FRANKFURT – The iconic Philippine jeepney has found its way in Roßmarkt Square in central Frankfurt, catching the attention of Germans and Filipino emigrants alike.
The vehicle, owned by mechanical engineer Jurgen Stemmann, is on display at the “Jeepney Journey” side event of the Frankfurt Book Fair, where the Philippines is this year’s guest of honor.
Stemmann told GMA Integrated News that his brother acquired the jeepney in 2007 and brought it to Germany. He was particularly inspired by how the “king of Philippine roads” becomes a place for community.
“The jeepney was originally used in the war. Filipinos [repurposed] it [and] put seats inside that face each other. Passengers sit very close to each other–and that is what we need in Germany: the feeling of closeness together.”
The Frankfurt City Government invited Stemmann to bring the jeep from northern Germany to the city to bring a “colorful Filipino fiesta” to recognize and honor the Philippines.
“In addition to a diverse musical and literary program, the jeepney will serve as a place for exchange, workshops, and cultural encounters," Frankfurt City Councillor Stephanie Wüst said in a press release.
Jeepney as a community space
The colorful jeepney caught the attention of local Germans and Filipinos visiting Roßmarkt Square. The group of Filipina amigas Aurea Domingo, Hermenegilda Marquez, Lolita Meider, and Joy Ramos couldn’t stop taking photos and selfies, telling GMA Integrated News that they were proud to see the vehicle parked in the city.
“We feel happy being a Filipino, because this is our traditional vehicle–not a Mercedes or a BMW. 'Yun nga lang, hindi kami kamag-anak ng mga contractor kaya wala kaming Mercedes [vehicle]!” Domingo joked.
(But we’re not relatives of government contractors, that’s why we don’t own a Mercedes!)
Representatives of the Philippine Consulate in Frankfurt joined the opening of the Jeepney Journey event, sharing that it was a chance for Filipinos to “gravitate towards each other”.
“It’s not just a feeling of nostalgia. Every Filipino will feel certain pride because there is something about the jeepney that is worth knowing on the part of the international community,” Consul General Marie Yvette Banzon Abalos shared with GMA Integrated News.
“What’s very symbolic of the jeepney is that it has become an icon of being a Filipino. This is something that we think we can share with Germans. Even in a world of uncertainty, anxiety, and imperfection, kaya pa rin nating maging masaya and optimistic. ‘Yun ang simbolo nitong jeepney at mga libro na dadalhin natin sa Germany at iba pang mga bansa.”
For the Frankfurt Book Fair’s co-director, Charisse Aquino Tugade, finding the jeepney was “super serendipitous”, and it ensured that the participation of Filipino authors and illustrators was showcased.
“This is just one component of a greater Philippine experience at the festival,” added Tugade, who is also the director of the Philippine National Book Development Board (NBDB).
“I was saying to the City of Frankfurt, ‘Thank you for bringing my culture to their home.’ And I said, ‘The jeepney represents me and many Filipinos because we wear our hearts in our sleeves. And if you look at the jeepney, you will see where someone is from, what they are going through, and aspire to be.”
The Jeepney Journey side event also features cultural workshops, karaoke singing afternoons, concerts, and a mini-food fair that will run through October 18 (Saturday). The event takes place alongside the main activities and exhibition at the Frankfurt Book Fair. —KG, GMA Integrated News