The dying art of the Philippine jeepney
The dying art of the Philippine jeepney
Kenneth Bon Salonga is a jeepney artist in Rizal, Philippines. He is one of the few remaining artists keeping the fading trade alive.
In Manila and across the Philippines, jeepneys have long been part of everyday life.
From Jesus and family portraits to Pokémon and fantasy figures, jeepney art reflects faith, humour and the many layers of Filipino identity.
But the art is dying out, as the government tries to phase out and replace jeepneys with alternatives, such as electric vehicles.
“When I first heard about jeepney modernisation, of course I felt sad. We would lose our jobs, because we would no longer be allowed to design modern units,” said Salonga.
