The Jeepney Operators of Old San Jose

The jeepney is progressively nearing the dead end here in my home province.

These remodeled jeeps from World War-II era was the main public transportation in San Jose as far as I can remember. Without doubt, this inexpensive mass transportation was part of the Philippine culture. Philippines is the only country that has jeepneys for such a purpose.

Sarao Motors, owned by Leonardo Sarao, was one of the first companies to take old US army vehicles left behind after World War II and customize them for mass transport. This is the same brand of jeepneys plying from the Pandurucan town proper to its nearby barrios, like Bubog, Central, Camburay and Murtha and vice-versa. Since the 50s, the jeepneys have been integral to the lives of the town’s residents together with its operators and drivers.

The most prominent jeepney operator in this southern part of Occidental Mindoro is Guillermo P. Mangahas. He is a native of Norzagaray, Bulacan but transferred to San Jose in 1954. He started to venture with one passenger jeepney with a route from San Jose town proper to Barrio Central and vice-versa. Mangahas’ transport trade grew and he managed to acquire additional 5 jeepney units serving the people of far-away Aguas, Pitogo and Manoot (then still part of San Jose). Guillermo was aided by his three sons namely, Naring (Apolinario), Pepe (Jose), and Val/Tino (Valentino) in his transport business. His daughter Teofila was later known as Neneng Vergel who owns a meat stall in old San Jose Public Market and mother to former local radio personality Lerma Vergel Mansilungan.

Amado Tan is the fourth child of Tan Bun Chuan, one of the place’s earliest Chinese settler. They family owned a famous restaurant (now the site of the Development Bank of the Philippines along Rizal St. near the plaza) then. In 1951, Amado Tan moved to Central and stayed there for good and finally met his wife, Elsie Blancia of Culasi, Antique. Amado’s sister Purification loaned him money to buy a jeepney and since then, it became his main source of living. As a driver, he managed to know many people, gained popularity and been so helpful in their concerns. In 1989, Amado Tan, the son of a Chinese restaurateur and later jeepney operator of Central, was elected barangay captain of this historic place. Amado is the father of Armando “Bong” Tan who also works as a driver at Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) in San Jose.

Magno Corpus is a forerunner in jeepney operation business in Barrio Bubog where I grew up. He had 2 jeepneys named Perla 1 and 2, (name of his only child). Later when his brother Gavino came to the place in the early 70s from Nueva Ecija, took his own jeepney and served the residents especially the students (that includes me) in going to school and back. The Corpus brothers, too, became barangay officials. Magno served as barangay captain and Gavino became kagawad for many years.

In our place, not only the US army jeeps were converted into public utility vehicles. The Dodge Weapons Carrier from WW-II were also transformed for mass transportation especially in far-flung areas with the toughest terrain. In Barrio Pitogo, Mrs. Perla Lansangan, a known businesswoman in their place then operates a weapons carrier serving her barrio mates.

Maybe it is true that traditional jeepneys are already obsolete in today's transport system and we need to have something better in terms of mass transportation in our province. In this time of the UV vans and the air-conditioned local buses.

But more than the machines, let us remember today, with full pressure on the gas pedal, the drivers who operate them.

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(Photos: C! Magazine/Pintrest)

Reference: Rodolfo M. Acebes, Story of 100 Families, 2010)