Jeepney

Pretty cool

The word Jeepney started after the second world war, a Filipino had purchased a used military Jeep that he wanted to use for a taxi. Since it was the custom in the Philippines to name your vehicle the gentleman named it, “Jeep for my Honey”, when people needed a taxi they started to call it the “Jeepny” for short, as the years went by the chassis was extended to have more passengers and the name stuck as a “Jeepny” pretty cool don’t you think? The Jeepney is now used across the Philippines, even in rural areas, I guess is that the older vehicles are sent to rural areas.

The Jeepney

My second day excluding my arrival day, I took an organized trip to the Jeepney manufacturing plant. Since it was a Sunday nobody where working, but I saw Jeepney from start to finish. They are built with galvanized steel sheets, just like the ones that are used for barn roofs, the only exception is that the sheets are naturally flat. Jeepney are built to order only, the future owner of the Jeepney decide on the colors that will be used.

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The cost for a Jeepney ranges from $ 20,000.00 to $ 50,0000.00. The seat inside are made with a coconut plank 10 to 12 inches wide by 2 inches thick rough cut wood, then for the padding they use the coconut hair then cover it with vinyl. Motors are all reconditioned same as the transmission, naturally they do not have any power steering, or power brakes.

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You may view a few photos by clicking here Jeepney Another view Jeepney bound for the Island of Cebu This is what they look like Built in 1955 Full of colors 1955

More Information on the Jeepney
Depending on the Jeepney they can sit 8 to 14 passengers or 4 to 7 on each side, passengers get in and off from the back of the Jeepney. The driver is always alone so to make sure that the passengers pay the fare, the driver has an abacus like on his rear view mirror. The money is usually passed from the farthest passenger all the way up to the driver that is holding his hand behind him while driving. Then he uses the abacus to help him remember who paid. Jeepney in Manila are at least three to one with the original vehicle, tricycles are also the same. In rural areas you will see some Jeepney but mostly tricycles, the vans are also used for longer hauls, they pack them like sardines to travel from one village to another or to the bigger cities. Vans usually will sit 8 with a comfortable ride to 12 this one is not comfortable ride at all but we still had to pay the P500. I did rent a van a couple of times for my friends these trips are explained on other pages when I went to Cabadbaran for three days.