13 08

What to say when riding a jeepney in Cebu City

If you are foreigner from various countries, riding a jeepney in the Philippines is already an adventure.. and fun (we’ll some find it that way, may not for the others). There are many articles mentioning their first experience in riding a jeepney (from asiatravelbug.com), Riding a jeepney like a Pro (from planyourtripnow.com) and some tips and precautions (from tenminutes.ph). While those are mostly experienced in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, those in many ways can be seen and experienced in other parts of the country too and Cebu City is not an exception to that daily ride scenerio.

The Difference?

The difference is language, that’s what this article for. Though Cebu jeepney drivers and conductors can corresponds through english and tagalog but if you say it in Bisaya, it’s like you’re saying with a style and people are easily amazed by your knowledge of speaking the native language.

The conversation

Here are common conversation exchanges while riding a jeepney in Cebu City. This is useful as well whenever you take a public utility rides going to Cebu provinces. (Please see our article on Cebu Land Transport system)

-You want to say stop! you say “para!”

-You want to dis-embarked at the jeepney stop, you say “para”or “lugar” or “lugar lang”

-You want to dis-embarked at the next corner, you say “lugar unya sa eskina” or “lugar unya sa unahan”

-You want a to dis-embarked in specific location, like “take me to SM Mall”, you say “ihatod ko sa SM Mall” or “i-urong ko sa SM Mall”

-You give your fare, you say “akong plete” or “plete nako” or “palihug ko sa plete”

-You receive the change, you will hear, “dia ra ang sukli” or “sukli nimo” means here is your change.

If you wan’t to learn more Bisaya or Cebuano Pharases, you can learn it quick from Bisdak Words Common Bisaya Phrases

Additional tips:

Know the routes, please see our previous article on jeepney numbers and corresponding routes . If you find difficulty of going somewhere, take a taxi instead and ask the driver where you wanted to go and if he know the place (most likely he is).  Better yet Grab a car or simply Grab is also now in Cebu so install that app either in android or ios (needs connection to internet)

You can  also comment below where you wanna go, we’ll try to respond back. We don’t know all the places but some readers might know and be able to help as well.

Cebu Bus Terminals

Cebu bus terminals are mainly subdivided into two main locations. The North Bus Terminal (NBT) and the South Bus Terminal (SBT). See our full blog about Cebu Land Transport System.

 

4 Comments
  • Posted by

    Ronalyn

    Posted July 24, 2023 10:33 am 0Likes

    I love this article! How do you ask how much is the fare in Bisaya?

  • Posted by

    Peps

    Posted July 24, 2023 1:22 pm 0Likes

    Tagpila ang plete? Or (shorten) Pila plete?

    • Posted by

      Ronalyn

      Posted July 24, 2023 10:17 pm 0Likes

      Would it be “pila plete ang (location)?”

      How do you ask for the fare from where you boarded and where you want to stop so they’d know how to calculate the fare?

      Would it be rude to ask other passengers what’s the fare if you’re seated too far from the driver or do you just yell it?

  • Posted by

    Peps

    Posted July 29, 2023 1:27 am 0Likes

    Yes if you want to be a bit specific:
    – pila plete padulong SM ( how much is the fare going to SM)
    – pila plete gikan Ayala padulong SM (how much is the fare from Ayala to SM)
    – mao pa pagsakay, SM ra (just boarded, going to SM)

    There is a fare tariff posted inside the jeepney. The fares are standard weather your ride is short or long as it is within that jeepney route. (Though obvious longer commute may ask you to add 1 or 2 peso but still it should be in the tariff.

    Sure, you can ask the person seated next to you, it’s fine, but it will be obvious you are stranger in the place. Ask a friend first so you will have an idea how much is the fare.

    That’s for jeepneys in the city.

    Taxi’s are metered. If not, demand for a meter.

    Buses going to provinces.. In some bus companies, they have ticket booth. Other bus, don’t have, they will give ticket once you ride, in the ticket, there is the fare indicated. If you don’t know how to read it, ask from someone who give it. It’s like a braille – with punch holes!

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