Vatican-approved popejeep likely to go around PHL parishes
January 19, 2015 10:13pm
Two weeks before Pope Francis' arrival in Manila, the makers of his Filipino-style popemobile still had to raise the roof of the white jeep to accommodate the pontiff's tall swiss guards, GMA News' "24 Oras" reported on Monday.

Edison Cham, the maker of the popejeep, said it underwent several revisions before it was approved by the Vatican as the Pope Francis' motorcade ride.

"“It underwent several revisions. Kasi it was very low but these [Swiss Guards] matatangkad sila," Cham said.

"So [we cut] at ni-raise namin ng buo,” he added, gesturing the roof of the vehicle.

Cham was also one of those behind the creation of the bulletproof popemobile used by Saint John Paul II during his visit to the country almost 20 years ago in 1995.
 
“Ang pang masa naman natin dito is jeepney so sabi ko this is a chance na gamitin ang jeepney to promote our jeepney also,” Cham said.



The pope-jeepney was made with an engine and parts usually found in actual public utility jeepneys in the country.
 
“I was thinking of sending it to parish churches and have it displayed para makita naman,” Cham said.
 
Pope Francis rode the popejeep on Sunday en route to the Quirino Grandstand, where he celebrated mass before a record turnout of six million people.
 
Aside from the popejeep, Pope Francis also rode two other popemobiles during his stay in the Philippines—a customized Isuzu pick-up and a modified Kia vehicle. Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News
 


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