Who killed Jolly Jeep?

Filipinos are known as the great copiers - but the good thign about this is that we copy ideas but we always seem to give it a unique little twist. Stall names from the likes of "Big Mak burgers", up to "Yan si Rico Barber Shop" (taken from the late actor Rico C. Yan) flood the streets of Manila - some of them are just downright funny. Jolly Jeep, taken from the famous fastfood joint here in the Philippines - Jollybee. Jolly Jeep are food stalls scattered at the back-streets of the busy Makati business districts - it was actually called Jolly Jeep because there was a time when these stalls are actually Jeepneys - converted into a moving fastfood joint. I can still remember the first time I saw and ate from a Jolly Jeep - it was circa college days. The jeep was practically re-designed to fit in 2 gas stoves, a cooler which acts as their refrigerator, and several boxes and kawalis to store food.



I was amazed by the way they have fitted all that stuff inside a jeepney - including 3 vendors (+_+) and judging by the way they are placed inside, i cannot imagine how the hell they can come out. Anyways, these stalls have always been tagged as "dirty" food - they are situated alongside the streets where motorists and pollutions can easily thrive. People with brave souls...er stomach are still patrionizing these products because they are really cheaper compared to your usual Ayala cafeteria. I grew up in the university belt area - where stalls similar to Jolly Jeeps are abound. Foods like bananaque, isaw, fishballs can easily be found within your eye's reach, and when i studied in UST - i am proud to say that i survived the Hepatitis outrage haha mas matigas tyan ko kesa sa hepa.

Jolly Jeeps nowadays are made of actual permanent/concrete stalls placed on their previous parking spaces - and for me the real question is not whether "the food is clean or not" but wheter "your stomach is clean or not" *wink *wink