Filipino Tricycle in San Francisco Is Going Viral on Social Media

When you think about the Philippines, the first thing that comes to mind, besides the food, is jeepneys. But when it comes to the classic Filipino modes of public transportation, let’s not forget about the small but reliable tricycle.

The Filipino tricycle is not like the average tricycle you see in Western media. Yes, they both have three wheels and a sidecar, but Filipinos made sure to utilize it to its full potential.

Using the military tricycles remains from World War II, Filipinos added a roof to the driver seat and sidecar. They also redesigned the sidecar to fit four people. And in true Filipino fashion, they personalized their own tricycles with colorful designs and decorations.

Among many other things, tricycle is truly a unique part of Filipino culture. That’s why the San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artist Commission funded the TNT Traysikel, a social sculpture that is “an immigrant metaphor constructed from a deep colonial history.”

The tricycle is literally a piece of the Philippines in a form of art. The vehicle is beautifully decorated with hand-painted images from Philippine culture. One of its most interesting designs is found at the back cover of the sidecar: “UFO: Unidentified Filipino Object.”

Full article published on Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, a local English-language Filipino newspaper in Honolulu, Hawaii.