CEBU JEEPNEY

LETS GET TO KNOW CEBU JEEPNEY

There are big jeeps and little jeeps. The big jeeps are the traditional refurbished American army jeeps - sometimes called sarao after the now-defunct Manila workshop that originally made this type of jeepney - or the newer Isuzu trucks.The smaller ones are a Cebuano invention called multicabs. This was originally - and still is - the name of a company in Cebu (on A S Fortuna in Mandaue), which first started importing used mini trucks from Japan. With an engine displacement of only 660 cc, these vehicles are called keitora ("light trucks") in Japan and are used mostly for deliveries or hauling plumbers and their gear. In Cebu they dress them up, make 'em look real nice, and use them as passenger jeeps or as pickups for ferrying the family to the mall. In fact, this has developed into an industry; Cebu exports multicabs not just to the rest of the Philippines, but to places as far away as Cuba.

Traditionally, jeeps in both Manila and Cebu were designed with geometric patterns, brightly fluorescent pink or yellow sticky tape, pompoms of orange plastic - anything the driver or owner fancied.A few years ago, a new trend emerged in Cebu: designs inspired by Formula One race cars, and jeeps with tributes to NBA franchise teams (basketball is the most widely followed sport in the Philippines). Not long after the Formula One jeeps starting plying the Talamban - Colon route, jeeps representing almost every team started appearing on the streets. There are thus four basic motifs: geometric designs, race cars, basketball, and popular characters - such as the Little Mermaid, or Lara Croft, or Bob Marley.

A PUJ must clearly display the route (such as AYALA - COLON), the route number (such as 13B or 21B), and the LTFRB case number. Technically, the route destinations are supposed to be painted in a certain color determined by the LTFRB, but in practice the aesthetics of the design often determine the color. The route number must be painted on the sides; on the front and back a little metal sign should be attached near the roof of the jeep, but some operators just have it painted.
Drivers usually like to add the names of their kids, plus the name of the individual jeep. The name of the jeep usually goes on the front.

Clearly, jeeps with exciting designs carry more passengers. Jeeps do not follow any fixed schedule, and several of them will often be cruising within touching distance, competing for customers. Customers either take the jeep with the nice design, or a jeep with a sound system.