Philippines Icon - Jeepney! One of my VT friends asked these to me before : How to ride the jeepney? How to pay? How to tell the driver where to stop? I think, he was "airasia ( lee )!!! Hmmmmm!!!
Before I'll proceed to answer those question, please let me introduce first , What is JEEPNEY?"
Jeepney is one of our well-known public transportation here in Philippines. It is the most practical way of travel and has a cheapest fare contrast to bus, taxi/cab. It has about more or less 20 passengers that you could communicate with along your journey. It has a two long benches were attached to the sides with cozy back supports. FYI, it don’t had an air condition that’s why it has an open window to let the air go into and gives the passenger a cool feeling particularly in the humid Philippine climate.
COOL TIFF-OFF: Always bring your girlie handy fan.
OK, I have already given you some information about Jeepney. Let me answer now some of your question about jeepney:
How to ride the jeepney?
When you see a jeepney is coming just stretched your arm and move it up and down facing the jeepney. Do it twice. Arm STRETCHED, UP and Down, UP and Down… Hehehe…. Got it ?? Nah, just flag-down and the jeepney will stop in front of you to get you in. By the way before doing the little stretching, you should look at the sign on the windshield for you know where that jeep is going to. If you are a little bit confused, you can also ask the driver or other passengers if your destination is along the route. I will assure you, they will answer you with good manners. It is a good example of inimitable Filipino hospitality
FUNNY TIFF-OFF: Be familiar with arms stretching you gonna practice it here in Philippines!
How to pay?
As soon as you were get on, now your problem is how to pay. If you were sited at the back of driver, there’s no problem as you can easily give your fare to the driver. How about if you were unluckily positioned at the very end of the jeepney? It is very simple don’t get be nervous, relax, just pass the money to the person next to you and say, “BAYAD! Salamat po” (my fare, please, thank you ), say it loud but gentleness so that the driver knows it’s from you. The person next to you then passes it to the one next to him or her and so on until your money gets to the driver. The driver would then ask where you are getting off. Please reply to him clearly and loudly because most of jeepneys have noisy sound systems. And then the driver would again stretch his arms backward and pass your change to the one nearest him until it comes to you. This time you will not say this words with loud-mouthed, a very simple “SALAMAT Po” (thank you) and with your sweet smile as much as possible. For sure the tired driver will be happy to see your charming smile.
USEFUL TIFF-OFF: Be a Boyscout! Always READY! When riding the jeepney please always have an exact fare or at least smallest bill which range to of 50 – 100 pesos only coz the driver may not had a change for your large bills.
How to tell the driver where to stop?
Now, finally after a long/short rides, you are about getting off,. What would you do? What would you say to the driver?? Just mentioned "PARA!",, say it loud again but with a courteous voice to the driver and he will stop. Some jeepneys are quite high tech though, just push the button or others has pulled the string on the roof of the jeep and it will give a signal to the driver to stop. How cool, isn’t it?
VIGILANT TIFF OFF: Be a shard-eyed! Always check whether the jeepney is high tech or not.
Hey, whenever to you a chance to visit my country, don't forget to go through this even one wacky ride in our very own colorful and only one of its kind, Philippines JEEPNEY! Riding in it is great experience more than riding in a luxury car, as you will come across the Philippine culture. See you here! |
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