Grand Jeepney Parade celebrates the colorful kings of the road

For vehicles traditionally known for their bright colors and fanciful embellishments, a huge number of today's jeepneys have turned into visually stale, stainless grey smoke belchers, lacking the character of their predecessors.

 

But on Monday, 47 jeepneys brought a splash of visual and cultural life along EDSA and Makati’s streets, showing off well-painted Pinoy destinations and icons on their exteriors during the Jeepney Arts Festival’s Grand Jeepney Parade.

 

In partnership with the Department of Tourism and Design Week Philippines, the Jeepney Arts Festival called on volunteer painters at SM Mall of Asia over the weekend to use jeepneys as large metal canvases as it pushed for a literally colorful comeback of Manila’s iconic public transport.

 

The ones judged best were awarded cash prizes. “Ang objective nga natin dito is to beautify Manila and make it as a roving museum of arts and culture and transform it into a tourism canvas,” Jeepney Tours managing director Clang Garcia told GMA News’ Athena Imperial.

 

 

Addressing the crowd during the art festival’s awarding ceremonies, Garcia admitted, “It’s not easy to sell the idea of saving the Philippine jeepney.”

 

"But good intention will always be victorious,” said Garcia. [The aim was to] relive Filipino values of the Bayanihan Spirit, which we did. Hindi iisang tao ang gumawa ng isang jeepney."  

Bayanihan and festivals were the motif of artist Roberto Rioberos Marquez and company, whose black-based design won the top prize of P30,000. "Original naman natin talaga na ang jeepney ay makulay noon. Attraction na iyan sa Pilipinas,” said Marquez, whose jeep also featured a Sarimanok made out of spoons on its hood. 

 

“[Kung tutuusin] kaya kong ibenta iyan more than [the prize], pero ang aim ko talaga is lumabas at tumulong.”

 

Five Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology students won second place and P20,000 with their bright festival-themed jeepney “tattoed” with Pintados-inspired details.

 

“Sobrang detalyado, sobrang tiyaga ang kailangan,” said Jonell Jaurigue, whose team joined the festival for the experience. “Bawal ang tamad, kahit walang tulog ayos lang.”  

Artists from LJE Motors, meanwhile, bagged third with P10,000. Entries were judged based on “wow factor," creativity, use of "It’s More Fun in the Philippines" in the theme, and execution.

 

“We want to be able to promote arts and culture,” added Garcia. “We want to be able to use the Philippine jeepney as a strong channel of promoting Philippine tourism.” — BM, GMA News