Philippine jeepneys nearing end of a colorful road
The iconic Filipino people carrier is losing its luster as owners ditch art to save cash
In a dusty workshop in the town of Angono, just outside Manila, an artist glances up at a poster from the Disney animation “Tangled.”
He compares it with the image of the film’s strong-jawed hero, which he is airbrushing onto the side of an old jeepney.
The artwork has been commissioned by the owner of the jeepney, and will be a brash, ostentatious statement that he no doubt hopes will mark his vehicle out from every other.
“This will be finished later today,” says Damaso Reyes, owner of Dasoy Motors, the small auto workshop charged with completing the design.
Reyes will make a small profit for his work. For some, however, the scene here is a sign of the decay that is affecting Filipino jeepney art.
Disney characters and U.S. flags are now the commonplace stars of these colorful buses, when once they used to be mountains, rivers and other natural Filipino characteristics.
Additionally, from being one of the most enduring and endearing legacies from the time the U.S. Army spent in the Philippines during World War II, jeepneys are now in danger of losing their artistry altogether, as owners prioritize finance over flourish.
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(via Candice Quimpo)
