What is a Jeepney?
What is a Jeepney?
What is a Jeepney? The Jeepney Experience is one of those essential things every traveler must do in the Philippines. Jeenpeys are highly regarded and beloved for their unique style and charisma, however to the backpacker these reckless machines spew massive amounts of pollution, have zero predictability and are ridiculously fun.
The Lowdown
Firstly, Jeepneys are vintage public utility vehicles. They’re subsidized by the government, and with prices ranging somewhere between 6 – 16PHP (0.16¢ – 0.20¢) why wouldn’t you want to try it? Secondly, they’re fairly small and they tend to pack people in so tight, you’re likely to assume a fetal position while riding to… well that’s another problem, in Manila you won’t’ really have any idea where you’re going. Not only can you not see where you’re going, but there is no route map for where Jeepney’s drive. So if you’re looking to throw the dice and check out a random part of someplace, you’re in luck. Is it possible to get directions from someone and actually get from A to B? Yes, but if you have to transfer Jeepney’s it’s all over so just let go of the destination and enjoy the ride knowing that wherever you may end up you can easily hail a cab for a few dollars (or less) to return you back to home base.
Knowing How to Ride
Unlike most buses in the west, there are no required stops for a Jeepney, and you can flag one down just by waving. Jeepney’s don’t always come to a complete stop when picking up single passengers, so run up to the back, grab hold of the bars and hop in. If you can, sit up towards the front near the driver so you can ask him if he will drive near your destination. Jeepney’s are very loud and the drivers may not speak much English, so when asking the driver about a location, keep it simple. Instead of “Excuse me, will you be going to Fort Bonifacio?” try “Fort Bonifacio?” If you get an affirmative answer, you’re all good. If you get an affirmative answer and a bunch of other details, that means you must transfer Jeepney’s, at which point you’re best bet is to get a taxi. If you get a negative response it means you’re going the wrong direction. If you’re sitting near the driver, people will be handing you money for the driver, so pass it along. To stop a Jeepney, you can either reach out and bang the exterior with your fist twice, or say “Pada Po!” which translates into “Stop Please!”. The cost is around 6 – 16PHP, and it’s hard to determine where on this scale your fare lies. Fares are preferred in exact change, and often times drivers won’t give change back unless you request it.
The History
During World War II, the United States had begun to stockpile massive amounts of weapons and jeeps in the Philippines ahead of an all out invasion of Japan. With the advent of the nuclear weapon and the Japanese concession, all of that war material was no longer needed, and the jeeps were left behind and sold off as surplus. Most vehicles during the war period were confiscated and taken away, so these were the first vehicles coming into the Philippines since 1941. These jeeps were soon adopted for public transportation and began the legacy of Jeepney’s. You don’t see any of those original jeeps on the roads, and in fact all of the current road models are locally manufactured in independent workshops and factories, apart from the engines and the transmissions which are usually Isuzu or Mitsubishi diesel. In recent years, Jeepney’s have faced increased pressure to reduce emissions as the efficiency of a 16-passenger Jeepney is roughly equal to a 54-passenger bus with A/C. On the horizon are electric Jeepney’s (aka E-jeepneys), with a number of electric models on the streets already servicing schools, industrial zones, government usage and other applications.
Fun & Dangerous
Sure, getting robbed or killed is always making the headlines for dangers of international travel, but traffic should be the travelers number one priority to consistently and consciously be aware of as we tend to take the flow of traffic for granted. On the outside Jeepney’s only add to the chaos as the drivers are reckless and drive without regard to human life, so stay clear of a Jeepney and always assume that it won’t slow down or stop if you’re in its path – because in all seriousness it probably wouldn’t be able to. On the inside you have roof rails (no seat belts) to hold onto, with nothing preventing you from falling out the back.
About the Photographs
All images were taken on a Canon EOS 5D with a Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 17-40mm & Canon 70-200mm F4 IS.
For more information about Jeepney’s (and Manila) check out this excellent BBC production about what it’s like to drive a Jeepney.