April 29th, 2011 Part1 @Taipei, Taiwan
I finally had an opportunity to interview Fines, a founder and an editor-in-chief TBI Taiwan. “The first encounter with TBI was an article about it. As soon as reading it, I got intrigued by that idea." Two months later, in September 2009, he flew to England to see John Bird, the founder of TBI, UK. The pilot version of TBI Taiwan Fines brought really delighted Mr. Bird and Fines got allowed to use the name “TBI” immediately.
After half-year preparation, TBI Taiwan was born in April, 2010. Since Fines had been working on web magazine “Roodo” for about ten years, lots of writers and photographers helped him out for the start. One of them is Aaron Nieh who has been in charge of cover design since the first issue.
The feature stories for the first issue was “Stupid Generation.” One and only editor for the magazine, Sharon revealed its purpose. “The target of TBI Taiwan is from 20 through 35 years old who aren’t afraid of failure and beginning their own business, like Steve Jobs. We wanted to express this message to our readers.”
Fines pours into his own money to get launched TBI Taiwan. “I get encouraged every time I see vendors recovering their self-esteem through this job,” he says with a peaceful smile. Sharon continues, “Since you spend most of your life at work, I wanted to do something fun as a job.”
The eyes of those “Stupid Generation” people glowed with pleasure.

April 28th, 2011 @Taipei, Taiwan
All of the event-savvy youngster know about Huashan1914 in Taipei. Built in 1914 as wine factories and in high gear through 20’s, however, the place had been abandoned for a long time. Thanks to some artists’ gravitation toward these historical buildings, Huashan1914 revived as concert hall, gallery, bookstore and distribution point of TBI Taiwan! Huashan1914allows TBI Taiwan to use this place and office itself for free.
When I visited the distribution point, one of the volunteers, Yen Hui Chu was chatting with a vendor there. 20 volunteers are helping out the distribution of TBI Taiwan. Yen told me that she really enjoyed talking with those vendors.

April 27th, 2011 Part2 @Taipei, Taiwan
Visited one of the vendors of The Big Issue Taiwan, Jia Shi Ya, whose pitch was in front of SOGO department store at Zhongxiao Fuxing station. At any time, there are so many people enjoying shopping.
Before a vendor of TBI Taiwan, he worked as cleaning guy. Handicap in his legs, however, didn’t allow him to keep the job. As volunteering at a shelter, a notice let him know that TBI Taiwan had just got launched.
“TBI Taiwan is not only a means to make money but also an opportunity to have a connection with people,” Jia Shi Ya says. Jokingly continuing, “That’s why, I don’t want this company to get bankrupt!”

April 27th, 2011 Part1 @Taipei, Taiwan
Flew from Manila to Taipei yesterday. On the way, I couldn’t help wishing a luck for a Jeepney magazine and Reah.
Although it’s my first time to visit Taipei, those Chinese characters make me feel that I'm familiar to this town.
5-minute subway trip to line 4, Shandao Temple station and a bit of walk took me to an office of The Big Issue Taiwan（http://www.bigissue.tw/）. Their stylish design and varieties of the advertisements from Benetton to banks draw the attention of TBI Japan and Korea. Some of TBI Korea staffs told me to "steal" some skills from them!
An editor Sharon and editor-in-chief, Fines answered my door-knocking. To my surprise, just two of them are in charge of editing the high-quality magazine. I dropped my chin and got speechless…The secret of this magical team will be gradually revealed during my stay.

April 25th, 2011 @Manila
Jeepey is at the crossroad. An American missionary couple left for their country and former social worker, Reah works as a director of this street magazine now, with a marketing director Cecile and Joselito in charge of distribution.
“I once declined the offer to be a director,” Reah revealed. “It seemed too much burden for me.” She, however, undertook the responsibility and has been trying to make this magazine sustainable.
One of the problems Jeepney has is that selling anything on the street is illegal in this Asian country. You may say that you have seen many stallkeepers on the street of Manila. All of them take risks even though they know they might be in prison, if policemen are on a whim.
That is the reason why Jeepney vendors are not selling the magazine on the street, but instead of it, going onto malls, international schools and anywhere they asked. Jeepney is published 3000 copies per an issue which is sold by 100 peso(50 percent of it is vendor’s profit).
Reah often visits the 11 vendors, listens to their complaining and sheds tears together. On a special occasion, she takes some of the vendors to a beach. In this way she has been spending her time with them and building up relationships with them.
“I had been working as a social worker, however, always struggling with a dilemma, which homeless people had limited opportunities to get a job. I think Jeepny could be one of the solutions for this.”

April 24th, 2011 @Manila
“Jeepney” applied for grants of Staubucks and got 5000 US dollars for its street soccer program (SSP). Their SSP is some of the former Homeless World Cup players teach street childen how to play soccer (http://www.homelessworldcup.org/). 200 kids from 10 to 16 years old get together for the practice, twice a week.
Since Team Jeepney will join the Homeless World Cup in Paris this August, they have been held try-outs all over Philippines. Decision will be made in May 21st and 8 players are honored to join this world event.
On the Easter, there was a PR event of Jeepney at a stylish mall in Eastwood. One of the players, Hammid joined last year’s Homeless World Cup in Rio De Janeiro. “Among 11 games, we only lost 3 games, which were versus Brazil, Chile, and Italy,” boasted his experience. Before selling Jeepney, he had been working as tricycle drivers in his home town, Laguna. “After I began playing futsal, I have a dream, which is becoming a professional football player!”

April 22nd, 2011 Part2 @Manila
Leaving Ate Mely’s house for another vendor, Emily. Arriving to Emily’s, some of her neighborhood children rushed to me, asking to take some pictures. A local anti-poverty NPO launched this community in September, 2007, where 12 families and 40 kids are living together.
In her 9-square-meter room, there were put a bed, a closet, and a bulky TV. “I got this huge TV from a mountain of trash,” Emily explained. I finally realized that some of the buttons of it were missing.
She had been living on the street of Cubao, Quezon-city, where was a long-distance bus terminal. She was at a loss, facing her husband’s alcoholic, however, to begin selling
“Jeepny” since March 2008 and living in this community for almost 3 years giving her a sense of stable life. “I had been always dreaming about living under a roof, when I was on the street. God has just answered my pryers,” says Emily. Her grandson was sleeping peacefully beside her.