Jeepneys

You don't want to rent as car. To get around, and the main cause of the overhwlming particulate pollution and constant traffic (trapic locally) jams... The Jeepney!

When 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.

The jeepney rapidly emerged as a popular and creative way to reestablish inexpensive public transportation, which had been virtually destroyed during World War II. Recognizing the widespread use of these vehicles, the Philippine government began to place restrictions on their use. Drivers now must have specialized licenses, regular routes, and reasonably fixed fares. Due to recent fuel price increases the Metro Manila fixed fare has increased from 5 pesos to 7.5 pesos (currently about 10 to fifteen cents American.

Although the original jeepneys were simply refurbished military jeeps (Willys), modern jeepneys are now produced by independently owned workshops and factories within the Philippines. In the central Philippine island of Cebu, the bulk of jeepneys are built from second-hand Japanese trucks, originally intended for hauling cargo rather than passengers. These are euphemistically known as "surplus" trucks.

Recently the jeepney industry has faced threats to its survival in its current form. Most of the larger builders have either gone bankrupt or have switched to manufacturing other products. Currently there are 2 classes of jeepney builders in the Philippines. The backyard builders produce 1-5 vehicles a month, source their die stamped pieces from one of the larger manufacturers, and work with used engines and chassis from salvage yards. The second type of manufacturer is the large volume manufacturer. They have 2 sub groups: the PUJ (or Bus Jeepney builder) and the large volume metal-stamping companies that supply parts as well as complete vehicles.

The jeepney builders in the past were mostly concentrated in Cebu City, Las Piñas City and Cavite; however, with the recent slowdown of sales, many of the smaller builders have gone out of business. The largest manufacturer of owner-type jeeps in the Philippines is David Motors Inc. in Quezon City, located on the north side of Metro Manila. The largest manufacturer of vintage style army jeepneys is MD Juan.

Passenger jeepneys are also facing increasing restrictions and regulations for pollution controls, as they increase amounts of traffic and consume lots of fuel. A recent study published in a Metro Manila newspaper compared the fuel use of a 16-passenger jeepney to a 54-passenger air-conditioned bus and found that the fuel consumption for both was the same. With major roads clogged by empty jeepneys cruising for fares, there is intense pressure to remove them from the streets of Metro Manila and other cities.

Most Jeepney's are built for a populace that averages 5" 6', so being 5" 10' hase made each Jeepeny ride and acrobatic exercise, especially when they are full of people. Most of the time, I sit hunched over to not hit my head on the roof.

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Hardship Posting

The last two days have sun lots of sun, torrential rain and humidity in that order, with the daily brownout.

Another of Lynn's friends came by to visit yesterday, and she gave them quesadillas and fruit with chili powder. I think some mischief has rubbed off on her, because she tells them "it's not hot" and loves to see her friends reactions to the spicy fruit.

Today, instead of a random, short brownout, the municipality gave notice that the lights would be out from 8 am to 5 pm! We got up early to breakfast and shower and get on the road to Paete, a local town, before the lights went out. It sucks to get ready in a hot room w/out air conditioning, and at least while on the way to Paete in the Jeepney, the air would cool us down. {More on Jeepney's later on. And "Tricycles" too.}

As soon as the electricity was cut, we made a run for it. We left our cool, but rapidly warming house and made our way to the main road to catch our ride. Two jeepney rides and one tricylce ride, and we were in Paete.

Paete is basically just another town, and their main industry in wood carvings. We shopped a bit and settled in to one store, as it just started to POUR rain for about an hour.

We bought our foods and waited under a rickety awning for our Jeepney back to Pagsanjan. Soaked, we arrived and stored our stuff, and went to the next town, in the other direction, Santa Cruz.

The only reason to go to Santa Cruz today is Star Mall. Like every mall in the PI, it has it's own generators, therefore air conditioning. Plus they have a movie theatre, where we caught the latest release, The First Power (1990), with Lou Diamond Phillip. I would have declined that movie and seen the other, but I was tricked. The title as possessed by Evil, and the poster only showed 2 red eyes. Oh well..

Two more Jeepney rides and we're home!!! 6pm. and still no juice.

Cockpit

From the very day we arrived,Lynn's brothers and cousinasked if I wanted to go the cockpit. Lynn didn't look toohappy abou that question so I said," Yes,of course"

A week later, we're on our way to the cockpit. On teh way there,I ask, "What goes on at the ockpit?"

Answer: " A cockpite" (in this part of PI, the letter F is swithed with the letter P)

So, we are on our way to a cock fight!

Fiesta!

Wilkins vs. Sauza

Just a note, "Don't drink the water"

Lynn's family has been very scrupulous in giving us bottled water. The week before we arrived, there was a Balikbayan(returning) couple that had been away from the Philippines for several years and they drank the taps as they usually did when they lived here. They discovered that even though they were born and bred in Pagsanjan, their years away had taken away any immunityto the local bugs. They were violently ill for a few days.

So, everywhere we turned, a family member handed us a bottle of Wilkins, the best bottled water, and admonished us with the story about the other unhappy couple.

I think,"Wow", that is great, considering it is not cheap here. So on Tuesday when they bring soup to our rented house,we all eat and drink Wilkins. I have a question and ask Lynn's teen neice on the side,"Do you use Wilkins for soup too?" Thinking to myself, "What an extravegant use of bottled water, as I finsihed my question"

She answered,"No,tap".

The countdown starts.

Pagsanjan, Laguna

TOWN: Pagsanjan
PROVINCE: Laguna
NEAREST CITY: Manila.
REGION: Southeast Asia.
TEMP: Hell

What can I say about this place. It is a town in the middle of a tropical rainforest, next to the islands largest lake and a river on the other side. The claim to fame is that this was the place where "Apocoplyse Now" was filmed. The vietnam war movie was as much as about the vietnam war as it about Colonel Walter E. Kurtz's slow descent into insanity. (Probably caused by the hummingbird sized mosquitoes that bite grow due to the lake and river.) I hope to avoid that madness. We apply DEET repellent, butI think that just makes them angry, so we just swat like crazy. After a few days,the local food starts toget into our system and we are not as tasty as the day we arrive.

You would think that the locals would be used to the weather, but even they say it is hot. Mnay ladies walk with umbrellas to block the sun, and also the sudden thunderstorms that appear almost daily. Then it just gets Humid. Or, rather more humid.

The other claim is fame is the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Some filipinos were suprised to hear that she is Mexican. Some knew, but not everyone does.

Did I mention it was hot? Today is very hot, and the afternoon rain is coming, so I am off the the sanctuary of my air conditioned room. The only thing that ruins it is the occasional blackout,which happens every day. Luckily they only last about 10 minutes.. maybe half an hour.

Somewhere, I hear the flight of the Valkries.......

Dia de Los Muertos

Today is Nov 1st: Dia de Los Muertos.

It is another hot day, and I start out with the same brakfast I will here very day:

2 fried eggs
A serving of Garlic rice
Oatmeal
Soy Milk
Coffe
an apple

A simple,boring meal,but extremely safe.

Then a shower. Note: All the taps and showers here only have one faucet. There is no cold or hot water, it is just runs room temperature, usually warm.

Lynn's friends explain tome that this is a day to rememeber departed relatives.
I say,I know. It is a celebration rooted in Aztec rituals and catholics tradition fused together andstill celebrated in Mexico. At one point it was exported to Manila during the spanish colonization of the islands.

We celebration is similar, just hotter. The entire town congragates at the cemetary. Plastic chairs are brought and canopies to give shade. Peoplebring food and sit at the gravesite of their family members. There is much eating and laughing,only to interupted by a torrential downpour. Afterwards, the sun comesout and makes everything nice and steamy.

Manila Arrival

Arrival in Manila Int'l was at 11:30 AM, Sunday morning (that's 7:30PM Saturday night to you westerners) We lost one day from crossing the international dateline.

After customs, changing money, etc., we went outside to find Lynn's family. The first thing you notice was the 90 degree heat and the 90% humid. It could have been worse, as the month prior they had 100 degree heat and 100% humid. "Why am I hear" I ask myself, as I sway from the oppressive heat. I think I am having a stroke. The Lynn screams "There they are!" and brings me back to reality. I remember why. I remember why.

We meet them and do the greetings and jump in a van they rented for the occasion, and start the 45 mile, 3 hour drive to Pagsanjan,Laguna. They are so excited to see Lynn and so is she, it is just a solid 3 hours of chatter and laughter. Her family is amazed I have not stopped sweating..."Cuz its like a freaking sauna" I tell myself, delusional from heat, loss of water and minerals and no sleep for almost 40 hours. They say I should take care, I might get a stroke.

And yes, the restroom at Manila International surpass LAX's.