Jeepney signages usually just say where the vehicle will be going but sometimes, they can be used to educate people too.
Facebook user Roselle Leah K Rivera shared a now-viral photo on Friday, International Women’s Day, showing an anti-catcalling signage inside a jeepney.
Rivera said the photo was taken in a jeepney that was on its way to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman from Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City.
The signage was placed on the back side of the jeepney, where the majority of passengers are seated. It says: “This driver is a women’s rights lover. Pull d’ string and stop catcalling.” This refers to the strings some jeepneys have, which passengers can pull to notify the driver that they’re getting off.
Rivera told Coconuts Manila through a Facebook message that it was her daughter (who asked not to be identified by her full name) who took the photo on her way to visit her.
Rivera said: “[S]he very well knows her mother is a hardcore feminist, so she must have been excited to share it with me.”
Her daughter told Coconuts Manila through a text message that she wasn’t able to get the driver’s name but decided to take a photo of the signage because she was amused by it.
“I thought it was funny so I shared it to my mom and some of my friends. Different groups of people in the jeep were discussing the signage,” she said.
Rivera’s daughter also recalled how she even overheard male passengers discuss what catcalling is. “Some guys [in the jeepney] were like ‘If I do this, is that catcalling?’, ‘For us, that’s a compliment,'” she said in English and Filipino.
They better figure it out, though, because catcalling is actually a serious offense in Quezon City.
Earlier this month, a construction worker was arrested for catcalling a woman in Novaliches, Quezon City. This was in direct violation of the city’s Anti-Catcalling Ordinance.
A similar ordinance was introduced in the city of Manila last year.
The Facebook post had over 2,700 likes and 2,600 shares as of this article’s posting. Netizens commended the jeepney driver.
Leo Patrick C. Evangelista said in Filipino: “The driver won’t get into any accidents because he’s woke!”
Chedric Joshua Lim Cordova tagged a friend and said: “[T]his man respects wahmen (women).”
Rachel Benedicto also tagged a friend and said: “UP [Diliman jeepney] DRIVERS ARE THE BEST.”
“I love this jeepney driver,” said Crystal Neria.
Rona Santos said: “[There’s] not enough heart react[s]. Have some more”
Julia Sangrador urged her friend to ride a jeep.
Mayu Ma Chérie said she hoped all jeepney drivers were like this one.
Have you encountered other jeepneys like this? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
Reader Interactions