Nowhere else in the world can ingeniously innovated army jeeps be seen racing along inner roads and main highways except in the Philippines. The “jeepney,” a coined word in Philippine transportation jargon, means an army jeep in its civilian (not necessarily smaller) version. The jeepney, with its driver, is commonly referred today in Philippine transportation as the “King of the Road.”
It was first conceptualized after World War II when US army jeeps used in the war littered the war-torn streets of devastated Manila. After mapping and cleaning up operations the damaged army jeeps remained crowding up the city. The Americans were reluctant to take the huge junk back home so they left without the war relic with them. Philippine transport ingenuity came into the picture.
How could Filipinos re-use the metal scraps? The body was good and the motor was a bit salvageable. With a little imagination and tinkering skill, they came up with a demilitarized jeep they christened “Jeepney.” Furthermore, with a little art work and resourceful upholstery, the whole thing became transport-friendly and was soon test-run on the road.
The first jeepneys were short Philippine transport public vehicles with front and back seats. The back seats were lateral, making two rows of passengers facing each other. Only three persons per row could sit. The front seat accommodated three passengers, driver included. Later, these Philippine transport vehicles were embellished with waving bright colored ribbons, miniature metal models of horses or planes, toy wind mills, ribboned steering wheel and shift stick, and small mirrors and more hangings everywhere.
Much later the Philippine transport artists came in. They rendered the thing in full color, with liberal amounts of multi-colored stripes and arcs and curves, making it look like a Muslim vinta on the road. The jeepney’s ceiling was painted with rustic scenes of native huts and rice fields, coconut palms dancing in the wind. Right above the driver’s seat were painted names in wavy styles, often names of the driver’s wife and kids, or mistresses.
Today, the jeepney is a modernized 21-seater Philippine transport vehicle equipped with stereo components and loud speakers, push buttons, roving and fog lights, electric fans, tweeters, buzzers, and other fancy accessories for a hit-tech look. The driver even has a “co-pilot” beside him. Some jeepneys in Makati are even fully air conditioned.
Philippine transport has a superstar in the jeepney—this road king of a public vehicle ingeniously derived from a vintage US war jeep.
Related topics:
The Art of Traveling in a Jeepney
This essay teaches those people who want to travel in the Philippines on how to use jeepneys as a means of transportation when going around the city. There are also tips on how to appear polite when riding jeepneys....
Jeepneys, Philippine Cultural Way of Travel
If you want to know what Filipino culture is like, try riding a jeepney. This unique way to travel in the Philippines is a warm welcome to the history and hospitality that is uniquely Filipino. It might just be a...
The Versatile Philippine Tricycle
Tricycles have been tainted as traffic nuisances for ages, but their other face is completely ignored. They have been a kind of Philippine transportation "Rambo" that promises to deliver, do or die....
Makati Transportation
As the center of business in the country, Makati has different modes of transportation to take the employees and businessmen to their destinations. The diversity and the increase in the modes of Makati transportation has definitely increased the rate of...
Enjoying Philippine Transportation More
Philippine transportation can offer us slices of Philippine life at a glance.It is as rich as an actual tour of the city. And the most thrilling is that a Philippine transportation experience can afford a more exciting glimpse of a...
Philippine Transportation: Roaming with a Scooter
With the growing challenges of heavy traffic mounting in the Philippine transportation scene, scooters are a timely blessing. There are many ways a scooter easily surmounts transportation problems that makes it one of the perfect choices for Philippine transportation. ...
Jeepneys: Only in the Philippines
Filipinos have assembled a unique vehicle that can only be found and run in the Philippine soil. Jeepneys have shown the ingenuity and showmanship of Filipinos. But the reason why the existence of the vehicle is very alive until this...
Baguio Travel Guide
An important Baguio travel guide to remember is that, when choosing a public transportation in Baguio City, Philippines, people ought to opt for one that's available 24 hours a day. Baguio FX cabs are found ready for service 24 hours...
Here’s For a More Enjoyable Philippine Travel
Philippine travel can be a hassle at times. Learn how to identify and avoid travel hassles and everyday travel will come out an excursion. The joys of Philippine travel is actually just a matter of submissive compliance....
Manila Transportation
Manila transportation provides both local and foreign travelers a wide array of options for going to their destination. Several modes of transport takes passengers to major thoroughfares as well as the city interior. ...
opac..! where is the jeepney essay by napkil