Good to Know: Jeepney, The Colorful Kings
Jeepney
Common in the city streets of the Philippines, are these very colorful and loud Jeepneys, which is the number one mode of public transportation for the Filipinos.
Jeepney is derived from the left overs from the US. Military Jeeps during WWII, combined with "jitney" which was also a vernacular slang for taxi cab in that era. Modern interpretations of the origins of the term Jeepney comes from the same vehicle "Jeep" as well as "Knee", as modern jeepneys tend to make their passengers knee-close to each other. (Most of the times, it is that tight!)
While most foreign modes of transportation revolves in the use of the Bus, and Train, in the Philippines, the Jeepney takes the reign as the one on top. Though there are still Buses that would travel trans-provincial routes, and depending on which province, there still are active trains present. But in the city, Jeepneys are kings.
The Evolution
Despite being a surplus of the World War II vehicle, the Jeepney was never about being a derivation of the Jeep. It was the act of using surplus or surplus vehicles from within or even from other countries that made the modern day Jeep. This is reflective of the Filipino behavior, derived from the Chinese trait, Thrift - the ability to make use of what is already considered trash.
Basura mo, Pera ko (Your Trash is my Money)
How better it is to reincarnate a pale dying work horse, than to paint it with colors. The Jeepney is an expression of art, colors and now, NBA players or Anime Characters. When you are waiting for your morning commute, the Jeepneys colors are often what greets you a great morning, introducing many captivating colors which is healthy to the eyes.
And being the evolution that even the Jeepney is a part of, the resemblance of the Jeep changed over the years. The difference of place, or the availability of manufacturers (assembly), dictates the type of Jeepneys that reign supreme in the city. What was once Jeep looking, may now look like...
City Kings!
The Jeepney is the number one public mode of transportation for a number of reasons. Cheap Fare, easy to hop on and off, and depending on the location - pretty much 24 hours a day. One other reason is that they come in a fleet, it is almost always never a problem to commute as these Jeepneys will always come your way(part of the route).
Jeepneys are kings in the city because of all of these conveniences, but sorry to tell you, all for the wrong reasons. The combination of the quantity and demand for Jeepneys as well as the leniency of traffic enforcement makes them Kings. Being able to drop anyone off almost anywhere (part of the route) and speeding to get every last passenger on board while going in and out of the lane to do so, makes them Kings. Overloading with passengers on bald tires, or a poor emission, is what makes them Kings. Thinking of being able to get away with it, makes them Kings.
It is NOT EASY in the Philippines
I have never driven, nor sought out passengers in the manner with which the Jeepneys or Taxis do. But coming from the lesser class of Filipinos, these drivers often fight for their passengers in order to feed their family at least three times a day. This is what I believe is the reason why their attitude towards the road made them Kings, it is for the sole purpose of feeding oneself and their families.
Here is a BBC story of a London Bus driver who went out of his way to challenge himself to becoming a "bus driver" Jeepney driver here in the Philippines. Belonging to one of the busiest cities in the world, Manila is where he is headed. This video is about an hour in length, please walk the journey with him and find out what the journey is for a Jeepney driver in the Philippines.
FINISH LINE!
A good part of my life has revolved around commuting in Jeepneys. It is as I said, the best way to travel around the city as their availability is pretty much spot on. But countless of times I have had the misfortune to ride Jeepneys that race each other to the finish line on a full, cramped, jeepney. I could no longer count the number of times I got to inhale jet black emissions or the 4 times my hubby @shote.said's cellphone got nicked when he was younger.
Yes, these Jeepney's are Kings, filled with colorful memories and frustrating ones. They are already a tradition and is instilled in the hearts of the Filipino, letting them go would definitely a sad thing to happen in the Philippines. But for what it's worth, I think it is a matter of being able to work with the Government. Strengthen that which disciplines those who violates the laws of the road, and everyone is bound to follow.
Well that was one hell of a ride, so, if you enjoyed, and learned from the Kings of our Roads, please FOLLOW me, as I am planning to do more good to know stuff from the Philippines.
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Check out my previous Good to Know Articles:
• Good to Know: Tamilok (Teredo Navalis), A Philippine Delicacy
• Good to Know: The Philippine Tarsier (Carlito Syrichta)
• Good to Know: Lanzones (Lansium parasiticum), The Golden Bunch!
• Good to Know: Apo Whang-Od - The Living Legend
• Good to Know: Balut! A Bizarre Gastronomic Experience
See you guys on the next Good to Know...
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