The glamorously decorated jeepney is the symbol of Philippines.
Like tuktuk in Thailand and rickshaw in India, there are transportation means that represent each country. Riding the public transportation the locals do and taking a peak into their lives is a great fun of traveling. And you can’t do Philippines without jeepney. It’s a combined word of army vehicle Jeep and a pony. It’s a bus made of Jeep Willys MB the American army left after the WW2. When Pope Francisco visited Philippines in 2015, he received much attention as he traveled in a jeepney.
There are no jeepney stations; ride it like a savvy local.
Sitting on the doorless side when getting on a jeepney will make it easier to get off.
A jeepney looks like a jeep in the front but it’s more like a truck on the back. After the war, it was used like a bus and was made into how it looks now to get as many people on board as possible. There are various types, from 16-person ones to maximum 54-person ones. As Philippines people are artistic, they are decorated with lots of colors. They came to look like how they do now as people put in phrases that reflect their religion or faith or their favorite characters, etc.
On the side, there is information such as starting and ending stations, major sites within the lane, etc.
There are hundreds of thousands of jeepneys in Manila alone, but it’s not so easy to use them. To use the jeepney well you need some experience. They do have lanes like buses but are not marked in numbers or colors. There’s information on the sides or the front of the jeepney; you have to take a close look before you get on. There are no specific stations, so you can get on and off them wherever.
The way they pay is quite friendly. As the seats are long on the sides like the Korean subways, the person sitting in the back gives his/her fare to the person next to him/her, and this person hands the money on the person next to him/her and so on, until the money reaches the driver. When you want to get off, you tap the ceiling and call out ‘para~ po!’ which means ‘stop’. If you don’t know, ask a local for help.
Traveling around Camotes island in a jeepney
Camotes island, located on the east of Cebu, is famous for its beautiful beach.
Jeepney is sometimes the best way to get around a quiet island. Camotes island, located on the east of Cebu, is a hidden jewel of the Philippines coast with its emerald sea and diamond like white sand. About 2 hours in a ferry you will reach the Camotes Consuelo port. As soon as you are off the boat, the jeepney drivers will start their business. You can get on one with just your group like a private jeepney or you can gather around with people who are heading the same way and use it like a bus.
Every corner of the Camotes island has something to see.
Camotes means sweet potato in Philippines. The island looks like a long sweet potato and is quite big, with lots of things to see in every corner. So, an island tour is a must. You can make a deal with a port jeepney driver or ask the hotel to get one. You can go around the Camotes and take in all the beautiful places according to the recommended course of the island expert, your driver. Your trip will be even more fun as the driver will take stunning photos in front of the best photo spots.
Go for thrilling activities at the Lake Danao.
The first stop of the tour is Lake Danao. Being around 148 hectars, it’s as wide as the ocean. Being on a kayak and riding the water will make you feel like you are in paradise. If you like thrilling activities, go for the zip line that goes across the lake.
You can go for an exotic swim at the cave.
There are many natural caves in Camotes, so it’s easy for you to go for a special experience of cave swimming. You go through the narrow entrance and meet a wide, sparkling natural pool. It’s quite different from swimming in the ocean, refreshing and beautiful.
Don’t miss out on the sunrise and sunset of the spectacular beach.
On your way back to the hotel, take in the breathtaking view outside the jeepney window. Jeepney tour is unique from the car tour. You can feel the breezy wind against your skin directly and drive down the open ocean road, which gives you the indescribable liberated feeling. Take a relaxing moment on the leisurely beach.
Hyundai produces and supplies eco-friendly and safer jeepneys than the existing ones in the Philippines.
Jeepneys are how the Philippines people get around, and a must-do for the travelers. But the outdated vehicles and illegal remodeling beget serious exhaust, which has been the root cause of air pollution the past few years. To solve this problem, the Philippines government is pursuing the ‘jeepney modernization project’ which replaces old jeepneys.
Hyundai is doing its part here too. They have provided jeepneys that are safer with greater fuel efficiency to reduce exhaust and with doors and windows. With various convenient facilities like A/C and wifi, their jeepneys are received very well locally. It won’t be long until you get to go on a Hyundai jeepney and tour the Camotes island.
Written & photographed by. Ae-jin Park
(Author of Laos Holiday and Boracay, Cebu, Bohol Holiday)
