Ok, so here is my first official blog. I made this base on my observations when I ride the jeep and also, base on other people’s stories about their experiences inside and outside the jeep. I love the Philippine jeep (We call it "jeepney"). It’s actually the Filipino commuter’s favorite ride because it’s inexpensive and accessible. I bet almost every Filipino, rich or poor, has experienced riding the jeep.
For those who still don’t know what a Filipino jeepney looks like or what it really does, here’s a brief history:
"Jeepneys are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II and are known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating. They have become a symbol of Philippine culture. The word jeepney is a portmanteau of 'jeep' and 'Jitney' .When American troops began to leave the Philippines at the end of WWII, hundreds of surplus jeeps were sold or given to local Filipinos. The Filipinos stripped down and altered the jeeps to accommodate more passengers, added metal roofs for shade, and decorated the vehicles with vibrant colors and bright chrome hood ornaments.The jeepney rapidly emerged as a popular and creative way to re-establish inexpensive public transportation, which had been virtually destroyed during WWII. Recognizing the widespread use of these vehicles, the Philippine government began to regulate their use. Drivers now must have specialized licenses, regular routes, and reasonably fixed fares." (Check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeepney)
Now that I have already introduced the main topic, I will now write the top 30 funny and irritating moments inside a jeep (I will be doing this in Tagalog since a lot of jeepney users are Filipino and perhaps, the punchlines are wittier in the native Pinoy language)...
30. Ang nakaka-bulahaw na busina (parang tawa ng tao or witch o kaya boses ng baby) -- I think pinagbawal na to
29. Pag binasa mo ang mga nakasulat sa loob, maaaliw ka (“Full the string to stop” or “God knows Hudas not pay”)
28. Call center agent na pasahero, sa sobrang pagod at puyat, imbes na sabihing “para!” ang nasabi eh “hold on!”... Taray! (May kakilala ako, nangyari na sa kanya to)
27. Pumara ka habang malakas ang ulan sa labas, huminto si manong at itinapat ka sa maputik na puddle kaya pag baba mo, kelangan mo pang tumalon (tapos mababasa pa rin ang shoes mo)
26. Pumara ka pero binaba ka sa malayo, lagpas na kasi may “bantay” daw kahit wala naman
25. Madaming stop over, lahat ng tao sa kalsada, hinihintuan at naghahakot ng potential pasahero kaya late ka nakarating sa pupuntahan mo (tapos yung mga hinihuntuan nya, hindi naman sasakay)
24. Mag-jowang naglalampungan sa jeep... hindi ata afford magpunta sa motel (public place yun diba, wag naman sa jeep!)
23. Malakas ang ulan at hindi effective ang plastic na trapal ni manong kaya wet look ka pa rin pagdating mo sa pupuntahan mo
22. Nakabundol si manong at saka biglang humarurot, feeling mo tuloy accomplice ka na at bukas makalawa, may “hit” ka na sa NBI
21. Pasaherong galing sa malayo, pagod, at nahihilo, sumuka at nasapul ka ng kanyang vomitus habang nadidinig mong nagsesermon si manong kasi nadumihan ang jeep nya
20. Sa harap ka nakaupo at pag kambyo, nahipuan ka na sa legs
19. Sa harap ka nakaupo, napapagitnaan ka ng pasahero sa kanan mo at ni manong... pumara ka na pero yung katabi mo, di pa... ayaw mag give way ng pasaway na pasahero at kelangan mong isiksik ang sarili mo makalabas ka lang (Hate ko to promise! Sarap itulak!)
18. May kumupit na ng sukli or nang bayad mo (nanyari na saken to pero di ko na pinatulan kasi mukhang schizophrenic yung pasaherong kumupit, buti na lang twenty pesos lang yun)
17. Sasakay ka pero may mga nakaharang na bagahe sa bungad ng jeep kahit maluwag sa bandang likod, kelangan mo pang mag-split nakalusot ka lang
16. Mahilig sa short cut si manong, lahat ng eskinita, nadaanan nyo na...feeling mo naliligaw ka na at nakarating ka na sa isang unknown na probinsya
15. Pasaherong tulog or lasing, katabi mo at sasandal sa balikat mo (or simpleng maniac lang)
14. Exhibitionist sa loob ng jeep... wala na, after mo pumara, nadungisan na ang inosenteng pagkatao mo, babangungutin ka na sa pagtulog mo...
13. Nakalagay sa signboard yung pupuntahan mo, sumakay ka pero sa kalagitnaan ng byahe mo eh iniba na ni manong ang signboard, magugulat ka na lang iba na yung paligid
12. Nakalagay sa signboard yung pupuntahan mo, sumakay ka pero sa kalagitnaan ng byahe mo eh huminto si manong at pinalipat ka ng jeep kasi ayaw na daw nya (Anu yun? Tinamad lang?)
11. Ubod ng kaskasero, nakikipag-unahan sa mga bus at trak... feeling mo katabi mo na si kamatayan at malapit na kayo sunduin
10. Ubod ng bagal kahit walang traffic, mas mauunahan mo pa kung nag walk-a-thon ka na lang
9. Ang mga nakakatawang banat ni manong barker – “O, maluwag pa! Maluwag pa! Araw araw ginagamit!”
8. Masikip na, pilit pang magsasakay dahil “siyaman” daw kahit yung pang walong tao eh sinlaki ng aparador nyo (Or sasabihin nilang maluwag pa pero pag pasok mo, 1/8 na lang ng pwet mo ang nakaupo, gusto mo na lang magbayad ng 1/8 ng minimum fare)
7. Sinuklian ka pero kulang... or nagbayad ka ng tama pero kulang pa rin daw ang binayad mo at hihingi pa ng dagdag
6. Bingi si manong, ilang beses mo na inulit at halos nakasigaw ka na, di pa rin makarinig
5. Pasaherong boses ipis, kelangang ikaw pa ang tumayong spokesperson nya para madinig sya ni manong
4. Lakas magpatugtog ng music, kala mo nasa gimikan ka kasi halos umalog na yung speakers sa jeep
3. I take back what I said in number 4... hindi ka parang nasa gimikan kasi yung music nila eh yung mga lumang love songs nung 80’s na ginawang remix (feeling ni manong cool yun diba... sasabayan pa nya ng kanta)
2. Nakaupo ka sa likod ni manong, malapit sa kanya kaya pag may nagbayad, ikaw na ang official taga-abot ng pera (at naiistorbo ang pagte-text mo)
1. Nagbayad ka, sabi mo student ka pero nagduda si manong at sinabihan kang di ka mukhang student (kahit naka-uniform ka na at sangkatutak na ang bitbit mong books)
So, those are my top thirty funny and irritating moments inside a jeep. Another annoying situation I've been through also... si manong grabe makayosi, nakaupo ka sa harap and feeling mo nasa pugon ka na. I hate smokers.
Anyway, regarding number 28... I remember one situation... Sumakay ako sa jeep, may rich-looking girl na sumakay din (She looked really well-off). Dadaan ang jeep sa may Quezon Avenue papuntang Circle... sabi ng pasahero (she spoke in Taglish), “Manong dyan po sa Lung Cenner... (walang “T”... cenner) Haha! And she said it in a way na medyo “slang”. I’m not making fun of it. It’s just nice to see someone like her still ride a jeep because a lot of well-to-do kids nowadays would rather prefer to drive their own car kahit malapit lang yung destination. Too much cars in our streets actually cause so much traffic and pollution.
Anyway, regarding number 28... I remember one situation... Sumakay ako sa jeep, may rich-looking girl na sumakay din (She looked really well-off). Dadaan ang jeep sa may Quezon Avenue papuntang Circle... sabi ng pasahero (she spoke in Taglish), “Manong dyan po sa Lung Cenner... (walang “T”... cenner) Haha! And she said it in a way na medyo “slang”. I’m not making fun of it. It’s just nice to see someone like her still ride a jeep because a lot of well-to-do kids nowadays would rather prefer to drive their own car kahit malapit lang yung destination. Too much cars in our streets actually cause so much traffic and pollution.
Another story... regarding number 9. The Barker. I remember being in a jeepney terminal in SM Fairview. Jeeps there would go to different destinations – Cubao, Zabarte, Tungko, Lagro, etc. There is actually a place that you would pass by on your way to Tungko and that place is called Bigte. In that terminal in SM Fairview, you would also find jeeps that would lead you to Bigte (their signboard says “Bigte”). The jeeps leading to Bigte are beside the jeeps leading to Zabarte. So, I was on my way to Zabarte that day. The barker for Zabarte was shouting, “O, Zabarte na! Zabarte dito! Sakay na kayo dito! Dito ang Zabarte! Yung mga gustong mag-Bigte, sa kabila kayo!” (Sounds like he wants the commuters to commit suicide...haha!) He was also making side comments while the jeep is starting to fill up with commuters, “O usog usog lang po dyan, paupuin natin ang kapwa natin Pilipino...” I was thinking when I was making this blog that he actually had a point. Sometimes, most of us just don’t want to give way. Sometimes, when we commute, we would rather fill a space in the vehicle for our bags rather than let someone sit on it. Sometimes, we would rather sit near the entrance rather than move for a senior citizen or a PWD (person with disability) to sit near it. Hindi ba, sometimes, ayaw din natin iabot yung pamasahe ng katabi natin kahit nakikisuyo na? What do you think?
Anyway, if you would like to share more funny and/or irritating experiences while riding the jeep, you can post your comments below. Also, if you have negative reactions or constructive criticisms and suggestions, feel free to post them, too.
