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Thursday, June 18, 2009
Have you ride a jeepney? What was/were your experience/s when you ride on it? And for those who haven't experience having take a ride with jeepneys...do you want to experience to take a ride with it?....Well, hold your breath because I will take you to a ride!
Jeepneys are a popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They were originally made from US military jeeps (Willys) left over from World War II and are well known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating.
As American troops began to leave the Philippines at the end of World War II, hundreds of surplus jeeps were sold or given to local Filipinos. Locals stripped down the jeeps to accommodate several passengers, added metal roofs for shade, and decorated the vehicles with vibrant colors and bright chrome hood ornaments.
Today, the jeepney is the most popular mode of transport in the Philippines, owing to cheap fare and the convenience afforded to passengers to board and alight practically anywhere they want.
Each jeepney can hold around 16-18 passengers comfortably, but it is very common to see them over loaded, with people hanging off the back. A jeepney is not only a handy way to travel in the Philippines; it is also the cheapest way to travel.
How does one use the jeepney vehicle?
You just wait along one of the main roads or at a public transportation waiting area and watch for the jeepney going to your destination to arrive. How can you tell where the jeepney is going? Each jeepney will have a small sign on the front telling its final destination, such as Cubao or Palengke for example and there will typically be a person, called a barker, in the front seat shouting out the destination of the jeepney. When you see the one you need, a quick wave of the hand will signal the driver to stop and then you can board from the back.
After boarding just find a place to sit. If the jeepney is kind of full it is common for one to just wedge their butt between to passengers who will usually scoot a bit to make room. Then, at some point between your origin and destination you will prepare your fare or bayad (pronounced by-add) and loudly say "Bayad po," alerting the driver you are passing your fare forward. If you are close enough just hand it to the driver, if he is not close, the people sitting between you and the driver will be happy to pass the bayad to the driver for you, and also pass the change back if you don't pay exact fare.
If you plan to visit the Philippines, do not hesitate and miss to ride on a jeepney. You will surely have a wonderful experience and fun!
Sources:
2. www.associatedcontent.com
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