My way of knowing trike or tricycle, when I arrived in Manila during my first trip to the Philippines I was extremely excited to see a jeepney. After doing a lot of research, the jeepney seemed a very unique embodiment of Filipino culture. And I can still remember seeing that first jeepney and being so excited that I shouted there’s a jeepney! Scaring both my girlfriend and our taxi driver. We spent three days in Manila and I saw Mini jeepneys, horse drawn carriages and lots and lots of taxi cabs.
Yellow Bumblee-like Trike from Isabela
On the third day we flew to Tacloban City in late. When we stepped out of the airport I was greeted by what seemed like hundreds of trikes or some people say side cars. They were all painted more uniquely than the jeepneys, and each one was unique. I actually wanted to bypass taking a van to our destination and take one of the trikes instead but it was explained that a trike is generally not good for a multi hour journey.
And as we drove in the van from Tacloban city to Southern Leyte I noticed hundreds of trikes along the way not only were they painted uniquely but every so often the trikes would change to a whole different type. I could tell they came from different manufacturers with different ideas of the most efficient design. When we got to Southern Leyte I discovered that my girlfriends brother-in-law was a trike driver. He had recently got the trike and I helped him put a stereo in it along with re-wiring the lights and doing some touchups. After much begging on my part I got him to agree to allow me to drive the trike with him riding behind me of course.
Trike from Bohol
After a few days we traveled on to the island of Bohol and once again I was treated to many different styles of trikes Some with sidecars and even some with two wheels in back and the motorcycle mounted in the front. It was just amazing to see how many different types there were. I was driving my girlfriend and our driver crazy with all of my questions about trikes, I realized that they are so common in the Philippines that they are not really seen, everyone uses them but not many realize their beauty and uniqueness. I started to realize The trikes are truly rolling pieces of art fabricated by skilled craftsmen.
I have been back to the Philippines five more times for a total of six trips and I’ve traveled in numerous islands and provinces from the northern province of Luzon to Siargao Island, to Palawan, to Cebu, and numerous points in between. Every place I have traveled has had different styles of trikes and something they’ll have in common is that they are all made with great care and feel unique need.
Trike from Palawan
After my second or third trip I began telling people close to me that if I won the lottery I would develop a museum to preserve and document the Filipino trike. Well, I haven’t won the lottery and I am not close to being able to start the physical museum but we have the ability to start a virtual museum and community that celebrates the Filipino trike. We are developing the webpage of Facebook group, Twitter, and Instagram and soon a message board. Along with my Filipino partners and my pinay asawa, we are hoping to introduce the trike to the world and celebrate its uniqueness.
MABUHAY PILIPINAS!
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