A visit to Sarao Jeepney factory

Manila traffic is a phenomenon that it takes some time to get used to. The streets of the capital are invariably clogged with vehicles of all kinds and trikes in particular make their own inimitable contribution. They are used to transport anything from a family of 7 

to a multitude of slaughtered pigs.

The Jeepney of course is the lifeblood which enables tens of thousands of people to navigate their way across the city continually day after day, even in times of complete gridlock, as shown here behind the gate in Chinatown. 

When the US military re-occupied the islands after General MacArthur's return in October 1944, they successfully ended the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and World War Two subsequently drew to a close. The Philippines were granted independence on 4th July, 1946 and in the aftermath of the war between the US and Japan, hundreds of military jeeps were left behind. A kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) driver called Leandro Sarao saw the potential in adapting them to best suit Filipino needs and Sarao Jeepneys were born. They went on to become an international trademark known right across the world. 

Consequently in 1953, he and his brothers set about attaching a roof to the Jeep. In addition, they extended the back of the vehicle by approximately 2 metres and having done so
then added 2 rows of seats for additional passengers. 

Space at the front was extremely cramped for the driver and the design 

of the Jeepney's dashboard remained extremely basic.

Sitting in the driver's seat gives you a good perspective of how 

limited space at the front was...

and indeed still is!

Unlike the interiors of the vehicles, however, their exteriors were most definitely ostentatious and extremely eye-catching. The Sarao brothers prided themselves on their ability to make
each and every Jeepney an individual creation. 

Each section was meticulously fashioned by hand with the workers going over every detail in order to make the Jeepney distinct from all others in existence. It is said that it was this personalization
which has endeared to Jeepney to both the general public and tourists alike
across several generations. 

The company eventually stopped mass production in the year 2000 due to changes in government regulations. However, the factory is still in operation today where Leandro's sons continue to produce Jeepneys by hand, (albeit in smaller quantities), using exactly the same 

techniques that their father and uncles used almost 60 years ago.