela or Kalesa? Are they still around or are they only for tourist now in most urban cities and maybe still around in the provinces and remote areas? Future topic maybe?
Regards
Hi Jun – In Laoag City (Ilocos Norte), kalesas still vie for the transportation peso right up against the tricycles (not really against the jeepneys which are more “on-the-route” vs. “point-to-point”). Kalesas in the City of Vigan (Ilocos Sur) are used more for touristy-type sightseeing, but do take their share of public transportation vs. tricycles.
A “fun fact” about those kalesas – passengers face forward (seats perpendicular to direction of travel) in Vigan, while they face each other (seats parallel to direction of travel) in Laoag 😯 !
I saw a few karetelas the other day while traveling through Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. The ones I saw (drawn by carabao) were more the private (family) means of transportation vs. public. Can’t ever remember seeing one “for hire.” 😉
Undeniably the transportation icon of the Philippines.
Hi Bob – My X was born and spent her high school years in Manila. She was in love with the Jeepney. On her last trip she found the traffic jams just too much. No matter what you were in, it was faster to walk. I am only 5 foot 7. I should fit just fine. Just a note, in Tagum there are more tricycles than Jeepneys. I don't know how you can fit so much stuff in one of those. On a hot day…well I will get used to it. I worked day in and day out in a printing pressroom the same tempture as Tagum and Davao. 50C! No wait! 50C was the real tempture, not the Heat Index like Tagum or Davao. Good bye wintertime in Michigan and hello prickly heat. 🙂
Hi Bob – ELECTRIC JEEPNEY? Now, that's just not right!
Just as the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo had done in 1991 in making it that much easier for the U.S. to decide to give up Subic and Clark forever, the disappearance of jeepneys in the Philippines for me would represent a radical alteration of Filipino culture as to influence my desire to return to the Philippines. Who says that jeepneys are not a part of Filipino culture?
Hi Bob,
Being over 6 foot, I am sometimes crowded in a jeepney, but I still don't think twice before riding them.
I do remember one rainy day when we caught a ride on a jeepney and I was privileged enough to get a seat in the front or cab of the jeepney. I was able to see firsthand the administration side of the jeepney. Basically it was pick up speed and get very close to any vehicles that are going too slow. If someone slows down or stops in front of the jeepney, the driver would proceed to begin pumping the brakes several times before the jeepney would start to slow down. A couple times during that ride, I wished I was in the back were I was ignorant to the reality of what was really happening.
Indeed jeepneys offer an experience that will help anyone remember their stay in the Philippines.
Hmmm…I can not see how anyone can argue about the Jeepneys place in philippine culture. It is probably one of the strongest culture symbols the country has today.
I've never been a real big fan of Jeepneys because they are uncomfortable, unsafe and they are probably one of the highest sources of polution in the country.
White people like me useually requires a bit more space then the skinny Pinoys whos bones are allmost as flexible as rubber. Then comes us outsiders, we're stiff, has a few kgs to many and we're taller!!! That often makes the Jeepney ride very uncomfortable to us, and also very unsafe – the small room and the fact that everyone sit so close gives pick pockets golden ages on board theese veheicles compared to busses. So I have to say – I'm not a big fan of Jeepney – useually I'd rather go for pedicab or regular taxi. But to say that theese transport stars are not a part of Philippine culture is something I have very hard to see, so Bob – Kick those peoples ass and let them see the light! The Jeepney is here to stay 🙂
PS: The news of an electric Jeepney sounds really really good – maybe now we can start breatheing again in Makati 🙂
No doubt about it, brian!
Hi Gary – Yeah, I don't see that many jeepneys in Tagum, you're right on that! 🙂 Don't worry… I've never seen it get up to 50C here in Davao. About the highest you'll see is 35 to 37, and even that is rare.
What's wrong with an electric jeepney, Paul?
Hi Jun – There are only a few places in the country where Kalesas or as we call them down here, Tartanilla is used. Here in Mindanao, the only place I know of where Tartanillas are used is in Iligan city. A few places up north too. It's almost a dead part of the culture, though.
I agree John, it would be a shame if the Jeepney disappeared from the Philippines!
Hi jakeb – I'm only 5' 10" and I always hit my head getting in and out of a jeepney! Ha ha… they aren't built for you or I, my friend! Ha ha..
Hi Bob,you are correct when you say the jeepney is the workhorse of the provinces. Over here in Guimaras,a rural province,we would be lost without the jeepney. I'm not a little guy,and sometimes I might get a little cramped, but in Guimaras, that is the main mode of travel for the majority of the people here. People use them to haul their bags of rice and all sorts of goods. I love them, and usually get to ride shotgun since the dispatcher in San Miguel likes me (and it doesn't hurt that I slipped him a six pack of san migs one morning!)
Thanks for the article.
Hi Michael – I agree about the pollution! Best thing the Philippines could do is to enforce pollution standards on jeepneys! It would make a big difference, because jeepneys are such a huge part of the overall transport picture here.
Hi Dave – Nice to hear from you. Yep, the jeepney is the workhorse of the Philippines. It keep people moving where they need to go, and keeps products on the shelves in the stores, and in the homes of the Filipino.
Hi Paul, I have never been to Vigan, but have read descriptions of the town as one of the remaining towns in the Philippines that still retain vestiges of the Philippines' Spanish past. I am a big fan of the Spanish era, so much so that whenever Vigan is mentioned in a conversation, images of stately Castillan homes, cobble-stone streets, and horse drawn carriages immediately come to mind. The calesas of Vigan you mention is a beautiful remembrance of the country' Spanish heritage. They have them in Intramuros as well.
I couldn't resist: http://www.angelfire.com/on4/zambalesforum/mestiz…
Hi Paul, soon Kalesas and its trusted Kotseros will be gone but I think the carabao drawn Karetelas with around for a while as they are mostly used in the farms but they too will follow then the Jeepneys all for the sake of progress. All good things will come to past but will be remembered and not forgotten.
As John Reyes said, it's a part of our Filipino culture and history.
regards
Hi Bob, I am 6'5" tall so I will definitely have problems. I am still recovering for getting in and out of a Potpot in Baybay, Leyte.
Juramie is not a fan of the jeepney after seeing someone robbed after visiting an ATM and boarding the dyib.
Great article Bob! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jack – Unfortunately bad things happen. People get robbed in taxis too, but luckily it does not happen often.
Hi Bob, Nice you brought this up. I will not be vocal but to be honest, the jeepney is only a representation of an era (i.e. post war, when Filipinos have to rebuild their lives using whatever the Americans had left). They were being phased out 40 years ago when my family left the country. As a matter of fact, there were buses in my area no jeepneys. Imelda Marcos catered to the jeepney driver vote (she was Mayor of Manila then), revived it, and now all over the place. I remember seeing their replacements then, and were called "Thames" buses, more like open air minivans.
The more appropriate and long lasting symbol of the Philippines should be the banca/balanghay. The design dates back to the early Austronesians (3,000 BC) in the Philippines from where they started their ocean migrations, sea voyages, carried on by other descendants of the Austronesians. The word "baranggay" comes from the word "balanghay" to refer to their village. The balanghay/banca is an enduring symbol of people, the society, etc. Colourful, unique the jeepney maybe, it may not last as long as 5,000 years.
I remember when I was young in the Philippines, the Moro vinta (the boats with colourful sails) and the nipa hut were often used for images of the Philippines, not the jeepney.
Hi AlexB – Personally, I don't see the jeepney as a symbol of an era, but something that is a strong symbol of the Philippines. We all can have our own opinions on that, though. I also believe that the Vinta and Nipa Hut are symbols of the Philippines as well.
Jeepneys have helped create the cheapest, most efficient public transport system I have seen anywhere in the world, along with tricycles and taxis. Where I used to live in Australia, public transport consisted of one bus every hour or so (less frequent on weekends) with taxis being prohibitively expensive for anything but very short trips.
Now in Manila I can walk out the front door and get straight into a jeepney that will take me anywhere local I am likely to go for 7 pesos. If I want to travel in splendid isolation I can get a taxi for less than 100. And if I happen to buy something too big to carry, well a sidecar will get it home for 200 or so. I'm still in awe of the way a tricycle carried me, my partner, a three piece lounge suite and a chest of drawers home one day.
One thing I can't understand is why sidecars are more expensive than taxis; makes no sense to me. However nobody seems to complain.
It will be a sad day for the Philippines if jeepneys ever get driven off the roads. The public transport system represents one of the few sources of competitive advantage possessed by the country.
Hi Ken – The Philippine transportation system is certainly a much different system that I know of anywhere else in the world. Jeepneys have pluses and a few minuses too. The primary minus is the pollution, but that is easily fixed by applying modern technology to an aging vehicle. Easy fix.
Thanks for dropping by, Ken.
Something just don't smell right! 😆
Hi John, Jun & Bob – What great conversation!
John, there's a surprise coming with regard to Vigan. The UNESCO Heritage City of Vigan is as beautiful as you describe it. (I was there last Friday and, . . . , oh, you'll just have to wait!)
Jun, I don't know if the kalesa will ever leave the Laoag City scene. There have been attempts to "rid city streets of this pestulence" but those who ply the streets daily with their steady clop-clop-clop-clop-clop-clop-. . . are as crafty as they are trusty. One attempt focused on the pony droppings hurting the city's chances for winning its umpteenth million "Green & Clean" City Award. Ponies were forbidden by statute from depositing such annoyances on the public throughfares. Drivers merely remembered the "catch-all bags" of the 1930s (when similar complaints were uttered by the neuvo riche), had new ones crafted from modern materials that matched color & decor, attached them just behind the pony, and the "plop-plop" from the "clop-clop" never hit the streets. The kalesas, like time, continue on!
Bob, I wouldn't say "dead" as much as I would favor "unused." Currently there is no sign of let-up here in the north, and the use of kalesas is increasing as feed prices drop below their petroleum counterparts. The only time I don't enjoy seeing a kalesa is when one is in front of me in traffic. That's usually temporary as the kalesa soon appears in the rear view mirror.
All, there is an amazing coincidence that I've observed when comparing Laoag City (I.N.) and Vigan City (I.S.): the number of tricycles plying the city streets in either town is directly proportional to the actual point-to-point, commercial taxi use of kalesas. In Laoag, the streets are "littered" with tricycles and the kalesas do a startling good business taking passengers away from tricycles. There are far, far fewer tricycles in Vigan, but kalesas are used more for sightseeing and tourism than for actually getting around town.
Personally, I'd enjoy seeing (and hearing and smelling) the number of tricycles diminish in a town, with kalesas as their replacements. I'm a laid-back kind of guy, so kalesas provide a method of avoiding irrational haste. One will always get to the destination, but never before the pony does!
Hi Paul – As I said before.. there are a few places in the Philippines that still use the Kalesa (in other places it is also called a Kariton or Tartenilla). Other than those places, though, it is pretty much dead, no matter how much any of us would like to see it back. Unused? Sure, you can use that word instead of dead. It is currently unused in most places, and it will always remain unused. To me.. that's dead! 😉
The Tartenilla is not only used up north, Paul. It is also used in a few places in the Visayas and Mindanao too. 😀
The Tagalogs call it kariton, the Ilocanos call it bagon, I think, and both are drawn by carabaos, not by horses. The calesa, kalesa, or caritela to me are all the same, they're all horse drawn.
The kariton or bagon (carabao-drawn), will always be a part of the rural scene, I believe, as long as the Philippines remains an agricultural country. That means forever. LOL
The calesa, kalesa, or caritela, in my opinion will still be around in some cities as long as there are horses to pull them. That, too, means forever. LOL
Hey Bob, here's the article I came across (Manila Standard, Nov 11 re Mr. Suansing, LTO Franchising)
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm…
We don't have to wait until 2015, let's see if they actually ever do this come January.
Alex
Hi AlexB – If you think that having a law will make it happen, you don't know the Philippines the way that I think you really do. There are lots of laws, regulations and such that exist here which are never enforced. Let's talk again in February, ok? 😉