colorums

Noun

colorum (plural colorums)

1. (Philippines) A rebel organization characterized by religious fanaticism.
   • Historically, the first colorums in the Philippines were the survivors of Apolinario de la Cruz' Religious Revolt (1840-41), who fled to Mounts Banahaw and San Cristobal, situated between the Quezon (Tayabas) and Laguna Provinces, and settled in their caves and cool riverbanks.1979, Gregorio F. Zaide, The Pageant of Philippine History
2. (Philippines) A member of such a group.
   • The colorums believed that one day he would rule the Philippines. When this came to pass, the property of all those who were not colorums would be confiscated and apportioned among the members. Like other colorums elsewhere, the Surigao group believed themselves invulnerable to the enemy's bullets.1975, Renato Constantino, The Philippines: A Past Revisited, page 350
3. (Philippines, figuratively) A public transport vehicle operating without a franchise, or in violation of it.
   • It does not mean, however, that out of the twelve thousand estimated colorum vehicles we have now in Manila have been reduced by four thousand. As long as the colorum operators take the risk of operating illegally on our thoroughfares, ...1982, Land transportation: proceedings of the First Institute on Transportation, 1980, University of the Philippines. Law Center