There have been numerous, and I mean numerous essays and writings on why one should avoid riding a jeepney. And why not ? You spend hours standing in line, dust and smoke feasting on your hair and clothes, just waiting  for your turn  to be seated. On where, you ask ? On a contraption that has no windows, but instead has plexiglass that you'll open anyway because you can't breathe; a stereo that leaves you deaf the rest of the way; an aching side because the girl sitting next to you wanted her nice ,small back pack with the large key chain to stay forever  in her back.   And when you get down, you discover that you have stiff neck from craning so hard so you won't yell  para too late or too early again. After lamenting on your poor neck, you feel a strange, prickly feeling on your arm because of poor circulation; and while rubbing it back to health, you look around to watch passing cars because you can't hear them honk. Why ? Because your ears were rendered temporarily deaf  from sitting next to the stereo.  When you finaly get home, you smell as if you just stood behind the muffler of a bus----and feel like it, too. Years afterward, you'll discover that you have lung cancer, and that your left ear drum is busted from sitting and listening to that blasted stereo (that was too loud in the first place) .
 

     But then, that's the worst thing that can ever happen to someone riding a jeep (excluding being pickpocketed, leaving your valuables, getting maniaked, etc). There are still tons of reasons why one should ride a jeep, or at least try to ride one once in a whle.

     One: you are saving the environment. Lots of times, environmentalists have encouraged us to carpool, but none of us ever stuck to it, or more or less followed it. But in a way, the whole of Metro Manila  has been carpooling for years !  Jeepneys can accomodate twice as many people than a regular car , and you don't have to take turns driving either. It saves gas, provides nice music by sound tripping louder than necessary, and in it's own special way decongests traffic (have you ever imagined what it would be like if  everyone got their own car ?).

 Two: it's a nice way of exploring the city. Wouldn't it be great to cruise around town on a convertable, feeling the breeze ruffle your hair with cool caresses ? Well, you get the same thing with the jeepney. I mean, the whole package is there, only better. There isn't the hazard of the scorching sun on your heads, decreasing your risk on Melanoma, and the rate that you'd get spit on by some uncaring jerk on a bus will be lowered to near zero levels. The wind is still going to be there, and it's wide, glassless windows provide you with a panaromic view of the real thing. Who could ever trade the jeepney for anything ?

 Three: it's a great help for our economy. Not only are you helping some guy trying to put his 4 kids to school (3 down, 4+ the one on the way to go), but you are also advocating Filipino culture. I mean, besides the countless Tamaraws,not to mention the famous Tamaraw FX, the jeepney is one of the living proofs of  the Filipinos  great skill in making automobiles. Imagine mass producing dozens of these things a year, using only  a mere torch, a couple of sheets of  metal, something that resembles the Jaws of Life, and a simple framework with only the unfurnished dashboard, floor, the place where you put the wheels, and the engine alongside everyting. All this is done without the use of a factory that is dominated by robots, but instead by hard working hands.

 Four: they are walking works of art. Have you ever stared at a jeep ? Like, really looked at it ? It is an exhibit of our culture, an example of true Filipinos permating in Urban living. The sides are decked with stickers that range from the latest thing out on tv, to roses and cars and a faint rendition of an angel. Trailing by the back is a nice quotation, which is probably aimed to cheer up your day (I prefer not to talk about the smart alecking ones). The signs in front are true masterpieces, stickers shaped in such  way that your attention is locked onto it and so you absolutely won't miss where that jeep is going. And if your lucky, you'll se the colorful, handpainted ones (most of them are found roaming around Nayong Filipino, but I believe the Singing Cooks and Waiters own one). These rare works of art that have carefully painted designs on them , intricatelly drawn so you will definitely not forget it. All of this is done under the skillull hands of local artisans, who live only for their art.

 And Five: it's a good deed. Considering the preceeding 4 reasons, it would be a very nice thing to ride a jeepney. Not only are you saving the environment, but you are also apprecaiting Filipino art. Maybe, in a way, this will help us break away from our colonialistic mentally and truly love and accept our beloved RP for  what she is. If we forget our prejudices, maybe someone with enough sense and money will put up a school for jeepney drivers, teaching them when to stop and where. And if they start shaping up, maybe those crazy morons in nice flashy cars (2FAST4U, I'm really amazed with your acrobatic skills, but please take your show off the road) will start to feel shame in their guts and follow suit.

 See, riding a jeepney isn't so bad. With traffic eased up a little (you should be aware by now that it cannot disappear), maybe the rest of Metro Manila will be populated by real human beings once more. So the next time your car's in the shop and all the taxi's and the FX's are already taken, don't hesitate to take your stand at the side of the street. Stand tall, stand proud, (you are, after all, doing 5 great causes), and join the rest of the people at raisng their hands, saying PARA !
 
 

December 26, 1996