2017, November 4. National Stamp Collecting Month
Evolution of Philippine Jeepney
Litho Offset, Amstar Printing Company, Inc., Perf 14
Se-tenant Blocks of 4, Miniature Sheets of 16
Se-tenant Blocks of Four (25,600)
12p 1943 Willy's Jeep
12p 1945 Transformed Jeep
12p Decorated Jeepney
12p Modern Jumbo Jeep
Miniature Sheets of 16 (Four Se-tenants B/4) (6,400)
Designer: Rodine C. Teodoro
First Day Covers: Manila
NATIONAL STAMP COLLECTING MONTH: Evolution of Philippine Jeepney
Jeepneys, sometimes called simply jeeps, are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They are known for their crowded seating and kitsch decorations, which have become a ubiquitous symbol of Philippine culture and art. A Sarao jeepney was exhibited at the Philippine pavilion at the 1964 New York World's Fair as a national image for the Filipinos.
Jeepneys were originally made from U.S. military jeeps left over from World War II. When American troops began to leave the Philippines at the end of World War II, hundreds of surplus Jeeps were sold or given to the Filipinos. An American soldier named Harry Stonehill was involved in the disposal of military surplus, and reportedly created a black market for the surplus including jeeps. The Jeeps were stripped down and altered locally: metal roofs were added for shade; and the vehicles decorated in vibrant colours with chrome-plated ornaments on the sides and hood. The back saloon was reconfigured with two long parallel benches with passengers facing each other to accommodate more passengers. The size, length and passenger capacity has increased as it evolved through the years. These were classified as passenger-type jeeps. The non-extended, original-seat configuration jeeps were labeled owners, short for owner-type jeeps, and are used non-commercially. The original Jeepneys were refurbished military Jeeps by Willys and Ford. Modern jeepneys are now produced with surplus engines and other parts coming from Japan.
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Philately
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Transportations