Ermita Jeepneys

 Ermita Jeepneys 2009

Ever since I first set foot in the Philippines, I have had a thing for their local icon, the Jeepney.

These colourful transport legends were a magnet for me, both photographically and, of course, riding around while exploring Manila. At the time, we thought they would be part of the scene forever.

Fast forward two decades, and numerous governments, and we find ourselves facing the very real  prospective of the current government eradicating them forever.

I am not going to get into the policy, mostly because it is against the law there for a foreigner to have an opinion. Not to mention that politics is banned in our 'Philippine Railway Historical Society'

Looking back through thousands of Philippine photos, I find a monumental amount of jeepney images, far too many to put in one post (far to many to put in one hundred posts LOL).

I decided to focus on a morning in Ermita, during a visit in 2009. We were staying in my old favourite Mabini Mansion, which is just a short walk from Luneta Park, a spot I had long wanted to photograph the

 'King Of The Road'.

The traditional jeepney is a very polarizing subject for people, who are either for or against them, I rarely note any middle ground.
However, beyond the important fact that they are the livelihood of thousands of families, for me they are the soul of Manila, the streets of which will become a very lifeless place should they all disappear.

So, just in case you have not noticed, yes I am a fan of the traditional jeepney. For me, they are as much a part of the Philippines as Adobo and Tanduay Rhum.

Have met numerous drivers over the years, most of them friendly, some suspicious of your intentions, but the one thing that has struck me is the pride in what they do.
So they should be, it is a long running tradition.

 Anyway, no matter how you feel, please enjoy this selection of shots taken during a warm morning back in 2009.
While I've taken incalculable jeepney shots since, this was probably one of the most memorable 

photographic sessions.

While the Jeepney comes in many different styles and colours, some come along that truly are outstanding.
The blue one above is a terrific example.

Well that's all folks, a small look at that mornings Jeepney action. Hopefully things change and these can be enjoyed for many years to come.
For me, the alternative is not something I really wish to contemplate*

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* = Personal opinion. I am entitled to such just as much as everyone else. Even if you don't think so :-)

Thanks to Nhing.

 

Philippine Railway Historical Society

Changes / Groups / Guff

  Yahoo  recently made an announcement informing the world that their long running Yahoogroup service would be ending later this year.
 This has not come as a major surprise, as the closure has been rumoured for quite some time now. However, while use of the platform has declined greatly, thanks to alternatives like Facebook, there are still a significant amount of groups that still operate there.

  The 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' is one of those groups. We originally started on Egroups in 1999, but became part of Yahoogroups when they were taken over. The Yahoogroup was significantly busy for over a decade, however friction within the group, coupled with the emerging Facebook group platform, has seen postings dwindle greatly. Today there is little more than a couple of posts a month, hardly justifying the group at all, but left due to the huge amount of stuff residing in the database there.

  It was this immense database of history that had me most concerned. There is a lot of information there that would disappear with the group, some of it shared by people who have passed away.

  It would just be unthinkable that it should be lost.

Thankfully, this worry has been removed. I have been able to download the entire database and have started the mammoth task of cleaning it all up into one semi-decent looking file.
As this process, which will likely take a couple of years, progresses, I will be sharing some of the more interesting posts on our PRHS Facebook group and Twitter account.

Also currently being saved is the bulk of photos and documents that have been downloaded into the group files sections. Again, it is hoped that these can be re-shared with people in the future.

After much though, and a few discussions, I decided to finally give in to the Twitter thing. I have had an account for a while, but never used it. So I find myself in new territory as I explore all that can be done with the new 'Philippine Railway Historical Society' account.
If you are on Twitter, please come and join us.

Over the years, the PRHS has expanded into a number of different areas. While still primarily a railway, and railway hobby, promoting group, there are many of us with wider interests.
Below are listed all these groups and websites.
The PRHS promotes both the Philippine railway hobby, as well as friendship.
Come join us.

Website
Blogsite
Facebook Group - Nearly 2000 members
Facebook Page
PRHS on Twitter - New and growing.

Philippine Transportation Group
Road - Air - Sea

Buses - Ferries - Planes - Taxies - Jeepneys - Trikes

Philippine Railfans Into Overseas
Railways Group
Discussions about railways outside the Philippines.

PRHS - Philippine Jeepney

Anything related to the endangered "King Of The Road"

Philippine / Australia Aviation Fans
Topics pertaining to Philippine and Australian aviation

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We also recommend the following 
closely related groups.

Philippine Association of Rail Enthusiasts (PARE)
Our locally based sister group.



PH Model Railroaders
The Philippines leading model train group.

Lucena Rail Heritage Commitee

Our friend down in Lucena City.


Meycauayan Railway Precinct
A local joint-venture with the PRHS.

For nearly 21 years we have strived to make a truly great Philippine railway hobby. There have been many ups and downs, but we battled on and still we grow.
We may be fare-welling an era with the demise of our Yahoogroup, 
but we still have many great times ahead.
Mabuhay!

PHILIPPINE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MORE THAN JUST TRAINS

While the group is primarily known for it's interest in trains (not surprisingly), a large amount of us have an interest in the wider transport scene.
In addition to our railway related groups, you can find ones covering Philippine aviation, buses, ferries, trikes and taxis.
Links to some of these groups can be found below, lets journey back a decade and enjoy some photos of the endangered jeepney back in 2009.

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Interested in public transportation around the Philippines?
You will be welcome aboard.

PRHS-Philippine Transportation.
Road - Air - Sea Transport Only

PRHS Philippine Jeepney - All Things Jeepney

PRHS Philippine/Australia Aviation Fans
Aviation Chat From Both Countries.

All groups are international English based groups, aimed at bringing people together from around the world, to share a mutual interest in Philippine transport.

JEEPNEYS - 1999

A few images of jeepneys from my first Philippine trip two decades ago.

If I had a Peso for every time I've said that "I wish I took more photos" I would likely have enough saved to buy the Taal Volcano and turn it into a tourist fun park. 

This is particularly so of my first trip to the Philippines back in 1999.

This initial trip saw me there for only one week, thus severely limiting the amount of time I had available for such wonderful things as trains, buses and, of course, the iconic jeepney.

Gradually, as I continue on my journey of photo cataloguing, a few of these photos spew forth from the boxes that they have been confined within for many years.

Because there really is buggar all else I can do with the following jeepney shots, I thought I may just as well inflict them upon the world via my blogsite.

Nooooo, don't mention it. I am more than happy to help.

Maybe I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I never quite scored any jeepneys that were up there with some of the stunners that ply some Manila streets today.

The bulk of my first jeepney experience was around Ermita as we decided to stay in the Mabini Mansion.
 Actually, we had booked in the nearby San Carlos Mansion, as it had been recommended by a friend. Now, I am not a fussy person with accommodation, heck, I even regularly stay at the Go Hotel and, that significantly naughty feeling, SoGo chain. But, as a minimum, I do like my hotel doors to be on their hinges and the walls free of cockroach infestations.
  So we moved to the Mabini Mansion, just one street over, and it was my preferred accommodation for a number of subsequent visits.
Oh, guess I may as well mention that I have been told that San Carlos has upgraded since that horrific visit. So it may be worth trying out should you find yourself in Ermita. However, I can very much recommend Mabini as a great home away from home.

Anyway, I am bollocking on a bit again.

The above shot was taken on Abenida Maria Orosa street, with Rizal Park on the right and Luneta Park just out of view to the left.
Most of the buildings in the background are still there, although that Aiwa sign. While researching the location of this photo, I looked into the Aiwa brand as it was one that my grandparents swore by for year. Many may be surprised, as I was, that the name actually continues to survive.

Took a while, but finally located this spot on Googly Earth.
'People's Park In The Sky' is a Taal Volcano viewing location down in Tagaytay. 
Quite exciting for me, being the first time I had laid eyes on a real volcano (that novelty now worn off).
What did fascinate me was the half built hotel there which, if I call recall correctly, was a project of the Marcos era that was never completed. Google Streetscape shows it to still be there and mostly used for a mass of antennas.

Location photo in 2019.

Not much to rabbit on about with this shot.
I suspect it was taken on Mabini Street, but could well have been any street between Mabini Mansion and either Robinsons Mall or Harrison Plaza.

Oh, did I mention that there was a great specialised bottle shop (alcohol)

 on Mabini Street.

Probably means little to most, but I collect Tanduay bottles and they used to have an interesting range of harder to get ones. Alas, it now appears to have gone.
Specialized alcohol shops seem a complete rarity in Manila, everything being mostly small additions to all the big supermarkets. Hardly any of them go to any great length to obtain a good range of the harder to get Tanduay product.
Gaisano Mall in Roxas City being a welcome exception.

No idea where I was when I took this one.
So just enjoy the jeepney.

Hope you enjoyed that riveting jeepney

photograph banquet.

Interested in Philippine jeepneys?
Check out of groups.

Philippine Jeepney

PRHS - Philippine Transportation (non railway)