Jeepney Advertising

Jeepneys are the most popular means of transportion in the Philippines and a symbol of the country's culture. They've come a long way from being the US military jeeps left over from World War II to being called the "Undisputed King of the Road" today. A symbol of Filipino creativity and ability to improvise on and reproduce first-world technology into forms more attainable given limited financial resources.

But with the jeepneys being banned from major passenger routes to relieve traffic congestion, plus government imposed rates, licensing, the rising cost of fuel prices and maintenance, and the increasing difficulty in the "boundary" arrangements between jeepney owner and contracted driver, it's a good idea that jeepneys can also be contracted for short-term use for dedicated ads. The driver-owner is paid a reasonable amount monthly for a three-month contract (for example) while continuing to ply his usual daily routes. Helps make both ends meet. The Wake T-Rex blog also suggests emmision tests to reduce air pollution.



The image above shows a jeepney dressed up inside-out in an eye-catching yellow-and-red motif for a Motorola cell-phone campaign. Below is a Coca-cola ad-on-wheels, wrapped in coke-red, replete with logo, graphics and the giant coke bottle atop.





Last year, a jeepney was tricked out with Kobe Bryant's ad for Nike during his one-day visit to Manila to interact with school children and conduct basketball clinic as he launched his Supernatural Asia Tour.

Unlike the traditional billboard advertising, these Ad-on-Wheels doesn't just sit there all day. They move around and get noticed by thousands of people everyday… where the commuters are of course.