May 16, 2009
Purple Engine
Parked on a street at one side of the Binondo Church was this purple fire truck of the Fil-Chinese Paco Volunteer Search & Rescue Brigade which serves the Paco and Binondo areas of the City of Manila. It is a member of the Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigades, Inc., which has twenty members from Metro Manila and another seventeen from the rest of the Philippines. The Purple Engine is a gift of the owner of Eng Bee Tin, which has been producing traditional Chinese delicacies like hopia and tikoy since Mr. Chua Chiu Hong (b. 1912) set up his first stall in Binondo. To survive stiff competition in the 1980s, the company had to learn how to innovate its products. The first, and still the most popular, of its new products was the ube (purple yam) hopia, hence the color of its donated fire trucks.
Dear Hilda!
ReplyDeleteThis fire truck is really modern! I have never seen something like it!This is cool!
About those Chinese delicacies I need to confess I have no idea what it is about, anyway I guess it is yammmy!
Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless you
Léia
This is a very good story and this purple (and yellow) truck is a wonder. If they donate an engine they may have the right pick the colour, which is not a bad colour at all.
ReplyDeleteFascinating story. Not ever having seen a purple fire truck before, I initially was taken aback and did not recognize it for what it was.
ReplyDeleteOurs are almost always red - sometimes white, I guess.
Have a great weekend, Hilda!
Neat looking fire engine. I also like those street lights behind it.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that this Engine is quite different. Has an unusual color - Purple. Never seen a Engine like this one.
ReplyDeleteMost Engine's around here are either Red, Yellow, Green, or White. The most popular, of course, is Red. I've noticed that the DaLuge Gun on top of the Hose Bed is a different style than what we have up here. Also the Hose outlets are more exposed than our Engines. That Engine has Purple Lights, also. Not here. They are always Red or Yellow telling people to stay back 500 feet.
Nice Post, Hilda.
Very cool truck. I think its safe to say its been pimped!
ReplyDeleteNow that is a great looking paint job on that fire truck!
ReplyDeleteMan, who wouldn't want to be seen driving that? I wonder if there uniforms match??
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat story about the origin of the purple fire truck. I've seen white and yellow fire trucks as well as the usual red, but this is the first purple fire truck I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteA very unique vehicle. In Brighton some of the old fire engines are used for stag dos (the celebration for the groom when he's getting married). They would love one of these trcks!
ReplyDeleteAmazing. I have never seen a rescue vehicle like this. Ever.
ReplyDeletehahaha... purple and cool! i wonder who decided that color. i thought bayani agbayani was funny.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! I love the yellow flames. It is a work of art.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a purple engine like this one!!! Very nice.
ReplyDeleteIt does somehow remind me of the wrap of a candybar.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, but the Barberton, Ohio, USA fire department has always had a PURPLE fire truck. The plice cars are also purple & white (city colors). Barberton's fire truck is a better looking vehicle also!
ReplyDeleteFour fire trucks are parked in binondo Church. And yet, the Eliong Fire incident happened where 5 persons perished. Eliong is located less than 100 meters from Binondo Fire Brigade.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened?? What lessons can be learned?
Eng bee tin ube hopia has food colors and is banned by USA FDA import alert. Food colors are made from coal tar.
ReplyDelete