Tag: Philippines

Jeepney

Learning, Map It!
Jeepney
On the busy lanes
Tough and in style
Like a rascal
Chasing
Wild kites

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What about Manila that makes me feel home other than those dedicated working partners and turon (fried banana)?

Jeepney!

My childhood town used to have public transportation exactly like Philippines’ Jeepney; we called them PC (pronounce as “pay say” in English phonetics). They were everyone’s favourite for the space, air circulation and low price. Pak Sugeng was one PC owner cum driver who became all women’s sweetheart for his patience to wait for those women doing their errands in the central market and his helpfulness to lift all the shopped goods. What a good day it was!

Now Philippines is the blessed country with Jeepney. These ex wat vehicles during World War Ii are truly reliable and strong means of transportation for the people there. I took Jeepney once when having opportunity to visit Lapu-Lapu City in 2012. I think I paid for PHP50 for the ride!

Jeepney should be kept as a social heritage. It is unique, historical and supporting the life of those surrounding.

This vehicle is relevant for those with high resilience and survival spirit like Filipino and Indonesian!

Thank you, Manila and its surrounding for the friendship and lessons.

💝

silver Jeepney

green Jeepney

turquoise Jeepney

Quezon City’s traffic: look at the fragile egg tray that is paradoxical with the sturdy Jeepney

pink Jeepney! 😍

hey, light green Jeepney!

it was so stable and confident! it is Jeepney!

Exchanging Blessings With The Gentle Giants

Bob, Learning, love, Map It!

I went to Oslob, Cebu, Philippines — for whale shark watching last week. Butanding is the local language for whale shark (Rhincodon Typus). I wanted to exchange blessings with them.

With Michelle and Jerry – a tour guide and a driver – I left Mactan at 5am.

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Deciding not to plunge in to the water, I didn’t bring any swimsuit. Ok, a boat was rented….

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The boatman is part of the conservation team…. See the T-shirt worn.

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Many people already swam around something…. A group of butanding enjoying their breakfast

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The gentle giant was peeping below my boat. Please let me offer you my love, dear butanding….

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Look at the spots on the body….

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…. on the tail

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He is deeply, seriously giving his blessings…. Or her blessings….

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Blessings to the feeder on the boat….

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To the onlookers on and beneath the water…..

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And, to me….

Before I finally left the site, I put both my feet into the water and prayed in my heart, telling huge blessings then leaving them into the sea. Thank you, butanding…. For the blessings we exchange.

Singapore – February 15, 2015 – 4:48am

For more information about whale shark, please go to:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/whale-shark/