PhotoHunt: Orange

This is a mode of public transportation here in the Philippines. We call it a "multi-cab" but the various areas in which it can be found have a variety of names for it; it is sometimes called the generic name of "jeep." The outside of these vehicles can sometimes be a canvass through which artistic self-expression is made evident. For the most part, though, the sides of the multi-cabs just contain the route and stops of the vehicle- info that can be had also when these vehicles follow the color-coding rules of the towns and cities they serve.

This multi-cab sits about 12-16 persons, with the passengers facing each other separated by about a half a meter aisle. Current fare is about 15 US cents for the first four kilometers of a trip. Trips range from one terminal to another within city limits, much like how an ordinary bus or shuttle service works. However, it can likewise travel hundreds of kilometers, through rough terrain if needed, especially in areas where public transportation is scarce. Loaded are not just humans but fruits, vegetables, fish, chickens, etc.

Downtown Cotabato City, March 2009, using a digicam.