ni Gil R. Miranda
Kalesa
The Kalesa, sometimes called "Caritela" is a traditional public conveyance vehicle of the 18th to the mid 20th century Philippines. It is a derivation of the Spanish "Caleche," of the 17th century. Through the centuries it has evolved to become a truly Filipino contraption of the two-wheeled cart pulled by a horse blending through the Filipino culure.
Often painted in bright colors like the Filipino life, the Kalesa vanished slowly after the Second World War. It was replaced by the Jeep, which still carry the identifiable art and color of the kalesa, which has turned into a tourist curiosity.
Dyip
The Jeep spelled by Filipinos Dyip are surplus American military vehicles salvaged by ingenius Pinoys. The vehicle called by the American soldiers Jeep from its inventory code "G.P." for "General Purpose" or "Government Property" was converted into a public utility vehicle now found in almost all Philippine roads.
Like the Kalesa, the Jeep is a hallmark of the Filipino culture. Also mostly painted in bright colors and ethnic Filipino designs, harmonized with religious icons, verses, funny adages and proverbs, the Jeep reflects the Filipino way of life.
Imbentong Pinoy
Inventiveness seems to be indegenous among Filipinos. Myth or truth, the Filipinos invented the first piston, The heart of all engines and factory machineries. Pre-Spanish era Filipinos hang them on their necks like amulets and use them to make fire. The Spaniards called it "Piston del Fuego" or Piston of Fire.
The Spaniards brought it to Europe, which led to the discovery of the power of the piston.
Barangay
"Barangay" is the smallest unit of the Philippine Local Government. The name was derived from the word "Balangay," a Malay boat used by early migrants to the Philippines in coming to the archipelago. Spanish colonizers changed the name of the government unit to "Barrio," meaning neighborhood. The name was kept even until the American Era. Then President Ferdinand Marcos decreed to revert the place-name to the original- Barangay, which was imposed by the 1992 Local Government Code.,