The 1250s decade ran from January 1, 1250, to December 31, 1259.

Africa. April 6 – Battle of Fariskur: Louis IX of France is captured by Baibars’ Mamluk army while he is in Egypt conducting the Seventh Crusade; he later has to ransom himself. May 2 – Al-Muazzam Turanshah, Sultan of Egypt, is murdered, ending effective Ayyubid dynasty rule in the country.

1299 (A.D.) World History. Fourth Crusade. Genghis Khan invades China, captures Peking (1214), conquers Persia (1218), invades Russia (1223), dies (1227).

1127

Background. On 1 January 1127, King Henry I of England designated his daughter, the Empress Matilda, as heir to the throne. The ensuing civil war lasted until 6 November 1153 when, by the Treaty of Wallingford, Stephen recognised Matilda’s son Henry as heir to the throne.

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Stone wheel

The wheel is considered to be man’s greatest invention.

Vic Hayes

Leonardo Salvador Sarao Sr.

The word “jeepney” is a portmanteau of “jeep” and “jitney”, both words common slang in the popular vernacular of the era: “jitney” being a popular term for an American taxicab, and a “jeep” a newly coined term to describe a type of military vehicle (origin from General Purpose, or GP, hence Jeep).

Found only in the Philippines, the versatile, durable and colorful jeepney is truly a mestizo – half-local and half-foreign – reflective of the national character of this uniquely Asian country. Jeepneys began plying the streets of Manila after World War II, when U.S. soldiers left thousands of unserviceable jeeps.

SYMBOLISM. The Jeepney has become an unintentional symbol of the Philippines. These vehicles show how innovative Filipinos are, by taking a beat up piece of metal and transforming it into a work of transportation as well as art.

Jeepneys are famously characterized by their vibrant, multicolored paint jobs and flashy decor, so much so that through the years, they have become a symbol of the country and its culture.

everyday part of commuters in the Philippines is to ride jeepneys, the main public transportation in the country. These colorful rides have one of the most bizarre art and color combination, which seems to paint the busy streets.

The modern jeepney will cost at least P1. 2 million (US$23,400), for one vehicle. However, under the new guidelines, operators are not allowed to have just one unit; they must run at least 10.

The most blatant sign of the government preventing the comeback of jeepneys has been its treatment of the drivers themselves. Most come from low-income backgrounds and earn about US$6 to $8 per day.

A jeepney costs about 800,000 pesos, but the prototype vehicles are expected to range from 1.2 million to 1.6 million pesos.

Disadvantages of Jeepney modernization Modern units are expensive. Even if the Land Bank of the Philippines will provide loans and the government has committed added assistance, the cost of new jeepneys is still way beyond the financial capacity of many operators and drivers.

Modern jeepneys currently cost around P2. 2 and P2. 4 million. Unlike the clunky and noisy jeepneys, these are equipped with safety and convenient features such as curb-side passenger entrance and exit access, air-conditioning, closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, and Global Positioning System (GPS), among others.

– For riders, Jeepneys provide a safe, convenient, and secure way of traveling, as these vehicles are equipped with GPS, CCTV cameras, a dashboard camera, and even Wi-Fi connection.