These Amazing Vehicles are Surprisingly Made by Filipinos

What do yoyos, banana ketchup, Erythromycin, 16-Bit Microchip, and Quink Ink have in common? They were all invented by Pinoys, of course.

Truth is, Filipinos are smart. And they’re very creative. But more than that, they’re extremely resourceful, adaptable, enterprising, and resilient. You can place them anywhere in the world, and they’ll always find a way to survive–and even thrive–on whatever condition they’re in.

And it’s also these traits that allow Filipinos to improvise and think of ways to make things from scratch–such as vehicles. Here are some of the ingenious car innovations and inventions you can proudly stamp “Made in the Philippines”.

Jeepney

The iconic jeepney is a true testament to Filipino ingenuity. In fact, it’s one of those images that the country is identified with.

Jeepneys are actually U.S. military jeeps that were left in the country after World War II. When the American soldiers started to leave the Philippines after the war, Harry Stonehill was reportedly responsible for getting rid of the surplus by selling it in the black market. Filipinos then stripped the jeeps depending on the local needs and turned them into makeshift buses.

For instance, the country’s tropical weather can make the sun’s rays intense during the afternoon so they added a metal roof for shade. And since Filipinos are communal, they also reconfigured the back to fit a pair of parallel benches, which allowed the vehicle to fit more people inside.

Many say that jeeps are the main cause of pollution in the country today. Despite this, it’s still one of the enduring icons that is easily identified as proudly “Filipino”.

E-Jeepney

E-jeepneys are like standard jeepneys, with the only difference that it runs on electricity instead of diesel fuel. These vehicles are the brainchild of Green Renewable Independent Power Producers (GRIPP), and in partnership with Solar Electric Company.

E-jeepneys don’t create noise nor do they emit excessive carbon dioxide that jeepneys are known for. Many advocates say that it will not only help preserve the environment, but will also lessen our dependence on oil.

These jeeps are already operating in several parts of Metro Manila and in some provinces, such as those found in Puerto Princesa and Makati. It’s also being used in malls such as Filinvest City Alabang, Southway Mall in Zamboanga, and Embarcadero Mall in Legaspi City.

An except from: Yahoo! News