Playing Money

Ever wondered why people call a piggy bank "the piggy bank"?

I was curious. I looked it up at the ever famous Wikipedia and found out that during the Middle English years, they have a clay that people used to make household objects like jars, pots, or other similar stuff - and this clay is called "pygg". It was cheap, even their cookwares are made out of it.

The nice thing about this is that, it is the same type of clay that they used to make their money jars. Since it was made out of pygg clay, they originally called it "pygg jar". It eventually evolved into "piggy bank" because "pygg" is homonymous with the word "pig".

Actually, the real pronunciation of "pygg" is closer to the word "pug". Cute! A "puggy bank" - a coin bank of a pug (dog) made out of clay.

The term has been changed from the kind of material used to the shape of the bank, piggy banks now come in plastics, glass, metals, and even plasters. Some even say that the history of the piggy bank is related to the farmers. Farmers feed the pig (putting coins in the piggy bank), then only when the pig has been slaughtered will the farmer get his money (breaking the piggy bank).

Coins in the piggy bank
People collect coins. Some would collect shiny new coins (like I do), some would put P5.00 and P10.00 coins in their piggy banks, some would place every single coin in their banks, and some would just break their piggy banks to get money (bye bye to piggy bank and bye bye coins).

Fake coins
Bills can be faked. But beware, because coins can also be faked. The most common coins that syndicates fabricate are the P5 and the P10 coins - which are, of course, of no value.

Spotting fake coins
I read some articles about "How to spot fake P10 and P5 coins". I really didn't find a lot, most are just personal observations, some are hearsay, some from "government", and some from money collectors; but basically they tell the same "How to"s.

According to what I read, coins are made out of nickel, copper, zinc, and aluminum. These elements do not stick to magnets. Therefore, if your coin sticks to magnets - they're probably made out of steel, and are definitely counterfeit coins.

Here is a picture of a P5 coin. Notice that the real coin (left) is has smoother, evident features, shiny (maybe because they're new), and the engraved design are evenly stuck on the metal. The fake coin (right) is poorly structured, and observe the circle that looks like a wheel in the middle surrounding the mountain part with the sun - it is smaller than the real P5 coin.

Same as with the front of the P5 coin, the real coin has more detailed design than the fake coin. The letters and numbers are deformed, and some of Emilio Aguinaldo's features are absent.

Once you receive a fake P5 and P10 coin, surrender them to the authorities. You don't want to be caught saving these coins, because once you bring them to the bank to reimburse for bills, they wouldn't replace your fake coins. XD

References:
Wikipedia
Unlawyer
Mukamo Phil

Jeep : Go Jeep!

On my way home the other day, I took a jeepney, just to be safe (because they say it's safer to ride a jeepney than ride the FX). As a typical jeepney, they have this banging loud sound, mostly remixes of songs (good and bad music) with extra volume on the bass - very annoying often times (in my opinion); speakers banging under your butts, so loud you feel bouncy; and makes you feel DEAF the moment you get off the ride. The jeep also has the "Pull the string 2 stop" sign; the colorful dim lights; and the barker/sort-of cashier by the jeep entrance.

The ride was pretty empty, sat at the end of the jeepney (farthest from the driver, right next to the exit).

"Patok" drivers
They steer the wheel left and right, just to make the ride a little too exciting. Some passengers enjoy this. It keeps them awake. Or some like it because of the thrill, the speed probably the wind brushing their faces and blowing hard on their hair, drying their sweat from a long days struggle. But not everyone likes the idea.

I was seated at the right side of the jeepney, and the lady in front of me yelled at the driver.

"Ano ba yan, pakiayos nga yung pagmamaneho niyo manong! Nakakamatay na yung ginagawa niyo eh!" ("Please drive properly. You could've killed us with the way you drive!"... or something like that)

Most jeepney drivers are careless. They step on the gas and let their wheels jet into the road, neglecting the passengers. There was even a time where a kid, sitting on his mommy's lap, fell into the middle of the jeepney, because the driver was racing with the other jeeps to pick up passengers. The mother got mad at the driver, and she said she wouldn't pay for the fare, because if something happened to her kid, refund of the fare wouldn't compensate for the damage.

Regarding the number of passengers inside the jeep
Barkers - these are the people who yell the jeep's destination to get passengers. The driver tells the barkers how many passengers the jeep can accommodate. If the driver tells the barker "Waluhan yan." ("8 passengers on each side"), they will really try to fit 8 passengers on each side of the jeep - even if it cost having the last passenger sit with half of his butt.

This crowding is sometimes the cause of robbery inside the jeepney. Because the passengers are too close, the couldn't feel hands slipping in their pockets, and seatmates slashing their bags. When they get off the jeep, they'd be surprise to find their pockets empty, and their bags with an extra hole.

Jeepney law suggestions

• Hmm, maybe a special law for jeepney drivers to drive safely? If a passenger fall off the jeep and dies? Or be hit by the next vehicle? What will the driver do? Drivers should not be concerned with the "boundary" money they're making. They should also be aware of the passengers' safety. Remember: The passengers are the driver's customers.

• I also think that the MMDA or the traffic enforcers or whoever is responsible for the traffic and road rules should be strict when it comes to passengers who, just like the guy in the photo at the left, decide to ride outside the jeep. It is very dangerous, especially when the driver decides to drive roughly, race with other jeeps to take more passengers, and starts to play with the steering wheel. I understand that most passengers who do this are in a hurry to get to work, but if something goes wrong, they will never get to work.
  

• Some jeepney drivers do not return the right change. Students should get 20% discount, but some drivers don't give back exact changes. Regardless the age or status, most drivers consider their fare as ordinary passengers. What should the authorized people do about this?