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
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Jeepneys were originally made from U.S. military jeeps left over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.