Visiting
Siquijor some five years after my last visit was a welcome respite from a stress-filled life in the city. I also will not miss the chance to write about the many topics that may be of interest to travelers in the Philippines. The unique design of mystic island's passenger tricycles provides a good material for my Tricycles in the Philippines series.
Design
The
tricycles in Siquijor seem to be designed mainly on practical features and with lesser regard for aesthetics. A cargo compartment can be found at the back of the passenger cab where a nylon rope will be used to secure luggage and other cargoes. The passenger cab provides for a 4-passenger seating with 2 rows facing each other. The tricycle case number is printed on both the left side and the right side of the cab's roof. "Siquijor" is printed on the top front panel of the passenger cab along with the tagline "Atong Lungsod, Atong Panggaon". On the lower front panel of the passenger cab is printed the organization to which the tricycle operator belongs to as well as the body number of the tricycle.
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| Front view |
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| View from the back |
Popular Uses
Mass Transportation
Tricycles are the backbone of Siquijor's mass transportation system. It is the basic unit for transporting passengers from one point in the island to another, even for inter-town trips.
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| Tricycle queue at Siquijor Port |
Tour Vehicle
Small groups of tourists in Siquijor hire these motorized tricycles to tour them around Siquijor Island. It is a cheaper alternative to renting a car or a van. Foreign tourists are also particularly attracted to the unique experience it provides. It allows them to enjoy the fresh air while traveling and they don't have to worry too much about having to dry themselves every now and then as they visit the caves, rivers, waterfalls, and beaches around mystic island.
Loading Capacity
Siquijor's tricycle normally loads up to 6 average-sized Filipino adults plus the tricycle driver.
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| Tricycle in Siquijor |
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