The busy highways of Manila or the streets of Cebu, the Philippines, are home to the jeepney— the undisputed king of the road. Painted with graffiti and bright colours, they play loud music and are decorated flamboyantly with chrome sidings and accessories. A fire-breathing dragon versus a street fighter theme, some jeepneys are more like works of art than automobiles! The jeepneys were originally military jeeps left behind by the Americans after the Second World War. The Filipinos modified them, and now there are a quarter million of these hybrids used as local transportation in the cities.
No two jeepneys are alike! Each owner takes pride in painting and decorating their jeepneys to make a personal statement.
Jeepneys are made in small family-owned workshops, and the body art ranges from cartoons to fantasy themes to religious images. Horns, hood ornaments, chrome lamps and bumpers give it the finishing touches to the bulky steel canvas. And of course, no jeepney is complete without a mega-watt sound system, belting out the latest American pop songs or tagalog tunes.
With open windows and benches attached to the sides, the vehicle can get quite cramped if you are jammed in there with 20 locals, but the Filipinos are very jolly and accommodating folk. Unlike a bus route, there are no fixed stops or timings… flag a passing jeepney and it will stop to pick you up. The start and end points are painted on the side or displayed in the front. There is a boy who rides at the back and collects fares. To get off, rap on the metal ceiling to alert the driver to stop. If that’s all too much, you can just ride up front with the driver.
In some more rural areas, jeepneys are used as a means to transport goods as well as people, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself sitting next to a basket of fruit or even a rooster! In an effort to reduce the pollution caused by diesel fumes, Greenpeace has introduced E-jeepneys or electrical jeepneys, that run on batteries and can be charged from an electrical outlet. These are gaining popularity among schools, industrial zones and theme parks, as they are ecofriendly and less noisy, with the same vibrant character.
Jeepneys are an inherent part of the local culture.
They are the cheapest and most reliable choice to get somewhere, and often the most fun way. Uniquely Filipino, these cultural icons celebrate the originality, style and attitude of the people. If you’ve been to the Philippines but haven’t taken a jeepney ride, you haven’t really been there.