August 15, 2023
MANILA – While the original New York icon Jeepney—the restaurant—closed its doors in 2021, a new one might soon be plying the streets of the Big Apple, and this time it’s an actual vehicle.
Dubbed “The JeepNY,” the vehicle is an initiative by the community-led organization Project Barkada. They took a used model and replaced broken parts and even had some parts made custom, built a brake system, and fixed the steering setup as well as the air suspension system, all to make it street-legal and drivable in the city.
A Filipino jeepney might soon roll around New York City, thanks to this initiative
Photo from The JeepNY Instagram
While the original New York icon Jeepney—the restaurant—closed its doors in 2021, a new one might soon be plying the streets of the Big Apple, and this time it’s an actual vehicle.
Dubbed “The JeepNY,” the vehicle is an initiative by the community-led organization Project Barkada. They took a used model and replaced broken parts and even had some parts made custom, built a brake system, and fixed the steering setup as well as the air suspension system, all to make it street-legal and drivable in the city.
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“We want this jeepney to be a community piece that we share with the people and preserve our culture at our events,” the organization said in a post. Project Barkada wanted to impart a piece of our culture to Filipinos living in the US, who may not see the jeepney, as the government has already started phasing them out for newer models. They are inviting everyone to sit inside, take pictures, and tell their stories and experiences with the “king of the road.”
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Project Barkada president and co-founder Joey Golja said they originally wanted to buy and ship one direct from the Philippines but it seemed impossible. “I got in contact with a friend of a friend and was able to pitch them the idea of why we wanted it and got our hands on it.”
Still the good ol’ Sarao
The chrome silver jeep decorated with blue and yellow decals bears the name Sarao, indicating that its body is manufactured in the Philippines by storied jeepney maker Sarao Motors.
The last time a jeepney was seen in New York City was in 2016 when Filipino-American rapper Apl.de.Ap rolled around in a custom-made vehicle during the Philippine Independence Day parade at Madison Avenue. Seven years later, it seems that the same jeep is now in the possession of Project Barkada.
They are now asking for donations to help them preserve and restore the vehicle. “It has been a huge expense that we weren’t prepared for but we’re doing the best we can to stick to our vision and goal of sharing it with the community,” the organization said.
Project Barkada was formed in 2020 to help Filipinos at risk during the pandemic. New York is home to some 80,000 Filipinos. The organization worked with local businesses to bring food and drinks to frontline workers, healthcare providers, and people in need.